Expert Stairlift Installation in New Kensington, PA

Most straight-rail installs take 3 to 4 hours from truck to test ride. Curved rails take 4 to 5 hours because the custom-bent rail needs precise alignment. The rail bolts to the stair treads — no wall drilling, no drywall damage, no rewiring. The lift plugs into a standard wall outlet near the stairs. For the older Parnassus homes with original oak treads, we use threaded bolts that hold securely without splitting the aged wood.

No. The rail bolts into the treads, not the wall — your drywall, plaster, and trim stay untouched. For homes in the New Kensington Downtown Historic District (National Register-listed, with Art Deco and Colonial Revival architecture), we take extra care: the rail mounts only to the stair structure. When the lift is removed, the bolt holes in the treads are small enough to fill and refinish. No structural alteration to the home.

Yes. The standard stairlift rail fits stairs as narrow as 28 inches wide. Parnassus Craftsman homes from the 1910s often have 30- to 32-inch staircases — well within range. The seat folds up when not in use, leaving about 18 inches of passable width. For extra-narrow historic stairs under 28 inches, we spec a rail with a reduced-profile carriage. Luis checks the measurements at the free assessment and tells you exactly what will fit.

No. Every stairlift we install runs on DC power from a standard wall outlet. The rail has a built-in battery backup that charges while the lift is parked — no dedicated circuit, no hardwiring, no electrician. During a winter storm outage in Valley Heights or Pine Manor, the battery runs the lift for about 6 hours of normal use. If the nearest outlet is more than 10 feet from the staircase, we'll flag it at the assessment and discuss options.

Yes, through the HISA (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations) grant. Service-connected veterans can receive up to $6,800, and non-service-connected veterans up to $2,000. It's a one-time grant, tax-free, and never repaid. New Kensington has about 674 veterans (6.7% of the population) — if you're one of them, Luis helps with the HISA application paperwork at the assessment. The grant requires a prescription from a VA physician and approval from the VA facility where you receive care.

Yes. Pennsylvania's Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver — the managed-care HCBS program under the Office of Long-Term Living — covers home modifications including stairlifts, ramps, and bathroom accessibility improvements. To qualify, you must need a nursing-home level of care but live at home, and be dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid or Medicaid-only with a disability. The CHC waiver consolidated the former Attendant Care, Independence, and CommCare waivers. Luis can explain the application process at your assessment.

The Westmoreland County VA Clinic at 5274 Route 30 East, Suite 10, in Greensburg (about 20 miles southeast, phone 724-216-0317) is the closest VA outpatient clinic. For full medical center services including HISA processing, the H.J. Heinz III VA Medical Center at 1010 Delafield Road in Pittsburgh's Aspinwall area (about 15 miles southwest, phone 412-360-6000) serves as the main VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System hub. Westmoreland County also has a Veterans Affairs office at 2 North Main Street, Suite 205, in Greensburg that helps with benefit applications.

Westmoreland County runs an Accessible Housing Program for permanently disabled, low-income residents — it covers home modifications through periodic grant rounds administered by the county. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) ACCESS Home Modification Program provides mortgage loans for disability-related home adaptations, though this is a loan, not a grant. For seniors, the county's Area Agency on Aging can connect you with the state CHC Waiver application. Luis reviews all applicable county and state programs at your assessment.