Beyond the Basics: 6 Ways Stairlifts Can Transform Your Home

When most people think of stairlifts, they picture a simple chair gliding up and down an indoor staircase. But today’s stairlift technology offers far more versatility than you might expect. Whether you’re helping an aging parent stay safely in their multi-level home or recovering from surgery yourself, stairlifts can adapt to a surprisingly wide range of situations and home configurations.

If you’ve been wondering whether a stairlift could work for your family’s specific situation, you might be pleasantly surprised by just how many options exist. Let’s explore the different ways stairlifts can help your loved ones maintain their independence and access every level of their home safely.

1. Straight Indoor Staircases: The Classic Solution

The most common application for a stairlift is a straight indoor staircase—the kind found in most two-story homes throughout New England. These installations are remarkably straightforward, often completed in just a few hours.

Modern straight stairlifts, like the Harmar Pinnacle, feature clean designs with no grease or lubrication required, making them ideal for homes with pets or grandchildren. The rail mounts directly to the stair treads (not the wall), so structural modifications are rarely needed. When not in use, the seat and footrest fold up to keep the staircase accessible for other family members.

Many families are relieved to learn that almost any staircase can accommodate a stairlift—even narrow stairs, steep stairs, or stairs that seem too unusual for standard equipment.

2. Curved and Multi-Landing Staircases

Does your parent’s home have a curved staircase, a landing in the middle, or stairs that turn at angles? These beautiful architectural features don’t have to become barriers to aging in place.

Curved stairlifts, like the Harmar Helix, are custom-manufactured to fit the exact contours of your specific staircase. A technician uses a calibrated camera kit to take precise digital measurements, ensuring the rail follows every curve, turn, and landing perfectly. The result is an extraordinarily smooth ride that navigates even the most complex staircases.

While curved stairlifts require more planning and investment than straight models, they open up possibilities for families who assumed their home’s unique architecture would prevent them from using this solution.

3. Outdoor Stairs: Porches, Decks, and Entrances

Here’s where stairlift versatility really shines. Outdoor stairlifts are specifically engineered to handle the elements—rain, snow, humidity, and temperature extremes—while providing safe access to porches, decks, front entrances, and garden areas.

Outdoor models like the Hawle and Aviator units come fully weatherized with UV-protected upholstery, waterproof covers, and lockable wall-mounted boxes for the remote controls. They’re ideal for New England homes where icy front steps can become treacherous in winter, or where a beloved deck has become inaccessible due to mobility changes.

For many families, an outdoor stairlift solves a problem they didn’t realize had a solution: the front door that requires climbing several steps, the back deck where Mom used to enjoy her morning coffee, or the garage entrance that’s become a daily challenge.

4. Temporary Needs: Post-Surgery and Recovery

Not every mobility challenge is permanent. Hip replacements, knee surgeries, broken bones, or recovery from illness can make stairs temporarily impossible—but moving to a single-level living situation isn’t always practical or desirable.

This is where stairlift rentals become invaluable. Rental programs allow families to install a stairlift for just the duration it’s needed—whether that’s six weeks of post-surgical recovery or several months of rehabilitation. Once healing is complete, the equipment is removed, leaving no permanent changes to the home.

Rentals are also an excellent way to “try before you buy” for families who aren’t sure whether a stairlift will work long-term for their situation.

5. Multi-User Households

Stairlifts aren’t just for one person. In multi-generational homes—increasingly common as adult children welcome aging parents to live with them—a single stairlift can serve multiple family members with different mobility needs.

All modern stairlifts come with two remote controls as standard—one for upstairs, one for downstairs. This allows multiple users to call the lift to whichever floor they need it, and also means someone can send the empty chair to another floor for a family member who’s waiting.

A key switch prevents unauthorized use, which is particularly important in households with young children who might be tempted to treat the stairlift as a toy.

6. Complementing Other Mobility Solutions

Sometimes, the best approach to aging in place involves combining solutions. A family might install a stairlift for the main interior staircase while adding a wheelchair ramp at the front entrance and grab bars in the bathroom.

For some homes, a stairlift might work beautifully for certain staircases while a residential elevator or vertical platform lift makes more sense for others—particularly if someone uses a wheelchair and needs to transport it between floors.

The key is matching the right solution to each specific challenge rather than assuming one approach must solve everything.

Built-In Safety for Peace of Mind

Regardless of which type of stairlift fits your situation, modern units share important safety features that protect users and give families confidence. These include safety sensors on the footplate that stop the lift if it encounters any obstruction, seat belts for secure travel, battery backup systems that keep the lift operational during power outages, and swivel seats that make it easier to get on and off safely at the top of the stairs.

Many models also offer powered swivel seats and powered footplates—features that might not seem essential today but could become valuable as mobility needs evolve over time.

Finding the Right Fit for Your Family

With so many options available, the best way to determine which stairlift solution fits your family’s needs is to see them in action and talk through your specific situation with someone who understands the options.

We invite you to visit our Accessibility Living Suite showroom in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, where you can test ride different stairlift models and see how they work. Or, schedule a free SafeHome Audit where one of our aging-in-place specialists will evaluate your home, discuss your concerns, and provide personalized recommendations—all with no pressure and no obligation.

With over 40 years of experience helping families across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, we’ve seen firsthand how the right stairlift can restore independence, reduce worry, and help people continue enjoying the homes they love.

Ready to explore your options? Contact us or call 401-293-0415 to get started.