An apparatus for assisting a person to move from a seated position on a seat or the like to a standing position and vice versa. The apparatus comprises: a base an actuator arrangement supported by the base and a torso support configured for supporting the torso and possibly also the underarms of the person to be a supported with the chest of the person facing the torso support. The torso support has a main engagement surface for engaging the chest of the person to be assisted, the actuator arrangement being configured to be able to move the torso support up and down over a range of vertical positions and the actuator arrangement is configured to be able to move the torso support back and forth over a range of horizontal positions in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main engagement surface. The actuator arrangement is configured to move the torso support in the vertical range of positions independently of the horizontal position of the torso support. 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 apparatus also comprises a rotational actuator operatively connected to the torso support for rotating the torso support about a substantially horizontal pivot axis.
