Are you or a loved one dealing with limited mobility? Transferring somebody with limited mobility from a wheelchair to a toilet or the bed, for example, can lead to harmful falls for the patient or back pain in the caregiver. The safest way to do transfers with somebody who can support some, but not all, of their weight is with sit to stand up patient lifts.
Choosing the wrong lift could be a waste of money at best and a serious health hazard at worst. That’s why we’ve found five of the best lifts available and listed the features, pros, and cons of each. We want to help you find the right lift for your situation. Let’s talk about what things to consider when buying a lift and which lifts we think are the best.
Sit To Stand Lift - Our Top Picks
What is a Sit to Stand Lift?
A sit to stand lift is a mechanical device that’s used to help people stand up in order to transfer from one seated location to another. Patients must be able to support at least some of their own weight for this type of lift (usually around 60%).
Sit to stand lifts can be manual or electric. They might have a seat, or they might use slings. Sometimes a sling might be included, but you often have to purchase a sling separately.
Standing patient lifts make transfers easier on both the patient and caregiver and help prevent harmful falls.
What To Consider When Buying a Sit to Stand Lift
How do you know which lift is best for you? Here are some of the features to look at that will help you pick the right one for your situation.
Emergency Controls
Electric lifts should have emergency controls. It may be as simple as an emergency stop button or as complex as a way to use the lift in manual mode if the battery dies or if there’s a loss of power. Generally speaking, the more control you can have while you’re transferring somebody, the better.
Manual Vs Electric
While manual lifts are generally cheaper, they can feel very jerky to the person being lifted. Manual lifts can also be somewhat more difficult to maneuver. Electric sit to stand lifts offer a smoother, easier transition, but they are more expensive and may be more likely to have problems.
Additional Standing Aid
Every lift will have different features that assist the patient with standing. Standing aids might include bars, leg pads, or sling attachments. Will the person using the lift be able to get more leverage reaching directly in front of them, or from handles above them? If the lift has leg pads, are they adjustable?
Lifting Range1
A lift needs to be able to hold a patient higher than their wheelchair, commode, toilet, bed, or anywhere else you want to transfer them to. Make sure you measure everything in your home, then see how high the lift can go to make sure it can hold you or your loved one high enough to clear everything.
Slings
If you’re using a lift with sling attachments, you need to be familiar with the different types of slings. Each sling has a different purpose, so choose the one that seems like it would work best for your situation.
Weight Capacity
It’s crucial to pay attention to a stand up lift’s weight capacity. The last thing you want is to buy a lift that crumples under the weight of a larger patient. Most lifts can support up to 250 to 400 pounds, although some can support up to 500 pounds or more.
Scale
Weighing somebody who can’t easily stand on a scale can be difficult. Some lifts incorporate a scale so you can weigh a person as you’re lifting them. Not all lifts have this feature, so if it’s important to you, make sure it’s included in the model you’re looking at.
Other Features
Every stand up lift offers different features. Some may have locking wheels, some may have pouches for accessories, others have pivoting seats or padded leg supports. Figure out which features are important to you and keep them in mind as you research lifts.
Best Stand Up Patient Lifts
1. ArjoHuntleigh Sara Stedy Sit to Stand Manual Lift
If you or a loved one need help transferring to and from chairs, vehicles, toilets, or commodes, the ArjoHuntleigh Sara Stedy Sit to Stand Manual Lift could be just what you need to make transfers easier. It comes fully assembled, features locking wheels, and supports up to 400 pounds.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
This product only has a handful of reviews so far, but just about everybody is thrilled with it so far. It doesn’t roll well on thick carpet, and one reviewer had some customer service issues. Otherwise, everybody loved this and said it improved their quality of life or made it easier to care for a loved one.
Our Take
This is one of the best manual lifts out there right now. It arrives fully assembled and doesn’t have any reports of quality control issues.
2. ProHeal Stand Assist Lift - Sit to Stand Standing Transfer Lift
If you need a standing assistance lift but don’t have thousands of dollars to spend, the ProHeal Stand Assist Lift - Sit to Stand Standing Transfer Lift might be the right option for you. It has locking wheels, a 500-pound weight limit, and can be used with or without slings.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
The few reviews available for this product are nothing but positive. People appreciate that it’s more affordable than similar models while still being effective and sturdy. It does require some assembly, and it might not work well for people with wide hips.
Our Take
This is an excellent affordable lift that will work for most people. It includes a 3-year warranty and supports up to 500 pounds, making it a great option.
3. Graham-Field Lumex Stand Assist Patient Transport Unit
Do you need a stand up lift for a person of average height? The Graham-Field Lumex Stand Assist Patient Transport Unit, LF1600 may be just what you’re looking for. It can fit through narrow doorways, has locking wheels, and holds up to 400 pounds.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
A couple of people had problems with the wheels falling off, but most of the complaints were that it didn’t work well for very tall or short people. Most people say this is an excellent lift and a great value.
Our Take
This is a great option for anybody of average height. It may not work well for people shorter than 5’3” or taller than 5’10”. Some assembly is required, but it’s easy to put together.
4. Invacare Get-U-Up Hydraulic Stand Up Patient Lift
If you need a lift for somebody who can bear some weight but still needs a sling to be lifted, you might want the Invacare Get-U-Up Hydraulic Stand-Up Patient Lifts. It works with a variety of slings, supports 350 pounds, and has a convenient rotating pump handle.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
The biggest complaint is about the fact that the wheels don’t lock. Some people also complained about missing pieces that were difficult, expensive, or impossible to replace. Most customers, however, said this product was very helpful.
Our Take
The main downside to this product is the lack of locking wheels. If that won’t be a problem for you, then this is a good option for you.
5. Graham-Field Lumex Stand Up Battery-Powered Patient Lift
Manual stand up lifts can be jerky. For a smooth electric lift, look into the Graham-Field Lumex Sit-to-Stand Battery-Powered Patient Lift. This battery-powered lift can hold up to 400 pounds and includes an emergency stop button and an ergonomic remote.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
There are only a few negative reviews so far. One person complained that the lift didn’t come with a sling, while another had problems with the battery. On the positive side, people loved that this lift was smoother than manual lifts.
Our Take
This electric lift is a good value. Since it’s battery powered, you don’t need to worry about what to do if the power goes off. You just need to pay attention to the battery’s charge because it won’t function with a dead battery.
Stand Up Lift Benefits
Sit to stand lifts have a variety of benefits. The primary benefit is that they provide standing support for people who can’t stand unassisted. Helping to support patients as they’re standing offers several benefits:
Wrapping Up
When it comes to the safety of you or your loved ones, you can’t be too careful when choosing sit to stand lifts. We’ve given you five great options to choose from and information on how to select the best one for your needs, so hopefully you can find the perfect patient lifts. While lifts can be expensive, this isn’t a purchase you can go cheap on, because the wrong lift could actually cause harm.
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