Expert Stairlift Installation in Roslyn, PA

A straight-rail install takes about 3 hours from arrival to cleanup. Curved units take 4-5 hours because the custom rail has more sections to assemble. Outdoor units run about the same — 3 hours — with the added step of sealing the mounting points against weather. For Roslyn's mid-century homes, the rail bolts to the stair treads, not the wall. The drywall stays intact, there's no rewiring, and you can use the stairs normally during the install.

No. The rail bolts to the treads — the horizontal part of each step — using lag bolts that go straight down into the wood. For Roslyn's hardwood oak treads, common in 1950s colonials off Fitzwatertown Road, the bolts hold firmly without splitting. We never drill into the wall, so the drywall and paint stay untouched. If you ever remove the lift, the bolt holes in the treads can be filled with wood putty and refinished.

We've installed lifts on stairs as narrow as 28 inches wide. Most Roslyn homes — the colonials and Cape Cods built in the 1950s — have stair widths between 32 and 36 inches, which gives plenty of room. The seat folds up when not in use, leaving about 18-20 inches of clear walking space on a standard staircase. Luis measures this at the assessment — if a standard lift won't fit, there are slim-rail options.

For a straight lift, Luis can usually install within 3-5 business days of your assessment — sometimes sooner if the schedule is open. Curved lifts take about two weeks from measurement to install because the rail is fabricated off-site. If you're in a hurry — say a family member is coming home from Abington Hospital and can't do stairs — tell Luis when you call. He keeps a few straight-rail units in stock for rush installs.

Yes, through the HISA grant. Veterans with a service-connected disability can receive up to $6,800 toward a stairlift. Non-service-connected veterans can get up to $2,000. It's a one-time grant, tax-free, and never has to be repaid. The nearest VA facility for Roslyn veterans is the Victor J. Saracini VA Outpatient Clinic at 433 Caredean Drive in Horsham, about 4 miles north. Your VA primary care provider writes the prescription for medical necessity, and you file the HISA application through the Philadelphia VA Healthcare System.

Yes — through Pennsylvania's Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver, which is the state's managed-care HCBS program. CHC covers home modifications including stairlifts for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, or Medicaid-only with a physical disability. Home adaptations fall under the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL). The OBRA Waiver also covers home adaptations for qualifying seniors. Your CHC managed care organization — likely AmeriHealth Caritas, PA Health & Wellness, or UPMC Community HealthChoices in Montgomery County — reviews and approves home-modification requests.

Yes. The PA Accessible Housing Program, funded through the Keystone Communities Program, provides grants for home accessibility modifications for low- to moderate-income seniors and people with disabilities. Montgomery County also runs the OPTIONS Program through the Area Agency on Aging, which can connect residents 60+ with home-modification resources. These programs have income eligibility requirements, and Luis can point you to the right contact at the county level when he comes for the assessment.

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover stairlifts — they're classified as home modifications, not durable medical equipment. Some Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) offer home-modification benefits as a supplemental allowance, but coverage varies by plan. The more reliable funding paths for Roslyn residents are the VA HISA grant ($6,800 for service-connected veterans), Pennsylvania's Community HealthChoices Waiver, and private financing starting at $79/month.