Apparatus and method for assisting impaired or disabled persons

A method for operating a person lift for assisting a person in a raising or lowering movement, said apparatus comprising a base;

• an actuator arrangement supported by said base;
• 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;
• said torso support having a main engagement surface for engaging the chest of the person to be assisted, said actuator arrangement being configured to be able to move said torso support up and down over a range of vertical positions and said actuator arrangement being configured to be able to move said torso support back and forth over a range of horizontal positions in a direction substantially perpendicular to said main engagement surface;
• said actuator arrangement is configured to move said torso support in said vertical range of positions independently of the horizontal position of the torso support;
• and said actuator arrangement is configured to move said torso support in said horizontal range of positions independently of the vertical position of the torso support;
• a rotational actuator operatively connected to said torso support for rotating said torso support about a substantially horizontal pivot axis, said method comprising carrying out a movement with said torso support for supporting said person according along a predetermined path and with a predetermined rotational angle for each position along said path.