Mum (92) often feels like one leg might "give out." What is safest way for going down stairs (with help): backwards or on her butt?

Those stair lifts are expensive as all get out too. And not feasible with all types of construction.

Just a thought but over here we can buy second hand ones or refurbished ones for about 1/4 of the costs of new ones.

If you can't afford them there are some alternatives one particular one is a Transverse moving handrail for use on stairs. It is a mahogany stair rail, with concealed toothed rack below, and an aluminium yellow powder coated handle which slides up and down the rail. The handle locks in position when weight is applied to provide static support, when handle is raised slightly it disengages from the toothed rack and slides up and down the rail. The handle unit can be slid off the hand rail without tools when not required leaving the stair rail on the wall. Now these are definitely available in the UK - US not so sure but they might be called stair steady.

Not only the cost of the lift and the installation.... but also the cost of removing said lift and patching/painting the stairway when it is time to sell the home.

Also, before installing make sure the elder really really wants one of those lifts. If there is a showroom with a lift, let the elder try it. One wouldn't want to spend all that money and find the elder rode it once and never again, too scared to use it.

Stair lifts are definitely expensive but definitely worth it.

In the US stair lift start at 10,000 any angles and the price skyrockets. I would always recommend trying before u buy as mentioned. And to OP how did the party go. Did she do stairs and if so what worked for her.

Yes, stair lifts can definitely be very expensive, and with the way people are hurting financially, so many times people just can't afford that kind of equipment. I've also noticed that most people aren't going to install a stair lift if they themselves aren't using it for themselves or someone in their own immediate household. Knowing the risks involved with stairs when you have certain physical problems is why sometimes you just have to avoid anything hazardous that could cause you an accident if your leg gives out. About the only places you're more likely to see accessible are most businesses because by law they have to be accessible, where as homes aren't necessarily under the same laws as businesses from what I've noticed. Landlords for instance must let you have something like a ramp, but I guess this is something you have to work out for yourself if you need certain reasonable accommodations. When dealing with private property, this is a whole different ballgame than an actual business. For some people with certain types of disabilities, stairs can definitely be a challenge, especially when dealing with private property situations. This is why I try to avoid certain situations as much as absolutely possible since I do know the risks involved according to my physical issues. Anytime you have a problem with your legs where something could give out and cause you to fall and get badly hurt, sometimes you have to do a self-evaluation and consider the situations at hand.

Garden: My bad...reading too fast!

Vstefans: My bad! Reading too fast!

Mum took her time on each step, holding the rail with people on all sides of her. She had best success going down sideways so that the railing was in front of her. I got a sturdy Posey gait belt online that was especially helpful going downstairs. The material is like car seatbelt, but it's 4" wide and has 4 handles of the same material, which made it safer and easier for Mum. Thanks to all for the speedy and helpful ideas!

Pamelac, thank you for the update on how your Mom did with the stairs.... so happy everything went smoothly :)

Hmmm, never thought about going down sideways, I will have my Dad try that with his caregivers, and about using a gait belt.

When I had a broken leg the "baby butt scoot" down the stairs worked pretty well (but I was younger then). Still probably safest option if one is alone or has a sudden attack of faintness/vertigo. It's difficult to fall if one is already sitting down - hardest part is standing up a the bottom.