I've been offered an used Invacare Reliant 450 Hoyer Lift in good condition. My husband (stroke survivor) lives at home and doesn't currently need a hoyer lift for transferring, but the lift has base legs that open into a wide V shape in order for wheelchairs to gain access. All the lift's dimensions and weight capacity specs seem right for my husband. I'd like to use the lift for hubby's gait training. He'd be stable and safe in a sling with his feet on the ground. Customer Reviews are highly positive about this lift from multiple websites. The Invacare Reliant 450 lift is advertised to be used in numerous ways, but gait training isn't mentioned as one of them.
Has anyone tried using an Invacare Reliant 450 Lift to assist with gait training? Or just used this make/model? Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Our little community pool here in Florida is charming if you're not handicapped, but it doesn't have ramps, and there's no pool staff. There's no flotation vests or lap lanes, either. The only equipment is a pool cleaner and one life preserver. And lots of lounging furniture. The pool is situated away from the street residences and it can only be accessed via a narrow paved path that's surrounded by a big lawn.
....A pool lift would be wonderful, though...I'll check out ADA regulations and see whether there's a way to convince or compel our homeowners association to install a pool lift (but I'm skeptical about this). ....even if our homeowner association is legally compelled to provide "access" for a pool lift, I'm sure they wouldn't buy and install a pool lift. I can see our neighbors becoming Very upset about higher insurance HOA rates for the community if we installed a private lift at the pool and somebody got injured using it.
I've thought about hiring a physical therapist to help us get my husband in and out of the pool, and do safe gait therapy with him in the pool. I asked one of our in-home Medicare provided physical therapists about this - I got a hard NO to this idea, due to insurance risk regulations. I guess my next move would be to find a certified PT who would agree to do the pool therapy with my husband - I guess I'll put finding some hero PT who would be willing and available and affordable for pool therapy on my wish list, along with an affordable and reliable standing wheelchair (Redman or Permobil F5) plus a reliable warranty covered wheelchair accessible van with a retractable ramp. And a "shower buddy" transfer system ($4K)....sorry, now I'm crying. Everything seems so impossible right now. Please excuse me while I have a mini breakdown.
wishing you all the best.
All I can say is if there is a chance it would work...go for it.
AND another thought what about water therapy? Would a pool help?
If he has leg strength so that he can support himself it should work.
If he does not have leg strength and can not stand he will be supported only by the belt and that can cause more injury.
When I think of "Gait training" I think of someone that is able to stand and is trying to walk, and a belt along with a support like a "parallel bars"
The platform of the Sit to Stand is not enough to "walk" it will be enough to stand while supported.
I hope you have talked to a Physical Therapist about this before you purchase.
The Invacare Reliant 450 isn't a sit to stand. It's a power hoyer lift with a T bar overhead for lifting extremely disabled bedridden people from bed and transferring to wheelchair, toilet, etc.
My husband is able to transfer by himself with only 1 person's help using a gait belt - he produces about 85% of the power to stand and sit by himself. He's pretty strong. Our PT says he *might* benefit from gait training. Hubby has been getting in-home PT and OT from Medicare for 3 years. There are literally no out-patient gait training facilities anywhere around where we live. Unless he's admitted to a Rehab Facility that focuses on gait training - we did this last year but Medicare would only approve 12 days - not nearly long enough to make real progress.
He is able to stand for short periods of time. We can always get parallel bars or something functionally similar if we go ahead with the lift.
But I appreciate the suggestion that we talk with our Physical Therapist - very good idea. Thanks.