Overhead hoists consist of a powered lifting mechanism that raises and lowers the user, a means of suspension, a power supply and a sling. Each part have various features that need to be considered.

Powered lifting mechanism

• permanently attached ceiling track hoists: these are permanently attached to a ceiling track, and provide a powered lifting mechanism which can be used by a carer to move you from one place to another. You are generally moved in a sling, and many designs can provide a lot of support. Movement along the track may be powered or done manually by the carer.



• portable battery operated hoists: these are relatively lightweight, portable hoists that can be detached from the track or a wall or floor frame, and moved between different situations. However, care should be taken as the units are quite heavy to lift and carry. These are particularly useful for environments such as nursing and residential homes, where the same unit could be used in several different locations. They could also be used on several different pieces of track within a domestic setting - although this would obviously require the carer to move it several times a day.

Ceiling track hoists can be powered in the following ways. The first three types are powered by mains electricity. In the event of a power failure, some have the facility to manually wind the person down onto a flat surface whilst others have the option of a small battery which will provide enough power to do this.

• freehanging curly cable: power is provided from the mains by a loop of curly cable which is connected to the hoist. The cable moves and stretches as the hoist moves along the track. However, the curls in the cable over stretch eventually and can hang down which may be hazardous.



• cable along the track: the cable providing the power from the mains is looped along inside the track so there is no cable hanging down.



• conducted through the track: this type has no power cables but has a power conductor rail built into the aluminium track. This carries the power and transfers it to the hoist via a specially designed trolley. This eliminates the need for travelling cables and is therefore suitable for longer length tracks.



• rechargeable battery: the hoist is powered by a rechargeable battery built into the hoist which needs to be returned regularly to make contact with the battery charger situated at the end of the track. This eliminates the need for travelling cables and is therefore suitable for longer length tracks. In the event of a power failure, the hoist should still have enough power to complete the manoeuvre and in many cases several others.

• straight track: this carries the hoist from one place or room to another in a straight line. Pick up points for the user being transferred are limited to anywhere below the track.



• angled track: different track angles enable the hoist to go round corners, bends etc. However 90? angles may be difficult to negotiate.



• turntables: a turntable enables you to be moved manually along the track by a carer, to be turned through 90? without having to negotiate a tight angled track. You and the hoist are moved onto the turntable and then, using pull cords, a mechanism is released and the straight piece of track on the turntable swivels through 90?. You can then be moved onto a track running in a different direction.



• X-Y tracking system: some companies can now install manual and/or powered X-Y systems which enable you to be lifted from practically anywhere in a room. This is achieved by installing two parallel tracks on each side of the room either on the ceiling or on opposite walls. A moving section of track up to 5m in length runs between the parallel tracks. However this type of track can only be used within one room or area.
• gantry frames: these are floor standing frames which can be used with a mains powered permanently attached hoist unit or a battery powered portable hoist unit. They usually stand over a bed and are useful for: people who are terminally ill; people who are going to be moving, re-housed etc; or people who don't want or can't have a permanent hoist fitted in their home. They are heavy and awkward to move and do not always feel very stable during transfers.



• free standing hoists: these have a floor standing frame -similar to a lifting pole, with a boom and spreader bar that swings through 90? or 180?. These hoists can be used: for transferring short distances, e.g. bed to chair or wheelchair, wheelchair to toilet; when lack of space makes the use of a mobile hoist impossible; when client preference or the structure of the building makes the use of an overhead hoist on a track or gantry impossible. They are useful in similar situations to gantry frames.



• wall fixed hoists: these have support frames which need to be permanently fixed to the wall. There are two main types. Swinging hoist These are mains powered hoists which can be swung through 90? or more and are controlled by a hand-held control. Swinging frame with portable battery operated hoist attached Portable battery operated hoist units can be hooked onto wall attached booms which will swing through 180?. These can be particularly useful in a nursing or residential home, where hoist use is constantly changing so that it may be worth putting a swinging frame in every room and attaching the portable hoist whenever it is needed.

• manual traversing: this requires the carer to move you, in the sling, along the track. The design of the wheels on the hoist motor trolley makes this easy to do. However, it obviously still requires more effort than a powered traversing mechanism and may pose an increased risk of back injury to the carer. Benefits include: the carer is able to control the speed at which you are moved along the track; manual traversing tends to produce a smoother start than powered traversing.



• powered traversing: this enables you to move along the track independently or enables the carer to move you with minimum effort. The carer is unable to control the speed at which you are moved which may be a disadvantage. Powered traversing tends to produce a jerky start to which both you and the carer may take some time to become accustomed.

• powered lifting mechanism: all overhead hoists have a powered lifting mechanism which will reduce the risk of back injury to the carer



• capacity of hoist: check that your weight does not exceed the capacity that the hoist has been designed to work at safely.



• lifting range: the lifting range is the height that the hoist is able to lift in one manoeuvre. The lifting tape can often be extended if, for example, the hoist is used in a swimming pool with a very high ceiling, but the actual height through which the hoist can lift cannot be extended.

• emergency wind down: this will enable a carer to wind you down to a solid surface in the case of a power failure.



• battery back-up for breakdowns: hoists powered by an in-built rechargeable battery, recharged each time the hoist is parked against the battery charger, store power which it uses to move. This works regardless of the mains electricity and is therefore useful in an emergency. Some hoists which are powered by mains electricity, have a small back up battery which is used in an emergency only for lowering, not for moving you along the track
• automatic cut out switch: this will enable the carer to stop the hoist immediately if there is an emergency



• controls: there are various different types: handset - the carer can operate the controls while standing close to you so that they can provide assistance and support during the manoeuvre. Controls should be clearly labelled, otherwise they are invariably used upside-down and you may be moved in the wrong direction; splashproof - enables the hoist to be used safely in the bathroom where the handset can be used in or near the bath or shower; pull cord mechanism - works on a two-way, pull cord system; infra-red - this has an infra-red sensor on the hoist. It enables you to use a remote control to move the hoist out of the way along the track when not in use and bring it back into position when required.

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