Home Ceiling Lifts

Stick · 07-22-2003, 08:35 PM

We're shopping home ceiling lifts. We had a rep from Surehands out today. I like their unique "sling" -- more of an aluminum tubing frame than a traditional fabric under-body sling -- but their price for a ten-foot straight track, portable motor and lift frame is $5,500-$6,000, installed, a grand less if I install it myself.

How does that price compare to those of you who have other residential ceiling lift systems, and do you have any advice on other systems/manufacturers to shop? Anyone have a Surehands lift? How is it?

Any tips, etc. very much appreciated. Thanks in advance...

Stick

taj2002 · 07-22-2003, 08:58 PM

We have a room covering Guldmann ceiling lift. We paid a little under $9000. The price included the entrie system, installation, plus 2 slings. One is a nylon fabric type sling, the other is a mesh sling that can be used for showering. You transfer using the mesh sling then shower with the sling in place. The water runs through the mesh, then with a little drying off you are ready to transfer out of the shower chair with ease. The system allows for transfering anywhere in the room. We are very happy with our system. I can't imagine surviving without it. I transfer my 6'1" husband by myself with no problems. Guldmann also makes a one track system as you have described. I can only assume the cost would be much lower than our room covering model. Good luck with your search.

Trish

SCI-Nurse · 07-23-2003, 10:29 AM

I have rarely seen a system put into a home for less than $10,000. We have a Surehands sling on our Barrier Free lift. The sling is OK if you are strong in your shoulders, but can be a problem if you don't. I personally prefer a cloth sling, which is what we use a the center where I work (we put in BHM there).

Most of these vendors will fall all over themselves giving you an estimate, so contact a number of companies and tell them you are looking for competing bids in making your decision. Here is a list of most of the companies that provide these:

Barrier Free

BHM

Guldmann

Liko

SureHands

Waverley-Glen

W'East

(KLD)

Stick · 07-24-2003, 03:35 PM

Thanks, guys, for the advice...

Stick

Brad_D · 07-24-2003, 04:13 PM

The ceiling lifts are great. I have a Waverley Glen lift with surhands bracket in lieu of the sling. Everything works great.

Just make sure you get an authorized dealer to work with. I found out the hard way that my dealer wasn't qualified to re-sell or intall my track and lift after the fact when it broke down. I had to go through a ton of red tape to get it straightend out. I went 6 month with no lift.

It's very unlikley that any company would let you intall it yourself.

Here's a picture of mine:

kate · 07-24-2003, 06:41 PM

Stick, not meaning to be nosy, but I'm wondering where you've been . . . when I first came to these forums, I remember reading a couple of your posts and thinking, "wow, this guy gets it." Then you vanished--to where?

kate

Stick · 07-24-2003, 09:59 PM

Kate:

Nice to be remembered! I've been lurking, reading posts, but resisting diarrhea of the fingers (ooh, what a lovely image!). We've recently relocated and have been very busy, as we continue to be, setting up our new home and new jobs. Thanks for the shout out...

Stick

Quote:

Originally posted by kate:

Stick, not meaning to be nosy, but I'm wondering where you've been . . . when I first came to these forums, I remember reading a couple of your posts and thinking, "wow, this guy gets it." Then you vanished--to where?

kate

davetherave1945 · 10-12-2009, 10:15 PM

If you want to install a ceiling lift system I have a word of warning for you, do not purchase from T.H.E. Medical [ RecoverCare] they have used sub standard components to manufacture their products. I have writen proof, in the form of an E Mail, from one of T.H.E. Medicals owners. That they knowingly installed components that would fail, if subjected to the maximum loading, as indicated on the lifts. I also have a report from the supplier of the components stating that they do not recomend using the proposed bearings in the ceiling lift as they are not designed to take this loading.
When these components fail it could result in the failure of the safety device also which will cause the patient to fall to the floor resulting in injury or even death.
When this was reported to RecoverCare who now have a majority share in T.H.E. Medical. Their response was to put the individual who authorised the use of the sub standard components, in charge of the investigation into the problem. Not very reassuring

Van Quad · 10-12-2009, 10:19 PM

Interesting thread.

31 years later I'm getting close to the mindset that I need a ceiling lift. My main care aide is getting gnarly hands. Time to make the move.

jryprt · 10-13-2009, 01:45 PM

10 years ago I paid $4200 for Barrier Free Lift with 6' track.

07-22-2003, 08:35 PM	#1
Stick Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 24	Home Ceiling Lifts We're shopping home ceiling lifts. We had a rep from Surehands out today. I like their unique "sling" -- more of an aluminum tubing frame than a traditional fabric under-body sling -- but their price for a ten-foot straight track, portable motor and lift frame is $5,500-$6,000, installed, a grand less if I install it myself. How does that price compare to those of you who have other residential ceiling lift systems, and do you have any advice on other systems/manufacturers to shop? Anyone have a Surehands lift? How is it? Any tips, etc. very much appreciated. Thanks in advance... Stick

10-12-2009, 10:15 PM	#8
davetherave1945 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2	Ceiling Lifts If you want to install a ceiling lift system I have a word of warning for you, do not purchase from T.H.E. Medical [ RecoverCare] they have used sub standard components to manufacture their products. I have writen proof, in the form of an E Mail, from one of T.H.E. Medicals owners. That they knowingly installed components that would fail, if subjected to the maximum loading, as indicated on the lifts. I also have a report from the supplier of the components stating that they do not recomend using the proposed bearings in the ceiling lift as they are not designed to take this loading. When these components fail it could result in the failure of the safety device also which will cause the patient to fall to the floor resulting in injury or even death. When this was reported to RecoverCare who now have a majority share in T.H.E. Medical. Their response was to put the individual who authorised the use of the sub standard components, in charge of the investigation into the problem. Not very reassuring

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07-22-2003, 08:58 PM	#2
taj2002 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA Posts: 172	We have a room covering Guldmann ceiling lift. We paid a little under $9000. The price included the entrie system, installation, plus 2 slings. One is a nylon fabric type sling, the other is a mesh sling that can be used for showering. You transfer using the mesh sling then shower with the sling in place. The water runs through the mesh, then with a little drying off you are ready to transfer out of the shower chair with ease. The system allows for transfering anywhere in the room. We are very happy with our system. I can't imagine surviving without it. I transfer my 6'1" husband by myself with no problems. Guldmann also makes a one track system as you have described. I can only assume the cost would be much lower than our room covering model. Good luck with your search. Trish

07-23-2003, 10:29 AM	#3
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,516	I have rarely seen a system put into a home for less than $10,000. We have a Surehands sling on our Barrier Free lift. The sling is OK if you are strong in your shoulders, but can be a problem if you don't. I personally prefer a cloth sling, which is what we use a the center where I work (we put in BHM there). Most of these vendors will fall all over themselves giving you an estimate, so contact a number of companies and tell them you are looking for competing bids in making your decision. Here is a list of most of the companies that provide these: Barrier Free BHM Guldmann Liko SureHands Waverley-Glen W'East (KLD)

07-24-2003, 03:35 PM	#4
Stick Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 24	Thanks, guys, for the advice... Stick

07-24-2003, 04:13 PM	#5
Brad_D Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 558	The ceiling lifts are great. I have a Waverley Glen lift with surhands bracket in lieu of the sling. Everything works great. Just make sure you get an authorized dealer to work with. I found out the hard way that my dealer wasn't qualified to re-sell or intall my track and lift after the fact when it broke down. I had to go through a ton of red tape to get it straightend out. I went 6 month with no lift. It's very unlikley that any company would let you intall it yourself. Here's a picture of mine:

07-24-2003, 06:41 PM	#6
kate Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: bellevue, wa, usa Posts: 10,902	Stick, not meaning to be nosy, but I'm wondering where you've been . . . when I first came to these forums, I remember reading a couple of your posts and thinking, "wow, this guy gets it." Then you vanished--to where? kate

10-12-2009, 10:19 PM	#9
Van Quad Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 5,504	Interesting thread. 31 years later I'm getting close to the mindset that I need a ceiling lift. My main care aide is getting gnarly hands. Time to make the move.

10-13-2009, 01:45 PM	#10
jryprt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 513	10 years ago I paid $4200 for Barrier Free Lift with 6' track.