definition
strict definition
stairlift
A motorized platform guided along a stairway to carry people who have difficulty climbing stairs.
A stairlift is a motorized moving platform located over or near a stairway for carrying persons with disabilities or who have trouble climbing the stairs. It is one element in making a place handicapped accessible.
The platform in a stairlift is guided by a rail, which is mounted either to the wall next to the stairs or to the stair treads themselves.
The platform follows a guide rail associated with the stairway. It provides assistance along that route, rather than establishing that every usable area of the building is accessible. The rail can be attached to the adjacent wall or to the stair treads, as described above.