Best Stair Lifts Of 2022

Many elderly adults want to remain in their homes but face a frustrating obstacle: stairs. Nearly 11 million older Americans have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report. Others may have medical conditions that limit their energy.

Stair lifts are a common solution for people with mobility or energy challenges. These devices allow people to ride in a seated position up and down a flight of stairs, inside or outside.

As people stayed home more due to COVID-19 restrictions, or decided to bring parents or grandparents home from assisted living communities, stair lifts became even more popular, says Chuck Fortunato, the owner of Chuck’s Mobility in Lenexa, Kansas. “I’ve never had so many calls as I’ve experienced over the past year,” he says. “Stair lifts are suddenly a hot topic.”

Essentially, a stair lift is a chair that “climbs” a stairway via a track. They’re sometimes called chair lifts, stair glides and stairway lifts.

The global stair lift market is expected to jump 8% between 2020 and 2025, according to a report by market research firm Arizton. Much of the demand will come from the United States.

Anyone who wants to go from one level of their home to another more easily could benefit from a stair lift. They’re not just for people who use wheelchairs, walkers or canes, says Kate Ayoub, a doctor of physical therapy in Washington, D.C.

“Going up stairs, particularly several times per day, can take a great deal of energy,” she says. “If you have a condition that comes with limited energy, a stair lift can be a way to conserve it.”

Medical issues like congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obesity, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, kidney disease and liver failure can tire someone easily, says Ayoub. People with heart conditions especially have to make deliberate choices about how to spend their energy, she adds.

Many times, simply considering a stair lift might require clearing a mental hurdle. Some people might feel like a chair lift is an admission of getting old or being frail. But much like other mobility devices, such as canes and walkers, stair lifts offer a way to maintain independence, Ayoub says.

A stair lift uses a track that’s typically mounted on the wall along a stairway or to the tread of your staircase. A chair with a motorized gear or wheels at its base and a secure seat travels up and down this track at a slow speed.

Controls are mounted on the chair, though many stair lifts have remote controls as well. For example, if you’re at the bottom of the stairway and the chair is at the top, you can use a remote control to “call” the chair down to you.

Stair Lift Features

Although they all serve the same purpose, stair lifts have a surprising number of features. Some may be helpful depending on your physical and space limitations while others are designed for safety and convenience. Common features include:

• Armrests and footrests.
• Foldable seats, which minimize the amount of space the lift occupies when not in use.
• Adjustable seats, with the option to swivel at the top of the stairs to more easily exit the stair lift.
• Seat belts, a security feature especially useful for people who experience dizziness or are frail.
• Electronic sensors that detect items on the stairs that could interfere with the lift’s function.
• Batteries, which are used to power the stair lift, as well as battery chargers that plug into a standard outlet.
• Remote controls.
• Speed controls, usually on the end of an armrest.

There are three main types of stair lifts: straight, curved and outdoor. The type of stair lift you’ll need depends on your existing stairway.

Straight Stair Lift

This type is the easiest to install and therefore the least expensive. A straight stair lift features a flat, standardized track to help you go from one level of your home to another.

Curved Stair Lift

A curved stairway requires a customized track, according to Fortunato. You may also need a custom solution if you have a multi-level stairway with a landing between the levels. Custom tracks are individually manufactured, assembled, tested and disassembled before in-home installation, adding to the cost.

Outdoor Stair Lift

Like it sounds, an outdoor stair lift is designed to withstand weather elements as it lifts you from one level of your home to another. The track is made of anodized aluminum and the seat is constructed from weather-resistant material—typically a marine-grade vinyl.

Outdoor stair lifts are often used for transportation to a porch, patio, pier or deck. Although it’s possible to use a standardized track if the stairway sits at a similar grade as indoor stairs, these lifts often need at least some degree of customization.

So long as they’re installed correctly and used properly, stair lifts are safe to use. Here are a few additional safety questions to consider regarding stair lifts:

• Does the user have ample strength to transfer from a wheelchair to the lift?
• Is this user within the recommended weight limit?
• Is your stair lift serviced consistently on an annual basis?
• Does your model have constantly charging batteries so it can run even if the power goes out?

Stair lift costs vary depending on features and type. In general, expect to pay $2,000 to $5,000 for a new stair lift for a straight staircase. Some chair lift prices include installation while others don’t.

If you have a curved stairway, customization and complexity increase costs—sometimes significantly. Many curved stair lift prices start around $10,000. And although outdoor stair lifts land in the middle around $6,000, they can be the most expensive if customization is necessary.

Renting vs. Buying a Stair Lift

For people who need a stair lift for a short time, such as while recovering from surgery, renting is an option. Your options and costs will vary, but generally renting a stair lift costs $250 to $500 a month. Curved stair lifts are often not available for rent.

If you have short-term needs, another option is a buyback program, says Fortunato, which involves buying a new unit and keeping up with manufacturer-recommended maintenance. When you don’t need the stair lift anymore, you can sell it back to a mobility company or another individual who needs it.

This option works best if you plan to have the stair lift for just a few years, Fortunato adds. After 10 years, the manufacturer may no longer offer replacement parts. Availability of parts and the age of the lift are also important if you’re considering buying a used stair lift.

Resources to Help Offset Costs

Grants and assistance programs may help pay some stair lift costs, Ayoub says. Most of these are either based on your specific condition or generally focused on helping you stay in your home.

Contact your local Department of Housing and Urban Development office or your local area agency on aging for help connecting with such programs. Stair lift manufacturers and dealers may also have information on funding resources.

If you’re a veteran, you may qualify for a benefit to help with the cost of a stair lift, depending on your income and other factors.

Buying Online and DIY

You can purchase a stair lift online through numerous retailers. However, if you plan to complete the installation yourself, be aware that you may be responsible for all subsequent maintenance and servicing as well. Some companies might also void your warranty if you don’t use an authorized dealer for installation.

After asking your health care provider whether a stair lift would be right for you, start assessing your options and perusing reviews online. Some bells and whistles may be ancillary or surplus to your needs, but don’t skimp on key features, such as higher weight limit, personalized installation options and warranty coverage. If you’re recovering from an injury or have a temporary lack of mobility, you can also rent a stair lift.

Home medical equipment and mobility companies offer stair lifts from a variety of manufacturers. They may offer installation services as well or be able to recommend an experienced installer.

You can also contact stair lift manufacturers directly, who often will connect you with a local member of their dealer network. Some of the largest stair lift manufacturers include Acorn Stairlifts, AmeriGlide, Bruno, Handicare, Harmar and Stannah.

Unless you’re a licensed contractor, this is not a DIY project, says Fortunato. Sometimes, additional home renovations may be necessary, such as fortifying the walls along the stairway, changing bannisters and even updating electrical systems so the stair lift doesn’t short an older electrical circuit.

Many mobility equipment providers are certified by stairlift manufacturers to install and maintain stairlifts themselves. Other times, manufacturers or providers know experienced contractors, says Fortunato. Often, they have a list of professionals who have completed multiple installations and know the building codes in your area.

Installation cost depends on which model you purchase, whether your stairway is curved or straight and how long of a track you need to install. Most companies include installation in the cost of their stair lifts.

Reputable installation providers will cut your stair lift’s track to the precise length of your specific staircase, but a good rule of thumb is lifts need to go about 8 inches past the top step and 12 inches past the bottom step for ample clearance.

Removing a stair lift is typically hassle-free. Many providers either buy back your old stair lift or remove it from your home for free if it’s in usable condition. You may have to pay a small fee for removal if the lift is in poor condition.

Straight rails in particular are fairly easy to remove, as it’s mostly a matter of loosening bolts and patching small remaining holes in the wood.

When it comes to using your stair lift, Ayoub recommends taking some time to get used to your new device. Although the operation might seem simple, there are a few recommended do’s and don’ts:

Do take your first few trips supervised. Like any assistive device, it can take time to get used to the motion of a stair lift, especially if you need to swivel at the top or bottom and undo a seat belt.

Don’t carry too much with you. Trying to balance too much or transport heavy or awkward items can put you at risk of stumbling when you get off the chair.

Do keep an assistive device upstairs and downstairs. For instance, if you need a cane, don’t try to carry the cane with you on the chair lift. Instead, keep a cane on each level. The same strategy applies to walkers and wheelchairs.

Do sit with your back against the chair and wear your seatbelt. Given the slow rate of ascent and descent, it may seem like a good opportunity to tie your shoes or tuck in your shirt, but shifting too much can make you lose your balance.

While a stair lift can be useful, it shouldn’t completely replace using stairs, if possible. Unless you can’t raise your legs to a stair height, it’s crucial to continue practicing some form of stair climbing—even if it’s just a couple of steps at a time—to help maintain your mobility, says Ayoub. “Work with your physical therapist or other professional on using stairs when necessary, and consider the stair lift a mobility tool, just as you would a cane or walker.”

Determine Mobility Needs

Stair lifts aren’t just for people who have physical limitations. Anyone with a medical condition that affects their energy levels can benefit from one. Start by considering the specific mobility needs of your loved one to determine the appropriate stair lift model and special features they may need.

For instance, if your loved one has limited flexibility and would be uncomfortable riding in a traditional upright chair, an Acorn stair lift with perch, sit and stand options might be a better fit. Meanwhile, an outside stair lift would be appropriate for someone who needs to be transported to and from an elevated porch, patio, deck or dock outside the home.

Assess Your Finances

Stair lifts are an expensive home modification, and stairway design, special features and customizations can add to the total cost. Explore the following options for financial support:

• Special financing from the stair lift manufacturer or dealer
• Home improvement loans
• Adaptive housing grants for veterans
• State nursing home diversion assistance plans

Plan Ahead

Installing a stair lift doesn’t have to be a reactionary response to a fall or injury. If you anticipate a decrease in your loved one’s mobility or are observing the onset of a debilitating diagnosis, a stair lift can be installed as a preventative measure.

If your loved one only needs short-term assistance or you foresee a move or a home sale in the near future, renting a stair lift or installing a used stair lift might be a better option. Research uninstallment options, buy-back agreements, warranties and the availability of replacement parts before you purchase one.

To determine the best stair lift companies, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on all major manufacturers in North America, considering their prices, stair lift types, safety features, customization options, warranties and accessibility nationwide.

We evaluated price ranges of the lifts exclusively, as installation and home renovation costs vary dramatically depending on your needs and preferences. Meanwhile, companies stood out for offering a variety of lift types and providing valuable safety features and warranties as standard with most stair lift purchases. If a manufacturer provided a number of customization options, we noted that as well.

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