In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a hoist for facilitating a transition between firstly a seated or lying position and secondly a standing position of an individual, comprising: a movable lifting arm for exerting a lifting force, a connecting element for transferring the lifting force from the lifting arm to the individual, and a movable handle suitable for supporting the hands of the individual during operation of the hoist, wherein the movable handle is configured to shift during operation of the hoist, wherein during operation of the hoist, the movable handle also executes a movement relative to the lifting arm.

A transfer apparatus for receiving the chair seat of a wheelchair and supporting the chair seat in the base of a washing enclosure. The transfer apparatus has a chair support member including a chair support track section that can be positioned in the washing enclosure base, a bridge portion with a bridge track section that is movably mounted to the chair support member. The transfer apparatus includes a lock system usable to secure the bridge portion in an in-use position and engaged with the wheelchair. A first lock inhibits rotational motion of the bridge portion. The first lock includes a retractable locking member that is biased to an extended, locking position. A second lock is usable to prevent longitudinal separation of the bridge portion and the wheelchair. The first and second lock can be automatically engaged when the bridge portion is moved to the in-use position.

An apparatus for transporting a patient. The apparatus includes a supporting portion to grasp part of the body of a patient. A footboard unit is provided upon which the patient is able to stand when supported by the supporting portion, the footboard unit movable along a floor by movable means. A frame is connected between the footboard unit and the supporting portion. The apparatus is configured so that the footboard unit is able to move in proximity to a bed upon which the patient is lying, whereat the supporting portion can grasp the part of the body of the patient, wherein the frame and the supporting portion are able to support the patient in transitioning from a lying position on the bed to a standing position adjacent the bed as the footboard unit is moved relative to the bed.

An assistance device that more appropriately identifies a user using speech. The assistance device is provided with a speech detector, a name acquiring section that acquires a name of a person based on speech detected by the speech detector, and a user identifying section that identifies a care receiver who is a user of the assistance device based on the name acquired by the name acquiring device.

A patient assisting system includes a frame having a sling assembly attachment point and a lifting arm which is movable relative to the frame and which includes a receptacle. When the sling assembly is attached to the attachment point and extends through the receptacle, a portion of the sling travels through the receptacle as the lifting arm moves relative to the frame. Another embodiment includes exactly one four bar linkage comprised of a frame having an attachment point for a sling assembly, a lifting arm having a receptacle, a lower cross arm and an upper cross arm. The lifting arm is adapted to be movable between a person-seated position and a person-standing position. The receptacle is located along the lifting arm so that motion of the lifting arm causes the receptacle to move along a curved path having a concave side which is person-facing.

Various other implementations include a device for rotating a patient. The device includes a bottom sheet and a top sheet. The bottom sheet is configured to abut a surface of a bed in use. An intermediate line of the bottom sheet extending from a head edge to a foot edge is disposed between its side edges. An intermediate line of the top sheet extending from the head edge to the foot edge is disposed between its side edges. The intermediate line of the top sheet is coupled to the intermediate line of the bottom sheet to couple the top sheet to the bottom sheet. The top sheet includes at least one first fastener coupled adjacent to its first edge and at least one second fastener coupled adjacent to its second edge. The at least one first fastener is couplable to the at least one second fastener.

A method of rehabilitating a person using a person lift device, includes the steps of: calculating a first amount of assistance provided by the person lift device to assist a person in moving between a first position and a second position at a first time; comparing the first amount of assistance to a previously determined amount of assistance; and providing a second amount of assistance as a function of the difference between the first amount of assistance and the previous amount of assistance to assist a person in moving between the first position and the second position at a second time.

Devices and methods for bringing a person that has fallen to the ground to an upright position comprise frames adapted to receive a person's body after a person has achieved a lying position, inflatable bladders attached to the frames on which the person's body rests when the bladders are in an uninflated state, the bladders being inflatable from a first position to a second position, and fittings attached to the inflatable bladders for receiving hoses to allow the inflatable bladders to be inflated from the first position to the second position.

Patient transfer chairs are disclosed, with the transfer chairs comprising; a rigid frame supporting a seating surface, with the seating surface being deployable under a patient in a plurality of incremental configurations between a first configuration where the seating surface supports a patient only underneath the bend of their knee and a second configuration where the seating surface supports the majority of a patient's femur.

A method of rehabilitating a person using a person lift device, includes the steps of: calculating a first amount of assistance provided by the person lift device to assist a person in moving between a first position and a second position at a first time; comparing the first amount of assistance to a previously determined amount of assistance; and providing a second amount of assistance as a function of the difference between the first amount of assistance and the previous amount of assistance to assist a person in moving between the first position and the second position at a second time.