Stairs in homes can be dangerous as one become less mobile or sustains a disability or illness. So what are the options?
 
One option is a chair lift for stairs. The user with this option must be able to manually transfer onto a chair stair lift failing which they are usually not a good solution.

Stair chair lifts application:
Outdoor Stair Lifts:
These stair lifts are designed for a straight run of stairs typically not exceeding 20 ft in length. These handy home lifts include weather tight components to help protect the equipment from the elements.  
The track of this handicap stair lift is mounted to the stairs. Maximum weight capacity is usually 350lbs.They may be installed on either side of a staircase and run off 115 VAC.

Indoor Stair Chairs
These handicap stair lifts are designed to sit close to the wall or stair railing and can be installed on either side of the stairs by attaching to the stairs. They include easy operating controls for up and down movement and can be summoned from either direction with a call switch or remote. This type of disabled stair lift normally includes 16-18ft of track and can be upgraded to as much as 75 ft.
Most indoor stair lifts operate off a 24VDC battery charged by 115VAC power to the rail and will complete between 20-40 full runs on the
battery assuming that the battery is fully charged.

A Perch stair glide is available for users who have restricted movement in knee or hip joints and find sitting painful. The user in this application is almost in a full standing position while using the stair lift chair.

Heavy duty handicap stair lifts are available for larger users with a carrying capacity around 500-600lbs & include a larger contoured seat with a high back. The footrest on these handicap lifts is reinforced and the armrests are heavy duty. They are limited to around a 20ft max run of track.

Interior Curved Stair Lift:
This stair lift can travel around corners, across intermediate landings and up spiral staircases and is tailor-made for each individual staircase. Most of these handicap lifts include options for a powered footplate and swivel seat. They are also offered with a powered, automatic hinge solution on the track to prevent the track from blocking a doorway at the base of the stairs.

In all instances it is advisable to read all stair lift reviews before making your decision. A stair lifts price can vary dramatically based on manufacturer and the options included.

When a manual transfer is not possible a wheelchair stair lift may be a possibility. Wheelchair lifts enable a user to use the lift while in their wheelchair. These can be an incline platform lift or a vertical platform lift.

A universal design specialist who is familiar with all the options available can help determine the best choice for your particular situation. It is also possible to obtain an opinion from the companies selling this type of equipment although their opinions may not always be un-biased given their motivation to sell their specific equipment.

For more information: http://www.universaldesignspecialists.com/consulting-services.html