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If you’re in the marketing for a patient lift for your home or facility, the first question you should ask yourself is whether you want an electric or a manual lift.
A manual patient lift relies on power supplied by the operator—usually through a hydraulic pump. An electric patient lift uses a motor, usually powered by a rechargeable battery. Manual lifts are usually less expensive because they require fewer parts; they have no electronics, motors, hand controls, control boxes, or batteries. On the other hand, although the hydraulic pumps are usually very easy to operate, they do require a little more effort than their electric counterparts.
Generally, hospitals and other facilities prefer the convenience of electric lifts, while manual lifts are a good choice for home settings. However, an electric lift may also be preferred in a homecare situation where there is only a single caregiver to operate it. With an electric lift, that caregiver can use one hand to operate the lift while the other steadies the patient.
But, the questions of electric vs. manual is just the beginning of the many patient lift options available to you.
Here are four of the most common types of patient lifts for uses beyond the basic: