All about Patient Lifts: Hoyer, Sit-to-Stand, and Ceiling Lifts

• Posted on 15 January 2024
• By Tristan Mitzel
• 0

Patient lifts encompass the variety of medical equipment designed to lift and transfer patients from one location to another. They may be either powered, semi-electric, or manual. In this article I will be covering three varieties of patient lifts: “Hoyer” lifts (a name brand of standard patient lifts), sit-to-stand lifts, and ceiling/track-mounted lifts. 

Patient lifts are set to become increasingly common in the clinical setting, as states pass safe patient handling laws that mandate the use of patient lifts to transfer patients. In addition, facilities continue to work to reduce patients and caregiver injuries caused by patient transfer (FDA.gov). In this environment, it is also likely that patients and in-home caregivers, whether paid or loved ones of the patient, are also going to mirror the practice of facilities and look to use the same equipment they see utilized in the clinical setting. 

Table of Contents

1. Types of Patient Lifts

2. More about Hoyer Lifts

3. More about Sit-To-Stand Lifts

4. More about Ceiling and Track Mounted Lifts

   1. 1. Tracks and Track Mounts
      2. Selecting a Ceiling Lift
      3. Use Cases and Extra Features

5. Further Reading

There are 3 main types of patient lifts 

Sit-to-stand lifts are the easiest to explain. These lifts are used to aid patients in standing and using their own abilities for locomotion. They are especially popular in the in-home setting for those with a caregiver that doesn’t want to expose themselves to the risk of injury associated with helping their loved one stand up. 

For an idea on the use case: the patient generally will be sitting, either on the side of their bed or in a seat, and after the caregiver rolls the device in front of them, they will grab onto the handles, and will be pulled into the standing position once their caregiver activates the device. 

Hoyer lifts (technically Floor based sling lifts) have a similar design to sit-to-stand lifts, but instead of using the patient's arms to grab onto the “boom”--the part of the device which moves the patient up or down–the caregiver puts a sling underneath the patient and connects the straps of the sling to the lift’s boom via the Sling Bar, and then the machine performs its function for the transfer. 

Ceiling or track mounted lifts (another type of sling lift) are much more advanced than the other two types of patient transfer lifts. They mount into track systems, either in the ceiling, on the floor, or wedged between the two surfaces. They allow for the spaces that a patient inhabits to be more tailored to their accessibility needs on top of saving a (potentially) large amount of floor space. 

Attention: For safe usage guidance please read this Patient Lift Safety Guide published by the FDA

More about Hoyer Lifts

via GIPHY

Hoyer lifts, otherwise known as patient hoists, jack hoists, hydraulic lifts, or sling lifts, are an assistive device that allows patients with disabilities, or otherwise in long term homecare situations, to be more easily transferred between different places. An example of this would be like getting out of a lift recliner to be transferred into a power wheelchair. 

One of the most important parts of the patient lift is the sling which attaches to it. Every sling should be made to fit patients within specific size parameters, like height or weight, and it is important to ensure that the sling is both not too large, so as to be ineffective, and not too small, so as to be uncomfortable. For more guidance on the proper procedure please review this guide from the FDA. 

There are two types of Hoyer lift: electric and hydraulic. Electric lifts use an electric motor to enable the lift motion. Hydraulic lifts, like the one I used in the GIF, use a manual hydraulic mechanism for the boom. Hydraulic lifts do not offer a specific advantage over electric lifts, but they are common because they are significantly more affordable (typically below $1000 brand new).

Pay attention to the specific safety instructions that came with your lift before initial use. Failure to properly use an electric or hydraulic lift can result in dangerous consequences. 

More about Sit-to-Stand Lifts

Sit-to-stand lifts, counterintuitively, are not intended to help patients stand up but are instead another method of transferring patients between locations. For example, from a lift recliner into a bed, or from a wheelchair into a chair. Instead of relying solely on a sling to support the patient, they stand on the footplate of the machine and either grab onto handles, or receive additional support from a sit-to-stand sling. Do not use a sling for a standard sling lift with a sit to stand; only use slings specifically designed for sit to stand devices.  

More About Ceiling or Track-Mounted Patient Lifts

Ceiling lifts offer a versatile solution to transferring in-homecare patients. They can be used for the lifting, transfering, turbing, repositioning, and support of patients with a variety of affective disabilities.

via GIPHY

A track-mounted lift being used to reorient Bearie the Broadway Bear on his bed after he got tired of the view from his side of the bed. 

Tracks and Track Mounts

Ceiling lifts, just like upside down trains, rely on their track to maneuver within their operating space. Tracks from our main supplier of ceiling lifts, Handicare, offer a variety of solutions to the varied needs of different patients. It is just as important for you to consider the rated weight capacity of your track solution as it is to consider the lift capacity of the unit itself. 

Tracks can be mounted in the ceiling, or can be mounted on free standing structures. Handicare offers solutions to tension mount a track system between the floor and ceiling, and ones rely on gravity alone as a free-standing structure, like the one in the gif above.

It is important to consider how you want to use your ceiling lift when considering the track system you want to implement in your care space. If you want to be able to transfer the care-receiver across multiple rooms, Handicare offers bespoke solutions that can allow inter-room transfer, while ensuring clean and safe separation of spaces with a smoke and odor prevention system available. 

Most Handicare ceiling lifts are cross-compatible with existing track installments or infrastructure. 

Selecting a Ceiling Lift Device

There are two main types of machine that you will need to choose between when preparing to install a ceiling lift system: either “portable” or fixed. 

Portable ceiling lifts, like the Handicare P-440, are able to be easily uninstalled and reinstalled across track systems within the care environment. They are more likely to be used along with stand-alone track systems. This gives the option of temporality to those who either think they won’t need the equipment for a longer period of time, or ease of re-installment for use across different rooms at different times. 

Fixed ceiling lifts, like the Handicare C-450, are not able to be easily uninstalled and reinstalled like portable options can be. They do offer a wider selection of extra features that can make them more effective, efficient, or safe within the care setting. I will discuss these extra features available to the C-series of ceiling lifts from Handicare. 

Fixed ceiling lifts from Handicare can be purchased with or without powered movement across the track system. Consider power movement when the caregiver is struggles to maneuver the patient's weight while transferring using the lift, or for patients with the desire to transfer themselves (if they feel they can safely perform the procedure on their own–we, and the FDA, do not recommend this use case, perform at your own risk). 

Use Cases and Extra Features for the C-Series of Track Lifts 

Return to Charger (RTC)

This allows the lift to charge on a designated area of track, and the device will automatically be able to return to this position once the patient has been transferred off of the lift. 

Omni-Charge or Constant Charge

This allows the lift to charge anywhere on the track.

Power Turntable

TurnTables are circular plates that enable multiple exit points so that your Handicare ceiling lift 

can go in different directions. Handicare TurnTables enable up to 14 possible angles for 

exit points and come in three models: Power, Manual and QuickFit.

X-Y

X-Y systems refer to the two axes of 2-dimensional movement. Within their X-Y room (which has tracks installed across the “grid” you want covered) the lift will be able to maneuver to any point within the limits of the area. 

This system is ideal for those that need the extra maneuverability across a range of axes to be able to transfer to any point within the designated area. 

A(P)-Series Ceiling Lifts

The A(P) series of ceiling lifts adds extra clinically-driven features to the well-tested and proven C and P series of ceiling lifts. These features include, antimicrobial materials for the lifting strap, wear monitoring technology built into the lifting straps, additional tilt-ability (for added versatility and ease of use) and advanced monitoring and diagnostic systems. 

Further Reading

Handicare Ceiling Lifts Brochure 

Ceiling-Lift-Institutional_US_Brochure.pdf (handicareusa.com)

FDA.gov: Patient Lifts

Patient Lifts | FDA

FDA.gov (PDF): Patient Lifts Safety Guide

download (fda.gov)