Moving Right Along

Across the board — and across the numerous patient applications included in the lifts, ramps and transfer device segment of the home medical equipment industry — experts point to one demographic as the force driving growth: The population is aging.

For patient lifts, which are used inside the home for lifting patients up and out of beds and wheelchairs, an aging population indicates more potential users — though the user may not always be only the person who needs lifting. As more elderly consumers opt to live in their homes, their family caregivers, who may be elderly themselves, are looking for safer ways to move and transport those who require care.

“The market is growing for [patient] lifts and slings in general,” says Fran Spidare, product manager of patient transport for Invacare. “There are more elders in our population, and more of these elders are staying at home for a longer amount of time.”

In fact, in the patient lift category, this demographic is the sole reason for growth since, Spidare says, both the products and reimbursement remain “pretty much the same” over time.

Other manufacturers also predict strong growth for patient lifts. According to Gary Nowitz, vice president, home care, for Liko, “The entire market segment is in its infant stage and will grow at a steady rate for many years to come.”

For vehicle lifts, ramps and other transfer devices such as pool and stair lifts, a nation that is getting older means not only more users but, these days, more active users.

“With the number of senior citizens in the American population continuing to increase, we are seeing the emergence of a dynamic, independent and incredibly diverse group of older Americans who show no signs of slowing down as they mature,” says Chad Williams, president of Harmar Mobility. “This is a group that has always been independent and self-reliant, and we see strong growth potential for products designed to enable their continued freedom and independence.”

Transfer devices, especially those that transport other mobility products such as scooters, are becoming a necessity for baby boomers on-the-go. So a second, closely related reason for this sector's growth corresponds directly to growth in other mobility categories. A consumer who buys a scooter is, more than likely, also going to want a vehicle lift, ramp or both.