Expert Stairlift Installation in Shiloh, IL

A straight installation takes about three hours from arrival to cleanup. Curved installations run four to six hours because the rail is custom-bent. Luis does the entire install himself — no subcontractors. He'll walk you through the lift operation before he leaves, and the only trace he was there is the rail bolted to your treads.

No. Stairlifts are classified as home accessibility equipment under the Fair Housing Act, not structural modifications. No permit is required in Shiloh or anywhere in St. Clair County. The rail bolts to the stair treads, not the walls, so there's no electrical or structural work that would trigger a permit review.

Yes. The narrowest stairs we've worked with in Shiloh — like some of the older homes near the Engelmann Farm area — are 29 inches wide. Our slim-rail units fit 28-inch staircases. The seat, armrests, and footrest all fold up when not in use, so the stairway stays clear for other family members.

Every stairlift we install has a 4Ah battery backup that runs the lift for about six hours after the power cuts. In Shiloh, where winter ice storms can knock out power for a few hours, that's enough to get through the outage. The battery recharges automatically when power returns. You don't need to do anything.

Yes, through the HISA grant (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations). The VA covers up to $6,800 for service-connected veterans and $2,000 for non-service-connected. It's a one-time grant, tax-free, never repaid. The St. Clair County VA Clinic at 1190 Fortune Boulevard in Shiloh can help start the paperwork — you need a medical-necessity statement from your VA primary care provider. Luis has walked dozens of Scott AFB retirees through the HISA process.

Yes, through the Illinois HCBS Waiver for Persons who are Elderly, administered by the Illinois Department on Aging as part of the Community Care Program. If you're 65 or older (or 60+ with a physical disability) and meet the income and asset limits, home modifications including stairlifts can be covered. There's also the Persons with Disabilities waiver through DHS-DRS for those under 60. Both waivers require a needs assessment and prior authorization. It's not fast — expect 60 to 90 days from application to approval — but it can cover the full cost.

IHDA's HRAP provides grants of up to $50,000 for accessibility improvements — including stairlifts — to low- and very-low-income homeowners. The program is administered through local nonprofits and government agencies. As of late 2025, $15 million was allocated statewide across 34 organizations. In St. Clair County, you'd apply through one of the designated local administrators. The grant does not need to be repaid.

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover stairlifts — they're classified as home modifications, not durable medical equipment. Some Medicare Advantage plans in Illinois offer a home-modification benefit, but it varies by plan and is usually capped at $500 to $1,000. Private long-term-care insurance policies sometimes cover stairlifts if a doctor certifies medical necessity. The best path in Shiloh is usually HISA for veterans, the Illinois HCBS Elderly waiver for Medicaid-eligible seniors, or IHDA HRAP for low-income homeowners.