Mobile Hoists

Mobility hoist buying guide & FAQs

Portable hoists

There are 2 types of mobile hoists: passive and active. Passive hoists are designed to lift from any location from the floor, bed, bath and other seated positions. The patient using this particular hoist will be safe and secure, even if they have very limited mobility and cannot participate in the moving and handling themselves. Active hoists are designed to hoist only from a seated position. This gives the patient the ability to participate during the hoisting and moving. This is also known as a sit to standing hoist, which is ideal for bed to chair, chair to chair, chair to toilet and other positions. If you are unsure on which type of mobile hoist you or your patient needs, please call us on 0800 0148672.

What is a mobile hoist used for?

A mobile hoist or lift is portable and used by a carer to safely lift and transfer someone who has limited mobility and is unable to move from one location to another without help. There are two types of hoists passive and active, a passive hoist is designed to lift from any location to transfer individuals to or from a bed, chair, wheelchair, toilet or even the floor in an emergency situation as well as moving from one room to another providing maximum flexibility. This type of hoist will be safe and secure even if patients have limited mobility and cannot participate in hoisting and moving.

An active hoist is designed to hoist patients from a seated position only and are intended to take advantage of the patients capabilities, being strong enough to achieve an upright position enabling them to participate during hoisting and moving. Using a mobile hoist helps to maintain the safety of both the individual being moved as well as the carers minimising potential injury due to strains caused by poor manual handling.

What are the benefits of mobile hoists?

There are benefits to both the patient and carer when using a mobile hoist. For the patient using a mobile hoist for lifting situations means that they can be safely and comfortably moved whist reducing the risk of falls and injury. Using a hoist help to mobilise patients earlier and more frequently. Using a hoist means that a patient can be moved within different areas of the care environment benefiting their physical and mental wellbeing. For the carer using a mobile hoist is safer avoiding putting them at risk of injury due to manual lifting.

What should I consider when choosing a mobile hoist?

When choosing a mobile hoist several things need to be considered such as the type of lifting activities that will be required to be carried out such as raising, standing, horizontal lifting and walking training.

The patients strength also needs to be considered as this could determine if a passive or active lift is required. If using from room to room consider the size of door openings and hoist specifications ensuring that the hoist can be moved through from one room to another. If easy access is needed around beds and chairs a hoist with manual or electric leg spreaders will be an advantage .Knowing the patient weight is important to ensure that the correct hoist can be chosen to safely lift them. The safe patient working load can be found under the product specifications.

What types of mobile patient hoists are there?

There are several types of hoists at Shelden Healthcare, we can provide our customers with mobile hoists, stand aid hoists and bath hoists to meet all lifting needs for both patient and carer.

How is a mobility hoist powered?

Mobility hoist is powered by battery which will require recharging from a power supply. Some hoists have an acoustic low battery alarm alerting the carer to recharge it.