The most common reason that our customers choose to purchase a patient lift is to reduce the risk of injury to both caretakers and patients during transfers. Helping a loved one from their bed into a wheelchair or helping them up from the floor after a fall may seem perfectly safe. However, when these transfers happen frequently they can cause back problems in caretakers and extreme discomfort for patients. In some cases, manual transfers can even result in a serious injury. Patient lifts make transfers safer and more comfortable for everyone involved. Using a patient lift can also make transfers more time-efficient, thanks to clever designs and easy-to-use controls. 

There are many options to consider when looking for a patient lift that will meet your specific needs. Mobile floor lifts and ceiling lifts can be used for transferring patients to and from a bed, wheelchair, floor, recliner, toilet, or commode chair. Sit-to-Stand lifts, on the other hand, require patients to have some degree of mobility and are used to help them to their feet from a seated position. Read on to learn more about the different types of patient lifts.

Deciding between a manual and an electric lift is an important step in the process of choosing a model that will meet your needs. Manual lifts tend to be significantly more affordable and typically use a hydraulic system to raise and lower the patient. This can sometimes make transfers slower, but the patient will still be comfortable and safe the entire time. One of our best-selling manual lifts is the Deluxe Hydraulic Lift by Drive Medical. This affordable and durable patient lift uses a crank arm to lift the patient and a hydraulic lever to steadily lower them. An adjustable base and impressive weight capacity of 450 pounds make this lift a great option for a variety of users. 

Electric lifts use power from a wall outlet or battery to raise and lower the patient, making transfers quick, easy, and safe. Most electric lifts are operated by a hand remote or by controls located on the base of the lift. Electric lifts are generally easier to use than manual lifts, but keep in mind that they require the battery to be charged or the unit to be plugged into an outlet during use. One of our most popular electric lifts is the Advance-E 340 by Hoyer because of its simple yet powerful design. A curved sling bar and a low base height of just 4” allows the lift to slide under low beds or furniture for better access to the patient. This lightweight aluminum lift can also be folded up for transport without any tools, making it a great option for anyone who needs a patient lift they can take with them on the go. Watch the video below for more tips on how to choose the right lift for your specific needs:

Sit-to-stand patient lifts are useful for patients who need assistance getting to their feet from a chair, bed, or wheelchair. As we said earlier, it is important that you only use a sit-to-stand lift for patients with some upper body strength. This type of lift does not usually include a patient sling, so while the patient will have extra support to pull themselves to their feet, it is not the same support offered with a standard patient lift. As with traditional patient lifts, both manual and electric sit-to-stand lifts are available. The Sara Stedy Sit-to-Stand is one of our best-selling manual lifts. This innovative design includes padded knee support and a pivoting seat, allowing the caretaker to easily transfer the patient in a seated position. Take a look at the video below to see the Sara Stedy in action! The Molift Quick Raiser 205 is one of our most popular electric sit-to-stand patient lifts. This compact lift uses a four point suspension system and a patient sling to provide the patient with extra support while getting to their feet. The Molift Quick Raiser 205 comes standard with an easy-to-use hand control. No matter if you choose a manual or electric model, sit-to-stand lifts are a great alternative to having a caretaker help lift a patient to their feet. Again, we recommend using this type of patient lift only for a patient who has some weight-bearing capacity. Discover all of our sit-to-stand lifts by clicking here.

The umbrella term of “specialty lifts” covers all of the patient lifts designed with more specific transfers in mind. For example, the Human Floor Lift is not a traditional patient lift, but it was built with the specific purpose of helping patients back to their feet after a fall. The simple but powerful lift has a platform that patients can easily slide onto from the floor, and safety handles to provide extra support as the lift raises the patient back to their feet. See how the Human Floor Lift quickly gets a patient back to their feet in the video below. Another popular specialty lift is the Bestlift Car Transfer Lift, which was designed with an extra long arm specifically made for transferring patients into or out of a vehicle. Click here to explore our entire selection of specialty lifts, including patient lift accessories.

In order to properly and safely use most patient lifts, you will need a patient sling. The patient sling wraps around the back of the patient and attaches to the sling bar of the lift. Certain styles of lifts do not require a patient sling at all, while others require a specific sling style. You can explore all of our patient slings by clicking here. Please feel free to reach out to our product experts at 1-888-260-4430 if you need assistance in choosing a patient sling that will be compatible with any of our patient lifts.

Our team is here to give you personalized advice on which type of lift to get and what specific functions to look for. We understand that purchasing a patient lift is a big decision and we are here to support you by answering any and all questions you may have. We also offer financing for all of our products through Affirm to make any purchase easier on you financially. If you decide that you need a patient lift for yourself or a loved one you can give our product experts a call at 1-888-260-4430.