Dear Savvy Senior: Because of chronic arthritis, I have a difficult time going up and down stairs and am interested in purchasing a stair lift for my two-story house. Can you recommend some good companies? — Arthritic Andy
Dear Andy: A good home stair lift is a great mobility solution for anyone who is unable or has a difficult time climbing stairs.
There are two basic types of stair lifts sold today: straight and curved. The type you need will depend upon the design of your staircase.
A straight stair lift is one that travels in a straight line up a flight of stairs uninterrupted by landings, bends or curves and costs $2,000 to $5,000 installed. Curved lifts are much more elaborate and will go around corners, bends and changes in direction. Curved lifts are also much more expensive, typically running $8,500 to $15,000 or more depending on the complexity of the installation.
Most stair lifts available today also have seats, armrests and footplates that fold out of the way, and swivel seats that make getting in and out of the chair easier. They also come with standard safety features like seatbelts, braking systems and footrest sensors, push-button or rocker-switch controls located on the armrest for easy operation, and “call send” controls so you can call or send the unit to the other end of the stairs.
If you are a large person, you may need to get a heavy-duty lift with a wider seat and bigger lifting capacity. If you’re tall, find out about raising the seat height during installation.
Depending on the company, you may also have the option of choosing between an electric and a battery-powered lift. Electric stair lifts are simpler and cheaper than battery powered units, but if your home loses power, so does your lift.
The National Council on Aging, which is a nonprofit that advocates for older Americans, put together a review team to research different companies. Their list of best stair lifts of 2023 includes:
• Editor’s Pick: Bruno (bruno.com)
• Most Affordable: AmeriGlide (ameriglide.com)
• Best Customer Reviews: Acorn (acornstairlifts.com)
• Most Supportive Design: Harmar (harmar.com)
• Most Adaptable to the Home: Access BDD (accessbdd.com)
• Best for Arthritis: Stannah (stannah-stairlifts.com)
See NCOA.org/adviser/stair-lifts/best-stair-lifts to read their detailed reviews.
Unfortunately, health insurance, including original Medicare, does not cover home stair lifts, but some Medicare Advantage plans may help pay. If you have long-term care insurance, it may cover a portion of the costs.
If you qualify for Medicaid, many states offer waivers that may help pay for a lift. The Veterans Administration has several grant and benefit programs that may offer assistance.
To save some money, you may want to consider purchasing a used or refurbished model. If you need a stair lift for only a short period of time, consider renting one. Most companies offer these options and many offer financing.
