For many people, home is much more than a place to live. It’s where memories were made, where family gatherings took place and life has happened. So it’s no surprise that many older adults want to remain in their homes for as long as possible. But as our mobility changes, certain parts of the home can become more difficult to navigate — especially the stairs.
Stairs are something many of us don’t think twice about—until they become difficult.
Changes in balance, strength, flexibility, vision, or endurance can make going up and down stairs more challenging. A staircase that has been part of your daily routine for decades can eventually become an obstacle between you and important areas of your home.
The good news is that having trouble with stairs doesn’t necessarily mean giving up the home you love. Today’s mobility solutions can make it easier and safer to move throughout your home while maintaining your independence.
Three popular options we offer for improving accessibility are stair lifts, home elevators, and vertical platform lifts.
But which one is best for aging in place?
There isn’t one answer that’s right for everyone. The best solution depends on your mobility, the layout of your home, how you expect your needs to change, and how you want to move from one level to another.
Here’s what you should know.
Option 1: Stairlifts
A stairlift is one of the most familiar solutions for people who have difficulty climbing stairs. A stairlift is a motorized chair that travels along a rail attached to the stairs, allowing you to ride safely between floors instead of walking up or down the steps.
Who Is a Stair Lift Best For?
A stair lift may be a great aging-in-place solution if you:
- Have difficulty climbing stairs but can sit and transfer independently or with assistance
- Primarily need help navigating one staircase
- Want to continue using all levels of your home
- Have a straight or curved staircase
- Need an accessibility solution for indoor or outdoor stairs
Almost all of our stairlifts have features including easy-to-use controls, safety sensors, seat belts, swivel seating, folding components, and other options designed to make everyday use easier.
Stairlifts can also work with many different staircase configurations. Straight, curved, and outdoor staircases can all have potential stair lift solutions.
When Might a Stair Lift Not Be the Best Choice?
One important question is whether you can safely get on and off the stairlift. Since a stairlift uses a seat, you’ll typically need to transfer onto the chair at one end and get out at the other, and if you have difficulty doing that, then a stairlift might not be the best choice for you.
If you regularly use a wheelchair or mobility scooter and transferring has become difficult, another type of lift may be more appropriate.
Option 2: Vertical Platform Lifts
A vertical platform lift, often called a VPL, wheelchair lift, porch lift, or deck lift, provides a platform that moves vertically between different heights.
Unlike a stairlift where you have to get out of a wheelchair onto a seat, you can move directly onto the platform with your mobility device and ride to the next level.
Who Is a Vertical Platform Lift Best For?
A platform lift may be worth considering if you:
- Use a wheelchair, power chair, scooter, or walker
- Want to avoid transferring to a stairlift seat
- Need help navigating porch or deck steps
- Need an indoor or outdoor accessibility solution
- Want easier access into or around your home
Rather than having the stairs at the front or back of your home become a barrier, a vertical platform lift can provide another way to move between those levels.
Vertical platform lifts aren’t just for wheelchair users, either. They can also be helpful for people who have difficulty with stairs or who use other mobility aids.
Option 3: Home Elevators
For homeowners looking for accessibility between multiple levels of the home, a residential home elevator offers another solution.
Unlike a stairlift that follows an existing staircase, a home elevator allows you to travel vertically from one floor to another with enough room for a wheelchair, scooter, or another person.
wheelchair, scooter, another person, or items you need to move between floors.
Who Is a Home Elevator Best For?
A home elevator may be a good aging-in-place option if you:
- Want access to multiple levels of your home
- Use or may eventually use a wheelchair or mobility device
- Prefer not to transfer in and out of a stair lift seat
- Are planning your home around long-term accessibility
- Want a mobility solution that becomes an integrated part of the home
For someone planning to remain in a multi-story home long term, thinking ahead can be particularly important.
Your mobility needs today may not be exactly the same five, ten, or fifteen years from now.
Creating a more accessible home can help you prepare for those changes while continuing to enjoy the spaces you already know and love.
Stair Lift vs. Home Elevator vs. Platform Lift
So which one is right for you? Let’s start with how you move around today.
| I can walk but stairs are becoming difficult | Stair Lift |
| I can transfer safely into a chair | Stair Lift |
| I use a wheelchair or scooter | Vertical Platform Lift or Home Elevator |
| I want to remain in my wheelchair while traveling between levels | Vertical Platform Lift or Home Elevator |
| Porch or deck stairs make entering my home difficult | Vertical Platform Lift |
| I need help with an outdoor staircase | Stair Lift or Vertical Platform Lift |
| I want accessibility between multiple floors | Home Elevator |
| I am planning ahead for future mobility changes | Evaluate all three based on your home and long-term needs |
The goal isn’t to choose the biggest mobility solution or the one with the most features. The goal is to choose the solution that allows you to move through your home safely, comfortably, and independently.
Our mobility experts can help you evaluate your home, your mobility needs, and your plans for aging in place to determine which accessibility solution is right for you.
Whether you’re planning for yourself or helping someone you love, taking steps to make the home safer and easier to navigate today can help provide greater confidence and independence for years to come.
Ready to make your home more accessible? Talk with an mobility specialist to explore stairlifts, vertical platform lifts, and home elevator solutions designed to help you keep moving—and keep enjoying the home you love.