Questions to consider before deciding on patient lift
If in a home: What rooms within the home? In a bathroom? In a bedroom? In a family room? Between multiple rooms? What type of flooring do you have? Carpet? Is there space available to operate a rolling patient lift and space to store it when not in use? Evaluate all potential tight areas. Does the bed have clearance under it for the legs of a rolling lift if necessary? What do you know about your ceiling construction?
If in a facility: In a ward? Between multiple rooms? What is the current injury rate for caregivers?
What is the patient's weight and tallness? What is their condition - things that may identify with lifting them? Do they need head uphold? Do they need admittance to a cabinet? Do they have touchy skin? Any limitations to bowing? Do you actually have to bring down patient to or lift persistent from the floor for treatment or after a fall? Is the patient consistently helped?
How strong are they? (Do we have a 120 pound caregiver caring for a 200 pound patient?) They will need to become familiar with the operation of the new lift.
Bed to Chair or Toilet or Tub or Floor and back? Chair to Bed or Toilet or Tub or Floor and back? To/from floor for therapy or in case patient has fallen? Sit to Stand? Repositioning the patient in their chair or bed?
Gait Training? Rolling or otherwise re-positioning the patient in bed? Patient unable to sit? Want to use to visit family members or travel using hotels?
Preventing caregiver injury is a driving force in the purchase/use of patient lifts. Even highly skilled facility caregivers can injure themselves by overexertion and strain. While the use of manual (hydraulic) lifts is a step in the direction of caregiver safety, they still require caregiver exertion. Power-assisted patient lifts are the answer to preventing caregiver injury.
There are many types of lifts available. The primary classes of lifts are:
Whether you choose a ceiling or floor lift, the patient will be lifted in a sling attached to the lift. There are many different slings available. Just to give you an idea, we have an entire page devoted to slings. We'll also help you determine the proper sling.
Track Ceiling lifts make a trip from highlight point or space to room on a track introduced in your roof. The track can be as short as a 6 foot bit of track over the bed and wheelchair zone or as included as track everywhere on a home or office. This track can be straight or bended and can have an assortment of accomplices to assist your patient with getting where they need to inside your home or office.
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