If you or someone you care for have limited mobility and require assistance transferring, a ceiling track lift is a safe and reliable option for home use. When a care provider must lift people in need of transfer routinely, this can result in physical injuries to the caregiver or user. In contrast, a lift mechanism helps everyone involved by significantly reducing the risk of injury during location transfers.
Ceiling track lifts are anchored to tracks installed on the ceiling, using a sling and lift bar to raise, transport, and lower the user securely. They’re also customizable according to specific user needs, thanks to available configuration options.
Additionally, ceiling track lifts are often a better choice than movable floor units, as the ceiling track lifts can hold more weight and don’t always require two people for operation. In fact, an individual with moderate to unimpaired upper-body strength may even be able to use a ceiling lift setup unassisted, allowing them to move and transfer throughout their home independently.
A ceiling track lift is an excellent option for safe and reliable transfers. Book a free consultation with Arrow Lift to discuss your needs and learn more about available options!
Ceiling Track Lift Components
Ceiling track lifts are designed with safety and security in mind. The following components make up the structure of a ceiling track lift:
Track
The track portion of a ceiling lift system provides the path that the lift can follow for transport throughout the home. It is securely installed at attachment points on the ceiling and can be straight or curved.
Lift
The lift is the motorized portion of the unit. It controls both the lifting and lowering of the user and navigation along the track.
Carry Bar
The carry bar connects the user to the lift, allowing for safe and comfortable lifting. This sturdy bar has various options, including different widths and mechanisms for attaching to the sling.
Ideal bar width is relative to the size of the user, as they will need to be comfortably but securely cradled within the sling for maximum safety. Narrow bars are typically indicated for children or more petite users. In comparison, wide bars help to relieve pressure on the sides of larger users or those who are particularly pain-sensitive.
Slings
Slings come in many sizes, styles, and materials to adequately accommodate the needs of a wide range of users. For example, some users with sensitive or delicate skin may require a smoother, less textured material. Other users may frequently use their lift to enter or exit water (like a pool or tub) and need a material that dries quickly and isn’t easily degraded by moisture.
Some sling styles are also designed for independent lifters, allowing them to easily position the sling underneath themselves and attach it to the carry mechanism without assistance.
Remote Control
Ceiling track lifts are operated by an attached remote control by the user or a second person assisting. The remotes are user-friendly, with large buttons, clearly marked controls, and an easy-to-hold design.
Ceiling Lift Track Configurations
There are different track options to suit both the user’s individual needs and home layout. During a consultation, an Arrow Lift Accessibility Expert will consider where you need to transfer most frequently (for example, from bed to a chair or chair to a tub). This will help to determine your ideal ceiling track layout, often using a combination of straight and curved rails.
There are two types of configurations for ceiling track lifts:
- Regular configuration. A regular standard straight rail configuration is optimal for simple transfer needs, where no obstacles or turns are required. A regular configuration using straight tracks can accommodate transport over shorter or longer distances within the home.
- Curved configuration. Curved tracks can be configured for wide or narrow turns, typically used to navigate obstacles like walls, door frames, or even light fixtures. A configuration with curved rails often works well when the user requires transfers at multiple spots in a room, allowing for movement throughout the room instead of just one side to another.
Beyond shape, different track styles are available to accommodate different needs. For example, flush mount tracks are designed for a lower-profile appearance, and heavier, more rigid tracks are used in areas where the transport distance between track attachment points is longer than usual.
Benefits of a Ceiling Track Lift
Although other transferring options exist, like caregiver assistance and mobile (floor standing) lifts, ceiling track lifts often provide the most reliable safety and mobility. A ceiling track lift allows the user to regain access to move about the home while reducing the risk of injury to the user or care provider(s) in the process.
Thanks to their smooth and effortless lifting capability, ceiling track lifts offer confidence and peace of mind during transfers. They are more stable than portable lifts, and even operatable by the user without assistance in certain cases.
Standard Features of a Ceiling Track Lift
The ceiling track lifts Arrow Lift carries and installs have standard features to maximize user and operator safety, ease of use, and compatibility in a variety of homes.
Here are the standard features of a ceiling track lift:
- Weight capacities: 286-450 pounds
- Manual or motorized modes
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- Audible low battery indicator
- Up to 7.5 feet of vertical strap movement
- Safety features including: emergency cord, emergency stop, emergency manual raise and lowering
- Materials: lightweight aluminum rail
- Fray-resistant strap
- Waterproof handset
- Mountable to wood, steel or concrete
- Maximum noise level of 54 dBA (similar to a dishwasher)
Optional Features of a Ceiling Track Lift
Some optional features may be available to further customize your ceiling track lift for needs like higher weight capacity, more discreet appearance, and unique user preferences.
Optional ceiling track features include the following:
- Flush mount — lower profile straight railing
- Weight capacities up to 1,000 pounds
- Auto shut off
- Customizable sling
- Independent lifter (for use by the rider)
Find the Ceiling Track Lift That is Right for You
Whether you’re considering a ceiling track lift for a client, a loved one, or yourself, Arrow Lift can help. Improving mobility in the home can be life-changing, and a ceiling track lift can be the safest and most reliable option. Family-owned and trusted since 1985, Arrow Lift has decades of experience equipping homes with the best possible mobility setup. Request a free consultation today!
