Patient Hoists: Types, Slings and How to Choose

When someone can no longer stand up unaided, transfers (from bed to chair, to an armchair or to the bathroom) become the most delicate moment of the day. It is where carers suffer most back injuries and where most falls happen. A hoist solves that problem, but it has to be chosen well.

Types of hoist

• Standing hoist. For people who retain some strength and can help by standing while supported. Faster and takes up less room.
• Full patient hoist. For people who cannot help, or barely. They lift the person completely using a sling.
• Electric or manual. Electric models work from a handset and require no effort; manual ones are cheaper but need a hydraulic pump to be operated.

Maximum weight is not negotiable

This is the first filter. Always choose with a margin over the person’s actual weight: working at the limit reduces safety and wears the equipment out.

The sling matters as much as the hoist

A common mistake is to focus on the hoist and treat the sling as an accessory. In reality the sling is what touches the person and what determines whether the transfer is comfortable and safe.

• Correct size: a sling that is too big is as unsafe as one that is too small.
• Type by use: there are universal slings, slings with head support (needed where there is no head control) and toileting slings with a perineal opening.
• Material: padded slings are more comfortable; mesh ones dry faster and work in the shower.

Measure the space first

Check three things: that the base of the hoist passes under the bed and the sofa, that the legs fit when opened around the chair or toilet, and that you can manoeuvre in the hallway and bathroom doorway. If the base does not go under the bed, the hoist will not do what you bought it for.

Using it safely

• Only brake the castors when the manufacturer says to: on many models the hoist must be free to move during lifting.
• Check the sling before every use: seams, straps and attachment points.
• Lift only as high as necessary.
• If possible, do the first transfer alongside someone experienced.

You can see the models in home care solutions.

This article is for general guidance. For questions about a specific person, speak to their doctor or physiotherapist.

Want a hand deciding? Senior World has been based in Fuengirola since 2008 and covers the whole Costa del Sol. Call us on +34 952 66 31 31.