Expert Stairlift Installation in Macomb, IL

A straight stairlift — the kind we put into most Compton Park and Briarbrook homes — takes about three hours from arrival to cleanup. A curved unit takes four to five hours because the rail was custom-fabricated and needs precise alignment. Outdoor units take about three hours, though we may schedule around weather in January and February when temps drop into the teens. Platform lifts take four to six hours because of the additional electrical work and structural anchoring.

No. The rail bolts directly to the stair treads, not to the wall. Whether you are in a Compton Park Victorian with original oak treads or a Briarbrook home with carpeted stairs, the bolts go into the treads with minimal footprint. When it is time to remove the lift — if that day ever comes — the bolt holes can be filled and the treads refinished. The drywall, plaster, and trim stay untouched.

Yes. Many Lafayette Street and Compton Park homes have staircases as narrow as 32 inches. Our straight rail sits about 11 inches from the wall, and the seat folds up to about 16 inches when not in use — leaving enough clearance at the top and bottom landings. We measure the full staircase during the free assessment, and if there is a clearance issue, we tell you before you commit to anything.

Stairlifts are considered assistive devices, not permanent structural changes, so most residential installs in Macomb do not require a building permit. That said, if your home is in the Macomb Courthouse Square Historic District, we check with the city's preservation guidelines before starting. In practice, the bolt-to-tread method is non-invasive enough that it has never been an issue.

The Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant covers up to $6,800 for service-connected veterans and $2,000 for non-service-connected veterans with a 50% or higher disability rating. It is a one-time benefit, tax-free, and never repaid. In Macomb, start at the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Veteran Service Office at 135 W. Grant Street, which helps file the initial paperwork. The nearest VA medical facility is the Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic at 310 Home Boulevard in Galesburg, about 35 miles north, which can issue the prescription of medical necessity.

Yes — through the HCBS Waiver for Persons who are Elderly, which is part of the Illinois Department on Aging's Community Care Program. This waiver covers home modifications that keep seniors out of nursing facilities, and a stairlift qualifies as a medically necessary modification. Eligibility is income- and needs-based, and the process starts with a DOA assessment. There is a waiting list component, so the sooner you start, the better. We help you manage the application at no charge.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority's Home Repair and Accessibility Program (HRAP) provides up to $45,000 for health and safety repairs and accessibility improvements — and 'chair lifts' are explicitly listed as a covered modification. It serves low- and very-low-income homeowners in single-family, owner-occupied homes. In McDonough County, the program is administered through regional partners like NICAA. The application requires income verification and a home assessment. We can connect you with the local HRAP intake coordinator during your stairlift assessment.

Beyond the state and federal programs, the INCIL Home Modification Program — funded by the Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services — provides home accessibility modifications at no cost to qualifying individuals with disabilities, regardless of age. The program is administered through independent living centers and funded at $7.5 million statewide as of 2025. For seniors specifically, the McDonough County Health Department can point you toward local aging-in-place resources and Area Agency on Aging contacts. Call us and we will triage which program matches your circumstances.