Expert Stairlift Installation in Merrick, NY

A straight stairlift install in a Merrick Woods Colonial typically takes 3 hours from truck arrival to final test. Curved installs in the Gables or a custom outdoor lift in South Merrick take 4 to 6 hours because the rail is longer and the geometry is more involved. We bolt the rail directly to the stair treads — no drywall demolition, no rewiring, no structural changes. The lift plugs into a standard 120V outlet near the stairs.

No. The rail bolts to the treads — never to the wall or the floor. On hardwood treads (common in Merrick Woods Colonials), we use precisely drilled bolt holes. On carpeted stairs (common in Merrick Estates), the carpet fibers close back around the bolts. When the lift is eventually removed, the bolt holes can be filled and the treads refinished. The rail itself sits about 3 inches above the tread surface.

Yes. The Merrick Gables' 1920s stucco homes often have staircases as narrow as 30 to 32 inches, but modern stairlifts fit staircases as narrow as 28 inches. The seat and footrest fold up when not in use — folded, the lift takes up about 12 inches of stair width, leaving 18 to 20 inches of clear passage. Other family members can still use the stairs normally.

Every lift we install in Merrick comes with a DC motor and a built-in battery backup. The battery charges while the lift is parked at the charging point (top or bottom landing). During a power outage — which happens regularly on the South Shore during nor'easters and summer thunderstorms — the battery keeps the lift running for about 6 to 8 round trips, or roughly 4 to 6 hours. Enough to get through a typical outage without being stranded.

Yes. New York's NHTD (Nursing Home Transition and Diversion) Waiver covers home modifications including stairlifts for Medicaid recipients who meet a nursing-home level of care but want to stay in their own home. The environmental modification (E-mod) benefit covers structural changes to improve safety and accessibility. Nassau County residents can also contact the Nassau County Office for the Aging at 60 Charles Lindbergh Blvd, Uniondale, NY 11553 (516-227-8900) for guidance on waiver enrollment.

Yes — through the VA's HISA (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations) grant. Service-connected veterans can receive up to $6,800; non-service-connected veterans can receive up to $2,000. The grant is one-time, tax-free, and never repaid. To apply, you need a prescription from a VA physician stating the stairlift is medically necessary. The closest VA facilities are the East Meadow VA Clinic (2201 Hempstead Turnpike, Building Q, East Meadow, NY 11554) and the Northport VA Medical Center (79 Middleville Road, Northport, NY 11768).

Yes. The Access to Home for Heroes program provides up to $25,000 for accessibility modifications for veterans with disabilities — funded through the NY State Housing Trust Fund Corporation. The Access to Home program funds home modifications for low- and moderate-income residents with disabilities more broadly. Additionally, the United Way of Long Island runs an Older Adult Home Modification Program funded by HUD that covers safety modifications for low-income elderly homeowners in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Start with your VA primary care provider at the East Meadow VA Clinic (2201 Hempstead Turnpike, Building Q). Request a prescription for a stairlift as a medically necessary home modification. Once you have the prescription, the VA's Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service at the Northport VA Medical Center processes HISA applications. The package needs the prescription, a completed VA Form 10-0103, and a written cost estimate from a licensed installer. We provide the estimate at no charge during your free assessment. Approval typically takes 30 to 45 days.