Hi

Next week I'm having an OT assessment at home. I've not seen an OT in over ten years, and a year ago I asked for an urgent re-assessment of my requirements for my transfers because my Hubby had badly injured his knee.

Can I expect the UK social services OT to source and pay for a hoist that can be transported to enable me to take it away from home, i.e. holidays, visits to see the mother in law etc.

Also if I really need a ceiling hoist and not this absolute rubbish hoist they gave me ten years ago can I ask and get the style that isn't built into the ceiling but the one that allows you to go anywhere in the room?

Also I guess, what new or cutting edge hoists do people like using at the moment? what designs make our life easier?

I've done standing transfers for nearly 30 years, but if my hubby's knee gets worse I can see him not being able to do this and if I were to have carers in to help they would require a hoist to move me.

Any thoughts/suggestions appreciated.

Izzi xx

Most UK local Authority OT services will provide the basic equipment that will do the job free of charge. However if you want something more (like a portable hoist) you are entitled to a Direct Payment to the value of the basic hoist which you can then top up with your own funds.

A ceiling track hoist is another issue and because it is attached to the fabric of the house it may well come under a "Disabled Facilities Grant" these are mneans tested and usually a long waoiting list. (Somone might correct me on this).

Tin

Hi Izzy

I'm not sure if this will be of much help.

We were assesed in 2007 for a hoist by the social services. as my husband was in hospital they supplied one which went across the bedroom and was supported by 2 sturdy poles which were sort of bracketed to the ceiling. We should have had the ceiling tracking sort but it was all done on the hurry up as he was being discharged. The poles were a real pain..I kept walking into them and he kept reversing into them..!!

Anyway, last year we moved house and so we asked if we could have the tracking kind. They did an assesment of the room, checking the ceiling joists etc and it was fitted within a month.

We didn't have to pay anything.

I hope you get some replies regarding portable hoists as it is something we are going to have to consider.

Oh and by the way..we have carers ( she laughingly calls them!!) and it seems that as we have a ceiling hoist it can be used by 1 person but if we had a mobile hoist then there would have to be 2 of them.

L