Somebody will sit in that chair. Usually it is you, or a sibling, or the person with the next shift. The chair often gets chosen in a hurry, from a catalog or a delivery truck, and then it is used for hours at a time through the night in a room that has to stay quiet. Judge it the way you would judge a chair for your own long hours: by how it holds your body over a long stretch, and by how quickly it can be cleaned.
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Measure the room first
Measure from the bed's edge to the nearest door, and from the bed to the window and the lamp. Mark the path you walk when you get up in the dark. The chair should leave that path clear with the recline fully open. If it cannot, a recliner becomes an obstacle every time someone passes it.
Sit in it, or test it at home
A chair that looks right in a showroom may not suit someone who is up and down all night. Check the seat depth and height, whether you can stand up from it without pulling on the arms, and whether the back supports your lower back when reclined. If you cannot try one in person, ask the store whether a return is allowed once the chair has been used in the house, and how long the return window runs.
Compare the recline and the power
A manual recline needs no outlet. A power recline needs an outlet close enough that the cord does not cross the path to the bed. Find out whether the mechanism carries a warranty, what that warranty covers, and who services it and how far away they are.
Compare the arms, the footrest, and the weight rating
Arms set too low make it hard to push up from the seat. Arms set too high make it hard to settle back. Check the listed weight capacity, and check the frame, not only the cushions. If the chair has a footrest, confirm that it opens without stepping over the front rail.
Compare the fabric by how it cleans
Upholstery labels carry cleaning codes. Learn what the letters mean before you buy, because a fabric that can only be spot cleaned is a different household job from one that can be washed. Choose a covering you can wipe down quickly after a long night, and ask whether the seat cushion comes off for cleaning.
Ask the seller before you pay
Ask whether delivery brings the chair into the room, whether setup is included, and what the return policy says once the chair has been opened. Ask whether the hospice or a medical equipment supplier rents a sleep recliner. Compare that rental against the purchase on what you keep, what you clean, and who collects the chair once the room no longer needs it. Do that comparison on paper before the delivery day.