Since most patient lift manufacturers strongly recommend two trained caregivers be present during transfer, a home care CNA and a family caregiver together can sometimes do the hoyer transfer working together. However the family caregiver should be trained in the use of the lift to prevent patient falls or injury.
Typical Hoyer Lift Be certain to explain the lifting sequence to the consumer before attempting to lift them the first time. The Boom of the lift does not swivel. The consumer's weight must be centered over the base legs at all times. Do not attempt to lift consumer with the mast/boom assembly swiveled to either side.
One person is required to operate the machine and the other assists and guards the patient against injury. In instances of negligent operation, the machine may tip over with the resident in it or a loop on the sling may dislodge from the machine causing the resident to fall to the floor.
Experts recommend that lifts be limited to 35 pounds or less. Good health and strength may actually put workers at increased risk because their peers are much more likely to seek their assistance when manually lifting patients. “It is much faster to manually move patients.”
(g) A health care worker who refuses to lift, reposition, or transfer a patient due to concerns about patient or worker safety or the lack of trained lift team personnel or equipment shall not, based upon the refusal, be the subject of disciplinary action by the hospital or any of its managers or employees.
Most Hoyer lifts require two people to operate them, and many residential care communities have policies that mandate two lift operators for safety reasons.
A Hoyer lift is typically used to assist patients who need 90 to 100 percent assistance getting in and out of bed. But many types of patients can benefit from a Hoyer lift, including: Patients with mobility challenges. Bedridden patients.