Praktical information about active hoists

• What is an active hoist?
• How does an active hoist work?
• Active Sling
• When do you use an active hoist?
• The difference between an active and a passive hoist
• How do you use an active hoist?
• Active hoist in the healthcare
• Different types of active hoists
• Natuurlijke tilbeweging
• Active travel hoist
• What to look out for when buying an active hoist
• Active hoist reimbursement
• Buy an active hoist

What is an active hoist?

An active hoist is a hoist that helps a person get up or sit down. Such a lift is also called a ‘stand-up lift’, or a ‘stable lift’. Its purpose is to keep needy people as active as possible during a transfer. Hence the name active hoist; the person being helped to stand up or sit down actively participates in his or her transfer to the best of his or her ability. An active hoist increases safety for the user and stimulates and activates muscles. It also eases a carer’s task, as they no longer have to lift the weight of the ‘patient’.

Active Sling

The active lifting sling plays an important role in an active transfer with an active hoist. The simplest is a soft strap that is guided under the armpits and behind the back. Sometimes more support is needed and the lifting sling has a longer back strap, which distributes pressure more evenly across the back. Other active lifting slings have an abdominal fixation, to prevent the patient from falling forward or, if the legs collapse, slipping out of the lifting sling. Finally, there are active lifting slings that have an extra flap that is stretched under the buttocks. This provides extra support and extra upward pressure on the body.

Some active lifts work with clips, others with loops to attach the active lifting sling to the lift. Molift’s active hoist works with a connection from sailing where a rope with a knot is pulled through a v-shaped ‘clamp’. As soon as weight is applied, the rope automatically pulls itself taut. A secure solution that is often strangely received. Once you get used to this connection, almost everyone raves about the convenience.

When to use an active hoist?

The active hoist is designed to help people who still have a standing function to get up or sit down, when doing so on their own muscle power has become too difficult. To apply a successful active transfer, the following functions are necessary:

• The user must have a sufficient standing function
• Arm and shoulder function must be sufficient
• Trunk balance must be sufficient
• The user should be able to understand and carry out simple tasks.

The difference between an Active a Passive Hoist.

Not everyone knows well the distinction between an active hoist and a passive hoist. People then ask for an active hoist when they have a passive transfer in mind, or vice versa. This is why we always ask about the circumstances so that we can give better advice. It often happens that we have to correct the request for help.

An active lift has already been described in detail in this article. Such a lift is called active because the person being lifted with it actively assists himself, standing on his own legs during the transfer. A passive lift lifts people who cannot actively assist and lifts the user who otherwise remains passive. You can read more about passive lifts on this page.

How to use an active hoist?

Operating an active hoist is not difficult, but it does require some practice. Don’t experiment yourself, ask a nurse or occupational therapist to help you so you learn responsibly. Make sure the lift is appropriate for the person you need to help get up. Always check that the maximum load weight fits the carer.

A full transfer normally requires the following steps.

Active hoists in healthcare

various active hoists

There are many different active hoists. While there are many similarities, there are also many differences. In addition, every user has a specific situation. Finding the optimal combination ‘user – active hoist – active lifting sling’ is therefore a quest. There are differences in the way of lifting, in the way of grasping, in the shape and dimensions of the footplate, in the adjustability of the knee support, in the ease with which the calf can be fixed, in size and height of the lift, how easy it is to take the lift with you on location. And then the choice of lifting sling can still influence feelings of safety, support and comfort. Of course, budget also plays a role. In short, there is a lot to choose and consider.

In a care institution, however, the choice often falls on one type of lift for the whole house. Everyone then gets the same hoist. This is not ideal, as every patient deserves that individual lifting experience. One solution could be to take the specific problems of the user into account when choosing the active lifting sling to be used. The ultimate solution is to deploy an active hoist with a natural lifting motion.

natural lifting movement

Most active hoists have an upward lifting movement. This movement does not correspond to a natural get-up movement. In a natural get-up movement, you first slant forward and only when the weight of the body is above and a bit in front of the knee does an upward movement fit. There are only a few active lifts that approach this movement. 

A good option is the Molift Quick Raiser 205. With the column angled backwards, the lifting arm moves further and further back, thus pulling the patient forward at an angle, simulating a natural lifting movement. Conec Care is a warm advocate of the hoists with a more natural lifting movement. These hoists are also better suited when patient training is involved in rehabilitation, for example. Also our SLK active hoist, the SLK Eazy-up,  has this backward leaning mast for the favourable natural lifting movement.

What should you look out for when buying an active hoist?

There seems to be a lot to choose from when looking for an active hoist. But in fact, this is not so bad. First, decide what is important about the lift and how you want to use it. Consider:

• Height and weight of the user
• Carer’s characteristics (standing function, trunk stability, pain, mental capacity …)
• Where to use (home, institution, on site, combination)
• How often is the hoist used and how, for what solution?
• If you are looking for an active travel hoist, how often does it need to be transported, will it be flown?
• What is the budget?

From the answers to the above questions, a picture emerges from which we can properly determine what kind of lift is best for you. Depending on the situation, there are more or fewer options. You can always be confident that if you choose a product with good build quality, it doesn’t make much difference whether you choose option A or B. In the end, it is often a choice on details. Which lift you like best, which company you feel most confident with, which lift fits your budget best.

Of course, it is tempting to look mainly at the price. And in essence, a lift of around €1500 will do the same as a lift of €4000 or more; help you get up and sit down again. The only question is, how long will the lift keep doing that, how comfortable and safe is such a transfer for the carer, even in the long run, and is the lift repairable if something goes wrong? A more expensive lift often has more luxury, but the quality of the components and materials used also plays a role, plus post-purchase support. A more expensive lift is not always a better lift and a cheap lift is not always a bad choice.

Then there is the service level of the supplier. How transparent is the company? Do you get tailor-made advice? Can you try out the hoist on a trial basis? Are hoists that are not standard available still discussed? What can be agreed on after-sales service?

Reimbursement Active Hoist

If you need a hoist, you may be eligible for reimbursement for it. There is a great tool on the ‘hulpmiddelenwijzer‘  to see if you may be eligible for reimbursement.

The following questions are essential in determining whether you can get reimbursement and who to apply to:

• Do you need the lift for longer or shorter than 6 months?
• Do you have a medical indication from a practitioner?
• Have you had previous reimbursement for an active lift?

If the need for an active hoist is shorter than six months, then apply for reimbursement from your health insurance. This is only possible if you have a medical indication. Without this indication, the health insurance will not reimburse you. Unless you have supplementary insurance and the policy conditions state that you do qualify for reimbursement.

If you need an active hoist for a longer period of time, it depends on where the device is used to determine where you may be able to get reimbursement. For example, if you need the lift for school or work, then the UWV is your point of contact. If it is intended to enable you to continue living independently at home for longer, then the WMO within your municipality is the point of contact. If you are staying in an institution, the institution will take care of an application, which can be submitted to the WLZ, the WMO or your health insurance, depending on your situation.

As a rule, you cannot receive reimbursement for a device for which you have already had reimbursement. For example, the WMO has already reimbursed an active hoist and you now want an active travel lift, you will normally have to pay for the travel lift yourself. However, there are exceptions, so in any case, check whether you are still eligible for reimbursement.

Buy an Active Hoist

Buying an active hoist is very personal. As we mentioned, the ideal choice depends on the specific characteristics of the carer and the desired use. If you live in a generously adapted home and you never go out with the hoist, you are probably looking at a very different hoist than if you live in a small home or wish to use the hoist also on location.

Most people who just live at home can apply to the WMO if they need an active hoist. In that case, the Municipality determines which hoist you get. However, if you want to have more influence on the final choice of lift and choose one that suits you and your use best, ask for a PGB. Then you can choose the active hoist yourself.

Most companies offer 1, possibly 2 options. At Conec Care, we recognise that you as a customer are our focus and we offer you multiple options. We have the knowledge of the market and we look at which lift and active lifting belt best suits your personal situation and use. This is a process of fitting and measuring and may require some patience and perseverance. However, this will be amply rewarded with an active hoist that really suits your personal situation and that you will enjoy for many comfortable and safe transfers.