How to Operate a Hoyer Lift

A Hoyer lift is a hydralic lift for moving immobile people, such as physically disabled patients. Hoyer lifts can be battery-powered or manually powered with various sizes, load weights and other features. They are made by various medical supply manufacturers, such as Invacare. I am physically disabled, and Hoyer lifts have really aided my caregivers in my transfers from bed to wheelchair and back again.This guide shows how to transfer a patient from a bed to a wheelchair using a manual-powered Hoyer lift Model number 9805 by Invacare, but most models are used the same way. Reverse the steps to transfer a patient from a wheelchair to a bed. The diagram is labeled with letters, which are referred to in the instruction steps. It shows how to transfer a patient from a bed to a wheelchair.

Instructions

• 1

  Roll the patient on to her side on the bed. Place the sling behind her and push part of it beneath her side on the bed. Position the sling so that one part is at the shoulders and the other part is behind the knees. Roll the patient on to her back and on top of the sling. If needed, adjust the sling so that the patient is centered on it.

• 2

  Close the control valve (H) and raise the boom (D) using the pump handle (G). Spread the legs (A) of the lift open with the shifter handle (B). Roll the lift so the legs are under the bed and the boom and swivel bar (E) are above the patient.

• 3

  Attach the chains to the sling bars. Lower the boom if needed with the control valve. The middle of each chain has an O-ring, which gets attached to one of the hooks on the swivel bar. The two loose ends of the chains have S-rings, which get attached to the sling. The shorter end of the chain goes at the top, near the patient's shoulders. The longer end goes at the bottom, near the patient's legs. Repeat with the other chain on the other side of the sling.

• 4

  Crank the pump handle to lift the patient completely off of the bed. Use long, smooth movements so as not to damage the lift mechanism or shake the patient around. The patient's arms need to be inside of the sling and above the thighs. Support the patient's neck and head in case he hangs off of the edge of the sling.

• 5

  Roll the patient and lift a few feet away from the bed. Swivel the patient and lift so that the patient's legs are off of the bed and facing the mast (C) of the lift. Move one of the patient's legs around the mast, so the patient is straddling the lift between the knees. Lower the patient with the control valve until the feet rest on the base of the lift. This yields a great center of balance to prevent the lift from toppling over easily.

• 6

  Roll the lift where it is needed. One attendant uses the steering handles (I) to steer and a second attendant guides the patient's back. Be careful of the lift shaking or tipping; steer it slowly.

• 7

  Park the lift with its legs in the open position. Push the wheelchair between the lift legs and beneath the patient on the sling. Engage the wheelchair wheel locks.

• 8

  Position the patient on to the wheelchair so her back is against the back of the chair and her hips are pulled back as well. One attendant holds the lift in place, while the other positions the patient using the sling.

• 9

  Lower the patient into the wheelchair with the control valve. One attendant operates the lift while the other maintains the position of the patient so that the wheelchair does not tip forward.

• 10

  Disconnect the chains. The S-rings may be disconnected from the sling, or the O-ring maybe disconnected from the swivel bar and the chains are left connected to the sling. If the chains are left attached to the sling, the loose end needs to be folded at the patient's sides or over the back of the wheelchair. Be careful that the chains do not hang outside of the wheels or they can get caught in the spokes of the wheels.