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Choosing a Lift
82
advance
for Providers of Post-Acute Care September/October 2004
www
.
advance
web
.
com
This patient handout was made
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PATIENT HANDOUT
(Cut along the dotted line and photocopy this helpful handout for your patients.)
Lifting mechanisms.
Most modern lifts
have a hydraulic lifting mechanism thats
powered by an electric motor and battery.
The motor is an important feature
because it eliminates the need for care-
givers to pump or crank lifts by hand.
Electric motors also make lifting and
lowering easier, allowing for a smooth,
continuous movement without jerky accel-
erations that are common with older
hand crank or pump lifts. Some manu-
facturers lifts also come with two-speed
motors, with slow and fast options.
Lift height range
. A lift should go to
extremes in height. It should lower to the
floor and help transfer you to a high bed,
if necessary.
Sling position control.
This control
means either the sling is made with han-
dles on the outside, or the sling bar has a
handle as part of a pivoting frame. Its an
important feature since caregivers can use
the handles or bars to help position you
in an upright posture before lowering you
into more recumbent positions.
Battery portability.
This feature allows
caregivers to quickly exchange a dead bat-
tery with a fully charged one. Some man-
ufacturers offer a portable battery system
as a standard feature; others offer it as an
option.
Handheld control.
This feature is typi-
cally a push button control that raises or
lowers the lift mast, which is the main
structural support. Caregivers must be
able to place this control quickly on a lift
during the transfer process, because it will
free up their hands to assist or position
you. For this reason, a control with a mag-
netic attachment is preferred over one
with a clip.
Emergency shut-off control.
This con-
trol, which is separate from the hand held
push button that activates a lifts motor,
stops the motor in case of an emergency.
Its an important feature if caregivers need
to quickly shut off the power to protect
you from harm.
Manual override control.
In a situation
in which the battery loses power during
a transfer, you should have a manual
crank control so you can be safely low-
ered to the ground.
Boom pressure sensitive switch.
This
is another safety feature that senses the
upward resistance of an object or a per-
son caught underneath the boom (a
beam or arm that supports the lifts sling)
and automatically stops the motor. It ulti-
mately reduces the risk of injury if you
inadvertently come in contact with the
boom.
Turnaround for replacement parts.
If
the lift requires repair or a part needs to
be replaced, question how soon the lift
will be back in service. Since many of the
manufacturers sales representatives keep
a stock of replacement parts on hand,
they should be able to provide you with
parts within one or two days. But if they
cant, the part will have to be ordered
from the manufacturer. If this is the case,
a U.S. manufacturer is preferred because
the company can usually provide the parts
faster than a international company.
Manufacturers sales representatives.
Most sales representatives also service
their lifts, so finding a reliable one that
serves your geographic area is an impor-
tant consideration.
While choosing a lift can be daunting,
youll make the right decision if you
understand your options. s
Information adapted from the Depart-
ment of Labor and Industries. Adapted
via www.lni.wa.gov/wisha/ergoideas/Docu
mentsFiles/Idea108_Liftfaq.pdf.
N
early 33 million Americans sustain a severe disability,
according to the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Of them, many
cant bear weight when moving from place to place.
If youre one of these people, you neednt be confined to your bed. Various manu-
facturers offer portable total body lifts that support your entire weight so caregivers
can transfer you safely. Using a total body lift is much safer than someone manually
transferring you, since the lift is specifically designed to handle your weight. When
manually lifting someone, for instance, caregivers must rely on their own strength to
perform transfers, which often means working beyond their physical capabilities.
Most total body lifts are stable, however, requiring little force to push or pull, even
when transferring a heavy person. Theyre also designed with slings that reduce the risk
of skin tears or abrasions. If this sounds like an aid that can help you move around,
learn about the following features on these lifts.
Choosing a Lift
The purpose of this patient education handout is to further explain or remind you about a
medical condition. This handout is a general guide only. If you have specific questions, be sure
to discuss them with your health care provider. This handout may be reproduced for distri-
bution to patients.
Invacare
Continuing
Care Group
1644 Lotsie Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132
www.invacare-ccg.com