How to Choose Lifting Slings

First, identify how many patient lift slings slings your healthcare setting needs. While there isn’t one right answer to this question and the quantity will depend greatly on the patient population in a building, below is a general starting point. These per-lift recommendations will change based on the acuity level of patients and body type.

Sit-To-Stand Lifts:

Sit-to-stand lifts help patients who have some mobility, but need assistance rising from a sitting position. Sit-to-stand lifts allow caregivers to comfortably and safely assist mobility patients with sitting and standing. Below are a few sit to stand lift sling considerations:

Standing Slings: 2 medium and 1 large

Standing slings are ideal for patients who can bear half or more of their own weight and have sufficient head and neck control. These types of sit-to-stand lift slings can take patients from a seated to standing position.

Transport Slings: 1 medium and 1 large

Transport slings provide back support up to a patient’s shoulder area and underneath their thighs. Transport sit-to-stand lift slings can be used for seated transports, such as bed to chair or in room transport.

What Are Specialty Patient Slings?

Keep in mind that you may have patients who, based on weight, shape or specific health needs, require other sizes or sling types (hygiene, walking, gait training, repositioning, etc.)

A few examples of patient-specific slings include:

• Bariatric Sling
• Repositioning Sling
• Harness

What materials are slings made from?

Patient lift slings can also be customized to meet specific needs through their sling material. Common lifting lift material includes:

• Poly. Poly slings are the standard lift sling material and are strong and durable.
• Mesh. Mesh slings are commonly used for bathing, as they dry and let go of water easily.
• Padded. Padded Sit-to-Stand sling material offers added comfort for patients.

Lifting Slings Chart: Multi-Brand Compatible Slings

Direct Supply offers a variety of sling and lift solutions for your healthcare setting. Discover our multi-brand compatible sling selection and learn more about this versatile offering in this Multi Brand Sling Vlog.

Direct Supply’s multi-brand slings have passed compatibility testing and are appropriate to use with leading brands of lift equipment. The lifting slings compatibility charts below contain our Direct Supply multi brand compatible sling models, material and size options:

Floor Lift Slings Chart:

Sit-to-Stand Lift Slings Chart:

Shop the full collection of Direct Supply’s multi-brand slings to standardize and save on slings in your healthcare setting.

A best practice is to assess the needs of each individual patient to determine the lift and sling mix you should purchase. Some benefits of purchasing patient-specific slings include:

How Do I Determine What Sling My Resident Needs?

While fit and comfort are important assessment factors when choosing the correct sling, there are other essential considerations to take into account. The determination of the correct sling model and size must be done by a licensed clinician. That designated licensed clinician should:

1. Assess the resident and determine that the resident actually requires a lift/assist device
2. Determine the correct lift/assist device and sling based on the resident assessment and the manufacturer’s instructions. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations to determine the appropriate sling based on the desired function.
3. Document the specific recommended lift/assist device (make, model and weight capacity) and sling (make, model and size – including any specific attachment instructions). Remember, slings can be made of mesh, breathable fabric, nylon, quilted, padded and may have parts that can be plastic or metal. Be specific.

How Do I Ensure Proper Usage?

Having the proper equipment is an excellent start, but making sure your staff and residents know how to use them is absolutely essential. Be sure to follow any and all manufacturer instructions and safety compliance instructions. Additionally, consider these tips:

Types of Wheelchair Scales

Digital

• Electronic weight indicator automatically displays weight on the digital wheelchair scale
• Typically more accurate and efficient than mechanical scales

Bariatric

• Bariatric scales have a higher weight capacities than standard scales
• Wider platform accommodates larger wheelchairs

Key Considerations: Wheelchair Scales

Durability

• Heavy-duty construction designed for long-term daily use across various resident weights
• Rust- and corrosion-resistant materials
• Non-slip rubber mats on platforms prevent wheelchairs from rolling

Low Profile

• Gentle incline for easy rolling of chairs on and off the platform
• Enhances resident comfort and safety

Built-in Ramps

• More stable than standalone ramps
• Smooth transfer of residents on and off the scale
• Dual ramps for accessibility from both sides

Safety Grab Bars/Handrails

• Provide a greater sense of security and stability
• Enable residents who can stand on their own to use the scale safely
• Assist with stand-up weighing

Precision

• Stainless steel load cells for increased accuracy
• Clinical grade accuracy: 0.2-lb/0.1-kg

Graphics/Display

• Large, easy-to-read display at a glance
• Tabletop or wall mount designs for pivoting and positioning where healthcare professionals can easily read results

Mobility

• Wheels for easy rolling of the scale from room to room
• Handles for a secure grip and control while moving
• Fold-down scale columns for added convenience

Key Features: Wheelchair Scales

WI-FI/Bluetooth Connectivity

Wireless EMR/EHR connectivity allows for seamless data sharing, transmitting resident weight directly to electronic medical records. This reduces the risk of misplaced clinical notes and minimizes human error

Wheelchair Scale FAQs

How do wheelchair scales work?

Wheelchair scales have a platform where the wheelchair is placed, and the scale calculates the total weight. The weight of the empty wheelchair can be subtracted to determine the weight of the individual.

Why are wheelchair scales important?

Wheelchair scales are essential for accurately monitoring the weight of non-ambulatory individuals. This is crucial for medical assessments, medication dosing, and overall health management.

How to weigh someone in a wheelchair?

First ensure the scale is on a flat surface and zero it with the empty wheelchair if possible. Gently roll the wheelchair onto the scale, making sure it is centered and stable. Engage the brakes, then wait for the weight to display and record it. If you didn’t zero the scale, subtract the weight of the empty wheelchair from the total. Ensure the patient’s comfort and security throughout the process, and document the weight in their medical record.

How accurate are wheelchair scales?

Wheelchair scales offer clinical-grade accuracy, typically within 0.2-lb (0.1-kg), ensuring reliable weight measurements.

How do I maintain a wheelchair scale?

Regular maintenance includes:

• Checking and cleaning the platform and ramps.
• Inspecting for wear and tear.
• Calibrating the scale periodically according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Can these scales be used for other purposes?

While primarily designed for wheelchairs, some scales can also be used to weigh other equipment or items, provided they fit within the platform and weight capacity limits.

Types of Patient Lifts

Sit-to-Stand Lifts

• Sit-to-stand lifts are for patients who demonstrate some weight-bearing ability or upper-body strength
• Ideal for use in patient rooms, toilet areas, bathing areas and common areas
• More dignified and conducive to patient involvement
• Easier and faster to use than floor lifts
• Small footprint for easy maneuvering in small areas

• Ceiling lifts are ideal for patient, therapy and tub rooms; can be permanent or portable
• Weight capacities up to 1,000 lbs.
• Reduces caregiver strain
• Offers expanded lift range

Key Factors in Choosing a Lift for Your Facility

Base Length & Width

• Shorter base lengths and widths allow lifts to maneuver in tight spaces
• The base should be wide open enough to fit around equipment and provide stability

Emergency Control

• All electronic lifts should have a control to stop the lift motor in case of an emergency 
• Manual override allows residents to be safely moved in case of power loss

Gait Training

• Many patient lifts can also be used for gait training
• Boom height must be tall enough to accommodate the standing height of your patients
• If choosing a sit-to-stand lift, look for models with removable footplates to allow patients to stand comfortably between the base widening legs

Scale Attachment

• Allows caregiver to weigh residents during transfer, helping reduce incidence of caregiver injury
• Saves time and eliminates the need for an additional transfer to a scale

Transport vs Transfer

• Not all lifts are designed to move patients throughout your community
• Many lifts are intended for short-distance transfers, such as from a bed to a wheelchair.
• If you do a lot of long-distance moves, transport lifts can virtually replace the other transport equipment you use, such as stretchers or transport chairs.

Prioritizing safety: The advantages of safe lifting practices in your community

As acuities continue to rise and surveyors continue to cite F-Tag 323 (Accidents), it’s becoming increasingly important to establish and promote ergonomic and injury prevention programs.

Learning how to use sit-to-stand lifts and utilizing them correctly and consistently can play a key role in establishing a culture of safety within your healthcare facility. The proper use of senior lifts can significantly impact the safety of residents and staff, as well as enhance residents’ mobility, strength, and independence.

How to Enhance Resident and Staff Safety in Lift Transfers:

• Minimize lifting-related incidents and injuries
• Alleviate caregivers’ daily strain
• Lower insurance costs
• Improve care quality and resident outcomes
• Ensure safety for resident outcomes
• Boost staff recruitment and retention
• Increase community marketability (resident admissions)
• Control employee injury and malpractice expenses

Patient Lift FAQs

What is a patient lift?

A patient lift is a device designed to assist individuals with limited mobility in transferring safely and comfortably from one place to another, such as from a bed to a chair or from the floor to a bed.

Why are patient lifts important for senior care?

Patient lifts are crucial in senior care as they can help reduce the risk of falls and injuries for both patients and caregivers. They provide a safe and efficient way to transfer elderly individuals, enhancing their comfort and dignity.

Are patient lifts safe to use?

Lift assists for the elderly are designed with safety in mind. They often come with features such as emergency stop buttons, safety straps, and sturdy construction. Proper training on their use is essential to ensure safety.

Can patient lifts be used for lifting someone from the floor?

Many patient lifts, specifically floor lifts, are designed to reach low enough to lift patients from the floor. It’s important to choose a lift that can accommodate this function if needed.

How do I maintain a patient lift?

Regular maintenance includes:

• Checking for wear and tear on slings and straps
• Ensuring all mechanical parts are functioning properly
• Charging batteries for electric lifts
• Cleaning the lift according to the manufacturer’s guidelines

How to Select a Wheelchair

• Determine the right type of wheelchair
• Size your wheelchair properly
• Select the appropriate features

To a healthy person, sitting in an awkward position is uncomfortable, but for seniors it can be a danger to their health. The first step to finding the correct wheelchair is to select the type of wheelchair your resident is best suited for – a decision largely dependent on the individual resident and how the wheelchair will be used.

Standard Wheelchairs
Standard wheelchairs are the most common type of wheelchair, providing durable construction and high weight capacities. They are more durable than lightweight wheelchairs and generally less expensive, but not as adjustable.

Heavy Duty Wheelchairs
Heavy Duty wheelchairs offer a large-capacity reinforced frame for supreme durability. 

Reclining Wheelchairs or Tilt Wheelchairs
Reclining wheelchairs and tilt wheelchairs provide pressure redistribution for resident-specific support or relief for a range of conditions. These chairs are often part of an individualized care plan based on clinical assessments.

Bariatric Wheelchairs
Bariatric Wheelchairs are the strongest type of wheelchairs, with reinforced steel at all weight-bearing points help provide additional strength. These chairs are available in wider sizes and with higher weight capacities than Heavy-Duty wheelchairs.

How to Choose a Wheelchair Size

The most important measurements you need to take are seat width, back height, seat depth and seat-to-floor height. By providing a wheelchair with the proper dimensions in these four areas, you will avoid some of the most common and dangerous positioning concerns. Measuring all fields will help ensure optimal comfort and safety.

How to Calculate a Resident’s Seat Depth

1. Measure resident’s rear of buttocks to back of knee
2. Subtract 2½”
3. Add thickness of back cushion (if a cushion is used)

How to Determine Seat-to-Floor Height

1. If resident is under 5′5″ tall, use a Hemi size wheelchair with a 17½” seat height
2. If resident is between 5′5″ and 6′2″, use an Adult size wheelchair with a 19½” to 20½” seat height
3. If resident is over 6′2″ tall, use a Tall size wheelchair with a 21½” seat height

Back Height

Seat-to-Floor Height

Wheelchair Features FAQ

Discover the right features to address your resident’s risk factors, activity level and acuity.

What are the different types of wheelchairs?

There are many different types of patient wheelchairs: transport wheelchairs, lightweight wheelchairs, standard wheelchairs, heavy-duty wheelchairs, bariatric wheelchairs and reclining wheelchairs. Depending on your wheelchair, learn how to select the best wheelchair cushions.

What are my options for wheelchair armrests?
Full-length armrests provide more support for easier ingress and egress while desk-length options allow the chair to fit easily under most desks or tables. Adjustable and flipback armrests can be raised and lowered to better suit the resident.

What are front riggings, and which does my resident need?
Front riggings are optional front-mounted hardware that provides a place for residents to put their feet. Swingaway footrests support the residents’ feet while they are in the chair and rotate out of the way for easier transfers. Elevating legrests support the legs with comfortable calf pads and allow angle-of-elevation adjustment. Articulating legrests are similar to elevating options, but they extend during elevation for enhanced comfort.

What are my upholstery options, and how are they different?
Vinyl is easier to clean and more durable, while nylon is lighter weight and more breathable.

What does “dual axle” mean?
Dual-axle capabilities mean that your wheelchair can transform from standard to hemi height. Hemi height is about 2″ lower than standard seating. This allows the user to more easily self-propel and is also beneficial for residents shorter than 5′ tall.

What is Skin Breakdown?

Skin becomes more fragile as we age. With less of a protective barrier, this increases skin injury risk factors. Skin can also become damaged from being in the same position for a long period of time. When the skin is deprived of blood flow, it can lead to pressure injuries, such as pressure ulcers and pressure sores. This is known as skin breakdown.

What Causes Skin Breakdown in the Elderly?

Prior to COVID-19, Senior Living residents may have exercised by walking to the dining area for a meal. Instead, social distancing required meals and other activities to take place in their rooms. As a result of long-term confinement and minimal opportunities for ambulation, residents may have been sitting or lying down more frequently than before the pandemic. This reduced activity may cause joints, muscles and skin to weaken, placing seniors at greater risk for skin breakdown.

Bariatric residents and patients with incontinence have an increased risk of developing skin breakdown due to inadequate blood supply from immobility and difficulty in keeping skin clean.

What Causes Skin Breakdown in Hospital Patients?

During a hospital stay, patients’ skin may be impacted by long bed stays and sitting in a single position for too long. Long staying patients may be susceptible to bedsores or pressure ulcers. Items in the hospital environment, such as unfamiliar soap and cleaning products may more easily dry out patients skin.

Nursing Interventions to Prevent Skin Breakdown

Identifying Limited Mobility

One way staff can help address skin breakdown in elderly residents and hospital patients is by identifying an individual’s mobility and positioning needs while he or she is seated, and leveraging equipment that may aid with skin breakdown prevention. Consider abnormal posture issues, such as posterior pelvic tilt or pelvic rotation due to the frequency of being supine or seated.

Strategies for Wound Care and a Skin Care Plan

To prevent skin breakdown and reduce pressure risks, identify a wound and skin care prevention plan for your staff.  Beyond healthcare equipment, your healthcare professionals staff can follow preventive skin breakdown strategies with:

• Skin cleansers and barrier creams.

Ensure that you are avoiding care products that dry out skin. Consider quality skin cleansers, moisturizers and barrier creams to prevent skin breakdown. 

• Proper nutrition and hydration

Senior Living residents and hospital patients who aren’t moving around, may not also be eating and drinking sufficient nutritional amounts, which could increase the risk of skin breakdown. Consider enhancing nutritional diets and fluid intakes in relation to skin condition. Learn how to promote hydration in your healthcare environment.

As you evaluate these particular products and skin breakdown preventive measures in your healthcare setting, here are some questions you can ask yourself:

Are you using an advanced pressure management surface under residents and patients with existing pressure injuries?
Previously healed pressure wounds place residents at a higher risk for skin breakdown, so pressure wound prevention is a top priority. Consider using air cushions with cells that are pumped up to help “float” the pelvic region. Other air cushions have closed cells that fill into compartments within the construction of the cushion.

Are you using a high quality pressure redistributing mattress with a breathable cover?
If so, be sure the resident is comfortable and not sitting “through” the mattress.

Does the mattress help offload pressure from the heels, such as having softer foam, or does it slope to float the heels?
A sloped heel section will help redistribute the pressure away from the heels and move to the resident’s calves. The calves are a bit meatier and better able to spread out the pressure.

Does the mattress have features like die-cuts, open-cell breathable foam and a breathable 4-way stretch cover?
All of those features will help create a cooler microclimate between the resident and the mattress.

Do your assistive devices allow independent residents to turn and reposition themselves while in bed?
Where applicable, residents could be offered an assistive device to help them safely move or reposition on their own in bed. This could be an assist bar, a trapeze or even a repositioning ladder.

Are slide sheets available to assist with repositioning the resident in bed?
Slide sheets are another way to reposition a high acuity resident in bed. Whenever possible, do not share slide sheets between residents. If they need to be shared, be sure to properly wash and disinfect between residents.

What Are the Biggest Factors in Choosing a Wheelchair Cushion Type?

Wheelchair cushions are not a one-size-fits-all solution for your fleet and should be suited to each patient individually. As you make this assessment, the two most important considerations are cushion shape and cushion material, each providing their own set of benefits. These different options cater to unique conditions, however, and using the wrong wheelchair cushion could lead to hazardous positioning. Choosing the best wheelchair seat cushion type can provide long term benefits for patients and can prevent and heal skin breakdown.

What Are the Different Wheelchair Cushion Shapes?

The four most popular wheelchair cushion shape types are saddle-shaped wheelchair cushions, pommel-shaped wheelchair cushions, wedge-shaped wheelchair cushions and anti-thrust wheelchair cushions.

When choosing a wheelchair seat cushion shape type, it’s important to consider a patients’ mobility and positioning needs. Do they need pain pressure relief for posture issues, such as posterior pelvic toilet or pelvic rotation? Skin breakdown can be prevented by choosing a wheelchair cushion type that comfortably positions patients. 

Anti-Thrust Wheelchair Cushions: Used to help mitigate slide for seniors and patients who are constantly moving in their wheelchairs. An anti-thrust wheelchair seat cushion prevents sliding with a high-front and low-back cushion design. 

How Can I Choose the Best Wheelchair Cushion Material?

The three most popular wheelchair cushion material types are foam, gel and air. The materials your wheelchair cushions are made of can have an impact on resident comfort and experiences. Foam wheelchair cushions, gel wheelchair cushions and air wheelchair cushions each present their own set of benefits.

• Foam Cushions for Wheelchairs: Best for maximizing immersion with a greater degree of pressure management and offloading properties.
• Gel Cushions for Wheelchairs: Best for regulating body temperatures and reducing buildup of moisture.
• Air Cushions for Wheelchairs: Best for advanced pressure management and all-day comfort with a cool and dry surface.

Wheelchair Cushion FAQ:

What are the different types of wheelchair cushion shapes?

The four most popular wheelchair cushion shape types are saddle-shaped wheelchair cushions, pommel-shaped wheelchair cushions, wedge-shaped wheelchair cushions and anti-thrust wheelchair cushions.

What are the types of wheelchair cushion material?

The materials your wheelchair cushions are made of can have an impact on resident comfort and experiences. Foam wheelchair cushions, gel wheelchair cushions and air wheelchair cushions each present their own set of benefits.

What are the biggest factors in choosing a wheelchair cushion type?

The overarching two most important considerations are cushion shape and cushion material, each providing their own set of benefits.

The Benefits of Choosing the Best Wheelchair Seat Cushion Type

Knowing how to choose the best wheelchair seat cushions for patients in your healthcare setting can create comfortable wheelchair experiences and prevent pressure sores and skin breakdown. Refer to our blog on using equipment to prevent skin breakdown to see how mattresses and other assistive devices can also increase your patients’ quality of care.

1. Evaluate Your Current Resident Safety Program

Creating a safe, welcoming Assisted Living care environment for your seniors and staff starts with investing in a safe resident handling program for your community. Using an assessment guide is a great place to start thinking about how you can introduce, implement and maintain a culture of safety. It can help you understand the current Assisted Living landscape and evaluate how well your community is equipped to handle high acuity. Working through a step-by-step guide that suggests products and next steps can make it easier to implement a program.

Ask yourself a few key questions to help you determine how your community stacks up:

• Do I have an established process for routinely evaluating senior mobility and transfer ability?
• Have I seen increases in staff injuries or workers’ compensation costs?
• Is my community equipped with the right mobility aids and transfer devices to improve these experiences and also improve staff and senior safety?

Assisted Living residents who actively participate in their healthcare are more likely to adapt behaviors that promote and maintain senior safety. Increase resident engagement by reviewing assessment results, providing information on fall prevention and showing exactly what happens during the use of a mechanical lift.

By working directly with your residents and staff, you can help create safer Assisted Living care environments for everyone.

Help Increase Safety

The most important thing to consider when using a sit-to-stand lift is helping to ensure safety for both the resident and the caregiver. Before using any lift equipment, you must complete a resident assessment by a qualified clinician. The assessment should be:

1. Multi-factorial (physical, mental, cognitive, etc.)
2. Documented
3. Communicated to caregivers
4. Repeated (at time of admission, passage of time, change of condition, etc.)

While the assessment outlines requirements for the resident, we recommend a similar process to help ensure the caregiver is prepared for the lifting procedure and knows how to use a sit-to-stand lift. A caregiver should follow the below sit-to-stand lift instructions:

1. Know the resident’s care plan requirements
2. Verify the resident’s name, physical capabilities, mental status and medical condition
3. Complete a visual lift and sling inspection before each use

4. Disinfect hands and sling both before and after use
5. Engage the resident and explain the lifting procedure

Help Improve Outcomes

After ensuring the proper requirements and procedures are met, the next step is to look at the many ways a sit-to-stand lift can improve outcomes in your community. In addition to simple transfers, these lifts can be a powerful exercise tool to help improve residents’ strength as a way to reduce dependency on lifting devices. To meet the shift of rising acuity in senior living, transfer and lifting devices can help achieve residents’ health and wellness goals. ​Additionally, they can open up a wider range of activities and interventions that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. Consider these applications as potentially applicable for a resident:

This webinar features Liz Jensen – Clinical Director, and Renae Buyeske – Product Consultant.

“Falls continue to be one the biggest issues impacting our residents’ healthy and safety. Can you help?”

This question is one of the most common we hear at Direct Supply when working with senior care providers. Reducing fall risk, mitigating injuries related to falls and keeping a heightened awareness among staff are challenges for leaders in senior care. Join us to explore the latest evidence-based strategies to reduce fall risk, fresh ideas for building staffing competencies and capabilities, and environmental changes and resources to support a safer environment for residents and staff.

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be better able to:

• Describe evidence-based strategies to reduce fall risk in older adults.
• Discuss strategies for building competency and capabilities to reduce fall risk in Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing centers.
• Understand how to apply two effective education techniques to engage audiences with varying degrees of knowledge and experience in reducing fall risk in older adults.

While wheelchairs serve an invaluable purpose in your healthcare settings, their nylon or vinyl seats often hammock under the weight of the user. This may be fine for short-term transportation, but conventional sling seats are not suited for long-term use due to safety and comfort concerns.

The best way to optimize the wheelchair experience in your healthcare setting is to augment the seats with cushions. Of course your patients’ comfort is a chief concern, but perhaps even more important are the clinical benefits the proper cushion can bring. Maintaining skin integrity, treating existing wounds, preventing skin tears and bruising, and even correcting posture issues are all possible outcomes of outfitting your patients’ wheelchairs with the proper cushions. Knowing how to choose the perfect wheelchair cushion can comfortably and clinically benefit your patients.

Read on to discover Kelly Sullivan’s helpful tips for selecting the perfect cushion. As Senior Product Consultant for Direct Supply, she has more than 10 years of Senior Living and Healthcare experience with specialization in rehabilitation product evaluation and selection.

What kind of cushion shape or contour is best for my patients?
A “one size fits all” approach or assuming that all cushions are created equal is a big mistake – each unique patient has specific needs and providing them with an improperly shaped cushion could lead to skin breakdown or hazardous positioning. So while a flat cushion is good for comfort, it’s important to think about the contour when we consider the benefits of positioning. Contoured wheelchair cushions provide the high-resiliency support and comfort that your patients need.

Anti-Thrust Cushions – Used to help mitigate slide for patients who are constantly moving in their chairs.

What type of materials make for the best cushions?
The three main types of wheelchair cushion materials are foam, gel and air cushions. The materials that your cushions are made of can also have large impact on the experience of the patient using them. Choosing between foam, gel and air cushions each present their own set of benefits.

While searching for healthcare wheelchair cushions to improve care for your patients, purchasing from a reputable supplier with expert knowledge of the cushions and materials you are considering can ensure you’re getting the items that you need.

Browse through our vast selection of wheelchair cushions to explore potential solutions for your patients’ unique needs or contact us to learn more!