Expert Stairlift Installation in Pelham, NH

Most straight-rail installs in Pelham take about three hours from arrival to cleanup. Curved rails take about four to five hours because the rail was already custom-bent at the factory — we're just mounting it. Outdoor lifts run about the same. We do the whole job in one visit: mount the rail to the treads, attach the chair, plug into a standard 120V outlet, run the battery-backup test, and walk you through the controls.

No. The rail bolts directly into the stair treads — never into the wall or drywall. In Pelham's older homes with original wide-pine or oak treads, we use fasteners that don't split the wood. When the rail is removed, you'd fill a few bolt holes in the treads — that's it. Most families leave the lift in place for resale value. The whole system runs on a standard wall outlet, so there's no rewiring.

Yes. We've put lifts on staircases as narrow as 32 inches in Pelham's historic homes. The seat and armrests fold up when not in use, leaving about 18–20 inches of passable stair width. For stairs steeper than 45 degrees — rare, but we've seen them in 1790s farmhouses off Old Gage Hill — we spec a rail with extra carriage height so the seat still parks at a comfortable angle. Luis tells you honestly at the assessment whether your stairs are workable.

Almost never. Because a stairlift bolts to the treads — not the structure — it falls outside Pelham's permit requirements for structural modifications. If you're in a condo association like Boulder Hills or Long Pond Woods, we recommend checking your HOA rules, but HOAs cannot deny a reasonable accommodation request under the Fair Housing Act. We handle any paperwork that comes up.

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover stairlifts — they classify them as home modifications, not durable medical equipment. Some Medicare Advantage plans in New Hampshire offer limited home-modification benefits; check your plan's evidence of coverage. New Hampshire Medicaid's Choices for Independence (CFI) Waiver can fund stairlifts for eligible Pelham residents, and the VA HISA grant covers up to $6,800 for qualifying veterans. We walk every customer through their options at the assessment.

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. It's a one-time grant, tax-free, never repaid. Pelham veterans can apply through the Manchester VA Medical Center (718 Smyth Road, Manchester, about 20 miles north) or the Lowell VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (130 Marshall Road, Lowell, MA, about 8 miles south). You need a VA physician's prescription stating the stairlift is medically necessary.

Yes — through New Hampshire's Choices for Independence (CFI) Waiver, a 1915(c) HCBS Medicaid program. The CFI Waiver covers home modifications including stairlifts for adults 65+ (or 18–64 with a disability) who meet nursing-home-level-of-care criteria but want to stay home. Home modifications are an authorized waiver service. Contact New Hampshire DHHS or a CFI care coordinator for an eligibility screening.

The New Hampshire Assistive Technology Program (ATinNH) can help with assessments and sometimes device funding, though it does not directly pay for stairlifts. The NH Housing Finance Authority offers grants through community development organizations that can apply to accessibility modifications for low-income seniors. Some Hillsborough County towns also run small senior-assistance or revolving-loan funds. At your assessment, we review every program you might qualify for.