Hoyer patient lift

Thanks to Hoyer lift one skilled person can lift me from the wheelchair and transfer me to the bed and vice versa. 'Hoyer' is actually a brand name; I don't know what it is called (perhaps just patient lift) but they are plenty kinds of lift for patients and disabled persons in Internet shopping malls such as "Planet Mobility" (http://www.planetmobility.com/store/paitentlifts/index.html). I have two Hoyer lifts, one at home and the other at office. The one at home is made of steel and I paid a little over $2000 in U.S. The one at office is a much lighter portable one also from Hoyer company. It is called "Advanced Patient Lift" (http://www.planetmobility.com/store/paitentlifts/sunrise&quickie/1-advance/index.html). I really recommend this one because it can be folded, is cheaper and takes less space. In Planet Mobility Internet shopping mall, it is listed as less than $1000 including the sling which wraps you. I found that most Hoyer lifts work (can be battery charged) in both 110 and 220 voltages.

In Korea I found some patient lifts that look exactly like genuine Hoyer lifts selling at half price or less. It turns out that these ones are made in Taiwan. I used one at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital but could not recognize the difference. As far as I can see, they are as good as the origin ones.

In hospitals and at various places, I see people lifting and transporting the patients with hands in Korea. I don't think this is a good practice because the caregivers can hurt their backs. As for the long-term solution, we Koreans should get accustomed to using machines instead of muscles.