18 April 2019
More people with a wider range of disabilities will be able to enjoy the swimming pools at the Trust House Recreation Centre thanks to a new mobile lifting hoist.
The hoist comes with the option of either a seat or a sling that can be lowered using a button hand-switch.
Manufactured in the USA, the hoist has a lifting capacity of 136kg, enabling it to cater for a greater range of disabilities.
The hoist, which cost $15,000 to purchase and get here, has been generously funded by a donation from the P D Stevens Trust, gifted specifically for the purposes of funding accessibility improvements at the public pools.
While both the leisure and main pools already have ramp access, this does have limitations, according to Trust House Recreation Centre Manager Marilyn Sayers.
“The hoist will make it possible for a number of people with disabilities to now access the water and experience the many benefits of having a swim and water exercise,” Mrs Sayers says.
Masterton District Council Manager of Community Facilities and Activities, Andrea Jackson says the Council is committed to ensuring that everyone in the community has access to the public swimming pools.
“That makes the hoist a great investment,” Ms Jackson says.
“Residents who might not necessarily be in mobility chairs, but have other physical problems such as hip, knee or ankle issues can have difficulty using the inbuilt ramp or ladders.
“The hoist will enable them to get in and out of the pools without this worry,” she says.