It is not always easy, nor safe, to climb the stairs for people who are over sixty-five. It can also be dangerous and among those over sixty-five, the leading cause of accidental death, hospitalization, and injury is as a result of a fall down the stairs. With over 40 million Americans over sixty-five, this means a very large percent of the population is at an increased risk of injury or even death. To help control and reduce this risk, it is a good idea to use a stair lift.



A stair lift is a type of mobility device that is used in homes and businesses. It is used to quite literally carry a person up and down the stairs, so in many ways it is like having your own he-man on call 24-7, but it is much safer than getting a piggy back ride up the stairs.

These mobility devices use a track and car system, which in some regards could be seen as similar to a train system. Unlike a train though, a staircase lift does not depend heavily on gravity to keep it on track. The track is most frequently secured to the steps, but in cases of curved staircases or extraordinarily narrow staircases, the track can also be secured to the wall. A car is then sent up and down the track and is the part of the staircase lift that does the actual work.

The car is what does all the work and usually consists of an electric motor and the chair or platform that will hold the lifts occupant. The motor is covered in a plastic shielding and if the lift uses batteries, then the batteries are also housed within the car. The car then moves up and down the track.

Deciding on whether to go with a battery powered stair lift or the traditional AC powered lift depends on several factors. If cost is an issue then you might be better off with an AC lift, because they are less expensive and have a lower maintenance cost. However, an AC lift will not work if you loose power, but a battery lift will. They do cost a little more and you will need to periodically replace the batteries, which usually costs less than a hundred dollars. In addition to replacing the battery, you will also need to check the battery terminals for corrosion and make certain they do not become loose.

Older battery lifts had required that the car be parked in a special area to be charged. This was highly irregular though, because it was easy to be off by a little bit and end up with a run down battery. Modern quality lifts now charge consistently anywhere on the track, which greatly improves their functionality.

A staircase can present a very clear and present danger to people who are over sixty-five, but if you invest in a lift for your staircase, then you can greatly reduce this risk. Choosing to install a stair lift is a very smart decision.