Expert Stairlift Installation in Santa Fe, TX

A straight stairlift installs in about three hours. A curved lift, which requires a custom rail bent to your staircase's exact measurements, takes about half a day once the rail arrives (typically two weeks after the laser measurement). Outdoor units take three to four hours. We bolt the rail directly to the stair treads — no drywall anchors, no wall mounts — which means the installation does not disturb wall finishes or require patching afterward.

Yes. Most 1960s-1980s ranch homes in Arcadia and Alta Loma have staircases 32 to 36 inches wide. Standard straight lifts fit a 30-inch minimum width. The seat folds up to 14 inches from the wall when not in use, so other family members can use the stairs normally. If your staircase is narrower than 30 inches, we can discuss a platform lift as an alternative.

Yes. About half the installs we do in Santa Fe are on carpeted stairs — common in the McGregor area and Angell Runge homes. The rail bolts through the carpet into the wood tread beneath. The carpet does not need to be removed or replaced, and the bolt points are small enough that if you ever remove the lift, the carpet fibers hide the holes.

The outdoor units we install are IP55-rated — sealed against driving rain and Gulf Coast humidity. The rail is marine-grade aluminum with a powder-coated finish. The seat and carriage use sealed bearings and UV-stabilized plastics. After Hurricane Harvey, when Santa Fe got over 46 inches of rain in four days, the outdoor lifts we had installed held up without corrosion or electrical issues. The DC motor with battery backup also keeps the lift operational for about six hours during a power outage.

Yes, through the VA's HISA (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations) grant. Veterans with a service-connected disability can receive up to $6,800 — which covers a straight stairlift fully or puts a large dent in a curved lift. Non-service-connected veterans can receive up to $2,000. The grant is tax-free, one-time, and never repaid. The nearest VA facility to process the application is the Galveston County VA Clinic at 3828 Avenue N, Galveston, TX 77550. Your VA primary care provider writes the medical-necessity statement, and we help with the rest of the paperwork.

Texas STAR+PLUS HCBS (Home and Community-Based Services) waiver can cover stairlifts as a minor home modification when medically necessary to keep the individual in their home rather than a nursing facility. The program is for adults 65 and older or adults with disabilities who meet the income and asset limits (countable assets under $2,000, countable income under the waiver limit — $2,829/month in 2024). Contact the Texas Health and Human Services Commission or your STAR+PLUS managed care plan for an assessment.

Galveston County does not have a dedicated stairlift subsidy, but the Texas Veteran's Commission maintains a local office that can help Santa Fe veterans navigate the HISA grant application. Additionally, the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program, a statewide Texas initiative, provides up to $22,500 in home modification grants for households earning no more than 80% of the area median income — which covers many Santa Fe households. The Galveston County Area Agency on Aging (serving seniors 60+) can also connect you with local resources.

Most long-term care insurance policies cover durable medical equipment, and stairlifts often qualify when prescribed as medically necessary. Check your policy for "home modifications" or "durable medical equipment" coverage. We provide an itemized invoice with the installation that you can submit for reimbursement. Many Santa Fe residents with LTC policies through employers in Texas City, League City, or Houston have successfully claimed stairlift costs this way.