Expert Stairlift Installation in St. Simons, GA

A standard straight stairlift install takes about 3 hours from arrival to cleanup. Curved lifts — common in Frederica and custom Sea Palms homes — require a 1-hour laser measurement first, then the fabricated rail installs in 4 to 5 hours on a second visit. We bolt into the treads, not the wall, so there's no drywall repair, no paint touch-up, and no mess beyond a few drill holes that get filled.

Yes. East Beach and Glynn Haven cottages — many built between 1920 and 1970 — often have stairs as narrow as 28 to 30 inches. The rail mounts on the treads, not the wall, which saves 4 to 6 inches of width versus wall-mounted systems. The seat and footrest fold up when not in use, leaving the staircase passable for other family members. For stairs narrower than 28 inches, we evaluate on a case-by-case basis at the free assessment.

In most cases, no. A stairlift is classified as an accessibility modification under the Fair Housing Act — HOAs in Sea Palms, Frederica, and other St. Simons communities cannot legally deny a medically necessary stairlift. For homes in the Harrington historic area, the rail bolts to the treads without altering any historic woodwork or wall surfaces. If your HOA pushes back, we provide documentation supporting your right to install under federal accessibility law.

Indoor lifts are less exposed, but we still use corrosion-resistant components on every St. Simons install. The rail is powder-coated aluminum — standard for all our units — which holds up to coastal humidity. For homes with open-air stairwells, breezeways, or louvered windows (common in older island cottages), we recommend the outdoor-rated model even if the stairs are technically indoors. The free assessment covers this.

Yes. 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. The grant is one-time, tax-free, and never repaid. St. Simons veterans apply through the Brunswick VA Clinic at 93 Benchmark Way (part of the VA Charleston Health Care System). You'll need a prescription from a VA physician stating the stairlift is medically necessary. We help with the application paperwork during your assessment.

Yes — through the Georgia Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP, formerly called CCSP). The EDWP covers home modifications including stairlifts for seniors and disabled adults who meet nursing-home level of care requirements but choose to remain at home. Eligibility is income-based (roughly $2,982 per month for an individual in 2025). Home modifications are covered under the HCBS manual Section 314. Contact the Georgia Division of Aging Services or your EDWP care coordinator to start the process.

The Georgia Home Access Program, run through the Department of Community Affairs, provides home modification assistance for persons with disabilities — including stairlifts — with grants up to $10,000. The program has a waitlist and limited annual funding. The Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission also funds home modifications for eligible Georgia residents. On St. Simons, we recommend starting with EDWP (Medicaid) or HISA (VA), since those process faster for Glynn County residents.

HISA grants typically process in 30 to 60 days from application to approval. Georgia EDWP approvals vary — expect 45 to 90 days depending on your county caseworker's caseload. The Home Access Program can take 60 to 120 days due to its waitlist. We recommend starting the funding application as soon as you know a stairlift is needed. The assessment is free, and we can hold your quote while funding processes. For families who can't wait, our $79/month financing starts immediately after install.