Instead of having my aging mother move into an assisted living facility, my wife, kids and I would like for her to move in with us. But she can’t climb the stairs in our two-story home. Is an elevator a realistic option?

Installing an elevator may sound like an extravagance at first, but when you consider the wide variety of design options, the added value to your home, and the reasonable price—especially compared to the cost of assisted-living options—you’ll be sold.

“There’s market research that says if you have an elevator in your home, you can stay an average of ten years longer than if you couldn’t get between floors,” said Jennifer Faulkner, with R.E.A.L Elevator Solutions Inc., based in Raleigh and serving the Carolinas. An elevator provides an easy—and safe—way for all your family members to travel from floor to floor. R.E.A.L Elevator Solutions specializes in hydraulic elevators, which use a door-and-gate system requiring both to be shut for the elevator to operate.

The whole family will enjoy this touch of luxury too. “You can include mirrors, different types of wood, laminates, and any type of trim. You can really do anything. Our manufacturer is called Custom Elevator Manufacturing, and they mean that,” said Faulkner. “As far as your design options, the sky’s the limit.”

An elevator is also valuable in terms of actual dollars: It can increase your home’s value up to 10 percent, by some estimates. Elevators for two-story homes run about $16,000 to $16,500, but considering your mother’s ability to live with you, your entire family’s enjoyment, and your home’s increased value, it’s an investment well worth considering.