Worried About Stairs? Here’s When It Might Be Time for a Stair Lift

Home is where you should feel comfortable, but the layout may not work as well for you as it once did. If you’ve started gripping the handrail more tightly, avoiding certain floors, or feeling tired before you reach the top of the stairs, it may be time to think about another way to move between levels.

Signs you may need a stair lift include a fall or near-fall, increasing pain or fatigue on the stairs, relying heavily on handrails, avoiding part of your home, or needing another person nearby each time you change floors. A stair lift can reduce the need to climb stairs and make more of a multilevel home accessible.

At ThedaCare At Home Medical Equipment, we provide home stair lift assessments and professional installation for straight and curved staircases. During an assessment, we’ll look at your staircase, your mobility needs, and how others in your household use the space. Our stair lifts are manufactured by Bruno, with options designed for straight and curved staircases.

You’ve Had a Fall or Near-Fall on the Stairs

You don't have to fall all the way to the floor for an incident to matter. Missing a step, stumbling, catching yourself on the railing, or needing someone else to steady you can show that using the stairs has become less predictable.

If you've fallen, experienced repeated near-falls, or noticed a sudden change in balance, talk with your health care provider. A stair lift may reduce the number of times you need to climb the stairs, but it does not address the reason your balance or strength has changed.

It's also important to look at the staircase itself. The National Institute on Aging's home fall-prevention guidance recommends:

• Keeping steps clear
• Repairing loose or uneven areas
• Securing carpeting
• Providing handrails on both sides
• Maintaining good lighting at the top and bottom of the stairs

Everyday Tasks Involving the Stairs Feel Harder

Sometimes the first sign is not a fall, but a change in how you handle ordinary tasks. You may leave the laundry downstairs because carrying the basket feels unsteady, stop halfway to rest, or avoid making extra trips between floors.

Ask yourself:

• Do I feel pain, weakness, or unusual fatigue while climbing the stairs?
• Do I become short of breath before reaching the top?
• Do I need both hands on the railing?
• Do I take one step at a time instead of moving naturally?
• Do I wait for another person before using the stairs?
• Am I carrying fewer items because I need my hands for balance?

Explore Stair Lift Options

You’re Avoiding Part of Your Home

Pay attention to whether the stairs are changing how you use your home. You may begin sleeping in a downstairs room because the bedroom is upstairs, or laundry and storage areas may become difficult to reach.

A stair lift may help restore access to floors you've started avoiding. It can also support aging in place by making the home's existing layout more usable as mobility needs change.

Your Mobility, Strength, or Endurance Has Changed

Changes in mobility can follow an injury, illness, procedure, or hospitalization. They can also develop gradually because of joint discomfort, muscle weakness, balance concerns, breathing limitations, or another health condition.

A stair lift may be worth exploring if you:

• Have pain when lifting your foot onto the next step
• Feel unsteady while turning on a landing
• Have difficulty controlling your movement down the stairs
• Become unusually tired before reaching the next floor
• Use a walker, wheelchair, or mobility scooter on one or more levels
• Are recovering from an injury and can't use the stairs as you did before

You Depend More on Someone Else to Use the Stairs

Needing occasional help is one thing. Waiting for another person every time you need to change floors can be a sign that the stairs are limiting your independence.

If you're raising the subject with a parent or another loved one, start with specific observations rather than announcing that they need equipment.

• "I've noticed you're waiting for someone before going upstairs."
• "It seems like carrying laundry between floors has become harder."
• "Are there rooms you're using less because of the stairs?"
• "What would make moving around the house feel more manageable?"

What Happens During a Home Stair Lift Assessment?

No two staircases are exactly alike. A home assessment helps determine which stair lift design is compatible with the staircase and the people who use it.

During the assessment, we'll discuss:

• Whether the staircase is straight or curved
• The space available at the top and bottom landings
• How the user will sit down and stand up from the lift
• Whether other household members need regular access to the stairs
• Which controls and features are available
• What service and support are available after installation

Find the Right Stair Lift for Your Home

You do not have to wait until the stairs are completely unusable to begin exploring options. If you're hesitating before each trip, avoiding part of the house, or regularly depending on someone else, an assessment can help you understand what is possible.

Prefer to speak with someone nearby? Find a ThedaCare At Home Medical Equipment location.

Common Questions About Stair Lifts