Sit to Stand Lift or Full Body Floor Lift: How I Compare the Two
A sit-to-stand and a full-body floor lift have different transfer types. A sit-to-stand lift offers support for an active transfer from the sitting to standing position, whereas a full-body floor lift offers support for the transfer between different surfaces. When looking at a sit to stand lift versus patient lift, I first look at the movement, routine, and the space.
For those in Carencro, Lafayette, Scott, and Breaux Bridge, this differentiation is more important than the first model. At 101 Mobility of Lafayette, I evaluate the transfer origin and destination, the person’s involvement, and the working space the caregiver has.
| Transfer Question | Sit-to-Stand Lift | Full-Body Floor Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Basic movement | Supports a sit-to-stand transfer pattern | Supports lifting and transfer between surfaces |
| User participation | Participation in the established sit-to-stand routine matters | Designed for a different transfer pattern |
| Starting points | Typically a seated position | May involve a bed, chair, wheelchair, or floor |
| Caregiver space | Needs room for lift positioning and caregiver access | Needs room for base positioning, lift movement, and caregiver access |
| Sling/setup | Uses equipment appropriate to the sit-to-stand system | Uses the sling and setup appropriate to the full-body lift |
| Main decision | Does this match the established transfer pattern? | Does a full-body transfer match the established care routine? |
What I Need to Know About the Person’s Participation in the Transfer
The first question is not which lift involves more features. I need to know how the transfer is established.
The sit-to-stand system is used to aid the user from a seated position to a fully standing position using the provided lift system. This system does not fully support the user in transferring from one surface to another like a full body lift does.
I do not use a diagnosis to determine the distinction between the two systems.
I instead consider:
- What are the movements and actions involved in this process?
- From what position does the transfer commence? What position does it conclude in?
- How does the user participate in the transfer process?
- Are there any transfer instructions given by a therapist or any support caregiver?
- Are there any recommended pieces of equipment/sling systems?
- Where does the caregiver stand?
If there are established transfer instructions given by a therapist, a home health care professional, or any support care member, I include those in the equipment considerations.
This ensures that the equipment recommendation is based on the transfer plan and not the reverse where the transfer plan has to be adjusted to suit the equipment.
Space on the Floor, Approach, and Reach of the Caregiver
The patient lift has to be able to cover the transfer space and not just the space of the room.
A bedroom may appear large until the bed, caregiver, lift, nightstand, wheelchair, and dresser occupy the same limited working space.
This is why the transfer process is broken down into several steps.
For a floor lift in Carencro, I am interested in knowing the side of the bed which is more conventionally used, how the lift approaches, the surface to which the transfer is being made to and the caregiver’s position during the transfer.
This holds true for Lafayette, Scott, and Breaux Bridge as well.
Thinking about directional considerations
“Bed to wheelchair” is a good starting place, but not enough.
Is the wheelchair positioned beside or is it at an angle? Which side is used? Does furniture obstruct the lift approaching? Does the equipment need to pass through a doorway before or after the transfer?
These considerations impact whether the equipment can make the journey the way it needs to.
Thinking about the caregiver
The caregiver needs to be able to reach the equipment to perform the transfer so there is no point trying to squeeze a lift into as small a space as possible. The equipment, person, destination, and caregiver need to be able to work together.
Doorways and furniture
Just because a lift fits next to a bed doesn’t mean it will be easy to move it through a doorway.
Furniture can create a similar problem.
That is why it is important to assess the entire route from storage to transfer rather than the space the lift will be used in.
MiniLift 200 Versus Full Body Floor Lift Options
The Handicare MiniLift 200 is a mobile sit-to-stand lift designed for indoor use.
It has a foot plate, adjustable lower leg support, lift arm, handles, an electrically adjustable base width, built-in charging, and hand controls. It has a 440 lbs capacity, according to 101 Mobility.
The focus of this article will be on the transfer pattern, which places the MiniLift 200 in the sit-to-stand category.
I would be remiss if I did not outline the standard transfer routine first before discussing the Handicare MiniLift 200’s capacity or features.
The Handicare Eva450 is built for another purpose.
The Eva450 is built to transfer a patient from the floor, from a chair, or from a bed. 101 Mobility cites a maximum capacity of 450 pounds. The lift has an adjustable base, a hand control, built-in charging, an emergency stop, and manual and electric emergency lowering.
This does not necessarily make the Eva450 better than the MiniLift 200. They alleviate unique transfer differentiation issues.
I would take a look at the Handicare EvaDrive when power assisted movement of a compatible Eva lift is relevant to the setup. EvaDrive uses a powered drive system and control handle to assist with steering and maneuvering.
Once more, the extra feature would not be the starting point.
My steps would be:
- Identify the transfer routine.
- Confirm the care routine.
- Assess the physical space.
- Select the appropriate equipment.
One of my biggest restrictions would be that I would not recommend a sit to stand lift because it is smaller and more easily stored as it would not meet the requirements given the transfer routine would require full body support. I would also not recommend a full body system if proper sit to stand setup would meet the requirements.
Equipment should only be made more complex if it properly supports the transfer.
Constraints due to Sling, Powered Assistance Charging and Storage, and Doorway Clearance
When selecting equipment to support caregiver assisted transfers, the selection of a lift is only one of the many considerations.
Sling and transfer set up
The setup must accommodate the selected equipment and transfer routine.
When making sling decisions, I do not rely on product descriptions. If the person’s therapist or care team provided the sling type, positioning method, or transfer routine, that should be included when we evaluate the equipment.
Charging
Both the MiniLift 200 and Eva450 have built-in charging systems, so I need to know the equipment’s usual parking location.
The charging location needs to be a natural addition to the household routine to keep the lift from being in the middle of a hallway or a frequent path.
Storage
Patient handling equipment takes up floor space even when it is not being used.
The total length of the MiniLift 200 is published to be 38.6 inches, with an outer base width that can adjust from 23.2 inches to 40.6 inches.
The outer base dimension of the Eva450 is published to be 27 to 38.6 inches and weighs 74.9 pounds with the battery.
These published dimensions help me start to think about the equipment, but they do not replace actually measuring your space.
Storage considerations around the lift must include furniture, doors, routes traversed, and how easily the lift can be brought back to the transfer point.
Doorway considerations
A lift that functions in the bedroom still must get to the bed.
That’s obvious, but the clearance through doorways and turns can affect the recommended lift.
I consider the complete route from storage to use to the transfer surface, not just the open floor space.
What are the Next Steps After Configuration?
We take the time to test the selected product in the transfer area.
With the MiniLift 200, we test the functions of the hand controls, base adjustment, footplate, lower leg support, charging, and emergency functions.
With the Eva450, we test the functions of the hand control, adjustable base, charging system, emergency stop, and emergency lowering system.
Should the EvaDrive system be included in the configuration, we need to understand the functions of the hand control for the powered steering system.
We also review the practical route. Where will the lift be stored? Where will the lift charge? Can the lift travel from the storage location to the transfer location without other furniture or doors causing a blockage?
As a last step in the configuration process, 101 Mobility offers service and support for all questions, needed maintenance, or repairs.
If your family in Carencro, Lafayette, Scott, or Breaux Bridge wants to determine the best transfer lift to fit into their daily routine, call us to schedule a free in-home consultation. We can review what equipment fits best to support the transfer pattern, caregiver space, route, and storage during the equipment review.
FAQ: Sit-to-Stand Lift vs. Full-Body Patient Lift
What is the difference between a sit-to-stand lift and a full-body patient lift?
The difference is the transfer pattern. A sit-to-stand lift is used to transfer the patient from a seated to standing position. A full-body patient lift is a device used for transfers between different surfaces.
Is the Handicare MiniLift 200 a sit-to-stand lift?
The Handicare MiniLift 200 is a mobile sit-to-stand lift with a footplate, adjustable lower leg support, electrically adjustable base, hand controls, and built in charging.
Is the Handicare Eva450 a full-body floor lift?
The Handicare Eva450 is a portable patient lift designed to assist transfers to and from beds, chairs, or floors. It aligns with a different type of transfer system when compared to the MiniLift 200.
How can I determine what patient lift is most appropriate for a given transfer routine?
I would first consider the routine and the transfer steps. How involved is the person? What does the care team say? I also need to know how much usable space there is to work with.
How much space do caregiver transfer devices require?
It is not possible to state a single usable space for a transfer. The lift, the person, the caregiver, the starting and ending surfaces, the surfaces that the lift covers, the direction from which the caregiver approaches and the route to the doorway, all impact the usable space.
What is the importance of having a lift that is easy to store and charges nearby?
Storage and charging are important because the lift is not immediately usable, it needs to be stored somewhere convenient prior to the next transfer. I plan the easiest route for transporting the equipment to the transfer location without adding unnecessary obstructions to the home.
What happens when a sit-to-stand lift or floor full-body lift does not suit the transfer routine?
I would adjust the transfer plan and route prior to considering having either of the elevating devices installed. It may be more appropriate to first solve some problems like the clearance of furniture, bath arrangement, caregiver access, the space itself, and the layout of the rooms.
