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Hall lifts are designed to transfer patients from one place to another, for example from their bed to the bathroom or chair, so that many people can continue to live at home. Elevators can significantly improve the lives of people with limited mobility, otherwise they would not be able to move from one area of ​​the home to another by themselves.

There are many types of Hall lifts, sold at different prices. It is important for the nursing staff who will operate these lifts to receive adequate training, as improper use of the lift may harm the patient or the nursing staff.

"They are great tools," said Cay Ambrose, a rehabilitation clinical support specialist at the Bayada Family Health Center in New Jersey. She is the person in charge of the BAYADAbility program, which serves customers with long-term functional defects. "If used properly, a mechanical lift can make you more independent," she said.

Patient lifts, as they officially know, help caregivers to lift patients from one place to another. They are used in medical facilities and people's homes. Since Hall makes some of the most popular versions, these devices are often referred to as Hall lifts.

The lift “is really suitable for people who are bedridden, and this may be caused by chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease, or even advanced dementia,” said Lisa Kugasi, registered nurse and director of nursing at Comfort Keepers. Cugasi) said. Provide home care services worldwide. People who cannot bear their own weight for a long time can benefit from these weightlifting. "

Although Hall lifts are often used to help elderly people, Ambrose points out that they can also help disabled children. In fact, Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines state that healthcare workers should not lift more than 35 pounds.

There are many kinds of Hall elevators. Ambrose said that the most popular ones are often powerlifts because they are very simple to use. The type of lift people should use depends on several factors, such as price and your insurance coverage.

Electric patient lifts-which can be plugged into a wall or powered by rechargeable batteries-are generally considered the easiest to operate. "I can raise and lower it with the push of a button," Ambrose said.

Ambrose said that this type of equipment is also called a hydraulic lift, and it is the only type of equipment that Medicare pays for. Manual lifts are powered by hydraulic pumps and are relatively easy to use, but are much more difficult than simply pressing a button on an electric lift.

When the patient transitions from a sitting position to a standing position (rather than helping the lying person move to a chair), the sit-up lift helps protect the patient.

"It's almost like a cross between a manual lift and an electric lift, but it is suitable for people with slightly more physical strength," said Adrianna Ware, a registered nurse and nurse educator at CareAcademy, which provides online nurse training. She said that if the person being promoted can assist in the lifting in any way, a sit-up lift is usually a good choice.

Although most patient lifts are free-standing, the ceiling lift (as the name suggests) is attached to the ceiling. Tracks are installed on the ceiling to help save floor space-which is one of the reasons why some people think they are particularly convenient.

"The good thing is that it's on the ceiling, and you don't have a big, bulky machine somewhere," Ambrose said. But they are expensive, depending on the complexity of the track, she said.

Patient lifts can be very useful-but experts agree that the correct use of patient lifts is essential to everyone's safety.

Consider using these tips at home.

Before using the patient lift, you should receive professional training. Usually, the medical supply company that delivered the lift will show you how to use the lift. Otherwise, please contact your local home healthcare company, they can help you learn to operate the equipment at home. There are also YouTube videos that provide online tutorials.

As pointed out by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), patients may fall from the elevator, causing injuries such as head trauma and fractures, and even death. Therefore, it is very important to receive training and a lot of practice before operating the Hall elevator.

In addition to training, the most important thing is to know that "it should be operated by two or more people," Kugasi said. "No one should do it themselves."

You also need to prepare the environment in advance: remove debris and make sure the space is clean, Ware said. When using an elevator, you don't want something to get in the way.

According to the FDA, determining which sling is appropriate depends on factors such as a person's height, weight, and hip size. Ambrose said that the preferences of caregivers and what makes them comfortable is another important factor. Common types of slings include:

Once the lifted person is securely secured in the sling, you can lift and lower it. First, raise them 2 inches and perform a quick safety check: Is their weight evenly distributed between the shoulder straps to avoid slipping out?

Once the weight of the person you lift is evenly distributed, continue lifting slowly, only to the necessary height. The FDA recommends using gentle pressure to lower the patient to a bed, wheelchair, toilet, or other receiving surface. Before you release their weight, make sure their bodies are in the correct position. When releasing, do not let the sling hit the lifted person.

Once the person is lowered, remove the sling, being careful not to injure their skin.

Ware pointed out that caregivers should not lift someone from the floor. And it is important that the person operating the lift can always see the face of the person being lifted. "They should never support you," she said.

Finally, during the whole process, comfort the carried person. "We told them,'Don't worry, you are safe, we are here, we have you,'" Kugasi said, "because some people, especially those with dementia, when they feel like they have gotten out of bed ."

If you want your private insurance company or Medicare to pay for the Hoyer lift, you need a doctor's prescription. Most people buy or rent Hoyer lifts through local medical supply stores. Kugasi said there are still some stores where you can buy refurbished equipment at lower prices.

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Angela Haupt has been a health writer and editor for more than ten years. She was previously the executive editor of the Health Department of the U.S. News and News Agency. World Report, where she spent 11 years reporting and editing health and condition topics. She helped launch the popular best diet rankings and continued to oversee the franchise throughout her time there. Angela has also written articles on health and wellness for publications such as The Washington Post, USA Today, Daily Health, and Verywell Fit. She is passionate about helping people make healthier decisions through accurate news reports to provide facts and put them in context.

Alena is a professional writer, editor, and manager who has dedicated her life to helping others lead a better life. She is also a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and a functional medicine certified health coach. She brings more than ten years of media experience to Forbes Health, focusing on building content strategies, ensuring top content quality, and enabling readers to make the best health and wellness decisions for themselves.