Mobile Hoists

Buying a Portable Hoist for Disabled Users Guide

Have you ever thought about investing in a portable hoist for disabled users? You may want to consider numerous crucial things when looking for a specialist disability hoist.

However, whether you’re shopping for bath hoists, general ceiling hoists, or anything in between, there’s definitely an option for every requirement.

However, before you begin using bath hoists or looking to buy mobile hoists for your property, it’s well worth considering several simple options to help ensure you’re using these systems safely.

8 Key Things  You Should Know When Using a Portable Hoist for Disabled Users

In many scenarios, investing in a specialist bed or bath disability hoist can make life so much easier. However, before you buy mobile hoists online, you should first consider whether you’ll be able to use these safely.

Luckily, learning to use a portable hoist for disabled patients or family members doesn’t have to be hard. We’ve outlined several helpful things you should know that could inform this decision, too.

#1 Not All Hoists are Created Equally

One of the first things you need to consider is that not every mobile hoist for home care is created equally. As such, before choosing a portable hoist system, do you research to ensure it is the right one for your needs.

The hoist should be suitably strong and durable to support the user’s weight comfortably. It should also be easy to use and have a simple operation mechanism; this helps reduce the risk of accidents while using the hoist.

#2 Does the Hoist Need to be Secured?

Some bed and bath hoists are fully portable, while others need to be secured to the ceiling before they can support a person’s weight. Considering this before buying the wrong type of hoists could help ensure you’ve got the ideal solutions.

Of course, there’s no right or wrong option here. Portable hoists can be used on the go, but they can potentially be cumbersome to move if you have narrow doors. Meanwhile, installed hoists are typically much more reliable, but they come with the caveat that you’ll need to install one in every room.

#3 Foldable Design

Did you know that some mobile hoists actually now feature a folding design – which is significantly more practical for use around the house? A foldable design means that your hoist can be packed down and taken with you, removing the burden of having to navigate through narrow passageways and doors.

However, it’s worth considering that a folding design is not necessarily as strong as a fully secured design, so if the hoist is for heavier users, a non-folding design may have a greater weight capacity.

#4 Manual vs Electric – Which is Better?

Bath hoists come in both manual and electric designs, and it isn’t always clear which of these is better. Often, for most people, the decision comes down to cost and practicality.

Naturally, manual bath lifts are much cheaper to buy than electric hoists. However, lifting a person manually can take its toll, especially over a long period of time; as such, if you don’t think you’ll be able to manage the physical exertion, an electric hoist will likely be much safer and more practical for you to use.

However, there’s the risk of a lack of control with electric models – which is why investing in the best version you can afford is integral.

#5 What’s the Weight Capacity

As we’ve briefly mentioned already, when buying a new hoist for disabled users, it’s important to consider the weight capacity of the device.

Some hoists are much less generous in capacity than others. Meanwhile, some bath hoists are designed specifically with greater weights in mind. As such, before you purchase a bath height, it may be advisable to weigh them first to ensure your chosen hoist will support them comfortably.

#6 Comfort Features

Did you know that a growing number of modern bath hoists are being designed with comfort features to make them easier to use, especially for long durations of time?

Comfort features such as lap straps and arm rests might seem simple, but they can make a world of difference in terms of comfort. As such, this is vital when choosing the right hoist for your loved one, clients, or patients.

#7 Stability

For any portable disability hoist, it’s vital to inspect the device’s existing stability features to determine whether or not it’s likely to be safe for use. Modern disability hoists are becoming increasingly mobile. But, without a firm attachment to a wall or ceiling, stability could be compromised if you don’t choose a specifically balanced model for this purpose.

So, you should always look out for bath hoists and disability hoists that feature plenty of balancing features; this should help reduce the risk of the hoist falling during use. Naturally, this could cause severe injuries for both the user and the operator(s).

#8 Reviews

Finally, to choose the ideal type of disability hoist for your needs, it’s always worth checking out the past customer reviews to help inform your decision. Legitimate past customer reviews are among the easiest ways to ensure that your chosen brand (or, better yet, the chosen model) is known for providing high-quality solutions.

Always make sure to consider both positive and negative reviews, as well, to ensure you’ve got a clear understanding of the pros and cons your chosen brand offers. After all, a disability hoist isn’t necessarily the most affordable purchase – so you’ll want to get this decision right the first time around if possible!

If you’ve been looking to buy a bath or bed hoist for elderly or disabled family members, it’s important to first consider critical safety features to ensure you’re using these systems properly.

After all, while bed and bath hoists can be very handy tools, they’re not always comfortable. Therefore, you must always ensure that you’re using your mobile bath hoists carefully. This should help prolong the life of the hoist while ensuring the user has a more comfortable experience.

Other ways people find us:

• car wheelchair hoist
• portable disabled hoist
• wheelchair hoists
• medical hoists
• mobile hoist for disabled