Can Hoyer Lifts Be Used in Pools? — The Truth About Safe Aquatic Transfers and Professional Solutions

For patients with spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, or those recovering from surgery, aquatic exercise offers irreplaceable therapeutic benefits: buoyancy reduces joint load, water temperature promotes blood circulation, and resistance training strengthens muscle strength. However, safely transferring from a wheelchair into a pool has become a key barrier that deters many from accessing these benefits.

This raises a common question: "Can my home Hoyer lift be used by the pool?" The answer is clear: standard household Hoyer lifts must never be used in pool environments. But don’t despair—there are professional devices specifically designed for aquatic transfers, and these are the truly safe and reliable "pool Hoyer lifts."

This article will detail the true nature of pool-specific transfer equipment, along with selection criteria and usage principles.

I. Why Ordinary Hoyer Lifts Cannot Be Used in Pools

While common floor-standing Hoyer lifts (such as the Hoyer Advance and Drive Elite models) are sturdy and reliable, their design is completely unsuitable for the moist, highly corrosive pool environment:

Metal components corrode easily: Hydraulic rods, screws, and bases oxidize rapidly in chlorinated water or salt spray, leading to structural failure;

Electrical systems are not waterproof: Motors, batteries, and remote controls of electric models are prone to short circuits when exposed to water, and may even cause electric shock;

High risk of base slippage: Wet surfaces reduce the grip of swivel casters, potentially causing the lift to tip over during lifting/lowering;

Sling materials are not water-resistant: Ordinary fabric slings become heavy, moldy, and bacteria-prone when wet, and are difficult to dry;

No anti-tip design: Pool edges usually lack sufficient support space, leading to an extremely high risk of center-of-gravity shift.

⚠️ Important Warning: Using a household Hoyer lift by the pool is a serious violation of safety protocols and may result in fatal accidents such as falls or drowning.

II. What Does a True "Pool Hoyer Lift" Look Like?

Professional pool transfer equipment (often called Pool Lifts or Aquatic Patient Lifts) is an independent category designed exclusively for aquatic environments, with the following core features:

1. Fully Waterproof Structure

The main body is made of 316 stainless steel or high-strength engineering plastic, resistant to chlorine, salt, and UV rays;

The electrical system has an ingress protection (IP) rating of IP67 or higher (capable of short-term submersion);

Charging ports are equipped with waterproof covers, and battery compartments are fully sealed.

2. Specialized Waterproof Slings

Materials include quick-drying nylon, PVC-coated fabric, or medical-grade silicone;

No exposed stitching to avoid skin irritation from friction in water;

Can be directly washed for disinfection and dries quickly.

3. Stable Anchoring Methods

Fixed type: Permanently installed on a concrete base by the pool using expansion bolts;

Portable type: Equipped with heavy-duty weighted bases (often with sandbag compartments) to prevent displacement on wet surfaces;

Some high-end models support track sliding to cover multiple entry points.

4. Compliance with ADA/ISO Accessibility Standards

In the United States, compliant pool lifts must meet the ADA 2010 Standards:

Minimum weight capacity of 300 pounds (136 kg);

Operation button height ≤ 48 inches;

Ability to lower users to at least 18 inches below the water surface;

Operable by a single person (including self-operated models).

III. Mainstream Brands and Types of Pool Transfer Equipment

Type Representative Brands Features

Fixed Electric Pool Lifts Aqua Creek, Spectrum Aquatics, HydroWorx Preferred for commercial use, highly durable, suitable for high-frequency operation

Portable Electric Pool Lifts Mangar ELK, Handi-Move Pool Hoist Movable, ideal for home pools or multi-location use

Manual Hydraulic Pool Lifts A few custom manufacturers No power supply required, but requires caregiver operation; suitable for low-frequency scenarios