To choose a chair compatible with a patient hoist, comparing the weight capacity or checking that the side panel is removable is not enough. The hoist, sling, bed, chair, space and the way care is provided all need to be considered together. Make, model and actual measurements allow an initial check, to be completed with the people who know the procedure used for the person. This guide organises seven groups of measurements to gather before ordering: it does not teach a transfer manoeuvre and does not certify compatibility on the basis of a photograph.
In brief
Compatibility between a chair and a patient hoist depends on the actual models, the sling and the space available. A mobile system calls for attention to the base and to manoeuvring; a ceiling system to the route of the track. Adjustable height and side access can make preparation easier, but they are not enough to confirm the transfer. Measurements, photographs and documents allow an initial assessment, to be completed on site when necessary.
Compatibility concerns a whole set-up, not two separate products
A chair may fit into the room and still leave little space for the hoist. A hoist may reach the seat but not allow the planned approach with the sling in use. The word “compatible” must therefore refer to a specific set-up, not to two product names.
The first document to prepare is a sheet listing the make and model of the patient hoist, the sling, the bed and the accessories in place. Add who normally carries out the transfer and which configuration has already been specified. We are not asking you to replace that procedure with a method found online.
The French agency ANSM draws attention to choosing the right sling, training users and following the instructions. [1] For the family, this means gathering the details of the aids already in use and comparing them with the chair before ordering.
For situations with complex care needs, the section on specific mobility and transfer needs helps describe the context. In this article, by contrast, we focus on the technical and environmental data to be compared.
Mobile or ceiling hoist: what needs measuring changes
With a mobile patient hoist, the base takes up floor space. You need to consider its footprint, the planned leg opening, the castors, the approach and the route the carers need. Do not assume that the legs will fit under every chair, and do not modify the base to make them pass.
With a ceiling system, there is no base on the floor, but you need to check where the track reaches, whether the transfer point can be reached and how much space remains above the person. A track in the room does not guarantee that it covers the position chosen for the chair.
A standing aid, in which the person takes part in the transfer in a different way, should not automatically be considered equivalent to a hoist with a full-body sling. The type of aid must be identified before collecting the measurements. [1]
If you do not know the model, a legible photograph of the label is more useful than a description such as “large electric hoist”. Share the data through the agreed channel, without including unnecessary personal information.
Seven groups of measurements before assessing the chair
The sheet below brings together seven groups of measurements useful for the check. Some require several dimensions and a comparison with the manufacturer’s drawings. Obtain the technical data sheets first; measurements taken in the room should not require a demonstration transfer of the person.
| Group | Data to gather | Question it answers |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Mobile hoist base | External footprint and internal space at the openings specified in the manual | Can it approach without hitting the bed, chair or furniture? |
| 2. Legs, castors and clearance underneath | Height of the legs and castors; space actually free under the chair configuration | Is the necessary clearance there, without interfering with the mechanism and cables? |
| 3. Boom and suspension point | Usable reach (horizontal distance) and minimum/maximum heights of the suspension point, from the model’s data sheet | Does the system reach the planned position without being forced? |
| 4. Bed surface | Mattress height in actual use, any mattress overlays, bed rails and working side | Which surface must be reached and what obstacles are there? |
| 5. Chair surface | Minimum/maximum heights available, planned set-up and any added supports | Can the surface be brought to the required height? |
| 6. Footprint and side access | External dimensions when seated and when lying flat; space needed to remove the side panel | Does the configuration fit and leave the necessary side accessible? |
| 7. Room and complete route | Doors, turns, furniture and working space on the way there and back | Can the aids and the carers move in the actual environment? |
For a ceiling system, the first two groups are replaced by the route of the track, coverage of the chosen point and obstacles. Checking the other surfaces and the access remains relevant.
For the mattress height, use the figure measured by staff in the usual situation or agree how to obtain it: do not put the person in an unusual position just to take a measurement. Always specify whether a height was measured unoccupied or refers to actual use.
Sollevita’s measurements do not replace the configuration drawing
Sollevita offers seat widths of 52 or 63 cm and three depths. These measurements help match the seat to the person; they do not describe the external width, the footprint of the wheeled base or the clearance available under the frame. For these aspects you need the documentation for the planned configuration. [3]
Vertical height adjustment raises or lowers the whole chair with the person seated or lying down. The 180° lie-flat position creates a flat surface, and the entire removable side panel clears the side so the chair can be placed alongside the bed. The side panel should not be confused with removing only the upper armrest section, which is useful for getting close to a table. [3]
The product page for Sollevita, the riser recliner chair with integrated care features, describes these functions as a whole. For a check with the hoist, however, the Sollevita Team must compare the actual heights, not a generic image of the chair.
The motor system comprises 5 to 8 independent motors, according to the weight capacity. The dedicated configuration supports a user weight of up to 340 kg, including during the rise function. This figure does not increase the weight capacity of the hoist or the sling and does not prove compatibility between the devices. [3]
Sling and supports: why geometry is not enough
Record the make, model, size and attachment system of the sling in use. Do not choose a similar sling just because it seems to fit better between the armrests. In the ANSM documentation, the choice of sling and the person’s characteristics are part of safe use. [1]
Compare the sling instructions with the access available in the planned position. The removable side panel can clear an obstacle; it does not determine how the sling is applied, removed or kept in place. If specific head or trunk supports are needed, they should be considered in the individual plan.
Suva distinguishes between aids intended for different tasks and links their use to training. [2] A transfer board, a slide sheet and a patient hoist are not interchangeable alternatives to be picked at the last minute to solve a space problem.
Brake positions, the number of carers and the way the sling is used must follow the manuals and the procedure defined for the person. The chair, too, must be prepared in the intended stable position, with its components correctly in place.
Three incompatibilities a preliminary check can reveal
The base does not approach as planned
The hoist’s castors or legs may run into the wheeled base, the feet or part of the bed. The question to resolve concerns the entire approach. Do not add improvised raisers to the chair, and do not remove structural parts to gain space.
The end point can be reached, but there is no room to manoeuvre
A frontal measurement may seem sufficient while a wall or a bedside table prevents the route from being completed. The floor plan must also show where the carers stand and how to return to the starting surface.
The position does not allow the sling to be used as intended
Even with compatible heights, the sling may require access or positions that are not available. The answer is not to try alternative attachments: you need to discuss it with the people who look after the person and with the supplier of the aid.
These examples help you spot missing information before ordering. Resolving it requires measurements, documents and discussion with the contacts for the products involved, without improvised adaptations.
Photographs, video call and joint trial have different roles
An initial collection can include an overview of the room, a view of the side of the bed, the labels of the aids and a simple floor plan with measurements. Photograph the footprints with the devices unoccupied, without asking for demonstration transfers. A visible tape measure can help, but perspective does not replace a verified measurement.
The video call with the Sollevita Team is used to clarify functions, identify missing data and compare spaces. It is not the same as acceptance testing of the whole set-up, nor to a clinical assessment of the person.
When the hoist is essential, the environment is constrained or postural support is complex, a joint check with the people who use the aid and with the relevant professional may be needed. Documents and geometry are clarified first; any trial with the person takes place only under the planned conditions, with appropriate support.
The useful outcome is a description of the set-up that was assessed: models, components, positions, doubts resolved and points still open. Not a generic statement that it “works with all hoists”.
Updating the check when something changes
A new mattress, a different cushion, an added bed rail or a piece of furniture being moved can change access and heights. Replacing the sling also needs attention: the fact that the hoist has stayed the same does not make the whole set-up identical.
Keep the data sheets, photographs and manuals for the current configuration, noting the date. An organised folder helps when family members and staff take turns, or when a component needs clarifying with technical support.
For checks and maintenance, follow the documents for each device. Sollevita’s modular design makes work on individual parts easier, but it does not authorise modifications to the frame or installations that are not provided for. In the event of a fault, the Sollevita technical support route remains separate from the hoist’s servicing.
The check should also be repeated when the person’s abilities or the recommendations for them change. The footprints may have stayed the same while the procedure requires a new assessment.
FAQ
Common questions
How can I tell whether a chair is compatible with a patient hoist?
Not from the name or the weight capacity alone. You need to compare the hoist model, the sling used, the heights, access and the environment with the planned procedure. Compatibility concerns that configuration and that situation, not every possible use of the chair.
Do the hoist legs always have to fit under the chair?
Not necessarily. It depends on the model and on the planned approach. The clearance underneath should not be assumed: it must be checked on the chair drawing and compared with the hoist’s legs and castors, without improvised adaptations.
Does vertical height adjustment make the patient hoist unnecessary?
No. It adjusts the height of the chair; it does not suspend and transfer the person the way a hoist with a sling does. It can help prepare for the transfer, while keeping the aids and the care support required.
Does the 340 kg weight capacity apply to the whole transfer system?
No. It refers to the dedicated Sollevita configuration, not to the hoist, the sling or other components. Each device must respect its own limit and its own instructions; the chair’s weight capacity does not certify the system as a whole.
Can I confirm compatibility with a video call?
A video call can support a preliminary check, but it cannot on its own guarantee that the whole set-up can be used. When necessary, it is completed with technical documents, a check of the environment and a joint assessment before the actual manoeuvre.
What information should I send first?
The make and model of the hoist, the sling details, any available data sheets and photographs of the room. Add the relevant measurements from the seven groups and the transfer method already specified. Explicitly mark any missing data instead of estimating it.
Reference sources
[1] French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM). Update on the proper use of patient hoists (in French). November 2015; linked from the ANSM page updated on 5 March 2021.
[2] Suva. Smart moving and handling: providing suitable aids (in Italian). Page consulted on 8 September 2026.
[3] Sollevita · La Castellana. Sollevita riser recliner chair with integrated care features. Manufacturer information, consulted on 8 September 2026.
The health sources support the principles cited, not a recommendation of Sollevita. The technical features are manufacturer information; the practical sheet is an editorial compilation.
Preparing the check before delivery
Gather the models, technical data sheets, photographs and measurements in a single file. The Sollevita Team will be able to compare the chair configuration and indicate which technical aspects need clarifying, while the professionals who look after the person will assess the procedure and the aids required.
