A Guide To The Best Hoyer Lifts

Patient lifts can be extremely helpful, but it’s vital for everyone’s safety to use them correctly, experts agree.

Consider these tips for using one at home.

Getting Started

Before using a patient lift, an operator should be professionally trained. Often, the medical supply company delivering your lift can show you how to use it. Otherwise, contact a local home health company to learn to operate the equipment safely at home. There are also YouTube videos to provide online access to tutorials or refresher courses.

As the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) points out, patients can fall from lifts, causing injuries like head trauma and fractures and even death. For this reason, it’s important to receive training-and complete plenty of practice runs before operating a Hoyer lift.

Beyond training, the most important thing to know, “is that it should be operated by two or more people,” says Cugasi. “No one should do it by themselves.”

You also need to prepare an environment ahead of time: Remove clutter and make sure the space is clear, says Ware. You don’t want things to get in the way while the lift is in use.

Using the Right Sling

Determining which sling is appropriate depends on factors like a person’s height, weight and hip measurement, according to the FDA. Caregiver preference and what’s comfortable for them is another important factor, says Ambrose. Common types of slings include:

• Universal slings, or U-slings, which support the entire body and often make the most sense for transporting people from the bed to the toilet.
• Full body slings, which offer a high back and solid head support.
• Standing slings, which suit those with partial mobility, as well as head and neck control.

Lifting and Lowering

Once the person to be lifted is safely secured in the sling, you’re ready to lift and lower. First, lift them 2 inches and do a quick safety check: Is their weight spread evenly between the straps so they won’t slide out?

Once the person’s weight you’re lifting is evenly distributed, slowly continue lifting, going only as high as necessary. Using gentle pressure, lower the patient toward the bed, wheelchair, toilet or other receiving surface, the FDA advises. Make sure the person”s body is in the correct position before you release their weight. When you release, don’t let the sling bar hit the person lifted.

Once the person is lowered, detach the sling, being careful not to hurt their skin.

Ware notes that caregivers should never lift someone from the floor. And it’s important that the person operating the lift is able to see the face of the person being lifted at all times. “They should never have their back to you,” she says.

Finally, throughout the entire process, comfort the person being lifted. “We’re telling them, ‘Don’t worry, you’re very safe, we’re here, we’ve got you,'” says Cugasi, “because some people, especially those with dementia, get very scared when they feel themselves lifted off the bed.”