Invacare Get-U-Up GHS350 sit-to-stand lift review

A hydraulic stand assist lift for someone who can take partial weight, and only for someone who can.

Specifications

Specifications above come from Invacare's published feature list for this listing. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

• A standing sling is included and matched to the lift, which removes the most common and most dangerous mistake families make with lifts.
• Non-locking casters are a deliberate safety design, not a cost saving: the lift has to be free to move as the person's weight shifts, and locking the rear casters can prevent that.
• A rotating pump handle, so the caregiver can stand where the transfer needs them rather than where the lift dictates.
• A retractable non-slip footplate and an adjustable leg pad, which is what makes a stand assist tolerable for someone with sore knees.
• Low base clearance that fits under most homecare beds.

Where it falls short

• A sit-to-stand lift requires the person to participate. They must bear some weight, grip the handles and follow instructions. Weight-bearing fluctuates with illness, infection and fatigue, so a lift that worked last week may be wrong today. This is the reason a stand assist is reassessed rather than bought once.
• It is hydraulic rather than powered, so the caregiver pumps. That is more physical work than a powered lift, and repeated pumping is a real load on a caregiver's shoulder.
• 350 pounds is the sling's rating, and the sling is the limiting part. Do not exceed it.
• The included sling is one type in one size. If it does not fit your parent, it is not the right sling, and the answer is a properly measured one rather than making it work.
• Bought at retail, it is generally outside the Medicare durable medical equipment route, which starts with a doctor's certification.

What owners report

Owner reports for sit-to-stand lifts are strongly bimodal, and the dividing line is whether the person being lifted can genuinely take weight. Where they can, families describe the lift as quicker, less undignified and easier to fit into a day than a full body sling. Where they cannot, the reports describe knees buckling, sliding in the sling and frightening moments, and those families end up buying a full body lift anyway. That is the pattern published reviews show most clearly, and it is why our patient lift versus stand assist guide leads with the weight-bearing question rather than with price.

The other consistent theme is caregiver effort. A hydraulic pump is manageable for one transfer and tiring across eight, and owners who transfer frequently often move to a powered lift for that reason alone. Caregivers should also know that transfers are the highest-injury activity in home care, and that a technique lesson from a physical therapist is worth more than any accessory.

Who it suits

• Someone who can bear partial weight, hold the handles and follow instructions, as confirmed by a clinician.
• Families doing frequent short transfers, particularly to and from a commode or toilet.
• Rehabilitation situations where standing practice is part of the plan and a therapist is supervising it.

Who should skip it

• Anyone who cannot reliably bear weight, cannot grip, has poor trunk control, or cannot follow instructions. They need a full body lift such as the Hoyer Advance.
• Anyone whose ability varies day to day without someone competent judging it each time.
• Households where nobody has been trained on the equipment.
• Caregivers who cannot manage the pumping effort, who should look at a powered model.

Alternatives worth considering

Common questions

When is a sit-to-stand lift not appropriate?

When the person cannot reliably bear weight through their legs, cannot grip and hold the handles, has poor trunk control, or cannot follow instructions. Weight-bearing also fluctuates with illness and fatigue, so a stand assist that worked last month may be wrong today. If a transfer regularly feels marginal, stop using it and go back to the therapist.

Why are the casters non-locking?

By design. A sit-to-stand lift has to be free to move as the person's centre of gravity shifts during the stand, and locking the rear casters can prevent that and destabilise the transfer. The manufacturer notes that a locking caster kit exists for trained caregivers in environments that require it, which is a decision for a clinician rather than a preference.

Does Medicare cover a sit-to-stand lift?

Medicare Part B may cover a patient lift as durable medical equipment when a doctor certifies it is medically necessary and it comes from a supplier who accepts assignment. Powered and manual models are treated differently. The certification comes from your parent's doctor, so start there, and start before buying at retail. Our benefits checker covers the wider picture.

Can I use any sling with it?

No. Slings must be the right type and size for the person and approved for the specific lift. Mismatched slings and lifts have caused falls from height. This lift comes with an R130 standing sling; if that sling does not fit your parent properly, get one that does rather than adjusting around it.

Sit-to-stand or a transfer board and gait belt?

Different tools for different abilities. A gait belt is a handhold for a caregiver assisting someone who is largely doing the work themselves, and a transfer board bridges a seated gap. Neither is a lifting device and neither should be used to haul someone who cannot help. Our transfer board versus gait belt guide explains where each stops.

Keep reading

• Patient lift vs stand assist
• Transfer board vs gait belt
• Safe transfers for elderly parents
• Benefits eligibility checker
• Hoyer Advance portable lift review
• Invacare Reliant 450 review

This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.