Hoyer Lifts: When and How to Use Them Properly

Hoyer Lifts: Making Safe Transfers Easier for Families and Caregivers

If you’ve ever tried to help someone transfer from a bed to a wheelchair, or from a chair into a bath, especially if they’re unable to bear their weight, you know it’s not just hard, it’s dangerous. For both the caregiver and the person being lifted.

That’s where Hoyer lifts come in. They aren’t just fancy medical gadgets. They're real-life game changers. They reduce the physical strain, prevent injuries, and restore dignity to everyday tasks that can feel impossible without help.

At Canada Mobility Rentals, we talk to families every week who are caring for loved ones at home, sometimes temporarily, long-term, and just need a safer way to help them move. Many of them have never used a patient lifting device before. And nearly all of them ask us the same thing:

“How do these things work, and when do we need one?”

So here’s what we tell them straight from our own experience setting up and supporting patient lift rentals across homes, care centers, and temporary recovery setups all over Canada.

What Exactly Is a Hoyer Lift?

A Hoyer lift is a mechanical device that helps safely transfer a person who can’t stand or move on their own. It’s often used to move someone from:

• A bed to a wheelchair

• A chair to a toilet

• A bath to a bench or medical stretcher

The lift uses a fabric sling attached to a wheeled metal frame. With minimal physical effort, it gently raises the person into the sling and transfers them safely, smoothly, and with full-body support.

Think of it as the strong arms and steady footing that a human caregiver simply can’t provide, especially when the person being lifted is heavy, weak, or post-surgery.

When Is It Time to Use a Patient Lift?

This is a big question, and honestly, a personal one. But in our experience, there are a few signs that it might be time to consider a Hoyer lift rental or other lift equipment rental:

1. Transfers Are No Longer Safe or Comfortable

If lifting your loved one requires extreme bending, straining, or twisting, or if they feel scared, rushed, or unsupported during transfers, a patient lift could help.

2. You’re a Solo Caregiver

We see this all the time. One spouse caring for another. One adult child caring for a parent. It’s exhausting and risky to transfer someone alone. A lift gives you back some independence and reduces the risk of back injury or falls.

3. The Person Can’t Bear Their Weight

Whether it’s due to surgery, stroke, paralysis, or progressive illness, if your loved one can’t support themselves during a transfer, it’s time for a patient lifting device.

4. Temporary Need After Surgery or Hospital Stay

Many people rent a Hoyer lift for just a few weeks while someone is recovering from hip, knee, or spine surgery. It’s a short-term solution that prevents setbacks and speeds healing.

How to Use a Hoyer Lift Safely (Don’t Worry, We’ll Show You)

One of the biggest concerns we hear is, “What if I do it wrong?”

That’s valid, and we take it seriously. Using any patient lift rental properly starts with confidence and instruction. That’s why when we deliver your equipment, we walk you through everything, step by step.

Here’s the basic process:

1.     Position the Sling: This goes under the patient, either by rolling them gently or using a sling already in place.

2.     Attach the Sling to the Lift: Using sturdy hooks or clips, we connect the sling to the boom arm of the lift.

3.     Begin Lifting: Whether manual or electric, the lift begins to raise the person slowly. We keep an eye on comfort, position, and posture throughout.

4.     Roll the Lift to the Target Location: A wheelchair, bed, toilet, or bath. The lift’s wheels allow you to move smoothly.

5.     Lower and Unclip: Once safely positioned, we lower the person gently and remove the sling or leave it in place, depending on comfort.

When done properly, this entire process feels calm, secure, and dignified. No yanking, no panic, no fear of dropping.

Why Rent Instead of Buy?

For many families, renting a hospital lift just makes more sense than buying.

Here’s why:

• Short-Term Need: If your situation is temporary post-op recovery, rehab, visiting relative, lift equipment rental gives you what you need, without a huge investment.

• No Storage Hassle: Hospital lifts are bulky. When you're done, we pick it up. No need to figure out where to store it.

• Full Support Included: We deliver, set up, and walk you through every feature. And we’re always a phone call away if you have questions.

• Affordable Pricing: Our Hoyer lift rentals are priced (Monthly Rental: $300, including: Rechargeable battery pack and charger) with families in mind. You get medical-grade equipment at a manageable cost, billed weekly or monthly.

And the biggest benefit? You get peace of mind. We make sure the right equipment is in your hands, exactly when you need it.

Who Typically Rents a Hoyer Lift?

Here are some of the real-life clients we’ve worked with, just to give you a picture of who this helps:

• A daughter caring for her stroke-survivor father

• A senior helping his wife recover from hip surgery

• A caregiver managing ALS progression at home

• A family preparing their home for palliative care

• A couple hosting an elderly parent over the holidays

Whether you’re renting a lift for a few days or a few months, we’re here to support you through it.

Real Advice from Our Team

We’ve delivered and set up hundreds of lifts across Vancouver and beyond. We’ve met families tired from the hospital, anxious about doing things right, and overwhelmed by new caregiving tasks.

Our job is to ease that burden. So here’s what we always say:

“You’re not expected to do this alone. The right equipment makes the care possible.”

Every time someone sees the lift work smoothly, lifting a loved one without pain or panic, we see the tension leave their shoulders. That’s what we want for you, too.

Final Words from Canada Mobility Rentals

Caring for someone, even for a little while, can be beautiful and exhausting. A patient lifting device isn’t just about mechanics. It’s about making the moment easier, safer, and more dignified for both of you.

If you're considering a Hoyer lift rental, or you’re not sure if a patient lift rental is the right next step, talk to us. We’ll ask the right questions, help you figure out what you need, and make sure you feel ready.

Need Help with Patient Transfers at Home? We Can Help.

We offer affordable, safe, and reliable Hoyer lift rentals and lift equipment rentals across Canada, delivered with care and set up with support.

·         Weekly and monthly plans

·         Delivery, setup, and full instruction

·         Serving Vancouver and surrounding areas

·         We make caregiving safer, one lift at a time.