How to Choose the Right Passive Mobile Hoist and Sling System

Choosing a passive mobile hoist is about much more than selecting a model with the right safe working load or lifting range.

A successful transfer depends on how well the client, sling, hoist, caregiver and environment work together. Even the highest-quality hoist can become difficult to use if it does not fit around the client’s furniture, does not provide enough lifting height or is paired with an unsuitable sling.

This is why equipment trials are such an important part of the prescription process.

A structured hoist trial allows clinicians to determine whether the entire transfer system is safe, comfortable and practical for everyday use, not only for the client but also for the people providing care.

Rather than asking, “Which hoist is best?”, a better question is:

“Which transfer system best meets this person’s needs, environment and daily transfer requirements?”

1. Is the Transfer System Suitable for the Person?

Every equipment trial should begin with the client, not the hoist.

Two people with the same diagnosis may require completely different slings or transfer systems because of differences in body shape, posture, pain, skin integrity or functional ability.

Before trialling equipment, consider:

• Weight-bearing ability
• Head and trunk control
• Pain during movement
• Contractures or limited range of movement
• Muscle tone or involuntary movement
• Skin integrity and pressure injury risk
• Body shape and weight distribution
• Cognition and ability to participate
• Anxiety during transfers
• Current and anticipated transfer needs

The sling is just as important as the hoist.

Ask yourself:

• Is the sling the correct size?
• Does it provide adequate postural support?
• Is the material appropriate for the client’s skin and transfer goals?
• Can it be applied and removed with minimal handling?
• Does the client feel secure throughout the transfer?

Remember, clinicians prescribe a transfer system, not simply a hoist.

2. Can It Perform Every Transfer the Client Needs?

A successful hoist trial should include the transfers the client performs every day, not just one demonstration in an open space.

Consider whether the transfer system can safely complete:

• Bed to wheelchair
• Bed to recliner
• Wheelchair to commode
• Wheelchair to shower chair
• Recliner to bed
• Floor recovery, if required

Bed Transfers

When assessing bed transfers, look beyond whether the client can simply be lifted.

Ask whether the hoist can:

• Fit under the bed
• Position close enough to the client
• Allow the spreader bar or yoke to reach the middle of the bed
• Provide sufficient lifting height to achieve full mattress clearance
• Allow the client to be repositioned comfortably in the centre of the bed

Also observe the caregiver.

Are they maintaining a comfortable posture throughout the transfer, or are they reaching, twisting or bending unnecessarily?

Chair and Seated Transfers

Many transfer challenges become apparent once the client is seated.

Assess whether the hoist:

• Fits around the wheelchair
• Fits around the client’s recliner
• Fits around the care chair
• Fits around the commode or shower commode
• Provides sufficient lifting height to achieve full clearance from the seating surface
• Allows the client to be positioned without excessive repositioning
• Can manoeuvre around footplates, armrests and other furniture

Small differences in hoist geometry can have a significant impact on the ease of everyday transfers.

Floor Recovery

If floor recovery forms part of the client’s emergency management plan, confirm that the hoist:

• Is suitable for lifting from floor level
• Lowers sufficiently to attach the sling
• Provides adequate lifting height following recovery
• Remains stable throughout the lift
• Can be positioned safely within the available space

3. Is It Suitable for the Home Environment?

A passive hoist should always be trialled in the environment where it will actually be used whenever possible.

Questions to consider include:

• Does it fit through bedroom and bathroom doorways?
• Can it turn safely in confined spaces?
• Does it fit under the client’s bed?
• Can it be positioned around bedside furniture?
• Does it fit around recliner chairs, care chairs and wheelchairs?
• Can it negotiate thresholds and changes in flooring?
• Is there enough space for caregivers to work safely?
• Is there a practical location for storage and battery charging?

A hoist that performs well in a showroom may not be the best option in a client’s home.

4. Is It Suitable for the Caregivers?

Safe transfers depend on the wellbeing of caregivers as much as the client.

During the trial, assess whether the equipment is easy to use throughout the day.

Consider:

• Manoeuvrability
• Push effort
• Turning in confined spaces
• Positioning around furniture
• Ease of sling application
• Ease of sling removal
• Push handle height
• Leg-opening mechanism
• Handset usability
• Emergency lowering functions

Good ergonomic design should allow caregivers to use their body weight and leg strength rather than relying solely on their shoulders and upper limbs when manoeuvring the hoist.

Reducing physical effort during every transfer can help minimise cumulative manual handling risks over time.

5. Listen to the Client

Technical performance is only one part of a successful equipment trial.

Ask the client:

• Did you feel safe?
• Were you comfortable?
• Did you feel secure in the sling?
• Was anything painful?
• Did you feel anxious?
• Would you feel comfortable using this equipment every day?

The client’s experience should play an important role in equipment selection.

A Successful Hoist Trial Does Not End with “The Hoist Worked”

A successful trial should demonstrate that:

✔ The client felt safe and comfortable

✔ The sling fitted correctly

✔ Every required transfer could be completed safely

✔ The equipment worked within the client’s home environment

✔ Caregivers could complete transfers safely and efficiently

✔ The clinician can confidently justify the prescription

Ultimately, the goal is not to prescribe the “best” hoist. It is to prescribe the right transfer system for that individual.

Download the Passive Hoist & Sling Trial Assessment Tool

To support structured equipment trials, we have developed the Patient Hoist & Sling Trial Assessment and Recommendation Tool

Download the Assessment Tool in the Enable Lifecare Clinician App

Access via Menu > Resources > Assessment Tools > Patient Hoist and Sling Trial Assessment and Recommendation Tool

This practical resource helps clinicians compare multiple hoists and sling systems, document clinical reasoning and evaluate how the transfer system performs for the client, caregivers and home environment.

Download the assessment tool free from the Enable Lifecare Clinician App and use it to support equipment trials, funding applications and evidence-informed prescribing.