Patient in hoyer lift
A hoyer lift, or mechanical lift as it is also known, is a caregiver's co-worker when he needs to transfer an immobile patient from one spot to another. It is beneficial in many ways. It eliminates the need for a second person to assist in the lifting of the patient, it reduces the strain on the caregiver's body, and it reduces the risk of injury for the patient during the transfer. However, proper use of the hoyer lift is essential in order for these benefits to take place.
Instructions
1. Explain what you are doing. Before you begin, explain to the patient what you will be doing. There are some who may be nervous about being elevated, regardless of the number of times they have been transferred with the hoyer lift. Taking a few moments to reassure a patient of their safety will make the process smoother for both of you.
2. Raise the bed. You will need the bed at its highest level, or at your waist level. This will ease the strain on your back while you are placing the hoyer pad under the patient and preparing him for the transfer. You will also want to be sure that the side rails of the bed are raised as well to ensure the safety of the patient.
3. Prepare the patient. Roll the patient away from you and have him hold onto the side rail if he is able to. While he is in this position, roll the hoyer pad in half and align it with the body so that the cut out on the bottom is just below his tail bone. You will then roll the patient back toward you and pull the pad out, unrolling it so that it is completely flat. The patient can then roll slowly onto his back.
4. Pull the leg straps through. Once the hoyer pad has been positioned, you will pull the leg straps under each thigh. If the person you are lifting is extremely small and fragile, you may want to criss-cross the straps for added safety. Once this has been completed, lower the bed back down to reduce the height the patient will need to be elevated.
5. Attach the loops. Roll the hoyer lift under the bed and lower the bars down to meet the loops of the hoyer pad. First hook the loops of the pad which support the shoulders, and then hook the loops of the pad that support the thighs. When hooking the leg straps, use the shortest loop possible.
6. Raise the patient. Once the pad has been attached to the bars of the hoyer lift, slowly begin to raise the patient off the bed. As you do, the pad of the hoyer lift will place him into a sitting position. You will then take his legs and place them over the side of the bed, turning them to face you in the process. Before moving the lift, be sure that you have the base spread apart to properly balance the weight of the patient.
7. Lower the patient. Place the patient directly over the object that he is being transferred to. If it is a wheel chair, be sure that the breaks are locked before you lower him into it. As you are doing so, you may need to gently push the patient back simultaneously to ensure that he is in a completely upright position. Once lowered, you will then unhook the hoyer pad and either tuck the sides of the pad under the patient, or remove the pad so it may be used on someone else.
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