Standing Hoists

A mobile standing hoist (also called a sit to stand hoist and standing lifter) is a specific type of mobile hoist used to move a client from one seated surface to another, such as from a chair to a toilet. The hoist has a platform or footrest on which the client stands. The client is supported by a sling fitted around their trunk (a special sling known as a ‘standaid sling’) and by a leg brace or knee block that has strapping to hold the client’s legs in place. Standing hoists are suitable for clients who are partially weight bearing and can support most of their own weight while standing. 

Standing hoists are useful as they allow more access to clients’ clothing than sling hoists. For this reason, they are useful for moving clients from one seated position to another and can assist with toileting partially mobile clients. They also have a therapeutic benefit for clients in providing an opportunity to increase weight‑bearing tolerance. They should only be used for transporting clients for short distances, such as within a room or to an adjacent bathroom, not for longer distances such as corridors 

Points to note about standing hoists 

• It may be easier to use a standing hoist rather than a mobile or overhead hoist for toileting as long as the client has sufficient weight‑bearing capacity 

• Extra care needs to be taken with clients with specific clinical conditions, such as low muscle tone, osteoporosis, spinal metastasis and difficulty standing with their feet flat 

• Standing hoists should have adjustable legs to go under and around chairs and toilets