Mechanical devices in hospitals or nursing homes for people with limited mobility are raising the standards of comprehensive patient care. Ever since its inception, various nurses, doctors, and caregivers rely on them to assist patients who have difficulty in sitting or standing.
Amongst many lifting equipment, CHS stand up lifter is a popular machine that helps patients to transition from sitting to standing position. But how do you choose a hoist that makes your life easy and safe?
You must consider the patient's needs, your safety as a caregiver, and the facility's specific requirements. For this reason, this guide will walk you through these factors in detail to choose a standing transfer aid for your hospital.
Before getting into the factors that help you choose a standing hoist, let’s understand the purpose of using standing transfer aids.
A standing hoist is a patient care equipment that helps patients to stand upright. It is primarily constructed for patients with mobility issues. However, the growing use of the stand up lifter makes it convenient for elders who need some form of stability or support to stand up after sitting for prolonged hours.
Besides being safe and comfortable for patients, the machine reduces physical strain on caregivers. More so, when lifting and supporting upper body weight of the patients manually can injure caregivers.
Now that you are familiar with standing lifters, here are some fundamental factors that will help you buy the best standing elevator.
Every patient with mobility issues can have different requirements. Whether your patient needs a device matching your mobility level, medical condition, and personal comfort, ensure that the stand up lifter matches with their needs first.
For example, manual devices are great for people who can stand and bear some weight. And powered standing with lifting devices are suitable for patients who cannot support their body weight while standing. However, if your facility looks after obese patients, it is important to go with higher weight bearing capacities in standing hoists.
In addition, you must also analyse the patients’ medical conditions. Mobility issues happen generally due to neurological disorders, injuries, or aging. It is good to have a device that provides extra support for these medical conditions.
Next, consider the patient's comfort in using such devices. Just because a stand up lifter is known for stability does not mean it will help them feel comfortable as well. Finding a device that features adjustable slings, padded supports, non-slip footplates, and boasts ergonomic design can help your patients with gradual movements.
While standing aids are well-thought-out for patients who struggle to stand straight, these should be easy to use as well. As caregivers help individuals to move out of bed or chair and stand through these supports, the device must feature smooth lifting mechanisms and easy-to-understand functions.
Powered standing transfer aids can reduce the physical strain on caregivers. These aids provide smoother and controlled transfers.
Beyond patient and caregiver needs, it’s important to consider your facility’s specific requirements when choosing a stand up lifter.
You must first evaluate your facility’s available space for storing and using standing aids. If you have smaller rooms or tight hallways, compact or mobile standing aids are ideal. In larger facilities, large and advanced equipment do the favour.
While high-quality standing aids are a valuable investment, it’s important to stay within your facility’s budget. It is important to compare and figure out different prices of manual and powered standing aids to see economical options.
Make sure you are not compromising on quality, safety, and advanced features. Interestingly, versatile equipment accommodates different users with different medical conditions and weights.
Some types of a stand up lifter are highly customisable which you can adjust as per your patient's weight and extent of support needs. If your facility handles different patients with uncommon needs, choose a device with adjustable slings, footrests, and support straps to reduce the need to purchase multiple types of devices.
In Australia, a standing aid must meet regulatory standards applicable for lifting and patient handling equipment. Ensure that the devices you choose comply with these standards, as this guarantees they are safe and fit for use in healthcare environments. Always review the manufacturer’s certifications and specifications to confirm compliance with industry regulations.
Ensure that you understand and have working knowledge of operating these equipment safely. Many manufacturers provide training resources or programs to ensure that staff members understand how to use the devices effectively. Additionally, having access to ongoing support from the manufacturer or supplier can help with troubleshooting and maintenance.
We hope you found this blog useful. Coming to an end, it is clear that choosing the right kind of a stand up lifter ultimately depends on the patient's needs, caregiver’s safety, facility’s requirements, budget, custom features, safety compliance, and training.
Remember, the kind of a standing and transfer aid should improve your patient’s quality of life and add convenience in their daily living.
Besides such products, as a healthcare provider your choices largely impact your patients’ mobility and health in every situation and environment.
Take the next step — choose reliable and advanced standing aids from reputable patient handling and assistive healthcare products for your hospital or aged care today. CHS Healthcare is a leading name in the industry for efficient, safe, and accessible transfer aids. Contact today.
