Uplifting Market

With an aging population opting for home care over hospital and nursing home care, the demand for lifts and transfer devices will continue to rise, experts say.

“Pure demographics say we'll see the home care lift segment grow,” says Fran Spidare, product manager for patient transport for Invacare.

Further, this category gives HME providers the opportunity to expand cash business with products such as stairlifts, bath lifts and non-reimbursible patient lifts that can make the lives of patients — and their caregivers — easier.

Safe Handling

Greater awareness about preventing caregiver injuries is one major factor driving expansion of the lift and transfer device market, according to manufacturers.

As aging adults are living at home longer, the number of informal caregivers who help to take care of them also is rising. About 52 million people in America provide care at home for an adult who is disabled or chronically ill, according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study on informal caregiving. Another HHS study on family caregiving indicates that many informal caregivers are seniors themselves: 30 percent are age 65 or older.

The uptick in informal caregiving also increases the likelihood of injury to the caregiver, with lifting and moving patients being one of the main causes of injury.

A study of informal caregivers by St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK, found that out of 46 caregivers, 31 injured themselves while lifting and handling patients at home. Eight were temporarily unable to care for the patient as a result of their injuries, and 16 patients were injured themselves while being moved by their caregivers.

While institutions have been taking greater precautions to prevent lifting injuries among nursing staff, it has been more difficult to get the word out to family caregivers, manufacturers say. But as education increases, many are realizing that it is not safe — for themselves or the person they're caring for — to try to lift a patient on their own.

“No caregiver should try to move a resident because they can injure their backs. It doesn't matter if you're 45 or 65 — you're going to want to use a lift,” says Tom Ellis, vice president, extended care group, Drive Medical.