Care home hoists are an important innovation for mobility in care homes; they allow service users to move around the building more easily and reduce injury risks. Care home hoists are mainly used for helping users to stand, get to the toilet, and visit relatives in communal areas.
What is Care Home Hoists?
Hoists are mechanical devices that help cares to lift people with mobility issues and move them around the care home without risking injuries. Without the aid of a hoist, carers would need to partner up and assist a person from their seat, but this is challenging and increases injury risks.
Care home hoists have many different types to assist different users’ situations and mobility issues. Mobile hoists are the most common hoist type in care homes due to their flexibility, mobility, and strength. Some of the most common mobile hoists for care homes are listed below.
Types of Mobile Hoists
Care homes have different types of mobile hoists. Some of them provide structural support for service users; they are fitted with the help of a carer and can be manually or electrically operated. Others offer a little more independence and flexibility for service users and carers.
Mobile Hoists
By far, the most popular care home hoist has to be a mobile hoist. A mobile hoist is a frame or chassis mounted on castors with brakes. The design allows the hoist to be moved easily around the care home. A mobile hoist has a manual or an electronic mechanism to assist the user, helping care home workers and reducing injury risks. Mobile hoists are convenient and reliable.
Ceiling Track Hoists
Ceiling track hoists can also be found in care homes, although they are more expensive to install. A ceiling track hoist is fitted to the ceiling and descends a sling for the service user. A user can then sit in the sling and follow a line of tracks to their destination. Ceiling track hoists are easy for carers and service users to operate, but some models require routine charging.
Stand Assist Hoists
A stand-assist hoist is beneficial for service users with severe mobility issues and struggles to get out of their seats. A stand-assist hoist places a sling around the upper back, under the arms, and places a band under the seat. The service user is fully supported in the seat and can be lifted to a standing position with confidence and safety. Stand hoists are common in care homes.
How is a Hoist Used?
Care home’s mostly use hoists for lifting people with mobility issues and transferring them to other rooms in the building. A service user might wish to change their room to get a better view or visit someone in a communal area. But care home hoists have a range of other benefits.
Care home hoists of all kinds are used to lift people in and out of bed, assist them in getting to the toilet, and help them to and from their wheelchairs. Care home hoists reduce the physical challenges of helping service users and provide users with more mobility and independence.
Choosing the Right Care Home Hoist
When selecting a care home hoist, several factors must be considered, including:
Weight capacity: Ensure that the hoist can handle the weight of the resident, taking into account any potential weight gain in the future.
Track system: Evaluate the layout of the care facility and determine the appropriate track system to provide maximum coverage and manoeuvrability.
Safety features: Look for hoists that are equipped with safety features such as emergency lowering, anti-entrapment mechanisms, and secure sling attachments.
Ease of maintenance: Opt for hoists that are durable, easy to clean, and require minimal maintenance to ensure longevity and reliability.
Conclusion
In care homes and assisted living facilities, care home hoists are indispensable tools that promote safety, comfort, and independence for residents while easing the physical burden on caregivers. By investing in quality hoists and ensuring proper training for staff, care providers can create an environment that prioritises the well-being of residents and supports the delivery of high-quality care.
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