Accessing a pool can be challenging for people with physical disabilities, but it can be a fantastic treatment for aches and pains, stiffness, and flexibility issues. The weightlessness provided by swimming pools can be a great rehabilitation tool, but if a disabled individual cannot access the pool, they can't enjoy its benefits.

At Enable Living, we are proud providers of the Oxford Dipper Pool Hoist, and we have seen firsthand the monumental difference it can make to the lives of disabled users. In this guide, we will provide more details about the product and explain why we believe it's the best pool lift for disabled people in the UK. Keep reading to find out more.

Why is the Oxford Dipper Pool Hoist The Best Lift for People with a Disability?

When it comes to swimming pool lift reviews for disabled users, the Oxford Dipper consistently comes out on top. The Oxford Dipper Pool Hoist is the UK market leader for affordable pool lift for disabled people. It is designed to provide safety, reliability, and ease of use for users and operators.

The Oxford Dipper Pool Hoist is a hydraulic lift that has two models:

Oxford Dipper Pool Hoist with Sling Access

This pool lift is excellent for giving a disabled person direct access to a swimming pool via a sling, for users who are happy to be lifted in at the poolside. The Dipper uses slings with loops. Most users supply their own slings, but we can supply bathing slings as these are the quickest to dry.

Oxford Dipper Pool Hoist with Easy Access Via a Wheelchair

For service users with more complex physical challenges who prefer a more dignified entry to the pool, there is the Oxford Ranger Chair, which enables a carer or support worker to prepare a person in the changing rooms.

Once the service user is ready for the pool, they can be transferred into the Ranger Chair. This will enable the support staff to wheel the service user to the Dipper hoist. The ranger is reversed onto the Dipper boom; it will engage with a click. The Dipper is then pumped to raise, no matter the weight, the dipper is easy to lift service users up to a maximum of 140 Kg, 22.05 Stone or 280 lbs. Once the service-user has been raised to an appropriate height, the column swings manually to the waterfront.

Once satisfied that the entry point is clear of other swimmers, the support staff can lower the Ranger seat into the pool by unscrewing the pump release screw. The hoist will then gently lower the service user carefully into the water. As the service user is being lowered, they find it very comfortable compared to a sling, simply due to the fact that it's a natural sitting position.

For users with spasms or balance challenges, a harness is available. There are seating cushions if required.

Choosing the Right Pool Lift: Which Model is Best for You?

If you're looking for the best pool lift for disabled users, the right model depends on the needs of the individual. The spreader bar model suits those already comfortable using a sling, while the Ranger Chair version is the preferred choice for users who require more support and a more dignified transfer process. Both are available to view and purchase on our website, alongside our wider range of pool hoists and leisure equipment. If you're unsure which is right for your setting, we offer a free survey to help you decide.

For those exploring portable options, it's also worth noting that a portable pool lift for disabled users can be a practical alternative in settings where a permanent socket installation isn't possible. Get in touch with the team to discuss which solution best fits your pool environment.

How is the Oxford Dipper Pool Hoist Fitted, and What are The Options?

At Enable Living, we currently have 3 options available for fitting. Understanding disabled pool hoist installation before you buy is important, as the right socket type will depend on your poolside surface and setup.

Socket A

The Oxford Dipper Socket A is the most popular fitment. It is commonly used in commercial pools, private pools, and sailing clubs with jetties. The socket sits flush with the floor, and when not in use, a cap covers it flush with the surface. This design helps prevent tripping and toes from being stubbed.

The only challenge with the A socket is that it needs to be fitted correctly. These are the prerequisites:

  1. One square metre of concrete is required.

  2. Diamond driller to ensure a vertical hole is created 90mm wide and 300mm deep.

  3. Accredited engineer to fit the Dipper pool hoist.

Socket B

Socket B is similar to Socket A; this is slightly more complicated as it's designed for commercial pools, which have drainage around the edge. See the technical manual for details.

Socket C

The Dipper Socket C is designed for fitments to poolsides or quays with no one-metre square of concrete. The only challenge with the C socket is that it's fitted on the surface with concrete bolts. It looks like a pyramid shape.

We can offer a free survey. If you wish to view a Dipper, contact the team today, and we shall see if we can arrange a visit to an installation near you.

Pool Lift for Disabled UK: What Does it Cost?

Pool lift for disabled cost is one of the most common questions we receive, and the answer depends on the model, socket type, and whether installation is included. As the UK's leading supplier of the Oxford Dipper, Enable Living offers competitive pricing alongside our expert installation service. For an accurate quote tailored to your requirements, contact us directly, and a member of the team will be happy to help.

Why Swimming is Beneficial For Disabled People

Paralympic Swimming

These are the types of disability swimming one might see on TV during the Paralympics every four years. Additionally, this is the type the author was most familiar with as a child, more like physiotherapy in water, known as hydrotherapy.

The Benefits of Disability Swimming

Although these two types of disability swimming might be very different, they both offer a wonderful sense of freedom that many disabled individuals would otherwise not get to experience. Once in the water, a swimmer is subject to a type of weightlessness that immediately alleviates pressure on the joints and muscles, and allows them to float and stretch in ways that may not be achievable on dry land. It is therefore highly beneficial for severely disabled children and adults to be able to get out of their wheelchairs and feel the effortlessness of floating in water.

A Personal Challenge

However, the author was never much of a floater. No matter how hard they tried, they always seemed to end up with their head submerging under the water, which was far from enjoyable.

Building Confidence and Community

Thankfully, they appeared to be the only ones struggling with it, and many of their friends, whose disabilities ranged in severity, all enjoyed having the ability to feel free at last. They used to swim at least twice a week, and it proved to be an integral part of building up core strength for many of them. As their confidence grew, they also branched out and made things slightly more competitive, with games and challenges being woven in alongside the important business of hydrotherapy. This leads neatly to the next section on disability swimming.

Competitive Swimming With a Disability

As alluded to in the opening paragraph, there is a lot more to disability swimming than a group of disabled individuals looking to splash around and stretch their bodies. There is also a highly competitive side to it, with many people choosing to become professional athletes and represent their respective countries at the Paralympic Games.

Athletes Leading the Way

One example is Invacare Ambassador Anders Olsson, who is not only a Paralympic swimmer but has also represented his country in the Winter Paralympics as a skier.

The Paralympic Games

The Paralympics are a brilliant sporting event that takes place shortly after the Olympic Games. Many of the sports and disciplines featured in the Olympic Games are also showcased at the Paralympics, making disability swimming a significant part of the programme. There are many disciplines within disability swimming, ranging from different race lengths to various swimming styles. It is also worth noting that each competitor is placed in a race against athletes with a similar classification, to ensure that no participant is disadvantaged by the nature of their disability.

A Way of Life

Much like many of their Olympic counterparts, these individuals make swimming a way of life, and with that, their love for the sport grows, both for those competing and for those spectating around the world.

The Bigger Picture

Disability swimming is quite a big deal, both as a means of providing relief and freedom for those living with a disability and as a legitimate and inspiring competitive sport. It truly is a total splash.

Get Back Into The Pool With Enable Living

Through this guide, you should now have a better understanding of how hydrotherapy can support disabled individuals and how life-changing pool lifts can be. As one of the leading providers of pool lift for disabled UK buyers can rely on, Enable Living supplies, installs, and services the Oxford Dipper to homes, care facilities, and commercial pools across the country. If you're interested in buying a pool lift or you'd like to learn more, get in touch today.