How to Choose a Hoyer Lift Sling
When you are choosing a lift device for your loved one, there are several options that you can choose and customize.
The type of lift: Hoyer lift, ceiling lift, or sit-to-stand lift
The power source: manual or power
The type of sling
This blog focuses on sling selection. For sit to stand lifts, the sling design is fairly universal, so for the purposes of this article, we are focusing on Hoyer lift slings. If you are using your insurance benefits to obtain a lift, one sling will be included. For more information on insurance coverage for Hoyer lifts, see our post on “Does Medicare Pay for Patient Lifts?” Most vendors will give you the option to choose the type of sling you want, but if they do not, it is a good idea to ask what your options are. Some may charge an upgrade fee to change the type of sling. Slings come in different sizes, depending on the height and weight of your loved one. Your vendor will ask you for these details when you order the sling. I typically recommended having 2 slings, to have one as a back-up while the other is being washed, or if you need a second one for bathing. If you a purchasing a sling on your own, be sure to check the size chart on the website to make sure the sling is the correct size for your loved one. Most all types of slings come in a small variety of materials including:
Nylon: Easy to wipe clean, but can be hot and is not the softest material to the touch
Mesh: Lightweight and breathable. Can be used under a patient while in the shower and hang to dry
Polyester/Nylon Blend: Has more of a soft clothlike feel which is gentle on the skin, but can be hot to sit on for long periods of time and is harder to wipe clean
Most all slings can be machine-washed, regardless of fabric choice. You will want to consider what your sling will primarily be used for prior to making your choice.
*Disclaimer: This blog contains links to affiliate websites. When you click on and/or purchase any items using these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Our use of affiliate links does not influence the products, services and information we share with you. My goal is to provide you with education to help you make informed decisions. These links allow me to reference the specific products that I have clinical experience using in the field.
Full Body Sling
A full body sling is shaped like a large rectangle (or sometimes hourglass shape) that covers about ¾ of the length of the patient’s body, ending just above the crease of their knees. The full body sling creates a hammock under the patient to cradle them when they are lifted. This sling is generally one of the more comfortable styles of slings from a patient perspective. This sling is best designed for clients who will be using the Hoyer lift for all transfers, and who will be keeping the sling under them after they are transferred into their chair or wheelchair. Once a patient is transferred to a chair, you cannot remove or replace the sling under them while in a chair. A full-body sling cannot be used for transfers to the toilet as there is no access to the perineal region in this type of sling. Full-body slings are ideal for patient’s who are bed/chair bound and who complete toileting and hygiene at bed level. Linked here is a commercially available full-body sling I have used successfully with clients.
Full Body Sling with Hygiene Cutout
This sling has the same design as the full-body sling, but has a circular cutout near the bottom to allow a patient to be positioned onto the toilet. Hygiene slings, like this one are generally made of mesh, for ease of cleaning and washing. Hygiene slings can also be helpful for use while bathing to allow access to the patient’s bottom for thorough hygiene. One thing to consider with this type of sling, is that the patient’s pants will need to be taken off prior to transferring them to the toilet. This typically involves putting the patient in bed, removing their pants, and then transferring them to the toilet, as there will not be a way to take off clothing while in the sling. This process takes some planning ahead, but can be effective.
U-Sling or Divided Leg Sling
This sling has full coverage along the patient’s back, with two divided straps that crisscross under the patient’s legs. The crisscrossed legs ensure that the patient doesn’t slide out of the sling during transport. The design of these legs also allow for a caregiver to both place and remove the sling while the patient is in a sitting position, which is not an option for full-body slings. Divided leg slings, like this one are helpful for clients who may not be able to stand up or walk, but who are able to be active in their wheelchairs during the day and may not want to be sitting on the sling all day. This design also allows for people to be transferred onto the toilet, however their clothing would still need to be removed before the transfer.
This sling is not quite as comfortable as the full-body sling as it puts a lot of tension under the thighs. This may not be a good choice for patients with chronic hip or knee pain, or for people that you may describe as being “fragile.”
Access Sling/Toileting Sling
This sling will allow you to assist with pulling down the patient’s pants for toileting while in the sling, enough to access the toilet. There are compact and standard sized slings available in this style. The compact design has a smaller strap that goes around the lower back and two straps that crisscross under the legs.
High-Back Design: is more appropriate for patients with decreased core strength. This sling is not recommended for use in all situations, however, as the leg loops offer less support around the legs and hips and is not comfortable to sit in for long periods of time.
Compact Design: This sling makes it very easy to place and remove the sling from either a sitting position or laying down. One note of caution is that there is minimal trunk support offered by this compact design, so patients who use this type of sling must have sufficient core strength and head/neck control to sit at the edge of the bed without assistance to safely use this sling.
Questions?
If you have questions about which type of sling will best meet the needs of your loved one, do not hesitate to reach out to the professionals. A certified occupational therapist who specializes in home care can provide an individualized assessment to make sure that the sling you choose will be of the proper fit and design for comfort and safety. To learn more about choosing a patient lift system, please see our posts on “What are the Different Types of Hoyer Lifts?”, “What is the Difference between a Manual and Electric Patient Lift?”, and “What is the Difference Between a Hoyer Lift and a Sit to Stand Lift?”. Also feel free to check out our publication A Therapist’s Guide to Caregiving for a comprehensive guide on mechanical lifts, transfer techniques, and providing safe care in the home. Our Hoyer Lift Video Course is also available to provide detailed, step-by-step instructions for how to use a Hoyer lift, manage the sling, and integrate the lift into your daily routine. For comprehensive caregiver training for providing safe care at all functional levels, you can also view our comprehensive caregiver training video course for a full training on all of the skills needed to provide safe care in the home.
All images used with permission from Arjo and SpanAmerica.
This course provides you with all the information that you need to safely and effectively use a hoyer lift in the home. This course includes 40 minutes of comprehensive video instruction along with electronic access to the 20-page PDF guide. This course will teach you how to properly position and adjust a hoyer lift sling at bed and chair level, how to determine the loop setting, and how to complete safe, smooth transfers to the bed, wheelchair, recliner, and bedside commode.
This is your comprehensive guide to giving you with the skills you need to provide safe, effective, and compassionate care to family members, friends or clients in the home. This course includes 6 hours of instructional video covering client basic adaptive equipment, functional mobility, lifting techniques, transfers, self-care skills, bed level care, use of client lifts and transfer devices, and managing falls. Click "Preview Caregiver Course" below to preview the lessons and descriptions.
A Therapist’s Guide to Caregiving
The book includes 170 pages of full-color, step-by step instructions, to provide you with all the skills you need to provide safe, thorough, and compassionate care at home.
