on the rail during movement along the handrail can be used to indicate changing ambulatory confidence or the need for physical support when a trend towards imbalance or instability is detected a feedback mechanism may alert the user to the possibility of a fall or allow caretakers to monitor the person for example a feedback mechanism in the form of an audio message may alert the user to be more careful based on the way that the user is using the handrail another problem is that falls on stairs may be due in part to poor visibility light dependent diodes 10 may be provided along the length of the handrail 12 for example near the stairs s to monitor lighting conditions both at the top and bottom of the stairs if the lighting condition is below a predefined level of illumination a voice alert may prompt the user to turn on a light before moving along a handrail this illumination condition may be examined when the person attempts to use the handrail upon initial contact with the handrail sensor 14 data on the pressure applied to the handrail 12 dependency on the handrail 12 and usage patterns may be communicated by the handrail sensors 14 to a server not shown that can then.