Sit-to-Stand Lifts: How to Choose a Stand Aid or Powered Stand Lift

Sit-to-stand lifts, also called stand aids or standing and raising aids, sit between a walker and a full-body patient lift: the person does part of the work and the lift does the rest. This guide covers equipment only; whether a stand aid suits a particular person is a decision for their nurse, therapist or care team.

Who is a sit-to-stand lift for?

A stand lift is built for someone who can take weight through their legs and help with the move. Manufacturers spell out who their lifts are meant for. Arjo's instructions for the Sara Flex, for example, say the user should be able to bear weight on at least one leg, sit unaided on the edge of the bed and be between 4 ft 8 in and 6 ft 4 in tall. Joerns describes the Hoyer Journey as a lift for people in a seated position who can bear some weight.

If a person cannot stand at all, cannot sit up on the side of the bed or needs to be lifted from the floor, a stand lift is the wrong tool. Look instead at full-body floor lifts or ceiling lifts, covered in our guide to choosing a patient lift for home care and our ceiling lifts vs. floor lifts guide.

Manual stand aid or powered lift: which do you need?

Manual stand aids. The Arjo Sara Stedy has no motor, so there is nothing to charge. The user rests their shins on a knee pad and pulls themselves up on a crossbar. Once they are up, the caregiver folds two seat paddles in behind them so they can perch while being wheeled to the next seat. Arjo rates it for 400 lb and offers two frame sizes: the standard frame for users from 4 ft 11 in up to 6 ft 6 in tall, and a Compact frame for users from 4 ft 6 in up to 5 ft 8 in. The frame weighs roughly 65 lb.

Powered stand lifts. A powered lift raises the person with a standing sling or vest that wraps around the back and clips to the lift arm. The caregiver runs it from a hand control. The Arjo Sara Flex is rated for 440 lb, weighs 118 lb with its battery and raises the attachment point from 39 in to 59 3/4 in. The Hoyer Journey is lighter at 88.6 lb with its power pack, folds without tools and stands upright when stored, with a 341 lb rating.

How much weight can a sit-to-stand lift hold?

Ratings vary widely. Among the models we list, the Hoyer Journey is rated for 341 lb, the Sara Stedy for 400 lb, the Sara Plus for 420 lb, the Sara Flex and the Hoyer Elevate for 440 lb, and the Lumex Bariatric Easy Lift STS for 600 lb. Choose a lift whose rating sits comfortably above the user's weight.

The sling has its own rating too. Arjo warns that the load must stay below the rated limit of every product in use, so when a lift and a sling carry different numbers, the lower one is the limit for that transfer.

Will the lift fit your rooms?

Stand lifts still need room to swing around a bed or chair. Compare these figures with your space:

• Base width. The legs spread to get around a wheelchair or commode. The Sara Stedy measures 19 1/3 in across with its legs closed and 34 2/3 in open; the Journey 27 in closed and 38.2 in open; the Sara Flex 26 in closed and 40 1/2 in open.
• Turning radius. Arjo lists about 41 in for the Sara Stedy and 47 1/2 in for the Sara Flex. Joerns gives 45.1 in for the Journey and 48.2 in for the Elevate.
• Doorways and bathrooms. Measure the narrowest door on the route and the gap beside the toilet.

Which features matter day to day?

• Folding. The Journey folds for storage or for the trunk of a car.
• Scales. The Sara Flex and the Elevate can be ordered with a built-in scale.
• Usage tracking. Joerns fits a Smart Monitor that counts lifts and flags service dates; Arjo lifts log hours of use.
• Stepping practice. The Arjo Sara Plus has an arc rest for the arms and a footplate that can be taken off so the user can step with their feet on the floor.

How do the sit-to-stand lifts we carry compare?

Which slings work with a sit-to-stand lift?

Powered stand lifts use a standing sling or vest that goes around the back and under the arms. Arjo makes several for the Sara Flex, including a washable standing sling, a wipe-clean version for facilities and a seated transfer sling for people who may need to sit partway through. Use only slings the lift maker approves for that model, and size them with the maker's chart. You will find them under patient lift accessories and slings.

What should you check before you buy?

• Ask the care team whether the person can use a stand aid, and which type.
• Compare the user's weight and height with the lift and sling ratings.
• Measure doorways, the space beside the bed and the toilet area.
• Decide between manual and powered, and whether you need folding or a scale.
• Plan training for every caregiver who will use the lift.
• Read our returns policy before ordering.

Talk to us

Not sure which stand lift fits your space? Call 1-877-861-8000, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM Pacific, or email contactus@medsupplynow.com. US orders of $50 or more ship free. Hospital beds and patient, pool, bath and vehicle lifts are not returnable. Other items can be returned within 30 days, less a 20% restocking fee. Browse every model in our sit-to-stand lift collection.

Related guides

You may also find these useful: how to choose a patient lift for home care, ceiling lifts vs. floor lifts and our bariatric equipment buyer's guide. For every topic we cover, see the buyer's guide hub.

Frequently asked questions