Abstract: A touch activated illuminated hand rail assembly includes a hand rail in the form of an elongated opaque rigid hollow member having a construction of an outer plastic dielectric layer and an inner metallized layer so that the member functions as a capacitor which discharges electrical charge when touched by a person, a light bulb, such as an elongated fluorescent tube, disposed within the hollow member, a pair of conductor wires which connect to an external alternating current power source to provide electricity to the light bulb, an elongated cutout formed in the hollow member through which light emitted by the light bulb may shine outward to illuminate the area where the hand rail is installed, a timer device which turns on the light bulb when electrical charge is discharged from the hollow member and turns off the light bulb after passage of a fixed period of time, and a plurality of mounting brackets which attach the hollow member to a wall or other surface where a person may grasp it for support.