What is the difference between the Hoyer lift and the patient lift?

According to the Amputee Coalition, more than 5.6 million people in the United States will be living with lost limbs in the year 2024. These patients are in constant need of multiple kinds of mobility aid. In this regard, several lifts are available in the US markets which can assist the process of moving the patients from bed to commodes and vice versa. Among these, a Hoyer lift is a type of support system that enables the caregiver to move bedridden patients from one location to another with complete safety. Let us know more about the patient lift and Hoyer lift and learn how they differ from other patient lifts.

Hoyer Lifts: A Floor-Based Patient Lifting System

The Hoyer lifts are the patient lifts that can transfer the users from one place to another via comfortable slings which are tied to the body and provide maximum coverage as nearly 2/3^rd of the patient’s upper body is supported. As a result, the pressure on the patient’s legs and truck is significantly reduced. Moreover, these can also be easily adjusted based on the patient’s weight and size. The hoyer lifts are also uncomplicated to operate for easy seating.

Different Between Patient Lift and Hoyer Lift

Hoyer lifts vary from other types of patient lifts in several characteristic features. In some conditions, these enjoy superiority over other lifts while in others, there is still a need for improvement in design and functionality. Some of these features have been enlisted as follows:

· Suitability for Bedridden Patients

Based on a patient’s disease condition, a suitable body lift should be selected. For instance, the hoyer lifts are ideal for use in patients who cannot handle their body weight at all. This includes the elderly, disabled, as well as those who suffer from severe injuries. However, other patient lifts like the sit-to-stand options usually suitable for those patients who can manage their weight up to an extent.

· Weight-Bearing Slings

Another feature that renders the Hoyer lifts preferable over other products is the presence of comfortable slings. These slings are available in different sizes and are also adjustable. These lift slings can carry the maximum weight of a patient with ease. In the case of other lifts, either the slings are altogether absent or they are not designed to bear approximately all of the patient’s weight. However, with ceiling lifts, slings of multiple sizes and designs are provided for serving different functions.

· Ample Postural Support

As the Hoyer lifts provide full postural support, the incidence of the occurrence of an injury due to their use is near zero. However, in the case of other patient lifts, the lack of postural support can lead to mishaps in some cases.

· Ease of Storage

As the patient lifts are purchased by a person for long-term operation, these need to be stored as well when not in use. Therefore, a patient lift that can be folded into a compact size is usually in demand as it requires minimum space. The Hoyer lifts lack this easy storage feature as they have a wider construction that cannot be folded. Hence, these might not be a suitable option for you if you are looking for something that can be easily used and stored in a smaller home setting.

· Availability of Different Types

Most patient lifts come in different types based on the way they can be operated. Similarly, the Hoyer lifts offer an outstanding range of options i.e. manual, hydraulic, as well as battery-powered lifts. This way, the buyers get multiple options to choose from depending on their needs and requirements.

· Necessity of a Caregiver

Unlike some patient lifts, the Hoyer lifts cannot be operated by one person thus generating the need for the services of a caregiver. The patients cannot put on the slings by themselves which makes these products difficult to be used without help. However, some other patient lifts e.g. sit-to-stand as well as ceiling lifts can be used by the patients all by themselves without any assistance.

· Hygiene Cutouts

With the majority of the patient lifts, it is easy for the users to use the restroom as they do not cover the pelvic area. However, the slings of the Hoyer lifts transfer the patient in such a way that the whole pelvic region gets covered. Resultantly, the slings need to be removed once the lift transfers the patient from the floor or bed to the toilet seat. This feature increases the complexity and makes the user experience poor. Therefore, for the sake of comfort and convenience, the patient lifts which have slings with hygiene cutouts should be chosen among which the ceiling lifts are a good option.

A one-to-one comparison of the features of different kinds of patient lifts has been given in the following table:

Parameters	Hoyer Lifts	Ceiling Lifts	Sit-to-Stand Lifts
Portability		✔
Weight-bearing capacity	High	Moderate to High	Moderate
Suitability for bedridden patients	✔	✔
Ease of storage		✔	✔
Variation in slings	✔	✔	✔
One-user operation		✔	✔
Ease of mobility		✔	✔
User-friendly in toilet		✔	✔

Hoyer Patient Products, Brands, and Specifications

When it comes to the available brands for hoyer lifts, there is a wide range of products that can be purchased from the US market. Despite the fact that all these brands are good and reliable, some of them are simply better in performance than others. A few of these reliable brands of Hoyer lifts are as follows:

Joerns Hoyer Advance Portable Patient Lift

Joerns Hoyer’s advanced portable patient lift is a product that is portable and lightweight due to the use of aluminum as its construction material. In terms of design, the product is sleek, compatible, and has several patient lift slings. It only weighs 59 pounds but has the tremendous capacity to lift a weight to 340 pounds (lbs). The Joerns lifts are manually operated products and have a hydraulic working mechanism.

Hoyer Journey Sit to Stand to Lift

Hoyer Journey sit-to-stand lift is a product with best-in-class functionality. These sit-to-stand lifts are designed in a way that comforts the patient as well as the caregiver. The product has features such as its light weight and portability which make it the patient’s favorite patient lift.

Moreover, the Hoyer Journey sit-to-stand lifts can also be folded and made into compact-sized products that can be easily stored or carried from place to place. These can be maneuvered in tight spaces which makes them an ideal choice for hospitals as well as homes with limited storage space.

Joerns Hoyer HML400 Classic Manual Patient Lift

Joerns Hoyer HML 4000 classic patient lift is one of the manually operated patient lifts that come with a pump and an ergonomic handle. The product has a weight capacity of up to 400 pounds (lbs) which makes it suitable for multiple patients.

Another useful feature of the product is that it can be rolled under the bed or a chair which makes it easy to store. Being an ergonomic hydraulic lift, the product is easy to use and uncomplicated to rotate in every direction. The product is suitable for tasks like lifting the patient from bed to the wheelchair and from chair to the toilet safely.

In addition, the Joerns lifts also act as floor lifts as their patient lift system is designed to be used in lifting the patients from the floor to the bed, etc. This manual lift has adjustable legs which can be widened as well as narrowed down based on the patient’s needs. Such types of lifts are best suited for easy seating and bathing.

Other Patient Lifts

Stedy Sit to Stand Manual Patient Lift Aid

Sara Stedy’s stand patient lift aid is a long-lasting stand-up patient lift made up of high-quality aluminum. With a turning radius of 46 inches, the product can be easily rotated around tight turns and has a weight capacity of up to 400 pounds (lbs). These patient lifts are excellent to be used in home settings. The design of the product is versatile and adjusts to the user’s daily activities.

Moreover, the Stedy lift has a total-lock castor which anchors the lift in its place while it is held in a stationary position. The cross-bar handle of the product allows the patient to get supported while using the Stedy sit-to-stand patient lift. Due to its features, the Sara Stedy lift has received the award of DSDC Product Accreditation Rating Class 1B.

Lumex Stand Assist Battery-Powered Patient Lift

Lumex stand assist battery-powered patient lifts are specially designed for the elderly with restricted moving capabilities. The product can conduct patient transfers for individuals who have a body weight up to 400 pounds (lbs). The platform of the product can be quickly removed when needed. The working principle is based on an ergonomic system that can be controlled by a remote control, emergency stop button, and battery level indicator.

However, to use this product, the patients should be able to bear some of their weight by themselves as well. Due to its distinct features, the product can help patients in gait training. Therefore, the Lumex stand assist power lifts can be used in rehab centers for therapy as well as for mobility maintenance.

Drive Medical 13023SV Handicap Hydraulic Lift

Drive Medical 13023SV handicap hydraulic lift has a load capacity of 450 pounds and comes in black. The product comes with a height of 72 inches and a length of 48 inches along with a width of 42 inches. It. Its full waterproof feature makes it one of the ideal lifts for home use.

The drive medical patient lift has 4 full body slings with straps for safer patient lifting. These patient lifts are suitable to be used in indoor as well as outdoor settings. It has four wheels which can be adjusted to transfer patients from one place to another.

This product comes in a way that it needs to be assembled before use which means it can be disassembled for easy storage when not in use. The item is suitable for the elderly, disabled, as well as injured individuals who need assistance either temporarily or permanently.

Drive Medical 13023SV Handicap Hydraulic Lift, Silver Vein

Drive Medical 13023SV handicap hydraulic lift has all the above-mentioned features. However, in addition, its construction material is steel-welded silver vein which makes it suitable for lifting heavy weights comfortably. The product also has a 6-point swivel bar which can accommodate 2 to 4 sling straps that are connected to 2 chains.

The Hoyer lifts and other patient lifts mentioned in this article, along with many other medical supplies, can be purchased from Health Supply 770, a reliable name when it comes to medical products. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and provide your products to you in the shortest possible time. Click the link at the end of the article to check the wide range of patient lifts on the website.

Conclusion

Among different kinds of patient lifts, the Hoyer lifts have high suitability for patients who are either permanently bedridden or in need of mobility assistance on a temporary basis. These are available in manual as well as ergonomically operated hydraulic design along with battery operated option. However, when compared to other patient lifts, the Hoyer lifts might not always be the best option.

While choosing a suitable option for your patient, it is important to understand the patient’s needs as well as the functions that the lift has to perform. As a general rule, the Hoyer lifts are considered suitable for patients who are completely bedridden and cannot bear their weight at all. As for those who can tolerate some of their weight, other options can also be looked into. Purchasing medical devices from reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 ensures the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.

Click to Order from Health Supply 770

Joerns Hoyer Advance Portable Patient Lift

Hoyer Journey Sit to Stand Lift

Joerns Hoyer HML400 Classic Manual Patient Lift

Stedy Sit to Stand Manual Patient Lift Aid

Lumex Stand Assist Battery-Powered Patient Lift

Drive Medical 13023SV Handicap Hydraulic Lift

Drive Medical 13023SV Handicap Hydraulic Lift, Silver Vein

References

https://www.amputee-coalition.org/limb-loss-resource-center/over-5-million-americans-living-with-limb-loss-limb-difference/#:~:text=The%20findings%20indicate%20that%20in,people%20living%20with%20limb%20difference.