Patient Lifts and Slings For Safety and Comfort
Patient lifts and slings are an essential part of home health care when a person requires help getting out of bed, getting up from a sitting position or when they need help moving from one spot to another.
From manual patient lifts to electric patient lifts to scales and slings, there are a wide variety of effective patient lifting devices available in today’s medical supplies market which affects how the lift operates for the caregiver and occupant.
There are a number of factors you should take into consideration before making a purchase, including how much you are willing to spend, where is the lift going to be used, how much the occupant weighs and how often you will be using the lift.
By answering the questions below, you can best assess the type that will best suit your needs.
The basic questions to ask before buying a Patient Lift are:
- Is the lifting to be done from a seated or a prone position?
- Does the occupant have a lack of extremity use or spasticity?
- Can the patient utilize the provided hand grips?
- Is collapsible design a necessity?
The primary advantage of all the general purpose patient lifts is that they enable a single caregiver to meet a wide range of safe patient handling requirements for patient and caregiver injury prevention.
Patient Lifts can widely be classified into 4 categories:
- Manual Patient Lifts
- Power Patient Lifts
- Stand-Up Patient Lifts
- Heavy-Duty Patient Lifts
Other Patient Lift Resources include:
- Lifting Slings
- Lift Accessories
Power Patient Lifts
Electric Patient Lifts come equipped with enormous power enabling them to accommodate a wider range of patients.
Electric Patient Lifts are often able to hold up to six hundred pounds and feature power-operated bases that allow for customized structuring.
They feature an ergonomic design, which makes patient transfers much easier and less stressful for both the patient and the caregiver. Additionally, electric patient lifts also offer long, padded handles with various grip choices to accommodate users of different heights.
Further, electric patient lifts operate via a rechargeable battery pack or plug-in cord and also include a manual override feature in case of a power outage. Due to these features, electric patient lifts are more expensive than their manual counterparts.
Stand-Up Patient Lifts
Stand-Up Patient Lifts are designed for the caregiver to assist patients in standing from a seated position, dressing or undressing, and/or moving the patient from a wheelchair to a commode or bed.
Stand-Up lifts are ideal for patients who are too weak to stand without assistance. Stand-up patient lifts are preferred over general purpose floor lifts because they provide the patient a greater degree of independence and participation and at the same time promotes circulation and joint range and improves clinical outcomes by enabling the patient to stand for a period of time.
Heavy-Duty Patient Lifts
Heavy-duty Patient Lifts are capable of lifting up to 1000-lbs. Heavy-duty Patient Lifts are ideal homecare equipment for transferring bariatric patients from bed to wheelchair, wheelchair to commode or bath etc.
The base legs are generally adjustable and open for additional stability during transfers. The legs of these lifts can also easily close to make the lift as narrow as possible for hallways and doorways.
Additionally, Heavy-duty frame mounts and steel tubing outline such structures in order to guarantee optimum strength to lift heavy loads. All Bariatric Lifts are electrically operated and use 24V rechargeable batteries.
Patient Lift Slings
Patient Lift Slings are easy for the caregiver to use and provide secure support to the patient. These durable, comfortable slings are available in a variety of styles and fabrics to meet specific patient needs.
Getting the right Lift Sling is a vital part of purchasing and using a Patient Lift. Both normal patient lifts and stand-up patient lifts require that the sling is purchased separately, because patient lift slings are available in multiple sizes and styles to meet specific needs.
Each sling is constructed of durable materials which resist deterioration from exposure to moisture or laundering. Patient Lift Slings are available in a variety of styles like full-body sling, sling with toileting cut-out, commode sling and divided leg sling.
Installing patient lifts and slings can prove invaluable to the comfort of both the caregiver and the patient, increasing the quality of life for those who have advanced mobility issues, and enabling those who are temporarily or permanently disabled to remain in their homes rather than having to relocate to a nursing home.
With so many variables at play, choosing the right patient lift can be a daunting task and an uninformed purchase can cost time and money. Luckily, I’ve put together a guide to help you choose the right lift for any user’s unique needs.
Floor Based Patient Lifts
Floor based patient lifts can be moved from room to room and are spatially economical. We offer several models ranging in price and designed to support a wide range of weight. The Hoyer Deluxe Power Patient Lifter features handle grips to reduce back strain and a mechanical lever for non-powered lowering. This model also provides the patient with more leg-clearance and comes equipped with castor bumpers to prevent wall and furniture damage. This patient lift is designed to support up to 400 pounds, folds for compact storage and can easily be moved from room to room.
If you require a standing lift with the utmost support, the Reliant Stand-Up Patient Lift is ideal. This lift supports up to 350 pounds and the adjustment features adapt to a range of body sizes. This patient lift features multi-functioning slings that allow for quick toilet transfers, stand assist and full supported seated transfers.
Tension Mounted Overhead Patient Lifts
Another great in-home lift is the Guardian Voyager Portable Overhead Lifter. It has a lifting capacity from 220-440 pounds, enabling care givers to easily perform safe lifting with less effort, keeping them from getting injured themselves.
Guardian Voyager Portable Overhead Lifter (for Easytrack Systems) The Guardian Voyager Portable Lifter when used with optional Easytrack Systems, offers a revolutionary breakthrough in overhead lifting and transfer technology for the home.
Overhead ceiling lifts solve the problems that traditional floor-based lifts have presented such as difficulty maneuvering over thick carpeting, turning in tight spots, and getting into and around bathrooms.
Although ceiling lifts have been available, they typically require permanent and expensive modifications to the home thus turning it into an institutional setting. Now, with the Guardian Voyager and Easytrack Lift, caregivers can easily transfer family members or loved ones from a bed to a wheelchair, wheelchair to bath or any where else within the range of the Easytrack System without permanently defacing their homes.
A Guardian Voyager with Easytrack System can be the enabling factor that allows the home to be the primary place for care. And because the system is portable and can be setup without tools in as little as 5 minutes, it offers the flexibility to travel.
The Voyager Portable Lifter is the lightest portable lift on the market today. Weighing only 12 pounds with the battery, the Voyager can lift up to 440 pounds.
Its lightweight design allows for portability and easy attachment to any permanent mount or the Easytrack trolley if using one of the Easytrack systems. The smooth, quiet operation ensures the person being transferred is safe and comfortable. The patented Quick Release feature prevents having to lift the Guardian Voyager onto the rail, as well as saves time and battery power.
Features:
- Can be used with optional 2, 3, and 4 post track configurations
- Heavy-duty Lifting Capacity – 440 lbs
- Lightweight – only 12 lbs. (including battery)
- Lightweight and portable – only 12 lbs.
- Quick easy set-up in less than 5 minutes
- Push button feature to Remove and rechargeable Battery pack
- Quick Strap Release Lever – fast winding/unwinding of Strap before and after transfer operation
- Electronic soft-start and Soft-stop
Patient Slings
There are a variety of slings available for rent or purchase depending on patient needs and the type of lift you decide on. Look slings that offer full head and neck support and double padding for comfort, and are machine-washable. Quick-drying mesh fabric makes them ideal for bathing, and handles and strong nylon and polyester straps help to prevent falls. The Hammock 6 Sling was designed with additional straps to prevent falls of agitated or non-cooperative patients.
With four sling points and a padded head support, the Extra Large Patient Lift U-Sling with Head Support by Drive Medical is a valuable accessory to a floor lift.
The solid-design, polyester product does not require an optional chain or strap and can withstand a weight capacity of 600 pounds. The 58″L x 49″W sling includes 4 or 6 cradle points.
Renting Or Buying Patient Lifts and Slings
If you temporarily need patient lifts and slings you may prefer to go with patient lift rentals. Many patient lifts and slings are available to rent as well as purchase.
Also, it is always crucial to investigate the options and familiarize yourself with the safety features of your patient lifts and slings before purchase, and contact the supplier if you have any further questions.
Thoughts, questions, tips? Feel free to comment below.
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