What is a Patient Lift?
The comfort and safety of patients are the top priority of any caregiver or nurse, and the tools used to help get the job done must be chosen wisely. For people who face partial immobility, a patient lift is essential. Patient lifts help provide mobility to individuals who experience difficulty moving independently from point A to point B.
A patient lift helps caregivers get users from their bed to a wheelchair or bathroom and back, but there's much more to it with modern designs. This article will explain what a patient lift is and how it can help individuals suffering from various mobility difficulties.
What does a Patient Lift do?
A patient lift comes in many forms: chairs, slings, and even ceiling tracks. Devices like the Mobile Patient Lift come with a commode to allow patients to relieve themselves with dignity, whether during transfers or around their homes. These assistive devices generally allow more accessible transportation to and from essential areas in their unique ways. These lifts help hospital workers, caregivers, and loved ones ensure their occupants are tended to even without mobility.
It's important to note that patient lifts are not the same as stair lifts - they cannot climb stairs or assist in movement from floor to floor.
They come in many different types: powered, manual, and hydraulic operated being a few. In addition, different transfer devices provide various methods of getting patients to their desired locations. For example, multiple lifts can be used to create a patient transfer system for people with more complex needs.
Even these lifts have different varieties and use cases. Patient lifts can be hydraulic powered, manual, fully electric, and more. There are also specialty patient lifts, like:
- Manual Patient Lifts
- Power Patient Lifts
- Stand-Up Patient Lifts
- Overhead Patient Lifts
- Pool Lifts
- Bath Lifts
The variety of lifts available for those in need makes transfer systems much more affordable and accessible than ever before. This is especially helpful for caregivers and in-home nurses with a tighter budget than hospitals.
Who should use a Patient Lift?
Mobility assistance devices are most practical for:
- Patients suffering from partial or complete immobility (in-home or in care facilities)
- People aging at home that need help around the house
- People with limited mobility that have the help of a caregiver
- Patients that are unable to withstand their weight on their knees and need help getting from the bed to other places
What type of patient lift is best?
Patient lifts come in all shapes and sizes, but there are a few things to consider when choosing the perfect fit:
Is the person completely immobile?
Completely immobile users are best suited for slings and ceiling lifts. However, these devices come with considerable downsides for users that don't fit into a small pool of qualifications.
Will the person need to use the lift in the shower?
There are specialty lifts for shower and pool use. It's important to know whether or not your device should be able to get wet. Most devices are not designed for shower use.
Does the person need options for relief?
Some devices offer commode pails for safe and dignified relief during transfers.
In most cases, a sling-based lift is the best option for complete immobility but not the greatest option for patients that retain some mobility. One common issue with sling lifts is the injuries they can cause to workers over time.
Sling lifts can also be humiliating for users that are able to sit up, sometimes even dangerous. They require extensive training to be used properly, and this is an expensive endeavor (especially for hospitals with multiple staff members to train.
Something like the Mobile Patient Lift is ideal for users that face limited mobility (but can hold themselves upright). It removes the stress on the caregiver's body and allows for more comfortable transfers. It's easy to use right out of the box.
Patient Lifts Make Safer Transfers Possible
Modern patient lifts have improved in design and functionality, allowing users to pick their best options. Depending on budget, space, and location, caregivers can find a lift that makes transfers as easy as possible for the user.
Mobile Patient Lift is the transfer device for you if you're in the market for a mobility assistive device and need a safe, reliable alternative to sling lifts. Learn more and get started on the road to better transfers today.
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