Lifeway Mobility Reviewed in 2024

Key Takeaways 

• Lifeway Mobility offers free in-home or virtual consultations to evaluate individual needs and provide tailored home mobility products.
• Lifeway Mobility offers a variety of products, including wheelchair ramps, walk-in tubs and showers, elevators, and transfer aids.
• Trained technicians install stair lifts, and the company provides ongoing maintenance and support to ensure their products continue to operate properly.
• Straight stair lifts from Lifeway Mobility start at around $3,500 with installation, while curved stair lifts start at around $14,600.

Unfortunately, as we age, we’re at greater risk of falling. About one in four U.S. adults 65 and over reports a fall each year. Loss of muscle quality and function decreases our ability to move around independently and adds to a higher fear of falling. 

But falls are preventable. Home modifications like stair lifts offer a safer way to move up and down stairs and reduce the risk of falls and injuries. A stair lift is a motorized chair or platform installed on a staircase that moves along a rail to safely carry the user up or down the stairs with minimal effort. 

Our Reviews Team selected Lifeway Mobility as the “Best Stair Lift Dealer” in our round-up of best stair lifts, because the brand offers a variety of products and has a great reputation for personalized service and high buyer satisfaction. Read our Lifeway Mobility review to help you decide if it’s the right place for you to get a stair lift.

What is Lifeway Mobility? 

Established in 2005, Lifeway Mobility is a home modifications dealer that sells stair lifts, ramps, bath safety solutions, transfer aids, wheelchair lifts, and home elevators. While the company doesn’t have locations nationwide, it has showrooms in 28 states. 

Before purchasing a stair lift, an accessibility expert will conduct a free in-home or virtual consultation to evaluate your mobility needs and recommend a solution that fits your home setup and budget.

A Reviews Team survey of 600 recent stair lift buyers found that people who bought their lift through a mobility retailer, like Lifeway, were more satisfied than stair lifts bought through retailers like Home Depot. 

What brands of stair lifts does Lifeway Mobility sell? 

Lifeway Mobility offers a range of different stair lifts, including straight stair lifts, curved stair lifts, and outdoor stair lifts. They also have used and rental lifts to cater to adults on a budget or with temporary mobility needs.

Here’s a breakdown of the lifts offered by Lifeway Mobility:

• Refurbished stair lifts: They were previously used in someone else’s home, making them more affordable. 
• Rental stair lifts: Lifeway allows you to rent stair lifts temporarily for when you’re recovering from surgery or have other short-term mobility needs.
• Commercial stair lifts: If you’re looking to install a stairlift in a public space, like a place of worship, Lifeway also installs in commercial spaces. 
• New stair lifts: These stair lifts may be pricier, but they’re customized to your house and needs and typically get a better warranty. 

Currently, Lifeway Mobility carries two brands of stair lifts: 

Bruno: Bruno stair lifts have been in business for more than 40 years and are carried by most dealers in the United States. This brand offers two models: the Elan, a more basic mode with user-friendly joystick controls, and the Elite, which holds up to 400 pounds and can be used on both indoor and outdoor stair lifts and curved staircases. Read our review of Bruno stair lifts to learn more about the brand.

Harmar: Offering a variety of products, including vehicle lifts and wheelchair platforms, Harmar has several lines of stair lifts: Pinnacle straight stair lifts, Summit straight stair lifts, UP curved lifts, and Helix curved lifts. Its newest stair lift from the Pinnacle line holds up to 600 pounds, the highest weight limit in the industry. 

Pros and cons of Lifeway Mobility stair lifts

Pros

• Free in-home or virtual consultations to assess individual needs
• Rental stair lifts are available
• Professional installation by trained technicians
• Ongoing support and maintenance
• Financing options available 

Cons

• Not available in all states
• Customer reviews indicate difficulty getting stair lifts repaired

Lifeway Mobility reviews from customers

To understand the user experience, we analyzed thousands of Lifeway Mobility reviews and found that buyer experiences with sales representatives and technicians are consistently positive. Buyers frequently mention that company representatives are courteous, professional, and have extensive product knowledge. At the time of writing, Lifeway Mobility has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau and a rating of 4.8 out of five, with more than 2,500 reviews, on Trustpilot. 

More than 90% of Trustpilot reviews are five stars and mentioned positive experiences with technicians. Some negative reviews reported issues with getting assistance when stair lift repairs are needed. 

Here’s what some people are saying about Lifeway Mobility:

“Could not have been a better experience. Professional work and friendly staff made us very happy. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for stair lifts.”

— Jimmy P, verified buyer on 07/30/2024.

“Sales representative was very professional and knowledgeable about the stair lift. Installer did a professional installation and answered all my questions before he left. He made sure I was well-versed in the operation of the stair lift before he left. My wife and I are pleased with its operation and hope it keeps us in our home for many years to come.”

 — Marcia M, verified buyer on 07/12/2024.

How much do Lifeway Mobility stair lifts cost? 

The price of Lifeway Mobility stair lifts depends on the type of stair lift you’re looking for. A straight stair lift starts at around $3,500 with installation, while a curved stair lift starts at $14,600 with installation because they’re customized. These prices come from our conversations with customer service representatives. Lifeway Mobility also offers certified pre-owned straight stair lifts at a more affordable price, starting at about $2,500. 

The price of a stair lift will depend on the length and width of your staircase, the type of motorized chair, and any added customizations you choose, such as a folding rail (which extends to allow a person to get off the lift safely and rolls back up once they’re off), power swivel seat, or vinyl color upgrades. During the home evaluation, a Lifeway Mobility expert will create a customized quote based on your needs and wants. 

Paying for a stair lift

Unfortunately, stair lifts are not typically covered by standard health insurance or Medicare. Medicare Part B and Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) will only consider coverage with a doctor’s prescription and extensive documentation demonstrating medical necessity. Insurance companies may suggest trying a cane or walker before considering a stair lift.

According to Larry Nisenson, chief growth officer at Assured Allies and an aging in-home expert, some long-term care insurance policies may cover stair lifts. “A starting point for those with a long-term care insurance policy is to consult your benefits, as many policies cover some of the cost of these modifications if the policyholder qualifies,” he said.

Lifeway Mobility offers several options to help people pay for their home modifications, such as financing options, used and certified pre-owned equipment, and monthly rental options. The website also provides a list of potential sources for home modification funding, which vary depending on where you live. Some states also offer home improvement loans with lower fixed interest rates, closing costs, and fees than typical home improvement loans. 

Veterans may qualify for the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant or Special Home Adaptations (SHA) Grant.

The Home and Community-Based Services program through Medicaid might offer partial coverage in some states. Contact your state Medicaid office for specific details. Nationwide programs like Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together can help find low-cost or used stair lifts for those that need them. These organizations also rely on volunteers who can install the stair lifts at little or no cost. Ask your local Habitat for Humanity or Rebuild Together for more information.

Finally, use BenefitsCheckUp® to locate other assistance programs in your community.

How to buy Lifeway Mobility stair lifts

First, call Lifeway Mobility customer service using the number at the top of the brand’s website (which appears to change based on a person’s location) or submit a request for information using the online contact form. Upon submitting your information, a representative will call you to schedule a free consultation with one of the brand’s stair lift experts. 

During the initial phone call, Lifeway Mobility representatives will ask about your mobility needs, explain stair lift options, and schedule an in-home consultation. Lifeway Mobility experts will evaluate your home and measure your stairways, including:

• Length of the staircase, including each landing
• Width of the staircase
• Clearance at the bottom and top of the staircase

Once they’ve evaluated your house, you should receive your free quote within a couple of days. 

If Lifeway Mobility operates a showroom near you, we recommend visiting the store and testing the lifts yourself. You can find a showroom closest to you by entering your ZIP code on the Lifeway Mobility website or visiting the brand’s locations page.

Once you decide to purchase a stair lift, it can take anywhere from a day or two to up to eight weeks to assemble and ship it. Depending on local inventory, a straight stair lift can be installed soon after purchase, but manufacturers will need more time to build custom rails if you purchase a curved lift. Once on-site, technicians can install your stair lift in about three to six hours.

Our team likes that the company provides a year of free service and battery replacement. You can also buy a maintenance program when you buy your lift.

Lifeway Mobility contact and payment information

Customer service 

You can reach Lifeway Mobility customer service by:

• Phone: Call the number at the top left or bottom left of your screen on the brand’s website. This appears to change based on a user’s location.
• Submit a contact form on the website

The first time the Reviews Team contacted Lifeway Mobility, we spoke with a representative right away. They provided pricing information without using pushy sales tactics. No agents were available the second time we contacted them for more information, but a representative called us back within two hours of leaving a voicemail.

Lifeway Mobility offers warranties on all new stair lift models that are sold and installed by the company, but coverage depends on the model. 

Payment options 

Lifeway Mobility accepts the following payment options:

• All major credit cards
• Checks
• Financing options available 

Compare Lifeway Mobility stair lifts as of September 2024

	Bruno Elan Straight Stair Lift Visit Site	Bruno Elite Straight Stair Lift Visit Site	Harmar Pinnacle SL300 Straight Stair Lift Visit Site	Bruno Elite Curved Stair Lift Visit Site	Harmar Helix Curved Stairlift Visit Site
Starting price	$3,900	$3,500	$3,500	$14,600	$14,600
Environment	Indoor	Indoor or outdoor	Indoor	Indoor or outdoor	Indoor or outdoor
Maximum weight capacity (lbs)	300	400	300	400	350

Bottom line

Lifeway Mobility is a home modifications dealer offering solutions for adults looking to make their home a safer and more accessible place. When our team called the company, the customer service was friendly and responsive. We also spent time researching the company and found they have high buyer ratings. 

Offering financing and pre-owned and rental lift alternatives, Lifeway Mobility may be a good option for people with different budgets. Ask your stair lift expert about necessary maintenance and potential repairs, as some reviewers mentioned difficulty servicing the lift.

To compare another stair lift brand, check out our Acorn review.

Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.

Sources

1. Kakara R, et al. Nonfatal and Fatal Falls Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years — United States, 2020–2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Sept. 1, 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7235a1.htm?s_cid=mm7235a1_w
2. Trombetti A, et al. Age-Associated Declines in Muscle Mass, Strength, Power, and Physical Performance: Impact on Fear of Falling and Quality of Life. Osteoporosis International. July 21, 2015. Found on the internet at  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00198-015-3236-5
3. Carnemolla P and Bridge C. Housing Design and Community Care: How Home Modifications Reduce Care Needs of Older People and People with Disability. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. June 1, 2019. Found on the internet at https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/11/1951
4. NCOA Adviser. Stair Lift Survey. 600 respondents. Conducted using Pollfish. Launched July 2024.

Sarah Glinski

Sarah Glinski, RD, is a registered dietitian and freelance writer passionate about connecting people to information that will help improve their mental and physical health.

Brittany Ferri Medical Reviewer

Brittany Ferri, PhD, OTR/L is an occupational therapist, author, writer, and business owner. She specializes in mental health, teletherapy, geriatrics, and medical writing. Clinically, she has worked in assisted living facilities, hospitals, and home health agencies. She attended Quinnipiac University for her Master’s and Saybrook University for her PhD in Integrative Mental Health.