There's no way to put a person in and out of a bathtub at home using a Hoyer lift. Don't even try something this dangerous.
I was a homecare worker for many years and have used many Hoyer lifts. I refused to operate one in the home unless there was another person there to assist. I have never used one to get a person in and out of a bathtub or even onto a bath bench for a shower. If someone is unable to transfer a person onto a bath seat to shower them, they need to try another kind of hygiene care. Like bed baths. Or basin baths with the person sitting on the toilet.
In all of my years of homecare, I never gave a person a tub bath unless they had a walk-in tub. Trying to get a disabled person in and out of a bathtub is dangerous. Attempting it with a Hoyer lift is going to result in a tragedy.
A sliding board may be helpful to transfer from wheel chair to shower chair. The folks at the facility showed us and practiced with us to be able to use it. Note we did have a shower with no lip or barrier to cross over, the space had been a tub that we converted to a walk in shower.
The mechanism for the Hoyer lift is not usually able to work with most baths. I would suggest a few sessions with a physical therapist to work on bathing solutions for the person you are caring for. In most cases, a shower is a better option: there are shower chairs, there are handheld showers to direct water wherever needs to be rinsed, and moving into and out of a shower area is easier on the caregiver. Baths aids do exist - and a physical therapist would be your best guide to using these devices safely.
I have to put a plug in for an occupational therapist as bathing and shower equipment fall within their area of expertise. Both PT and OT would be helpful to do a home assessment and perhaps some training with the hoyer, set up home programs etc. I hope we hear back from the original poster.
Suppose you could fit one. What happens if she gets nervous and starts moving around as you are putting her in the tub and she flips over and inhales water?
I’ll provide some additional information as to why a hoyer will not work. For starters, if you look at a photo of one, you will see that the base consists of two pieces that can be adjusted to fit around a chair or slide under a bed for transferring. This can’t be done with a tub. Actually, that’s it in a nutshell.
Who recommended the hoyer lift?Lifting someone can be dangerous for caregivers back or cause a fall. You need to hire a professional aid to come into the home for help.
You need to have a professional show you how to use. Caregiver agencies are very familiar with these - hire an agency/caregiver and ask them to assist you.
Call the company and ask them.
No, I haven't done this. I am sure you will get a lot of supportive / helpful feedback here.
I have no personal experience with potable lifts but I did a lot of investigating before I ultimately decided to move my mom to the nursing home; I think the biggest barriers will be moving the lift around and whether it will fit easily through doorways and into the bathroom, plus unless your tub is raised I'm not sure you'd be able to position the lift in a way that the sling would reach over the tub.
This is all correct. Additionally, my late mom hated the Hoyer lift, and all the caregivers we had told us that all the elderly patients dislike the Hoyer lift. It traumatizes them.
Please consider having an occupational therapist come to the house and assess safe bathing options. All you need is an order for home health from your doctor. A hoyer lift won’t work.
Thank you, Grandma1954. I appreciate your reply! That is what I am wondering - if the Lift will lower Mama all the way to the bottom of the tub!! Guess I just have to wait until it gets here to see!!
I used one to put my Husband in his shower wheelchair and the sling I used for that was a Mesh full body sling and sometimes he remained on the sling while I showered him. When the shower was done I could dry him and I would then remove the sling if it was still under him and replace it with the solid split leg sling.
You might want to try the Hoyer Lift to see if it will lower a person low enough for a bath. (And if you are able to try it with a person in the sling) The easier thing might be to use a shower chair placed in the bathtub and then use a shower wand rather than an actual bath. I don't know about you but the thought of getting down on my knees to help someone bathe sends a shudder through my poor aching knees!
Many places that have a tub will have a higher tub and or ceiling mounted lifts that run on tracks.
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I was a homecare worker for many years and have used many Hoyer lifts. I refused to operate one in the home unless there was another person there to assist. I have never used one to get a person in and out of a bathtub or even onto a bath bench for a shower. If someone is unable to transfer a person onto a bath seat to shower them, they need to try another kind of hygiene care. Like bed baths. Or basin baths with the person sitting on the toilet.
In all of my years of homecare, I never gave a person a tub bath unless they had a walk-in tub. Trying to get a disabled person in and out of a bathtub is dangerous. Attempting it with a Hoyer lift is going to result in a tragedy.
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It seems like an accident waiting to happen.
Caregiver agencies are very familiar with these - hire an agency/caregiver and ask them to assist you.
Call the company and ask them.
No, I haven't done this. I am sure you will get a lot of supportive / helpful feedback here.
Gena / Touch Matters
It would help if you indicated why a hoyer lift won't work. Gena
That is what I am wondering - if the Lift will lower Mama all the way to the bottom of the tub!! Guess I just have to wait until it gets here to see!!
Blessings !
Lainey
When the shower was done I could dry him and I would then remove the sling if it was still under him and replace it with the solid split leg sling.
You might want to try the Hoyer Lift to see if it will lower a person low enough for a bath. (And if you are able to try it with a person in the sling)
The easier thing might be to use a shower chair placed in the bathtub and then use a shower wand rather than an actual bath.
I don't know about you but the thought of getting down on my knees to help someone bathe sends a shudder through my poor aching knees!
Many places that have a tub will have a higher tub and or ceiling mounted lifts that run on tracks.