Best Falls Lifting Equipment for Home Use in 2024
An increasing number of private individuals and home users are investing in lifting equipment to be able to safely and quickly lift loved ones who fall, keeping them independent and avoiding long waits for busy emergency services.
The purpose of this article is to compare the most popular lifting equipment options for home use, to give you a clear understanding of the positives and drawbacks of each, so you’re able to make the best decision for yourself and your loved ones.
Best falls lifting equipment for Home Use
Mangar Elk Inflatable Lifting Cushion
The Mangar Lifting Cushions are a range of air-powered emergency lifting cushions, manufactured by Winncare, and designed to be put under a fallen person and inflated to lift the person off the floor.
The Elk is the smallest Mangar cushion and doesn’t have a backrest, making it very portable.
Benefits of the Mangar Elk
- Portability. The Elk weighs just 3.6 kg and folds up for easy carrying, making it easily portable.
- Versatility. With a very high safe working load of 450kg, the Mangar Elk is suitable for lifting bariatric fallers.
- Cost. Cost-wise, the Mangar Elk comes in at around £1500, making it one of the cheaper options on the market.
- Comfortable. The inflatable cushion design of Mangar cushions is designed to be comfortable for the fallen person.
Drawbacks of the Mangar Elk
- You have to transfer the fallen person onto the cushion, which requires much more space and manual effort from the responder, and involves a lot of hands-on pushing and pulling on the faller.
- Instability. The Mangar cushions rely on air to lift the fallen person, which means that when the cushion is inflating it is quite unstable for the fallen and assistance is required from a caregiver to keep them steady. However, when the Mangar Elk is fully inflated, it is solid and stable.
- Noise. The noise of the Mangar compressor can be distressing for some fallers, particularly those with dementia. The noise can also be distressing for other family members who might be at the property, particularly if the Mangar needs to be used during the night.
- Battery life and life expectancy. The Mangar compressor’s battery lasts for 3-4 lifts, which can sometimes leave you unable to lift a fallen person due to a flat battery. Also, the compressor’s batteries typically require replacement annually.
Mangar Eagle Inflatable Lifting Cushion
Larger than the Elk, the Mangar Eagle is the latest cushion from Winncare and incorporates a backrest to help support the back, neck, and head of the fallen person.
Benefits of the Mangar Eagle
- Versatility. The Mangar Eagle has a safe working load of 220kg, which caters to the majority of fallers.
- Supportive. By incorporating a backrest, the Mangar Eagle is designed to both sit up and lift the faller, taking some strain off the caregiver.
- Comfortable. The inflatable cushion design of Mangar cushions is designed to be comfortable for the fallen person.
Drawbacks of the Mangar Eagle
- You have to transfer the fallen person onto the cushion, which requires much more space and manual effort from the responder, and involves a lot of hands-on pushing and pulling on the faller.
- Instability. Like the Elk, the Mangar Eagle relies on air to lift the fallen person, which means that when the cushion is inflating it is quite unstable for the fallen person and assistance is required from the caregiver to keep them steady. Once the Mangar Eagle is fully inflated, it is solid and stable.
- Noise. The noise of the Mangar compressor can be distressing for some fallers, particularly those with dementia. The noise can also be distressing for other family members who might be at the property, particularly if the Mangar needs to be used during the night.
- Battery life and life expectancy. The Mangar compressor’s battery lasts for 3-4 lifts, which can sometimes leave you unable to lift a fallen person due to a flat battery. Also, the compressor’s batteries typically require replacement annually.
Raizer M Lifting Chair
The Raizer M is a manually operated version of the electronic Raizer 2. The lifting operation is powered by a manual crank handle that slots into the side of the seating unit. Once assembled around the fallen person, turning the crank handle lifts the fallen person from a horizontal position to a seated or perched position ready to stand in 3-5 minutes.
Benefits of the Raizer M
- Reliability. The Raizer M doesn’t have any electronic components, so you will never have any issues with flat batteries, guaranteeing a reliable response every time.
- Low manual handling risk. The Raizer M assembles around the fallen person, so you don’t have to physically get someone onto it or move them around hardly at all, so there is significantly less risk of injury to yourself and the fallen person.
- Stability. The four lifting arms keep the Raizer M stable as it lifts, giving assurance to the fallen person and responder.
- Ease of use. The Raizer 2 is simple to use and impossible to assemble incorrectly, so home users find it straightforward to use.
- Can lift the faller to a perching position, making standing or transferring much easier.
Drawbacks of the Raizer M
- Requires manual cranking. Whereas the Raizer 2 below can lift a faller at the press of a button, the Raizer M requires the caregiver to manually wind the crank handle. Whilst this action isn’t particularly difficult, this can be a deal breaker for home users who have limited strength and mobility.
- Weight of the Raizer seat unit. The seat unit weighs 8kg, which can be heavy for individuals who have limited strength and mobility. The Raizer Trolley is an optional extra which we recommend if the Raizer is likely to be transported over a significant distance.
- Safe working load. With a safe working load of 150kg, the Raizer M isn’t suitable for lifting bariatric fallers.
Raizer 2 Lifting Chair
The Raizer 2 is a motorised lifting chair that is assembled around a fallen person to easily lift them from the floor after a minor or no-injury fall.
Benefits of the Raizer 2
- Reliability. The Raizer 2 can complete 80 lifts on one battery charge and it can be left on charge, so you will never be in a situation where a loved one has fallen and you cannot lift them due to a flat battery.
- Low manual handling risk. The Raizer 2 assembles around the fallen person, so you don’t have to physically get someone onto it or move them around hardly at all, so there is significantly less risk of injury to both yourself and the fallen person.
- Enables a rapid response. Ease of assembly and speed of operation allow a fast response – typical operation including assembly is about 3 minutes.
- Stability. The four lifting arms keep the Raizer 2 stable as it lifts, giving assurance to both yourself and the fallen person.
- Ease of use. The Raizer 2 is simple to use and impossible to assemble incorrectly, so home users find it straightforward to use.
- Lifts the faller to a perching position, making standing or transferring from the Raizer much easier for fallen persons with limited mobility.
Drawbacks of the Raizer 2
- Cost. The Raizer 2 chair is the most costly piece of equipment on this list, which is likely a significant factor when purchasing as a private individual. We have an article outlining exactly how much the Raizer costs and what affects the price – read here.
- Weight of the Raizer seat unit. The seat unit weighs 8kg, which can be heavy for individuals who have limited strength and mobility. The Raizer Trolley is an optional extra which we recommend if the Raizer is likely to be transported over a significant distance.
- Safe working load. With a safe working load of 150kg, the Raizer is unsuitable for lifting bariatric fallers.
Which option is best for you?
Ultimately, the piece of equipment you choose is a choice that may differ depending on your requirements. We hope this article has given you a clear understanding of the positives and drawbacks of the four best pieces of lifting equipment on the market, and helps you make the right decision for you.
If you would like to talk through the options with us or book a demonstration of the Raizer 2 or M Chair, feel free to contact us on 01473 741144, or via the form below, and we will be happy to talk.
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Terry Smith
