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CherylTown Asked August 2017

We are considering the Invacare Reliant 450, using a full body sling. Has anyone ever used this lift?

My dad is 86 years old and bedridden. We want to purchase a power lift to move him from bed to chair and back. What are the pros and cons?

CherylTown Aug 2017
Thank-you Hugemom. We are more concerned with ease of use than the price. My dad has no use of his legs and minimal use of his arms, which is why we decided on full body sling. I have watched the You Tube videos but was hoping to hear from someone who has used the Invacare Reliant 450 as lifts are not returnable.

Hugemom Aug 2017
Firstly, check with any and all of his insurance to see if they will foot the whole bill, part of the bill or none of it. Check, also, to see which lifts they might cover. Compare models on YouTube to see which would best fit his needs. When my husband was discharged from rehab, Medicare sent us a Hoyer Lift with a full body sling. Unfortunately, when the therapists at his rehab gave me lessons on using a lift, it was a completely different type of sling and lift. Both of us wound up panicking because I wasn't sure how to use it. This was the only type of lift Medicare would cover. I did a day's worth of phone calling to medical supply companies and finally found one who would rent us a "Get U Up" patient lift which was as close to the "Sit to Stand" lift I'd been trained on as I could find. It's a hydraulic lift, which means it has to be hand-pumped. It costs us $135 a month, self-pay. It does the job, but it's hard on my arthritic arms. But, electric ones were not an option on self-pay. If Dad can stand, this is the way to go. Full-body slings are great for those who have no muscle strength, but they can be much harder to maneuver than the Sit to Stand lifts in confined spaces like a normal size bedroom.

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