Hoyer Lifts For Your Bedside Patient
A Hoyer lift is a mechanical lift that is used to transfer patients from their beds to a wheel chair, reclining chair or bedside commode. It is used for patients that are either completely unable to move by themselves or partially so. A Hoyer lift is normally electric or hydraulic in mechanism. The older types of Hoyer lifts were cranked by hand.
Patient and Hoyer Lift Slings
Hoyer lifts come with a piece of cloth, most normally made of canvas or nylon, which is like a hammock that fits underneath the patient. The cloth is attached to straps that have chains and a hooking device on them, to attach to the cloth. When attached properly, the Hoyer Lift can move patients safely with no strain, to either the patient or the caregiver.
Benefits to Hoyer and Patient Lifts
There are many benefits to using a Hoyer Lift. They not only provide the patient with a more comfortable transfer but they allow the caregiver to be able to move the patient without straining his or her back or other muscles. Although it is a good idea to have two people available when using the lift, it is not necessary. One person who is trained properly to use the patient lift, can do so, safely. A Hoyer lift can also lift patients that are too heavy to be, comfortably or safely moved, otherwise. In a hospital or nursing home setting, Hoyer lifts allow a single nurse to transfer the patient, instead of needing several nurses, to turn and lift. The lift is also more comfortable for patients that have trouble bending because it allows them to remain supine or laying flat and gently putting them into a sitting position.
A Hoyer Lift can be very useful if you are caring for a loved one at home that has become immobile. Using this type of lift is not hard to learn and all types and styles come with specific instructions on the proper way to use them. Using a lift decreases the rate of injury to both the patient and the caregiver. It allows the patient to be moved with more privacy as it only requires one person to operate it.
Patient Transfer Lift Costs
Some insurance companies will pay for the entire cost of a Hoyer lift while others will only cover part of the cost. You may need a note from the patient’s doctor, advising that the lift is necessary. The cost of a Hoyer Lift can vary greatly. The average cost is approximately $1,500, but can be much more depending on the type you choose to purchase. You can also find less expensive brands or used patient lifts, but you will need to make sure they are compatible with the patients needs, such as how much weight will they lift.
