It is very difficult for people who have arthritis to use the stairs. Arthritis, a type of joint disease, can make bending the knee very difficult and can make keeping your balance hard as well. Those over 65 are commonly affected by arthritis, which is one of the reasons that the leading cause of hospitalization for people over 65 is from falling down the stairs. A stair lift is one device that is used in many homes to help reduce this risk.
A stair lift is similar to always having a personal servant ready to carry you up and down the stairs. Most use a chair that is attached to a metal track running the distance of the stairs. An electric motor moves the chair up and down the track. They have come a long way since they were first developed in the 1920's, and today, depending on the model, stair lifts are able to effortlessly support over 500 pounds, while they reliably and smoothly move up and down the stairs.
To improve safety, most stair lifts have a seat that can be swiveled to face away from the steps. This makes it much safer to mount and dismount the lift, but you must swivel the chair back into a locked position before the stair lift will move. To save space, the chair of many stair lifts is foldable, so when not in use, it is possible to fold the seat up. A few models are available that use a small platform instead of a chair. These have several handholds, but still require you to maintain your balance in a standing position as you move up and down the stairs. This can be difficult, so these are usually only used by people who have severe knee problems that make it near impossible for them to sit.
These mobility aids are used on indoor stairs and outdoor stairs. In order to be used outdoors, the lift must be completely sealed and the metal treated with a rust resistant powder coat. You can typically use an outdoor stair lift indoors, but can not use an indoor stair lift outdoors. Even with their extensive weather-proofing, it is still important to trim any branches or trees which might hang over the outdoor stair lift. If a branch were to fall during a storm, the lift could be damaged.
Stair lifts are a great way to keep you moving up and down the stairs. They are, for the most part, quickly installed and can be used to improve the freedom and independence of those who are mobility challenged.