Expert Stairlift Installation in Ridley, PA

Straight-rail installs take 2-3 hours from arrival to cleanup. Curved rails take 4-5 hours because the rail segments need to be joined and calibrated on site. Outdoor units take about 3 hours, including sealing the mounting points against moisture. We work on one staircase at a time — most Ridley families are back using the stairs by lunch if we start in the morning. No contractors, no drywall work, no rewiring. The rail bolts to the stair treads, not the wall.

The rail bolts to the stair treads with five lag bolts — never to the wall, never to the balusters, never to the plaster. When the lift is eventually removed, the tread holes can be plugged and stained to match. The original trim, wainscoting, handrail, and newel posts stay completely untouched. I've installed in the Ridley Park Historic District and the homeowners are always relieved that nothing gets drilled into their original oak or chestnut millwork.

Yes. The folded seat and armrests protrude about 11 to 15 inches from the wall when parked. The Swarthmorewood twins from the 1950s often have staircases as narrow as 32 inches, and the rail fits fine — the seat folds up to about 13 inches when not in use. If your staircase is narrower than 30 inches, we have a perch-seat option that saves another few inches. I measure the exact width at the assessment and tell you which seat works before you commit.

No. The stairlift plugs into a standard 120-volt wall outlet at the top or bottom of the stairs — the same outlet your vacuum uses. The lift draws about 2 amps, about as much as a laptop charger. No new circuit, no hardwiring, no panel upgrade. The built-in battery backup charges from the same outlet and runs the lift through a winter power outage — useful in Ridley when a nor'easter takes out the lines.

The VA 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, tax-free grant — never repaid. Start by contacting the Delaware County Veterans Affairs office at 201 W Front Street in Media (610-891-4646) or the Delaware County VA Clinic at 4883 West Chester Pike in Newtown Square. You'll need a prescription from a VA primary care provider stating the stairlift is medically necessary. We provide the itemized quote the VA requires. The Philadelphia VA Regional Benefit Office at 5000 Wissahickon Avenue processes the paperwork.

Yes, through Pennsylvania's Community HealthChoices (CHC) managed-care program and the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) HCBS waivers. The OBRA Waiver and Act 150 Program both allow home modifications — including stairlifts — when a clinical assessment determines medical necessity. You must be enrolled in one of these waivers first. The modification request goes through your CHC managed-care organization for prior authorization. Delaware County's Area Agency on Aging (Eddystone) can help with the initial enrollment.

The PA Accessible Housing Grant, part of the Keystone Communities Program, provides funding for home modifications that improve accessibility for qualified residents. Grants are administered through local housing partnerships and community-development offices. Delaware County also has a Home Modification Program through its Office of Services for the Aging that can assist with stairlift costs for income-eligible seniors. We can point you to the right application at the assessment.

Yes. We offer financing starting at $79/month with approved credit. No prepayment penalty. The application takes about 10 minutes and you get an answer same-day. Many Ridley families combine financing with a partial grant — for example, the HISA grant covers $6,800 of a $9,000 curved install, and the remaining $2,200 can be financed at about $45/month. We walk you through every option at the in-home assessment, no pressure.