Patient Handling

Patient Handling

Patient handling equipment plays a vital role in the healthcare and caregiving sectors, providing enhanced safety, prevention of injury, greater independence, and improved quality of care and life for patients.

Devices like the patient lifting hoist (also called a floor hoist), are an essential piece of equipment that provides a safe and fast way for patients to be moved from one position to another, such as to and from a bed.
The hoist eliminates manual handling for the carer thus reducing risk of injury for both caregiver and patient. Patient hoists can also increase independent movement for the patient when in the home, as it allows them to move without the need for additional support from a carer. Where a patient may not have any independent movement (they are completely immobile), the patient hoist offers a means for them to maintain comfort and hygiene and enhance quality of life by facilitating tasks like transferring from bed to wheelchair, bath or toilet. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the lifting capacity for the patient hoist?

The 150M and 150E models of ABCO Health Care’s lifting hoists have a safe working load of 150KG. For higher lifting capacity the ABCO Heavy Duty Patient Lifting Hoist comes with a safe working load of 200KG making it a better option for larger patients.

Are the lifting hoists portable?

ABCO Health Care’s lifting hoists are all portable and so not limited by a fixed track, allowing for more flexibility to transfer a patient from point to point as needed. They require minimal setup and maintenance, and are a good option for where a fixed hoist might not be viable.

What is the difference between a ceiling hoist and a portable/mobile lifting hoist?

Ceiling hoists are fixed or permanent lifting mechanisms mounted on the ceiling. They generally consist of a track system that enables the hoist to move in a predefined direction. These hoists are commonly used in home settings and they allow for greater independence for users with limited mobility.
One of the main benefits of the ceiling hoist is that they allow for movement across longer distances, as opposed to the portable hoist which is more for short distance transfers ie. from a chair to a bed.

The mobile/portable patient hoist on the other hand is as the name states; a portable lifting hoist which operates as a standalone device that can be moved from one location to another ie. moving a patient out of a bed. The portable hoist allows for safe transfer both for the patient and caregiver as it reduces the need for manual labour.
The mobile patient hoist occupy more floor space as opposed to the ceiling hoist which utilitises overhead space. The ceiling hoist however will come with a higher cost as it requires installation, whereas the mobile patient hoist comes ready to use.

How do I choose the right patient lifting hoist?

Factors you will need to consider when purchasing a patient lifting hoist include

• Weight capacity: what is the maximum weight load required to be lifted
• Physical requirements or restrictions of the patient: does the patient have some mobility? Can they bear any weight or will they require full dependant transfer
• Ceiling vs. mobile hoist: consider the differences and benefits of ceiling and mobile hoists to decide which one will be the most suitable for the setting.
• Storage and available space: Consider the area in which the hoist will be used, will there be enough room to accommodate movement of the mobile hoist? Is there sufficient storage space available?
• Lifting range and height: Consider the hoist lifting range and maximum height to ensure it can accommodate transfer requirements
• Ease of use: ABCO Health Care’s patient hoists come with either manual or electric leg spreads, and superior patient lift space through the use of Space Link technology. They are designed for maximum support and safety for both caregiver and patient