Expert Stairlift Installation in West Deptford, NJ

A straight stairlift installs in about 3 hours. Curved lifts take 4 to 6 hours on install day, after the custom rail arrives. For West Deptford's older homes — particularly the 1920s–1940s houses in Colonial Manor — the only extra time is verifying that the original hardwood treads are structurally sound before bolting. Most jobs go from van pull-up to test ride in a single morning or afternoon.

No. The rail bolts into the stair treads — never the wall. In Colonial Manor homes with original 1920s oak treads, the bolt anchors cleanly without splitting. For Greenfields and Verga split-levels with carpeted stairs, we use a longer bolt that goes through the carpet and pad into the subfloor. When the lift is eventually removed, the bolt holes in the treads are the diameter of a pencil and can be filled with wood putty in under 10 minutes.

No. West Deptford Township does not require a building permit for a residential stairlift retrofit. Stairlifts are considered accessibility equipment under the Fair Housing Act, not a structural alteration. The install does not involve electrical rewiring — the unit plugs into a standard 120V outlet — so no electrical permit is needed either.

Yes. The minimum stair width for a standard straight stairlift is 28.5 inches. Most West Deptford cape cods and split-levels from the 1950s–1970s have stairs between 32 and 36 inches wide, so the rail and seat leave enough clearance. The seat, armrests, and footrest all fold up against the rail when not in use. For stairs narrower than 28.5 inches — rare here, but found in a few pre-1920 Colonial Manor homes — the Perch standing stairlift requires only 22 inches.

Yes. The VA's Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant provides up to $6,800 for service-connected veterans and $2,000 for non-service-connected veterans. A stairlift qualifies as a medically necessary home modification. West Deptford veterans receive care through the VA Philadelphia Healthcare System; the Gloucester VA Clinic at 211 County House Road in Sewell (about 6 miles from West Deptford) processes HISA applications. You need a prescription from your VA primary care provider and an in-home assessment.

Yes — through the Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program. MLTSS is New Jersey's Medicaid waiver for seniors and adults with disabilities who meet nursing-home-level care criteria. Residential modifications, including stairlifts, are covered when deemed medically necessary after a needs assessment. The program is administered through managed care organizations like Horizon NJ Health. Eligibility requires NJ Medicaid enrollment and a clinical assessment confirming that a stairlift would prevent nursing-home placement.

The Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC) program provides up to $1,090 per month per participant for in-home services and minor home modifications. JACC is state-funded (not Medicaid) and serves New Jersey residents aged 60 and older who meet clinical eligibility for nursing-home care but choose to remain at home. A stairlift falls under the home-modification benefit. JACC participants work with a care manager to build a service plan; the modification must be approved as part of that plan before installation.

Gloucester County does not run its own home-modification grant program. However, the Gloucester County Office of Veterans Affairs, located at the County Complex at Five Points in Sewell, can assist West Deptford veterans with HISA grant applications and coordinate with the Gloucester VA Clinic. For non-veteran seniors, the Gloucester County Division of Senior Services can connect you with the JACC program and MLTSS eligibility screening. Both offices can be reached through the county's main line at the County House Road complex.