Patient Lifts: Understand, Evaluate, Shop Smartly
The world of patient lifts has changed drastically in even just the past five years. Thankfully, technology along with advances in design, have enabled companies to start producing patient lifts that make the task of moving someone who otherwise has limited mobility far easier. It has become much safer and less dangerous for caregivers as well as patients.
In shopping for a lift, it’s important to first take some time to assess your needs, determine the specific functions for which the lift will be used, and then evaluate what exactly today’s world of patient lifts has to offer. This is meant as a brief guide to help you better understand that which is involved with buying a patient lift. Particularly with something so important and potentially so pivotal when it comes to changing someone’s life for the better, you really do want to take the time to understand as much as you possibly can about it.
More and more, we are seeing people taking care of their aging parents, sometimes even grandparents. And while certainly this is terrific thing, the issue of mobility often comes into question. Perhaps your aging relative cannot stand on their own. Maybe getting them from a wheelchair into the tub or shower seems an impossibility. Sometimes even just getting out of bed can be a monumental task. What a lift does is to take the stress off of the caregiver and make any sort of movement whether upright or horizontal far less of an ordeal for the patient.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, when surveying nurses across the United States it was discovered that there were more than 30,000 injuries directly related to having to lift patients who were otherwise immobile. And these are trained nurses, so for those at-home caregivers such numbers could be even higher. Lifts simply make sense and help keep everyone healthy and secure.
This is something you definitely want to determine prior to shopping for your lift. A manual lift relies largely on the power supplied by the caregiver. Whether or not a manual unit is sufficient will depend on the dynamic between the caregiver and the person for whom the lift is needed. If, for instance, you are a single caregiver and the patient is heavier than you are, a manual lift may not be the ideal solution. Granted, there is far less to worry about in terms of the actual mechanics of the system and far less that can go wrong with a manual lift, but again you want to evaluate the individual situation.
One of the most trusted names in lifts today is Hoyer. They make a very solid line of manual lifts which run on a hydraulic pump mechanism; these are designed to accommodate a range of budgets. That of course is another consideration–the cost. A manual patient lift is going to be less expensive than an electric version.
Now with the electric lift, you definitely get an upgrade as far as ease of operation. And if you are in a situation in which you are the only caregiver in the home, this is probably the better option for you. Again, you want to consider budget as well. Talking to someone knowledgeable about the various types of lifts available can be extremely helpful when evaluating which to buy.
The choice of whether or not to go with a portable patient lift unit is one that you also need to think about as you begin to investigate the options. While the substantive size of the traditional patient lift systems can be prohibitive for some households, the smaller and foldable portable lift could be a more effective choice for you. Not to mention, if you do foresee a number of car trips involved with a patient’s care, then you might definitely want to look into the benefits that a portable lift offers.
For frequent car transfers and greater maneuverability around the house, as well as being more convenient from a storage standpoint, Hoyer actually makes several portable units, to include a full body floor lift version. And they do note that most of their portable lifts fit fairly easily into the trunk of a standard car.
Beyond choosing whether not to go manual or electric, portable or permanent, you also have to consider what specifically (or most often) you will be using the lift for. There are a few different categories of patient lifts available. Which you choose is going to depend on your individual needs as far as helping the person for whom you are caring move about.
Sit-to-Stand: As its name suggests, this type of lift is designed to help a patient go from a sitting position to a standing one. For many, especially the elderly, this simple task can seem incredibly daunting. Facilitating this motion with a lift can take a huge amount of stress off of the patient.
With a Sit-to-Stand lift, the patient must be able to bear at least some of the weight. These are most often used in helping someone stand up from a wheelchair, or from a seated position on the edge of the bed, toilet, or shower bench. The device itself is generally composed of a sling, a metal boom and adjustable base. The key with any patient lift is to move slowly, to reassure the person as you work, and to always utilize the lift under safe conditions.
Standard: There is also a more traditional style lift designed to actually transfer the patient from one area to another. Standard lifts make it so that as a caregiver you can provide the type of environment that someone needs in order to remain in and ideally thrive within their home. Let’s say for instance you need to move the patient from his/her bed to the commode. Many caregivers simply don’t have the capacity to do this on their own, using nothing but their own strength. This is where the use of a lift really does mean the difference between a safe transfer and a potentially dangerous one. There are also patient lifts available that extend to floor level, thereby allowing a caregiver to move someone from the floor back to their bed or wheelchair if necessary.
Heavy Duty: A heavy duty lift is ideal in cases in which the patient weighs more than 300 or 350 pounds. With some rated for up to 1000 pounds, these types of lifts actually make it possible for a caregiver to help mobilize a bariatric patient. In certain circumstances, and depending on the condition of the patient, employing a heavy duty left is the only way that any sort of at-home care could be provided.
Hoyer also makes a highly effective bariatric heavy-duty left. Electrically powered, it drastically alleviates any problems or stress that may arise as a result of moving a larger patient. Adjustable legs and spreader bars make these types of heavy duty lifts easier than ever to maneuver.
Overhead Ceiling Mount Lifts: These types of lifts are most often associated with a permanently installed rail system that is mounted to the ceiling. As with a more standard style lift, ceiling lifts are designed to easily transfer patients from the bed to the commode, bath, or some other area of the home.
One of the main benefits that comes with these types of lifts is the space saving component. Because is it a rail style system, the bulk of the mechanics and hardware associated are located up near ceiling height. The cradle and sling, when not in use, can thus be stowed away, eliminating virtually all bulky components of the lift.
Pool/Bath Lifts: Perfectly safe to use in wet conditions, this category of patient lifts enables a caregiver to securely help someone into and out of the water. These are composed of rust free and bacteria free materials and can be purchased either as an electric model or a hydraulic one.
Most pool or bath lifts have some sort of chair to ensure ease of use and patient comfort. These units can be mounted above ground, as well as in ground. You always want to make sure of the stability of the installation prior to actually using it.
Slings: Lifts, whether power or manual, are designed to be used with a sling. The choice of sling is as important as the choice of lift. You therefore want to take your time and explore the options. For example, should you purchase an easy-to-use U sling, or given the patient’s condition, might they require a full-body sling.
Cradle/Spreader Bar Type: What you also need to consider in tandem with the slings, are the cradles. Cradles are basically the mechanism to which the sling attaches. These will consequently affect patient stability during transfer as well as the ability to move patients in different positions. These most often come in 2, 4 or 6 point styles and, depending on the brand of sling, you may have to shop for a specific cradle. However, there are slings on the market that will attach to multiple types of cradles. The main thing with both slings and cradles that you want to look for are the sizing and weight limitations as they pertain to the patient.
When purchasing something as significant as a patient lift, it is always important to do your research first. You might also speak to the patient’s doctor, express any concerns that you may have, ask any questions that come to mind, and see if they will offer guidance as you prepare your home for the patient in question. The FDA also has some valuable resources for consumers looking into the various types of patient lifts. Some of those resources can be found here: https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ucm308622.htm
The important thing is to take your time, understand your circumstances, and go from there. We would be happy to answer any and all questions that you may have regarding the lifts we offer. With years of experience in this industry, we definitely have insight into some of the best options available.
