The Stair Lift Chair: Enabling Independence in a Multi-Level Home

By Maria Basso Lipani, LCSW
© 2008-2011

Summary: A stair lift chair is a practical addition to almost any home.  For a frail or disabled person who isn’t otherwise able to climb stairs, a stair lift chair can enable them to remain independent in their multi-level home. Stair lift chairs or “chair stair lifts” as they’re also known, come in a variety of designs.  They are not a covered benefit under Medicare, but have the potential to save both money and heartache if the person who requires one would otherwise need to remodel or move.

Dear Maria: My mother is 68 years old and has Rheumatoid Arthritis.  The constant pain in her joints makes it difficult for her to climb the stairs, but she loves her home and wants to put off having to move to a one-level home or an assisted living facility for as long as possible. I’m thinking that a stair lift chair might be a good option for her.  Where do I begin?  Does Medicare help with the cost at all? Keep up the good work!

Lucy, Albany, New York

Dear Lucy: Installing a stair lift chair can be a cost-effective alternative to moving or having to make major renovations, but there are a few things you should know before contacting one of the many vendors out there.

First, although Medicare does cover the cost of some accessibility equipment, a stair lift chair is not one of those items.  Also, the cost depends largely on how complicated the stair system is in your mother’s home.

For example, if the staircase she’d like to use for the stair lift chair is straight, you can expect the cost to be between $3000 and $4000.  This typically includes installation as well.  Maintenance would be an additional cost though, so be sure to ask about it.

If your mother’s staircase is curved, or there are other factors that might make installing the stair chair lift challenging, the cost can go up significantly.  The same would be true if you’re looking for a high-end model rather than a more basic one.

With regard to keeping costs down, there are a number of options to explore when it comes to a stair lift chair.  The first is a rental or pre-owned program.  Most stair lift chair vendors have them, so it is definitely something you should look for from the vendor you choose. Secondly, if your mother owns her home she might be able to utilize the equity to pay for the stair lift chair by taking out a reverse mortgage.

If the rental or pre-owned programs don’t meet your mother’s needs and if she is not willing/able to tap into her home equity to pay for the stair lift chair, it’s possible that she may qualify for financial assistance from a family caregiver support program in her area that has federal funds for minor home modifications. You can find one of these programs by contacting the Eldercare Locator at (800) 677-1116 or visiting www.n4a.org and finding her local Area Agency on Aging.