Patient Lift Advice

Patient Lift Advice

What is a patient lift, and why do I need one?

A patient lift is a device to aid family members and caretakers in the transfer of the patient from one location to another. It consists of a base with wheels, a boom with hooks for the sling, and a sling. It can be used to transfer the patient from a bed to a wheelchair, a bed to a sitting chair, and a variety of other applications. The use of a patient lift greatly reduces the physical strain that can occur during a transfer. This creates a more pleasant interaction between the patient and caregiver.

Types of patient lifts

The two most basic categories of patient lift are: manual and power. A manual lift uses a hydraulic hand lever to manually raise and lower the boom. The manual lift is the most economical solution for patient transfers. A power lift is very similar, except that is uses a rechargeable battery to raise and lower the boom, instead of a hand lever. Both manual and electric patient lifts use slings that are attached to the boom using a 2 or 4 hook system.

The stand up lift is different in that the patient must be able to partially support themselves in order to use this type of lift. They place their feet on a platform attached to the base and the sling goes under their legs, or around their torso instead of being fully suspended as they are with the standard type of lift.

Heavy duty patient lifts are available in manual, power, and stand up frames to accommodate patients that require the extra support. They are usually wider, using thicker tubing, use heavy duty hinges, and have reinforced joints.

Bath lifts are used to assist patients in and out of the tub. They use a battery pack that is water tight, and the patient is lowered and lifted with an corded hand controller. A bath lift can be used in conjunction with any other lift to make care and hygiene maintenance a breeze

Things to consider

In order to decide which patient lift is right for you, proper measurements should be taken of all doorways and other areas that the lift must pass through. In order to ensure proper safety, the patient’s weight must never exceed the weight capacity of the lift. Also, the minimum and maximum boom height should be equivalent to the bed height (minimum) and not exceed the top height of your doorways (maximum).

Also keep in mind that there are several different types of slings available. A mesh sling might be used when the lift will be used while the patient is still wet from a bath or shower, but some individuals feel more secure in a solid sling. There are also slings available for special applications such as the slings that we offer with a commode cutout.