Q. I have a question about the use of the elevator during Shabbat and the Chagim according to the Halacha.
I have a daughter with Downs Sindrome whose vision has failed lately.
She is not able to see the steps in the stairs, she fells downstairs every time we have to go up or down.
I am 74 years old, and I have Arthrosis in my back and knees.
We are in need to use the elevator Al Yadei Goy, in order to assist to the Seudot that we are invited in Shabbat be Chagim. Other way we have to stay alone at home.
Looking forward for your answer. Sincerely.
A. On question 1324 we addressed a similar Shaila.
1) An elderly lady who uses a wheel chair is going to be staying at an hotel during Shabbos where the bar mitzva of her grandson is taking place. Can she take the elevator if her caregiver presses the buttons?
The caregiver was instructed before Shabbos to bring her to the hall at a certain time, and then bring her back to her room, she does not have to tell her anything on Shabbos.
2) Can someone else staying in the hotel use the elevator on Shabbos, if there is an attendant that already knows him and to which floor he is going and he does not tell him anything when he goes in?
A. On question 991 we wrote in regards to a Shabbos Elevator; Indeed, it is prohibited to ask even a Gentile to do a prohibited task on Shabbos. However, if the Gentile is going anyway to the same floor, you may ride with him, since he is pressing the button for his own use, not for you, (there may be other issues involved, such as different sensors that you may activate unwittingly; in practice a competent rabbinical authority should be consulted with the particular details on each case.) If a non observant Jewish individual is the one pressing the button, you may not use the elevator with him, as you would be benefiting from prohibited work done on Shabbos.
In regards to your particular shaileh, Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that the caregiver, even if instructed to do so before Shabbos, is still doing the work for a Jewish client on Shabbos. She is performing melochos that she would not be doing unless it is work done for her patient, and therefore prohibited. The same would apply to the second question of an elevator attendant that already knows the elevator rider and to which floor he is going and he does not have to be instructed.
The only way the Rov considers one can be lenient, in case of need or for the compliance of a mitzva, is if you tell the Gentile before Shabbos to push the elevator buttons with a shinui or in a modified way from normal, such as pressing the button with his knuckles, another object or similar.
On question 2937 we wrote”
Q. I read on a pamphlet published by Bikur cholim, that when during Shabbos one visits a patient on a high floor of an hospital, for the needs of the patient, when no other option is available one may ask a non-Jew directly to press the button on the elevator for the desired floor. Is that acceptable?

A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that if indeed the needs of the patient to be visited are great and a significant relief will be attained by the visit, one may be lenient.”

Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a. maintains that an older person could have a Din of a Choleh that Amira L’Akum is  permitted. You can also pay the attendant for each time he pushes the buttons.

Based on the above and depending on the urgency of the situation at the particular time, it may be permitted to ask a Gentile to press the elevator button.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a.