In September 1936, a young student decided to travel to watch his football team in an away game. Roy Hoyer may have been in the lineup himself but for a small injury. On the way to the game, Hoyer and his friend were involved in a car crash which resulted in his spinal cord being severed. He was left a quadriplegic at the age of 16.
Despite this, Ted Hoyer went on to become a successful businessman and writer. Notably, he invented the very first power lift to improve his own mobility and independence. Hoyer’s invention has continued to help carers and patients in their daily lives ever since.
Freedom of movement and independence is a major concern with many patients. The global personal mobility devices market was worth $14.9 billion in 2021 with the global walking aids market valued at $2.2 billion. The global mobility aid devices market was worth over $9.5 billion last year, and this is the sector that takes into account standing hoists and lift sales.
What are standing hoists?
When Roy Hoyer invented his hoist it was to improve the quality of life that he experienced. He wanted to be more mobile and more independent. That is exactly what standing hoists give patients today.
They come in electric and manual options but they perform the same role. A standing hoist helps patients with limited mobility or strength move from a seated position to standing so that they can move around.
Hoists in general help patients with poor balance, weakness, or those who are unable to stand up without some assistance. They are essential pieces of equipment for certain patients and the caregivers who look after them.
Why are they an essential recovery tool?
It can be challenging trying to help someone out of a wheelchair or a bed into a standing position. This is especially true if the patient is heavy.
These tools help take the challenge out of lifting, and they can help a patient’s recovery. Hoists lift a patient without putting strain on areas that may have been injured such as the back. They also remove the risk of further injury to the patient if they tried to lift themselves while still recovering from surgery or trauma.
Standing hoists do require that the patient can put themselves in a sitting position and can support their own weight to a degree when in a standing position.
There are five more reasons below why standing hoists are essential tools for patients and their caregivers.
- They reduce the strain on the carer and reduce the chance of injury. Many carers have been injured trying to lift patients out of baths or a bed. There are a number of different hoists on the market to suit a patient’s needs. But, they all help to take the strain off of the caregiver.
- They can help with transfers. These tools maximize mobility, and patients in recovery will often need to visit their doctor or hospital on a regular basis. There may be follow-ups or additional tests. Standing hoists, depending on the model, can help with transfers which in turn helps with recovery.
- They add a level of dignity for the patient and can reduce embarrassment. Other hoists such as ones for bathrooms can remove some of the embarrassment of being helped into and out of a bath.
All hoists, including standing types, can give the patient some dignity. Trying to transfer a heavier patient to a wheelchair without a hoist can be an undignified and dangerous task. A standing hoist takes away this concern.
It has been shown that a lack of dignity in care facilities can lead to depression, and delay recovery. Quality of life and improved daily living ability can help improve mental wellness.
- They are safer for the patient. There are hoists designed for baths and toilets and others for swimming pools. All of them are designed to safely lift patients without the risk of injury.
- They make the patient’s daily activities easier. Some standing hoists are used to help transfer patients, and others can help assist in walking about. These can help a patient move about. Hoists are one of the ways that caregivers can boost seniors’ independence or other patients in recovery.
Summary
A patient doesn’t have to be in recovery to use a standing hoist. The elderly or those with limited mobility can also benefit from these tools. The first hoist that Ted Hoyer sold was in 1950, it was reported that 6 years later the individual who purchased it was still using it without any problem. A hoist of any description can improve the comfort of any patient.
They can also help improve mental wellness by taking some of the struggles out of daily life. Mental wellness is vital to physical recovery too.
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