Expert Stairlift Installation in Upper Southampton, PA

A straight stairlift installs in about three hours from truck to test ride. Curved rails need a one-hour laser measurement first, then the custom-built rail arrives about two to three weeks later — that install takes four to five hours. We bolt the rail to the stair treads, not the wall, so there's no drywall repair afterward.

No. The rail bolts into the treads — not the wall, not the balusters — and the mounting points are about the size of a quarter. If the lift is removed later, the treads can be filled and refinished. On older hardwood treads in Davisville homes, we use shorter fasteners to avoid penetrating through to the riser cavity.

Yes. The rail adds about 11 inches to one side of the staircase. For the 30-inch staircases common in Tamanend Park-area Cape Cods and older colonials, we use a compact rail profile that leaves roughly 19 inches of walkway. The seat and armrests fold up when not in use, keeping the stairs passable.

Stairlifts are classified as accessibility equipment under the Fair Housing Act, not structural modifications, so a building permit is typically not required in Upper Southampton Township. We handle all code compliance — the lift meets ASME A18.1 safety standards and includes battery backup as standard.

Yes, through the HISA (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations) grant. Service-connected veterans qualify for up to $6,800 — which covers a straight lift in full or puts a significant dent in a curved-rail quote. Non-service-connected veterans can receive up to $2,000. The nearest VA facility is the Victor J. Saracini Outpatient Clinic at 433 Caredean Drive in Horsham, about 7 miles away. The Philadelphia VA Medical Center at 3900 Woodland Avenue handles the HISA approvals for this region.

Yes, through two HCBS waivers administered by the PA Office of Long-Term Living: the Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver for adults 21+ who need nursing-facility-level care, and the OBRA Waiver for adults with severe developmental physical disabilities. Both cover home modifications including stairlifts. The typical lifetime cap for adult Medicaid waiver home modifications in Pennsylvania is $14,000.

The PA Accessible Housing Grant, administered through the Department of Community and Economic Development's Keystone Communities Program, funds home accessibility modifications for eligible low-to-moderate-income residents with permanent disabilities. Unlike the Medicaid waivers, this is a grant — not a waiver — and availability depends on annual state budget allocations. The Bucks County Area Agency on Aging can also connect seniors with local programs.

The process starts with a prescription from a VA primary care provider stating the stairlift is medically necessary. That prescription, along with a cost estimate from us and a completed VA Form 10-0103, goes to the HISA program office at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. Approval typically takes four to six weeks. Once approved, we schedule the install directly. The grant is tax-free and never has to be repaid.