Sling types for mobile hoist

[Spiersey]

Good evening friends,

So it feels like everyday presents a new challenge that we meet with the aggression it presents and generally find a way round often with the help of our fabulous community team. However despite more equipment then our local mobility shop we are left with one big difficulty. My hubby is unable to lay flat due to compromised breathing and can no longer roll from cheek to cheek whilst dressing and undressing. We use a mobile hoist but this only moves him from chair to bed in its fully upright condition and from chair to wheelchair etc. He is never not in a seated position. This complicates dressing and undressing and toileting. To this point we have lifted him into a Molift stand aid and dressed that way before transferring but this is becoming near on impossible now due to us lifting all of his weight as he can no longer assist us.

With the help of my old friend google, I have found a link for the following hoist sling which seems to allow access to the lower body which looks like it would make dressing and undressing a breeze, I can also see it useful for transfer to the commode to ease toileting difficulties, even the toileting sling does not account for removing clothes????

http://www.liko.com/int/international/Products/Slings-and-Lift-Sheets/MasterVest/

Does anyone either use something similar or have any alternatives that we could try??

Your wealth of knowledge and expertise will be challenged with this one.

regards
Claire

[Ellie]

Hi Claire,

Hopefully someone in a similiar situation can give you personal experience, but I'd suggest getting hubby's OT involved and she/he will assess which sling is best suited to his needs and to his physical capabilities - neck, core and leg strengths, as well as the transfer process. There may be a better, more suitable hoist than his current hoist.

That standing transfer vest requires a good degree of weight bearing and good upper body control. There are high backed toiletting slings but IDK if they'd suit him, so it's best to get his OT involved - that's what they're there for afterall...

(As an aside, Liko are a good brand - I've one of their slings for a sit-to-stand hoist)

Hope you get sorted before you put your back out!!

Love Ellie.

[Viv Azouz]

I am trying to find a suitable toileting sling to use with an overhead hoist anyone got any suggestions . My OT has recommended some but getting my clothes on and of with them is still problematic

[Suefromwakey]

My husband had a demo with a stand alone hoist couple of weeks back, the lady put the sling on "so easy", - ha ha, he didn't feel compromised at all, but of course he was fully dressed, and it was with a competent person doing it not me,

Interesting to see what replies come about here re slings etc

Sue

[Ellie]

Viv Azouz A warm welcome to the forum, Viv.

May I please ask:

Do you need the toileting sling to have a high back for upper body and head support, or would a torso one suffice?

Have you enough core strength to sit forward in the over-the-loo chair?

Love Ellie.

[Sarahw]

Hi Viv and welcome,

slings are the bane of my life! I must have tried dozens and feel well mauled! However - a ‘toileting ‘sling’ is a godsend. My OT has brought many a sling for me to try (she is incredibly persistent). It does work very well but trousers/leggings can be a trial(lucky ladies who wear dresses and go commando - too much info) it is well worth keeping at it and some sling manufacturers will come to your home to test drive some. If they do that it is worthwhile talking about removal of clothings. They are a very keen bunch and incredibly helpful. I invested in a ceiling hoist and its been worth every penny. It is a lot of trial and error I’m afraid so all the very best.

Sarah x