Which Ella Walk-In Tub Works With a Hoyer Lift or Patient Lift?

When a Hoyer lift is part of the plan, the tub the team points to is the HoistAssist, model Transfer3060HL, which pairs a transfer tub with its own battery hoist rated for about 440 pounds. If the household already has its own way of moving the bather and the priority is a fast, preset-temperature fill, the HomeCare 32x60 with its built-in pre-filled tank is the caregiver tub to compare. Both, along with the CareGiver lay-down tub and the standard Transfer family, are compared in Assisted Bathing Options Compared: HomeCare 32x60 Pre-Filled Tank, HoistAssist Battery Hoist Tub, CareGiver Lay-Down With 400L Tank, and When a Transfer Tub Is Enough.

HoistAssist: The Lift Is Part of the Tub

The HoistAssist solves the lift itself. A bather who cannot bear weight or slide across is lifted in the hoist seat over the door opening and lowered into the water, and the hoist is purchased with the tub as part of the product. From the published specifications, the tub measures 60 by 29 1/2 by 39 1/4 inches, the door opening is 39 1/4 inches wide with a 12 1/4 inch clearance height, and the hoist seat travels from about 18 7/8 inches to 42 1/2 inches. Options include a valve, air jetting, microbubble, or dual air and microbubble, plus one grab bar and end panels. If your question is which tub works with a Hoyer lift, the team's answer is this one.

HomeCare: For a Caregiver Who Already Has a Transfer Method

The HomeCare solves the wait. The caregiver presets the temperature, the internal 80 gallon tank fills ahead of time and stops on its own, the bather gets in and the door is closed, and one press of the fill button empties the warm tank into the tub in about 90 seconds. Its extra-wide 27 inch aluminum door swings outward 180 degrees, and the sit-down height suits a bather moving in from a wheelchair or a wheeled chair. It is designed exclusively for assisted bathing, and the printed warning requires a caregiver or trained professional. It assumes the household already has a way to move the bather, whether a lift, a wheeled chair or a caregiver's assistance. If you plan to use your own floor lift with it, tell your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 the make and model of the lift so the approach and clearance can be discussed for your bathroom.

Planning the Room Around a Lift

A floor lift needs a clear path to the tub and room for its base. Plan the drain runs with your plumber before the floor is closed, especially on a slab-on-grade build where the drains are set early, and route the runs so nothing sits where the lift base needs to go. Ella's gravity dual drain has four ports, and connecting more of them to a house drain that can handle the flow shortens draining time, which matters when a bather should not be kept waiting. Have your plumber verify the house drain first.

When a Transfer Tub or the CareGiver Fits Better

If the bather can sit upright and slide sideways with help, a tub from the Transfer family, the Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60 and TransferXXL, is designed for that seated transfer. Its L-shaped outward door opens 172 degrees, and the tub fills from your home water heater through the fast-fill faucet rather than from a tank. Therapy depends on the package purchased. For a bather who cannot sit at all, the CareGiver, model LD6632, is a lay-down tub with an integrated side reservoir holding about 105 gallons. Ask the team for its current options.

Related Guides

• Ella HomeCare 32x60 Transfer Tub: Assisted Bathing With a Pre-Filled Tank
• Wheelchair Transfer Tubs Compared: Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60, and TransferXXL
• A Caregiver-Assisted Bathing Routine in a Walk-In Tub, Step by Step

Common Questions

Which Ella tub does the team recommend for a Hoyer lift? The HoistAssist, model Transfer3060HL. Its battery hoist is rated for about 440 pounds and lifts the bather over the door opening into the water, so no separate lift is needed.

Can I use my own patient lift with the HomeCare tub? The HomeCare assumes the household already has a way to move the bather, and its wide outward-swing door and sit-down height suit assisted entry. Tell your Ella dealer or the team the make and model of your lift so the approach and clearance can be discussed before you order.

How fast does the HomeCare tub fill for the bather? The internal 80 gallon tank fills ahead of time at a preset temperature, then empties into the tub in about 90 seconds once the bather is seated and the door is closed. The bather spends almost no time in an empty tub.

What should my plumber know if a lift will be used? Plan the drain runs before the floor is closed so nothing sits where the lift base needs to go, and have the plumber verify the house drain. Connecting more of the dual drain's four ports shortens draining time when the house drain can handle the flow.

Is there an assisted bathing tub for someone who cannot sit up? Yes. The CareGiver, model LD6632, is a lay-down tub for bathers who need to lie down rather than sit. Ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 for its current specifications and options.