An adjustable lifting mechanism (104, 350) for use as or with a seating apparatus, comprising: a base; a parallelogram frame having four pivotally connected links (126, 128, 130, 132), the parallelogram connected at one of the four pivots (134, 136, 138, 140) to the base; a spring pivotably extending from a first link of the parallelogram to an adjustable termination point on a second link of the parallelogram to form a lifting triangle, wherein the spring termination point is displaced from a main pivot of the parallelogram; an extension in fixed relation to one of the four parallelogram links, configured to maintain its angle with respect to horizontal when angles of the parallelogram are varied upon raising or lowering the lifting mechanism between a sitting mode and a standing mode; a lifting power adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the position of the spring termination point with respect to the main pivot, wherein the extension forms a rear seat section having a rear edge and a front edge; the adjustable lifting mechanism (104, 350) further comprising a front seat section having a rear edge and a front edge, wherein the front seat section pivotally attached to the rear seat section at the front seat rear edge and the rear seat front edge configured to permit the front seat section to drop downward in the standing mode and return to the sitting mode, and whereby the adjustable liftng mechanism is characterised by a mid-seat section complementary in shape to a space created between the front seat section and rear seat section in a sitting mode, the mid seat section configured to occupy the space in the sitting mode and to vacate the space upon transitioning to the standing mode to allow folding of the front seat section downward. a base; a parallelogram frame having four pivotally connected links (126, 128, 130, 132), the parallelogram connected at one of the four pivots (134, 136, 138, 140) to the base; a spring pivotably extending from a first link of the parallelogram to an adjustable termination point on a second link of the parallelogram to form a lifting triangle, wherein the spring termination point is displaced from a main pivot of the parallelogram; an extension in fixed relation to one of the four parallelogram links, configured to maintain its angle with respect to horizontal when angles of the parallelogram are varied upon raising or lowering the lifting mechanism between a sitting mode and a standing mode; a lifting power adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the position of the spring termination point with respect to the main pivot, wherein the extension forms a rear seat section having a rear edge and a front edge; the adjustable lifting mechanism (104, 350) further comprising a front seat section having a rear edge and a front edge, wherein the front seat section pivotally attached to the rear seat section at the front seat rear edge and the rear seat front edge configured to permit the front seat section to drop downward in the standing mode and return to the sitting mode, and whereby the adjustable liftng mechanism is characterised by a mid-seat section complementary in shape to a space created between the front seat section and rear seat section in a sitting mode, the mid seat section configured to occupy the space in the sitting mode and to vacate the space upon transitioning to the standing mode to allow folding of the front seat section downward.