Expert Stairlift Installation in Shepherdsville, KY

A straight stairlift install takes about 3 hours from arrival to cleanup. The rail bolts directly to the stair treads — no wall drilling, no drywall repair. In Shepherdsville's older ranch homes with 6-7 step half-flights, it sometimes takes less than 2 hours. Curved installations run 4-6 hours because the custom rail has more sections to align. We vacuum the stairs afterward and walk you through the controls before we leave.

No. The rail brackets fasten to the treads with lag bolts that leave holes about the diameter of a pencil. If you ever remove the lift, the holes can be filled with wood putty or carpet patch and are nearly invisible. We never bolt into walls or drywall. In Shepherdsville homes with original hardwood from the 1970s — common in the Oakwood and Shawnee Acres subdivisions — the bolt points are placed to avoid visible grain disruption.

Most can, yes. The slim-rail model we use for tight staircases fits treads as narrow as 28 inches. Many Shepherdsville homes built in the 1960s and 1970s — especially split-levels off Preston Highway and along Cedar Grove Road — have stairs that run 30 to 34 inches wide. During the free in-home assessment, we measure the width and note any tight turns or obstructions. If your stairs are genuinely too narrow, we tell you on the spot and discuss alternatives.

No. A residential stairlift is classified as an accessibility device, not a structural modification, so it does not trigger Bullitt County building permit requirements. The Bullitt County Department of Building and Safety (located on Walnut Street in Shepherdsville, 502-921-2970) confirms this — stairlifts fall outside the scope of their permit process. If you are in an HOA community like Sanctuary at Mallard Lake, the indoor installation is not visible from the street and rarely raises HOA questions.

The HISA (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations) grant provides up to $6,800 for service-connected veterans and $2,000 for non-service-connected veterans. It is a one-time benefit, tax-free, and never has to be repaid. Shepherdsville veterans access it through the Robley Rex VA Medical Center at 800 Zorn Avenue in Louisville — about 20 miles north, phone 502-287-4000. The process requires a prescription from a VA physician stating medical necessity and a completed HISA application. We help with the paperwork during the home assessment.

Yes. Kentucky's Home and Community Based (HCB) Waiver — a 1915(c) Medicaid waiver for adults 65 and older and individuals with physical disabilities — covers environmental and minor home modifications, including stairlifts. To qualify, you must need nursing-facility-level care but choose to remain at home, and meet Medicaid financial eligibility (income around $2,350/month, assets under $2,000 with home and vehicle excluded). The waiver is administered through the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Bullitt County residents can get help navigating the application through KIPDA, the regional Area Agency on Aging.

CAPABLE (Community Aging in Place — Advancing Better Living for Elders) is a free program run by KIPDA for residents of Bullitt, Jefferson, and Oldham counties who are 60 or older and below 60% of area median income. Over 8-10 home visits, an occupational therapist and registered nurse assess the home and identify safety modifications. Minor home repairs, modifications, and assistive devices — including stairlifts in some cases — are provided at no cost to the participant. The program focuses on fall prevention and helping seniors stay in their homes. Contact KIPDA directly to check current availability and eligibility.

Beyond the HCB Waiver and CAPABLE, a few other paths exist. The Supports for Community Living (SCL) Waiver offers an $8,000 lifetime home modification benefit for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Some long-term care insurance policies cover stairlifts under home modification or durable medical equipment riders — check your policy language. For homeowners with equity, a small HELOC from a local lender can spread the cost over several years at a lower rate than unsecured financing. There has also been some interest in the Older Adult Home Modification Program through community action agencies serving the Bullitt County area.