Patient Slings and Hoists

A residential hoist can be a fantastic source of assistance for people who struggle to safely move around a specific area in their home, or in a hospital environment. Hoists not only allow people in need of mobility assistance to enjoy more comfort and independence when they’re moving around a home, but they also make moving and handling residents much easier for caregivers.

Patient hoists can help a wide range of different people, including seniors who want to remain in their own homes despite problems with mobility and strength, people with disabilities who are unable to lift themselves fully, and more.

What is a Hoist or Lift?

A hoist is simply a type of mechanical device for lifting that can work to elevate someone from a sitting position, and move them safely into another area, such as a bathtub, seat, or bed. Some hoists can even carry patients horizontally between areas in a room.

The type of hoist that any person chooses will depend on their individual needs.

There are three options available for residential hoisting, including:

• Wheeled or mobile hoists
• Stationary hoists
• Ceiling Lifts

What are Mobile Hoists?

A mobile hoist or wheeled hoist is a piece of mechanical equipment that is free-standing and designed to support the person being transported in a harness or sling suspended from an arm. The sling is carefully situated around the individual question when they are seated or lying down. The person can then be hoisted up, and the hoist is fully wheeled into a new destination before the person is lowered.

One thing to consider before getting a mobile hoist is the amount of space you will need. The wheeled base of a hoist will need to be broad enough to remain stable when moving a person. This means that wheeled hoists require a wide path. Additionally, you’ll need to think about how much clear space there is under fixtures and furniture to accommodate the hoist frame. For instance, if your mobile hoist supports bathtub transfers, the bath will need to be raised from the floor so the frame fits underneath it.

What are Stationary Hoists?

Stationary hoists are perhaps the simplest form of a hoist. They are mounted on a wall or the floor. While the base of the hoist will be fixed to a specific location, a support arm will be able to pivot to transfer a person from one location to another. Usually, stationary hoists use slings similar to wheeled hoists.

The primary consideration for design in a stationary hoist is the strength of the structural wall or floor it is attached to. You’ll also need to think about the arc of the hoist swing. Make sure that it can reach all necessary spaces, and that clear space is available during the transfer.

What is a Ceiling Hoist?

Finally, ceiling hoists may be the most convenient hoist solution for many people. Powered by electricity, ceiling hoists are mounted to the ceiling on a track. The person is lifted in the sling and moved along the track. When choosing a ceiling hoist, make sure that you have enough strength in the ceiling to support the track. You’ll need to get the advice of a structural engineer.

Those using ceiling hoists will also need to provide a clear travel path across the track route, particularly at door frames for a system that connects multiple rooms. Ceiling tracks can be provided in a range of locations, and some track systems will include a turntable that means hoists can move from one track to another.