Expert Stairlift Installation in Upper Southampton, PA

A straight lift goes in within about three hours from arrival to final test. A curved lift needs a one-hour laser measurement first, then two to three weeks for custom fabrication, followed by a four to five hour installation. In every case the rail bolts to the stair treads, not the walls, so there is no drywall work. Luis tests every safety sensor and demonstrates operation before leaving.

No. The rail bolts into the treads, not the walls or balusters, and the mounting points are about the size of a quarter. If the lift is ever removed, the treads can be filled and refinished. On older hardwood treads we use shorter fasteners so they never penetrate the riser cavity behind the step.

Yes. The rail adds only about 11 inches to one side of the stair. A 30-inch staircase, common in Feasterville and Southampton Cape Cods, leaves roughly 19 inches of walkway. The seat, armrests, and footrest all fold up when the lift is not in use, so the rest of the household keeps using the stairs normally.

Usually no. Stairlifts are treated as accessibility equipment, not a structural modification, so a building permit is typically not required. The lifts meet the ASME A18.1 safety standard and include battery backup. If your situation is unusual, Luis confirms any local requirement with Upper Southampton Township before the install date.

Yes. The VA Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant covers up to $6,800 for veterans with service-connected disabilities and up to $2,000 for non-service-connected veterans. It is one-time, tax-free, and never repaid. Local veterans use the Victor J. Saracini VA Outpatient Clinic at 433 Caredean Drive in Horsham, about seven miles away, which is part of the Philadelphia VA Medical Center at 3900 Woodland Avenue.

Yes. Pennsylvania's Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver — the managed-care program run by the Office of Long-Term Living — covers home accessibility equipment including stair glides when they are medically necessary to enter, exit, or move within the home. CHC serves adults who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid or who meet a nursing-facility level of care. The lift needs prior authorization from your CHC managed care organization, and the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging helps with the assessment.

Yes. The PA Accessible Housing Grant, part of DCED's Keystone Communities Program, funds home modifications for low-to-moderate-income residents with permanent disabilities, subject to the annual state budget. The Bucks County Area Agency on Aging can also connect seniors 60 and older to local accessibility programs and the PA OPTIONS in-home services program. Both routes require an assessment and have income guidelines.

Your VA primary care provider writes a prescription stating the stairlift is medically necessary. That prescription, a cost estimate, and VA Form 10-0103 go to the Philadelphia VA HISA office, which serves the Saracini clinic in Horsham. Approval usually takes four to six weeks, and then we schedule the install. The grant is tax-free and never has to be repaid.