April 29, 2022

How to Choose a Patient Lift

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Patient lifts can be very important pieces of equipment in both the home and in medical facilities.

These are used to assist caregivers in the transportation of patients with limited mobility. Patients need to move between beds, wheelchairs, toilets, and showers, and patient lifts can help tremendously with that. There are a few different types of patient lifts, and they are used for patients who have different degrees of mobility in nursing homes, hospitals, other healthcare facilities, and in people’s own homes.

It can be somewhat of a challenge to know when a patient lift is necessary. These are designed to minimize the physical effort that the caregiver needs to expert when transporting a patient with limited mobility. It used to be the case that patient lifts were too bulky and voluminous to really be of use at home. However, nowadays, patient lifts are much lighter and safer, as well as more economical and less expensive. They are much easier to handle for both the caregiver and the patient, overall.

Because there are so many types of patient lifts, it can be a challenge when trying to figure out which patient lift is best. In order to know how to choose the best patient lift, one should first utilize resources such as a patient lift buying guide to learn a bit more about patient lifts.

Patient Lift Buying Guide

There are many things that a person should know when they are figuring out which patient lift to purchase.

Types of Patient Lifts

There are several different styles of patient lifts; there are portable rolling lifts, single or multi-post overhead lift systems, and ceiling mounted track systems. Typically, factors such as the severity and permanence of the patient’s condition will dictate the type of system that will ideally need to be installed as well as things like space, budget, capability of the caregiver, etc. For example, ceiling mounted track systems are typically purchased and installed for individuals with a permanent and progressive condition. These can be costly and require permanent modification to the home with a fairly extensive installation process.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Patient Lift

When you are trying to figure out how to choose the best patient lift, there are a few factors that you need to keep in mind. These will depend on the individual needs of the facility or patient, such as the types of positions the patient actually needs assistance with. Some important considerations are as follows:

Weight capacity. The weight of the patient needs to be considered when choosing a patient lift to ensure the equipment can handle the load. There are special bariatric models available for larger patients; these can accommodate 1,000+ pounds.
Size of lift. Lifts come in many sizes and styles, and you need to make sure that you find one that can actually fit into the rooms of your house and areas that the patient needs to be transported through.
Portability. Some patient lifts are foldable, detachable, or small enough to easily transport from one room to the next. If this is something that’s needed, this should be made a priority.
Range of lift height. There should be a wide range of lifting heights; ideally, the lift will be able to reach all the way down to the floor to lift someone who has fallen, and it will be able to go high enough to lift patients up to a high mattress height (usually up to 66 inches).
Controls and switches. The best electronic lifts will have some sort of control that will stop the lift motor instantly in case of an emergency. They should also have manual overrides so that if they end up losing power, the caregiver can still move the patient to the necessary location.
Slings. There are many slings that are available as a part of a patient lift that can address the unique needs of a patient.

Conclusion

There are many things that you need to take into account when you are looking for a patient lift, whether you are the patient or the caregiver, which is why a patient lift buying guide can be very helpful. You need to consider not only the specific medical needs of the patient but also other available resources, such as space and the ability to transport the lift. Choosing a patient lift can be a very important task, as this is a tool that can assist with patient mobility and have a significant impact on the patient's quality of life.

The EZ-ACCESS ORBIT® Patient Transfer Lift is a great option for many and you can read more about this unique lift by visiting our product page here. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.