Stair lifts offer a unique combination of simplicity and complexity. While their machinery and safety mechanisms operate similarly to elevators, making them intricate from an engineering perspective, most users find them easy to use after receiving a brief demonstration from a qualified Lift Technician. 

One advantage of hiring a professional lift company like Arrow Lift to install your stair lift is we will teach you the dos and don’ts of operation as part of our comprehensive installation service.

So, how do stair lifts work? Well, there are two ways to answer that question — and we will address both. First and most importantly, for anyone who intends to use a stair lift (also referred to as stairway chairlifts, stair chairs, and stair-glides), we’ll explain how they operate. Second, we’ll break down the components that make a stair lift move.

Stair lifts have enjoyed their 15 minutes of fame in film and television over the years. It’s exciting to see such an important mobility tool that brings utility to so many appear in pop culture. But, unfortunately, the exposure is a double-edged sword. On the one side, it’s great to show the general public how a stair chair lift can help someone get up and down the stairs; on the other side, many of the depictions of stair lifts play on negative stereotypes disrespectful toward people with disabilities. 

If it were up to us, Hollywood would always portray stair lifts more positively to show how they can help people in meaningful and life-changing ways — avoiding “cringe-worthy” scenes altogether. That said, it can be fun to see where stair lifts have shown up in pop culture. We’ve created a list of the top 10 stair lift appearances below, and even installed one of the stair lifts featured! 

Enjoy this look at stair lifts in movies and television. Then, we encourage you to consider how real-life stairway chairlifts help millions safely navigate the stairs. That’s why we’ve also included some of our favorite Arrow Lift stair lift reviews.