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Often nursing home residents are unable to stand and/or walk by themselves. They require assistance from nursing home staff and even a Hoyer lift. A Hoyer lift is a mechanical device that lifts and moves the resident. When the Hoyer lift is misused or malfunctions, serious injuries may occur to nursing home residents. 

A Hoyer lift has a sling-type seat that holds a resident and a mechanical frame that swivels and wheels for transfers. If these devices are not used properly, catastrophic injuries may result.

Nursing homes are required to have protocols in place on how to safely transfer a resident from one place to another, but these protocols may be ignored if a staff member is inexperienced, untrained, rushed, becomes complacent or does not care. Oftentimes, two people are required to operate the Hoyer lift. If a resident is dropped, there is the potential for not only serious injuries but also a decreased life expectancy.

Bedridden or frail residents require assistance. Because of the elevation of the Hoyer lift along with a resident’s weakened condition, and an inability to break a fall, common injuries occur, such as fractured or shattered bones, traumatic brain injuries and even fatalities.

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are required by law to give their staff adequate training in using the Hoyer lift and how to properly seat a resident in the sling. If a Hoyer lift is not assembled properly, injuries may also occur.

“Hoyer lifts help staff make nursing home residents more mobile. However, if they are not maintained or used properly, accidents may happen. Should you or a loved one be injured because of the negligence of a nursing home staff member, please contact our experienced team,” said Fort Myers Nursing Home Attorney Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Florida Nursing Home Negligence AttorneyRandall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one percent (1% ) of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact  Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at  239. 337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com  for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County at  239.793.7748.