How does a chair lift work?

Chair lifts are amongst the most well known of the disabled access lifts because of the plethora of adverts fronted by ageing celebrities which seemed to crop up a few years ago.  Essentially, they are exactly what they sound like in their name; they are a chair which is fitted to a railing on your stairs; the chair is moved up and down the stairs by a motor, controlled by a panel on the chair, and this allows people who may have struggle walking up stairs, either due to illness or old age, ascend and descend much more quickly and easily than they otherwise might have been able to.  

Curved or straight rails can be fitted which means that they can be accommodating to any type of stairs or unusually shaped banisters; they move slowly and evenly which means that they do not put the person in them in danger. They are a relatively recent invention, in their most recent form, but they have really revolutionized the way many people live their lives, allowing them to maintain their freedom and stay living in their own home for longer than might have previously been possible.

Chair Lift Information Guide: