Every hoist transfer is a moment that matters, for the resident being moved and for the carer doing the moving.
When a sling fits well and the care team feels confident using it, transfers feel comfortable and supportive. When it doesn't, the effects show up quickly. Pressure on bony prominences, skin tears, pain, and instability leave residents feeling unsafe and undignified. For residents with limited ability to communicate distress, this can be a source of real suffering that is easy to miss.
Over time, the wrong sling can contribute to pressure injuries, tissue damage, and anxiety about future transfers.
What's at stake
For care teams, the risks are different but equally serious. When a sling does not position the resident correctly, carers often need to manually reposition or adjust during the transfer, increasing strain on the body. Over time, this contributes to injury. Musculoskeletal injuries are consistently among the most common work-related harms in New Zealand's healthcare sector, with manual transfers involving ineffective equipment a significant contributor [1].
The Health and Disability Commissioner has reviewed cases where the wrong sling or an outdated handling plan contributed to acute injury [2]. It's a reminder that sling selection carries real clinical weight and is worth revisiting regularly.
Finding the right sling for each resident
Cubro supplies a range of Silvalea® slings designed for different resident needs and care settings.
The Silvalea Fastfit mesh padded leg sling is a full-body sling with padded leg sections and a quick-drying open-weave mesh. It's comfortable for residents, easy to clean, and well suited to bathing, transfers, and everyday use. It supports up to 220kg across 6 sizes.
The Silvalea Universal Deluxe sling with head support provides full head, back, and leg support in one sling. A great option for residents who need consistent full-body support throughout the transfer.
Both the Silvalea general stand aid sling with clips and the Silvalea general stand aid sling with loops support residents who have some weight-bearing ability, helping them to stand rather than replacing the movement. The clip version enables quick, consistent connections, while the loop version offers greater compatibility with different hoist spreader bars.
The Silvalea Superfine Plus in-situ deluxe leg sling is made from soft Superfine Plus fabric and, following a completed risk assessment, can remain comfortably against the skin between transfers. Its divided-leg design and water-friendly construction make it well suited to residents who find repeated repositioning uncomfortable, as well as bathing transfers where minimising movement is important.
Keeping slings safe and in good condition
Silvalea slings are designed for regular clinical laundering, and routine care helps maintain their condition and performance.
Build these simple checks into your routine:
We're here to help
For a second opinion on your sling setup, contact your local Cubro account manager. We can visit your facility, review your current slings, and help identify options that may better suit your residents.
Sources
1. Health Quality and Safety Commission New Zealand. Moving and transferring: care guide for health care assistants. Retrieved from hqsc.govt.nz
2. Health and Disability Commissioner. (2022). Exercising due care vital to maintaining the safety and well-being of vulnerable consumers. Case 20HDC00931. Retrieved from hdc.org.nz