Invacare Reliant 450 Hoyer Lift - appropriate for Gait Training at Home?

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LostinPlace Asked January 13, 2024

Invacare Reliant 450 Hoyer Lift - appropriate for Gait Training at Home?

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!

Family Caregiver Mobility Product

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score 0 · Answer 1

I’m glad you considered the feedback here and decided not to purchase the lift. Definitely talk with a physical therapist that has worked with your husband. If he qualifies, I would reconsider inpatient rehab if your husband shows potential to walk and is highly motivated(both of these are key). Intensive rehab should, at the very least, provide for a full evaluation and recommended home activities or equipment to further his progress.

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score 0 · Answer 2

We're looking for an electric sit to stand/SARA lift and ive come across a few that specifically mention they can be used for gait training, if of interest-you may be able to rent one from a local dme home care company for a month to month basis to try it out. Here's one: Joerns Hoyer Journey Sit to Stand Electric Power Patient Lift and the other is the Arjo Sara Plus (which seems like a top notch brand but also i havent yet found local DMEs that rent their products-looks like it's used more in facilities/rehabs: https://www.arjo.com/en-us/products/patient-handling/standing-and-raising-aid/sara-plus/

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score 0 · Answer 3

The equipment you are describing works well to move a bedridden immobile person to a wheelchair or chair. I just upgraded from a manual Hoyer to the one you are describing. I bought it used for $1,000. They are well over $1,500 if bought new - especially if you get an extra battery pack which I was lucky enough to get. This would not be safe for the purpose you describe, but perhaps you should consider grabbing it up if it is being offered to you for free? If your husband declines it would allow you to move him - that is, if you continue care at home. If you don’t use it you can always donate or sell it.

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score 1 · Answer 4

Getting into and out of the pool: is there a ramp? If so, they make transport chairs to get in and out of a swimming pool. They are made from PVC pipe. There are also poolside lifts that I have seen. ADA regulations may mean that a community pool has to provide this access. They should also have floatation vests for "deep water running" or walking in the lap lanes. Staff at the pool should be trained to use this equipment and can help get him into and out of the pool. You might also want to hire a private PT to do one or two sessions in the pool to train both of you.

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Thanks for your excellent suggestions.

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.

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score 1 · Answer 5

I'm glad you didn't get it. For those who might be interested in trying that, I don't think it's safe to use it for gait training. I used that model for four years to transfer my wife to her wheelchair. Once your husband is in the sling and lowered so his feet touch the floor, it would be hard to bring him to a standing position without the risk of him falling forward. Even if that could be done safely, while the wheels are locked, the machine would not move, so he couldn't walk more than one step, whether he's sitting down or standing up. If you then unlock the wheels, you could pull the machine forward so he could walk toward you. That would cause the sling to rock back and forth and again risk him falling out of it, and you would not be close enough to hold onto him to guard against that, since you would be about 5 feet in front of him pulling the machine. If there were a third person to hold onto him while you pull it, that might work, but only with practice coordinating the speed he walks with the speed you pull. Even then, all three of you would be in precarious positions during the walk. I don't think there would be enough room to put a walker in front of him because the V-shape of the machine's legs wouldn't provide enough space. My advice is to use a Hoyer for what it's intended, as a transfer device.

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score 0 · Answer 6

LostinPlace: I did see your update of two hours ago wherein you stated that you did not get the Lift.

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score 1 · Answer 7

Thanks very much, everyone, for all your helpful input. I decided not to get the lift, after all. It's too dangerous to use a big, heavy piece of equipment for something it's not built for. I won't put my husband at risk, even *if* it might work.

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score 0 · Answer 8

This doesn’t answer your question but when my wife was transferred from hospital to rehab after major operation the first day they came in with the hoyer lift and when we saw what it entails and the inexperienced aides and nurse we stopped any further use of it.
wishing you all the best.

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score 1 · Answer 9

I would not think the lift would be qappropriate for gait training. The lift is more for being totally lifted. Something more like an upright walker might be better.

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score 0 · Answer 10

I would run your idea past an occupational therapist before attempting this.

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score 1 · Answer 11

Lost when I googled the equipment what I saw was not what you describe.
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?

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Water therapy would be absolutely great for my husband. There's a community pool across the street from us - the issue is how to safely get him in and out of the pool.. Along with no local gait training available, ditto about pool therapy for the disabled. None of the outpatient rehab facilities around here offer pool therapy or gait training. <sigh>

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score 2 · Answer 12

This looks like the Sit To Stand that I used for my Husband,
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.

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Hi Grandma,

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.

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Invacare Reliant 450 Hoyer Lift - appropriate for Gait Training at Home?

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