What Are Patient Lifts Used For?
Patient lifts help safely transfer immobile patients from one place to another. They reduce the physical effort required to move the patient, reducing the risk of injury to caregivers.
Modern lifts are compact and can easily maneuver around tight spaces in the patient’s home. They are available in a wide variety of configurations to meet the needs of the patient and caregiver. You can even read more about patient lifting hoists from various online sources.
Patient Lifts – The Basics
Manual medical lifts use levers and hydraulic pumps to reduce the effort required by the caregiver to move the patient.
They are affordable and lightweight but not well suited for caregivers with limited strength. Powered lifts use rechargeable batteries and require virtually no effort from the caregiver. They are ideal for heavier, larger patients and home situations with a single caregiver for the patient.
A powered lift allows the caregiver to use one hand to operate the lift while the other steadies the patient. Each lift has a maximum weight capacity that absolutely must not be exceeded.
Patient Lifts – Bottom Parts
Patient lifts commonly have an adjustable U-shaped base. The base legs can be moved close together to move through doorways and around furniture.
The lift is able to position the patient over the toilet when the base legs are moved apart.
Caregivers can adjust the base with a manual lever or electronic controls depending on the model.
Powered bases are more expensive but they eliminate the twisting/bending movement required to manually adjust the base width. Caregivers can effortlessly open and close the powered base legs of the Invacare Reliant 600 by using buttons on the hand pendant.