Free-standing Patient Lift Systems
When you or a loved one requires overhead lifting assistance but permanently modifying your home isn’t an option, National Seating & Mobility (NSM) has a solution. Our free-standing patient lift systems offer the stability and power of a ceiling lift, but with a completely self-supporting frame.
These durable free-standing transfer systems take the physical strain off caregivers, providing a smooth and dignified way to transfer users from a bed to a wheelchair, commode, or recliner. With NSM branches located in communities across the country, our local accessibility experts are ready to deliver and assemble the perfect no-drill lift system right in your home.
Who Are Free-Standing Overhead Patient Lifts For?
A free-standing overhead patient lift is a versatile accessibility tool specifically designed for
- Renters: Because these systems are self-supported and don’t bolt into the ceiling, they are perfect for apartments, rental homes, or leased assisted living spaces where permanent alterations aren’t allowed.
- Older or Historic Homes: Homes with drop ceilings, vaulted ceilings, or older joists that cannot safely support the structural requirements of a mounted ceiling track.
- Short-Term Rehab Patients: Individuals recovering from major surgery or severe injuries who only need lifting assistance for a few months and don’t want a permanent track left behind.
- Caregivers: To prevent back and shoulder injuries by allowing a motorized system to handle the heavy lifting during transfers.
Why Choose a Free-Standing Patient Lift System?
At NSM, we offer multiple transfer solutions. Why might a free-standing patient transfer system be the right choice for your home over a portable Hoyer-style lift or a mounted ceiling track?
Compared to a ceiling lift: The most significant advantage is that no construction is required. There is no need to drill into ceiling joists or alter your home’s structure. If you ever move to a new home or need to relocate the lift to a different room, a free-standing system can be disassembled and moved, which is something you can’t easily do with a permanent ceiling track.
Compared to a portable patient lift: Portable wheeled lifts require ample floor space to maneuver, smooth flooring to roll easily, and clearance under the bed for the base legs to slide into. A free-standing overhead patient lift spans the width of the bed, keeping the floor entirely clear and eliminating the need for a caregiver to physically push a heavy lift and patient across the carpet.
Need to move a patient from room-to-room? Explore our Portable Patient Lifts. Need a permanent, custom-track solution? Check out our Ceiling Lifts.
FAQs about Free-Standing Patient Lift Systems
1. What is a free-standing overhead patient lift?
It is a transfer system consisting of a sturdy metal frame (usually two vertical posts and a horizontal track) that spans across a bed or transfer area. A motorized lifting motor runs along the horizontal track, allowing a caregiver to lift the patient and glide them side-to-side.
2. Will a free-standing transfer system damage my floors or ceiling?
No. These systems are 100% self-supported. They rest firmly on the floor using weighted, stable feet and do not connect to your ceiling or walls in any way, ensuring your home remains undamaged.
3. Can the system be adjusted to fit over my specific bed?
Yes. Most of our free-standing patient lift systems feature height and width adjustability. Your local NSM technician will measure your room during your free home evaluation to ensure the system is properly sized to span over a twin, full, queen, or even king-sized bed.
4. Are these lifts electric or manual?
The lifting mechanism (raising and lowering the patient) is typically operated by an electric motor with an easy-to-use remote control. Moving the patient along the track (left to right) is usually done manually by the caregiver, which requires very little effort due to the smooth-gliding track design.
5. Can I set it up myself?
While no structural drilling is required, these systems are heavy-duty pieces of medical equipment. For your safety, NSM’s locally based, certified technicians handle the delivery, complete assembly, and safety testing for you.
Expert Home Lift Solutions, Right in Your Town
You shouldn’t have to navigate home accessibility alone. National Seating & Mobility is proud to offer hands-on, localized service across the United States. Our local branch experts will come to you, assess your space, and help you find the patient transfer system to meet your mobility needs and budget. Contact us today to schedule your free, no-obligation home evaluation.
Why NSM?
At NSM, we are uniquely positioned to search hundreds of sources for the precise components needed to create mobility and accessibility solutions that are made specifically to meet the needs of each client. But what really sets NSM apart is our approach:
Your safety comes first, no matter what.
Nothing is more important to us than your health and safety. Our Serving Safely commitment means you can feel confident we're going above and beyond to put your safety first, no matter what.
We deliver customized solutions to fit your needs.
By bringing together industry-leading expertise, uniquely engineered systems and breakthrough technologies, we deliver personalized solutions catered to your specific needs.
Our calling goes beyond being a preferred provider of mobility solutions.
We seek to build lifelong relationships full of compassion that honor your journey of independence with ingenuity and excellence that helps you move through life.
Let's Get Moving.
No matter your mobility need, we have innovative products and a reliable team of experts to keep you moving so you can enjoy life to the fullest - wherever it takes you. Send us a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
