There are numerous occasions where an adult booster seat or seat cushion may come in handy. Perhaps your vehicle seat is too hard or you have a difficult time getting comfortable on long car rides, or maybe you just need a boost to see better over the steering wheel. Whatever the issue, it can likely be remedied with a little extra cushion.
These beneficial little cushions not only make car rides safer but can also help reduce pain by providing proper support that in turn reduces pressure on the lower back and/or legs. If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of booster seats or cushions and which one could be the best fit for you, read on to find out!
What is an Adult Booster Seat?
If you’re wondering exactly what an adult booster seat or cushion is, you will likely be happy to know that it is a far cry from a child’s booster seat. You will not be strapped into a mini chair or anything like that. An adult car booster seat is more of a cushion than anything else.
This memory foam cushion is specifically designed for a car seat or chair and is meant to help eliminate pain and discomfort that can come with sitting in a car or chair for a prolonged period of time.
They also provide extra lift to make driving safer and more comfortable for people with shorter stature.
How Do Adult Booster Seats Work for Seniors?
Adult booster seats can work for seniors in a few different ways. First of all, it is a well-known fact that as most of us age, we shrink. Thus, as we get older, we may not be able to see as comfortably over the steering wheel. If you find yourself in this situation, especially in a vehicle where the seat does not mechanically raise high enough, a seat cushion or seat booster can provide the height you need.
For a person who has been 6’4” their whole life, this isn’t likely to become an issue. However, for someone who has been barely pushing 5’5” since they were 20, this can prove to be a problem. If you can’t see over the steering wheel properly, you aren’t going to be as safe on the road. Plus, it’s highly uncomfortable to crane your neck in order to properly see.
The second way adult booster seats can work for seniors involves the redistribution of pressure. These cushions allow you to sit without placing pressure on the tailbone (the coccyx). Adults are more prone to injury due to falls as they age, and many times this can result in injuries to the tailbone. When this happens, simply sitting on a chair, whether a home chair or office chairs, can be excruciating.
One way to avoid this is to sit without putting any pressure on the tailbone whatsoever. Many adult seat cushions are made with “U” shaped cutouts that allow the user to sit with pressure only on their glute and leg muscles rather than against their coccyx. This ergonomic design helps provide a great deal of relief while driving (groceries still need to be picked up, after all) or sitting in chairs.
Sarcopenia
These cushions can also help relieve pain associated with Sarcopenia, a form of drastic muscle loss commonly associated with the aging process.
Someone with sarcopenia experiences muscle loss throughout the body. It’s not just confined to one region, such as the legs or upper body. Unfortunately, the glutes are one of the muscle groups that can be affected, which often results in having a very bony butt. With no natural cushion from muscles, it can be difficult to sit comfortably.
If this is something you or a loved one experience, an adult booster seat or even a chair pad can help to provide the cushioning needed to help ensure car rides, office seats, high chairs, and any other types of furniture one may need to sit on are as comfortable and pain-free as possible.
Things to Consider When Choosing an Adult Booster Seat
The very first question to ask when looking for an adult booster seat is, why it is being sought after in the first place? Is it chronic pain, difficulty seeing over the steering wheel, or the inability to get comfortable while driving? Maybe its even a combination of all three.
While there is a lot of overlap when it comes to the benefits various booster seats provide, there is also some specialization. It is always important to choose the right tool for the job at hand, even when it comes to booster seat selection.
The Top 5 Adult Booster Seats on the Market
We’ve discussed the benefits and importance of a booster seat for seniors. Now let’s look at the top 5 adult booster seats on the market.
1. Everlasting Comfort Office Chair Seat Cushion
- All day support: Enjoy lasting comfort during 8+ hr workdays with our seat cushion for desk chair. Made with premium memory foam, the computer chair cushion contours to your bottom using body heat while never flattening
- Ergonomic design and improved posture: Our lower back support for office chair cushion includes a unique U shaped coccyx cutout, that promotes proper spinal alignment and improves posture
The Everlasting Comfort Office Chair Seat Cushion averages around $50, making it the most expensive option we’ve listed. Though it’s technically advertised for use in an office chair, numerous people have reported using this as an effective adult booster seat for use in cars.
This cushion is comprised of pure memory foam. It cradles your bottom, offering ample cushion and support. For those who have had troubles in the past with booster seats causing embarrassing and uncomfortable butt sweat, the Everlasting Comfort adult booster seat also features a breathable cover that helps eliminate heat entrapment. This ensures that your car ride is as enjoyable as possible, as nobody likes sitting on a heating pad as they’re running their errands about town during the warmer months.
With use, naturally, there will be dust and dirt accumulation on the cushion. It’s simply thermodynamics: chaos increases. When your Everlasting Comfort adult seat booster is unbearably dirty (e.g., you spill Chik-fil-A sweet tea all over it), then the cover can be easily removed and tossed into the washing machine.
The Everlasting Comfort seat cushion is specifically advertised for those with coccyx or sciatica pain. If you experience either of these, this may just be the cushion for you. It is crafted with an ergonomic ‘U’ shape, allowing the coccyx to remain suspended without any uncomfortable pressure.
Highlights:
- EFFECTIVE PAIN RELIEF: This seat cushion provides relief from lower back, coccyx, and sciatica pain as the cushion evenly distributes weight to reduce pressure and pain
- ALL-DAY SUPPORT: Enjoy lasting comfort during 8+ hr workdays in office seats with our coccyx cushion designed to alleviate tailbone pain. Made with ComfortFoam, this seat cushion contours to your bottom using body heat while never flattening
In short, this is a great buy as it’s a wonderful adult booster seat that is bound to please.
2. Dreamer Car Seat Cushion
- Innovative Wedge Shape Car Seat Cushion: The car seat cushions for driving is designed in a wedge shape that features a front low and rear high design. The front low design allows for easy access to the brakes, so it doesn’t bother the action of legs, while the rear high design helps to raise the driver to improve vision.
- Ultimate Dense and Slow Rebound Memory Foam Car Pillow: The car cushions for driving are made of slow rebound memory foam, which feels good to sink (just a bit) into this cushion and softens bumps in the road,especially suitable for those who suffered from lower back pain coccyx pain and butt pain. This foam is also durable and maintains its shape over time, providing comfort with long-lasting.
The Dreamer Car Seat Cushion is an affordable option that will greatly improve your ability to see over the steering wheel. The cushion is three inches thick at the rear, which helps improve one’s posture (beneficial for anyone already struggling with back pain) while simultaneously helping you see over the steering wheel and reach the pedals with ease.
This cushion features a non-slip rubber bottom, ensuring that it stays in place as you drive. To further prevent unwanted sliding, it also features a buckle to firmly secure it to the driver’s seat.
There is only one potential downside to this cushion – it doesn’t stand up well to long periods of sunshine exposure. You may want to take this into consideration if your vehicle is parked outside where the seat would be constantly exposed to direct sunlight.
Highlights:
- Wedge Shape Car Seat Cushion: This seat booster cushion is designed in a wedge shape that features a front low and rear high design. The front low design allows for easy access to the brakes, while the rear high design lifts the height for a wider field of vision. This design helps to improve driving posture and increase comfort.
- Slow Rebound Memory Foam Car Pillow: This cushion is made of slow rebound memory foam, which is soft and comfortable to sit on. This foam is also durable and maintains its shape over time, providing comfort with long-lasting cushion.
3. ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion
- Most Comfortable Gel Memory Foam Cushion On The Market - ComfiLife's all-in-one features are unrivaled: Non-slip rubber bottom, built-in handle for easy transport and machine-washable zippered velour cover for easy cleaning. The ComfiLife Coccyx Cushion is the best gel memory foam seat cushion on the market made of premium quality durable memory foam with cool off gel layer on top for superior comfort
- Supports Tailbone and Relieves Pressure - Ergonomically designed seat cushion provides maximum support and comfort while reducing pressure on the coccyx / tailbone and promotes healthy posture
The ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion may just be the most comfortable adult booster seat around. This cushion costs approximately $44, putting it right at mid-range when compared to the other adult booster seats on this list.
It’s specifically crafted to help those who suffer from chronic pain, such as low back pain, herniated discs, tailbone pain, or sciatica. To accommodate these conditions, the ComfiLife is made with a ‘U’ shaped cutout to allow the tailbone to remain suspended. The pad is also crafted to help with improving posture due to its ergonomic design.
When the cushion gets too dirty, the machine-washable cover can easily be taken off and thrown into the wash. It also boasts a non-slip rubber bottom to prevent sliding and a built-in handle for easy transportation.
Highlights:
- Most Comfortable Gel Memory Foam Cushion On The Market – ComfiLife’s all-in-one features are unrivaled: Non-slip rubber bottom, built-in handle for easy transport, and machine-washable zippered velour cover for easy cleaning
- Supports Tailbone and Relieves Pressure – Ergonomically designed seat cushion provides maximum support and comfort while reducing pressure on the coccyx/tailbone and promotes healthy posture
4. Cylen Memory Foam Bamboo Charcoal Infused Ventilated Orthopedic Seat Cushion
- RAYON MADE FROM BAMBOO CHARCOAL INFUSION -provides superb ventilation ability and reduces temperature from rising,Unlike other seat cushions for office chairs, our sciatica pain relief foam cushion uses activated charcoal to remove unwanted smells and stains.
- STATE OF THE ART MEMORY FOAM - 90% memory foam ,10% rayon made from bamboo,provides quality seating comfort and pain relief experience
The Cylen Memory Foam seat cushion costs only $30, making it the most inexpensive car booster seat cushion on this list. Plus, it comes with a five-year warranty to boot.
The Cylen Memory Foam seat cushion is crafted with a bamboo/charcoal infusion, which not only absorbs and neutralizes unpleasant scents but also prevents the cushion from retaining stinky odors over time. In addition, the bamboo helps reduce the temperature of the cushion while in use, keeping the driver cool, comfortable, and sweat-free. When combined with the maximum airflow cover, this is certain to be one of the most pleasant-to-use adult booster seats on the market.
The cover is removable and machine washable, of course, and features a no-slip bottom. The makers also advertise the Cylen Memory Foam seat cushion as able to alleviate discomfort associated with hemorrhoids, pregnancy, coccyx injuries, and more.
All of these qualities combined help make this one of the most feature-rich adult booster seats on the market.
Highlights:
- BAMBOO CHARCOAL INFUSION – provides superb ventilation, reduces temperature from rising, and uses activated charcoal to remove unwanted smells and stains
- STATE OF THE ART MEMORY FOAM – provides quality comfort and pain relief for the user, no matter where they are
5. Everlasting Comfort Car Cushion
- UPGRADES THE FEEL OF YOUR CAR SEATS: Made with 100 percent premium memory foam, the car seat cushion provides the extra padding needed to support a better driving experience
- TAILBONE PAIN SUPPORT: Hard seating can lead to unwanted pressure in the tailbone. Our car cushion's "U" shaped cutout suspends your coccyx, reducing discomfort
We’ve featured the Everlasting Comfort office seat cushion above, but Everlasting Comfort is a popular brand that also makes a product specifically with car use in mind. This product costs only $33 and is made of three-inch thick memory foam. The thickness not only assists with seeing over the wheel, but also ensures car rides are as comfortable as possible.
Like many adult booster seats on the market, the Everlasting Comfort Car Cushion is crafted with a “U” shaped cutout to suspend one’s coccyx (making this a perfect option if one has sustained an injury to that area due to a fall). It also boasts a non-slip bottom to better help it stay in position.
Additionally, a carrying strap is included to make the portage of this seat cushion as convenient as possible. The only potential downside of this cushion are the reports that it can stain leather car seats. If your car seats are fabric, this likely will not affect you. On the other hand, if you have a luxury vehicle with leather seats, you may want to avoid this particular booster seat.
Highlights:
- UPGRADES THE FEEL OF YOUR CAR SEATS: Made with 100 percent premium memory foam, this car seat cushion provides the extra padding needed to support a better driving experience
- TAILBONE PAIN SUPPORT: Hard seating can lead to unwanted pressure in the tailbone. This car seat cushions “U” shaped cutout suspends your coccyx, reducing discomfort
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age or weight should you consider using an adult booster seat?
If you are below 80-100 pounds as an adult, a booster seat can provide an added layer of safety while in a car. If you are below 5 feet in height, and especially if you are below 4 feet 9 inches in height, it may be a good idea to use a booster seat or seat cushion to help ensure proper seatbelt alignment while in a moving vehicle.
Are there any disadvantages to using adult booster seats?
While adult booster seats can be beneficial for individuals who are shorter in stature or have difficulty with proper seatbelt fit, there are also some disadvantages and considerations associated with their use. They offer limited protection, and in the event of a car crash, they may not offer as much structural support as a car seat. Improper use of booster seats can compromise their effectiveness. Lastly, not all vehicles are compatible with booster seats, and some booster seats or seat cushions may not fit properly or securely in certain vehicles.
Where are other places I can use my booster seat?
In addition to in the car or in an office chair, other great places to bring your booster cushion are on a plane, to the doctor’s office, or other places where you may have to wait in an uncomfortable waiting room for a while, or even to a family members or friends house for a dinner or social gathering. It’s always a good idea to think ahead of ways to make yourself more comfortable!
Final Thoughts on Adult Booster Seats
There are plenty of reasons why an older adult may want to consider a booster seat for driving. These can be a very convenient product to keep at the ready. Whether you’re looking for help seeing over the steering wheel, are recovering from a recent surgery, or simply are looking for a more comfortable car ride, there is an adult booster seat on the market that can fit the bill.
If you are in the market for a booster seat now, check out one of the above designs we’ve mentioned. It’s our opinion here at Elder Guru that these are the best on the market. Given that many other people have and love these products, you’re bound to love at least one of them as well.
We’ve shared our opinions, and now we would love to know your thoughts. Are there other products you feel should have been added to the list? Have you ever tried any of the above products? What are your thoughts on adult booster seats in general? Let us know in the comments below!
Derrick, Author
Derrick has worked as a social worker in a nursing home, as the Social Services Manager at an area agency on aging, as Director of an Adult Day Care at an Alzheimer’s care facility, and has served on the board of the Maine Adult Day Services Association. He’s also worked for the State of Maine as a Research Analyst at the Office of Elder Services. He now works as a Program Manager on Medicaid policy, and writes on topics related to healthy aging, sustainable caregiving, and Alzheimer’s Disease.
2 comments
I already have a similar adult booster seat but my problem is in the right hip. A car accident a long time ago stretched my periformis muscle and now I need to stretch a lot to keep those muscles stretched out. I’m not always good about stretching so do you have a recommendation for me OR, is my only resource to get out of the car on 5 hour trips and stretch several times? Walking doesn’t do it but maybe a new car seat might help. Your input would be appreciated.
That’s a good question to ask your physical therapist. That said, I don’t have hip problems but 5 hours in the car begins to get painful for even me.