Hoyer Lift in Nursing Home

easy23

My DH is in a 5 star medicare rated nursing home. His mobility has decreased to where he needs a 2 person hoyer lift for assist. The aide operated the lift alone and when I questioned it the aide said it's ok. I mentioned it at my husband's care plan meeting and the aide got some type of reprimand. The aide no longer speaks to me or acknowledges my existence.

Now when my DH needs to use the hoyer lift it is whispered that they need 2 people (while I am in the room). Is this the norm in all nursing homes or is this a sign of the facility being understaffed? How should I handle this?

Just for reference, my DH is stage 7 and won't know enough to tell me if they're using only 1 person.

Jeff H

I'm sorry, but I am not familiar with the hoyer lift. This is what ChatGPT said,

Why “2-person assist” is used

Even though one trained caregiver can sometimes operate a lift, a two-person assist is often recommended when:

The person is heavier or has limited control of their body
They are medically fragile or at high fall risk
The caregiver needs help positioning the sling correctly
Extra stability is needed during the transfer
What each person does

Typically:

Caregiver 1: Operates the lift (controls raising/lowering, positioning)
Caregiver 2: Stabilizes the person, guides their body, and ensures the sling is secure and comfortable

==========================

Was your care plan meeting with management? If not, I would push it up the chain to management and let them know. They shouldn't be whispered while you are in the room.

I hope this helps.

towhee

These days understaffed is probably a given. But even if they were not in some facilities it is very difficult to get staff to work together to do anything that requires two people, even if it is just repositioning in bed.. I know that when my mother's nursing home was working short they just did not get people up as often. That two person rule is a federal regulation and the nursing home can get dinged if it is not followed, but a person caring for their Lo at home can operate a hoyer wiith one person. How safe that is I do not know.