The Hoyer Journey is a powered sit-to-stand lift designed for patients who can bear some weight and actively participate in transfers.
Its compact footprint, adjustable sling attachment cradle, contoured kneepad, removable foot tray, and folding design make it especially useful for toileting, chair-to-chair transfers, bedside transfers, restorative standing, and short supervised mobility activities.
Who Is the Hoyer Journey Designed For?
The Journey is an active stand-aid rather than a full-body passive patient lift.
It is intended for patients who can participate in the transfer and have enough physical ability to use a sit-to-stand device safely.
Patient suitability should consider:
- Ability to bear at least some weight through the legs
- Sufficient trunk control
- Ability to follow simple instructions
- Ability to tolerate a supported standing position
- Ability to use an appropriate Journey sling
- Overall transfer goals and care plan
If the patient cannot safely participate in standing, a full-body passive lift may be more appropriate.
1. Toileting Transfers
Toileting is one of the most useful applications for the Hoyer Journey.
A sit-to-stand transfer can provide better access to clothing and hygiene than many full-body seated transfers when the patient is appropriate for active standing assistance.
The Journey's compact footprint also helps in bathrooms where available maneuvering space may be limited.
Hoyer Transport Sling for Toileting
The current Joerns Journey manual identifies the Hoyer Transport Sling as one of the primary sling options for the Journey.
The Transport Sling includes leg supports and a commode opening designed to provide greater access during toileting and hygiene transfers.
The sling supports the patient around the torso and underneath the legs while attaching to the Journey's sling cradle.
The Transport Sling is not a general-purpose sling. The patient must be assessed for suitability before use.
Why the Journey Works Well for Toileting
- Powered standing assistance reduces the need for manual lifting.
- The compact base helps maneuver in smaller bathrooms.
- The adjustable kneepad supports the lower legs during standing.
- The Transport Sling provides additional support compared with a standing-only sling.
- The commode aperture provides access for toileting and hygiene.
- The powered boom allows controlled raising and lowering.
Bathroom Space Still Matters
Even though the Journey is compact, measure the actual bathroom before assuming it will fit.
Consider:
- Doorway width
- Space beside the toilet
- Clearance around the wheelchair or chair
- Turning space
- Position of grab bars and cabinetry
- Caregiver standing space
The Journey measures approximately 27 inches wide with the legs closed and approximately 38.2 inches externally with the legs open.
2. Chair-to-Chair Transfers
The Journey can be useful for moving an appropriate patient between seating surfaces without requiring a full-body passive lift.
Examples can include:
- Wheelchair to recliner
- Wheelchair to standard chair
- Chair to commode
- Chair to bedside seating
The patient remains actively involved in the standing process rather than being fully suspended in a passive sling.
3. Bed-Edge Transfers
The Journey can also assist an appropriate patient who is sitting at the edge of a bed and needs help standing or transferring to another seated surface.
Before using the Journey from the bed edge, make sure:
- The patient can maintain a safe seated position.
- The patient's feet can be positioned appropriately.
- The kneepad can be adjusted correctly.
- The sling is fitted according to Joerns instructions.
- The destination surface is prepared in advance.
4. Assisted Standing
The Journey is designed to help an appropriate seated patient move toward a supported standing position.
Powered lifting can reduce the caregiver effort required compared with manually pulling or lifting the patient to stand.
The patient should still participate actively in the movement.
Hoyer Standing Sling
Joerns identifies the Hoyer Standing Sling as another sling designed for use with the Journey.
The Standing Sling supports the patient around the upper body while allowing the patient to participate more actively in standing.
It is not a general-purpose sling and requires the patient to be able to partially weight bear.
Standing Sling vs Transport Sling
| Feature | Standing Sling | Transport Sling |
| Primary Use | Supported standing | Standing plus transfer support |
| Leg Support | Less extensive | Yes |
| Toileting Access | Can support appropriate toileting transfers | Designed with commode access |
| Patient Participation | Required | Required |
| General-Purpose Full-Body Sling | No | No |
The correct sling depends on the patient's strength, weight-bearing ability, trunk control, transfer type, and required level of support.
5. Restorative Standing
The Journey can support restorative standing activities for appropriate patients.
Joerns designed the foot tray so it can be removed when the care plan calls for supervised standing or mobility work.
Removing the foot tray allows the patient's feet to contact the floor rather than remaining on the lift platform.
Why Restorative Standing Can Be Useful
For an appropriate patient, supervised standing activities may help support mobility goals and continued participation in transfers.
The Journey should be used only within the patient's established care plan and mobility abilities.
The goal is not to force a patient into standing, but to provide controlled assistance when the patient can safely participate.
6. Short Supervised Steps
Joerns specifically notes that with the Journey foot tray removed, an appropriate patient may be able to stand and take short supervised steps while supported by the lift.
This can be useful in restorative-care programs when approved for the patient.
Short-step practice should only be performed when:
- The patient has appropriate weight-bearing ability.
- The patient has adequate trunk and leg control.
- The sling and Journey settings are appropriate.
- The activity is part of the patient's care plan.
- A caregiver is providing continuous supervision.
- The path is clear and level.
The Journey Is Not a Walking Aid
The Journey should not be treated as a general walker or independent mobility device.
Restorative standing and short-step activities are supervised uses for appropriately assessed patients.
7. Transfers in Tight Spaces
One of the Journey's major advantages is its compact design.
Joerns specifically designed the Journey for maneuverability in tight spaces.
Current Joerns specifications list:
- 39.4 inches maximum overall length
- 27 inches external width with the legs closed
- 38.2 inches external width with the legs open
- 45.1 inches turning radius
These dimensions can make the Journey easier to use in smaller bedrooms, bathrooms, and homecare environments than many full-size passive lifts.
8. Transfers Where Portability Matters
The Journey folds without tools for storage and transportation.
This can be valuable when:
- The lift must be stored between uses.
- Home space is limited.
- The lift may need to travel between care locations.
- A full-size professional stand-aid would be difficult to store.
341 lb Safe Working Load
The current Journey user manual lists a safe working load of 341 lb / 155 kg.
Some Joerns marketing materials round this to 340 lb, which is why the model is often referred to as a 340 lb stand-aid.
Never exceed the safe working load of the Journey, sling, or any other component used during the transfer.
Adjustable Sling Attachment Cradle
The Journey uses an adjustable sling attachment cradle designed to accommodate a range of patient heights and sizes.
Correct adjustment can improve sling positioning and standing geometry.
Always follow the Joerns instructions for adjusting the cradle and attaching the sling.
Adjustable Kneepad
The Journey's kneepad should be adjusted to the individual patient before standing.
Correct kneepad positioning helps support the lower legs and provides a stable contact point as the patient rises.
The pad should not be positioned in a way that causes excessive pressure or discomfort.
When the Journey Is Not the Right Lift
The Journey may not be appropriate when the patient:
- Cannot safely bear weight through the legs
- Cannot participate in standing
- Has insufficient trunk control for the selected sling
- Cannot follow transfer instructions
- Requires complete full-body support
- Requires a floor-recovery transfer using a passive sling
In these situations, a full-body passive lift may be the more appropriate type of equipment.
Journey vs Advance-E 340
The Journey and Hoyer Advance-E 340 are both compact powered Hoyer lifts, but they serve very different mobility levels.
The Journey is for patients who can participate in standing.
The Advance-E is a passive full-body lift for patients who require complete lifting assistance.
Journey vs Hoyer Elevate
The Hoyer Elevate is another powered sit-to-stand lift.
The Journey emphasizes compact dimensions, folding storage, and portability.
The Elevate is designed as a higher-capacity professional stand-aid with a larger feature set.
Journey vs Hoyer Up
The Hoyer Up is a manual active transfer device.
The Journey provides powered standing assistance, while the Up relies more heavily on the patient's own ability to pull to stand.
Journey Sling Selection
Joerns identifies the Hoyer Transport Sling and Hoyer Standing Sling as the primary sling families for the Journey.
Sling selection should consider:
- Patient weight
- Patient height
- Weight-bearing ability
- Trunk control
- Transfer type
- Toileting needs
- Required leg support
- Sling size
- Safe working load
Use our Hoyer Sling Compatibility Chart before ordering a Journey sling.
Inspect the Sling Before Every Use
Before every Journey transfer, inspect the sling for:
- Fraying
- Tears or cuts
- Damaged stitching
- Worn attachment loops
- Damaged buckles or support straps
- Other signs of deterioration
Do not use a damaged sling.
Best Journey Use Cases at a Glance
- Toileting transfers
- Chair-to-chair transfers
- Wheelchair-to-toilet transfers
- Bed-edge-to-chair transfers
- Supported sit-to-stand activity
- Restorative standing
- Short supervised stepping practice
- Transfers in smaller rooms
- Situations where folding storage is valuable
Need Help Determining Whether the Journey Is Appropriate?
Call 877-33-HOYER or email support@myhoyerlift.com with the patient's height, weight, weight-bearing ability, trunk control, and primary transfer goals. We can help you compare sling options and determine whether the Hoyer Journey or a different Hoyer lift better matches the transfer requirements.
