An apparatus and procedure for disabled, impaired or handicapped persons or patients in reaching or maintaining a standing or partially standing position. The apparatus includes a knee support and a movable torso support. The torso support is operatively connected to an actuator arrangement that is configured to move said torso support in a vertical range of positions independently of the horizontal position of the torso support and the actuator arrangement is configured to move the torso support in the horizontal range of positions independently of the vertical position of the torso support. The person to be assisted engages the torso support during the raising movement during which the torso support moves simultaneously forward and upward until the person to be assisted has reached a position in which he/she is substantially standing whilst leaning forward over the torso support (and vice versa for the lowering procedure). The torso support can also be rotated during the movement, independently of the vertical and horizontal position of the torso support. The apparatus is provided with an load sensing system monitoring self-participation of the person to be assisted.
