Expert Stairlift Installation in Westerly, RI

A straight-rail install takes about 3 hours from truck to test ride. Curved rails — common in the Watch Hill and North End Victorians with landings — take 4 to 5 hours because the rail was already custom-bent from the laser measurements we took during the home visit. Outdoor units on beach-area porches take about the same as indoor straight installs. We don't cut into drywall or rewire anything; the rail bolts into the stair treads.

Yes. Many of the 19th-century homes in the Downtown Historic District and the North End have staircases as narrow as 28 inches. We carry a compact rail model that fits those tight spaces — the seat folds up to 12 inches when not in use. Standard stairlifts need about 30 inches of width, so if your staircase is narrower, we spec the compact unit during the home measurement.

Yes — and we use marine-grade components for any outdoor install within a half-mile of Block Island Sound. That means IP55-rated motors and controls, stainless-steel bolts and rail brackets, and UV-stabilized seat upholstery. Standard outdoor lifts corrode in about three to four seasons of salt exposure here; the marine-grade units we install in Watch Hill, Weekapaug, and Misquamicut are still going strong after eight years.

No. The rail bolts directly into the treads — not the wall — so your drywall stays intact. On hardwood treads (common in the Victorians and Colonials around town), the bolt holes are small and can be filled if the lift is ever removed. On tile or stone treads, we use a diamond-bit drill that doesn't crack the material. We've installed on granite treads in homes that were built with Westerly's own quarried stone — the drilling is precise and clean.

Yes, through the HISA grant (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations). Veterans with a service-connected disability can receive up to $6,800 toward a stairlift — that covers a straight-rail install in full. Non-service-connected veterans with a 50% or higher disability rating can receive up to $2,000. It's a one-time grant, tax-free, and never needs to be repaid. The closest VA facility to Westerly is the John J. McGuirk VA Outpatient Clinic at 6 Shaw's Cove in New London, CT — about 15 miles away. The Providence VA Medical Center at 830 Chalkstone Avenue is about 45 miles northeast for more complex needs.

Two main programs. First, the RI Livable Home Modification Grant reimburses 50% of your modification cost up to $4,500 — stairlifts are explicitly covered. It's administered by the Governor's Commission on Disabilities in Cranston. Second, Rhode Island's 1115 Waiver LTSS (Long-Term Services and Supports) covers home accessibility modifications through Medicaid for eligible seniors and adults with disabilities. Both programs require an application and a qualified professional assessment; we help with the paperwork at no extra charge.

You can stack the HISA grant with the RI Livable Home Modification Grant, but there's a process. Apply for HISA first through your VA primary care provider — the grant is paid directly to the installer. Then apply for the Livable Home Modification Grant through the GCD for reimbursement on the remaining amount you paid out of pocket. The GCD reimburses 50% up to $4,500. Between the two programs, many Westerly veterans get a straight-rail stairlift with zero out-of-pocket cost.

Washington County itself does not run a standalone home-modification grant program. The funding sources available to Westerly residents are the statewide programs — the 1115 Waiver LTSS, the Livable Home Modification Grant, the VA HISA grant, and private financing from $79/month. The Age-Friendly Westerly initiative, launched in 2019 and designated an AARP age-friendly community in 2021, can connect residents with resource navigators at the Westerly Senior Center (401-596-2404) who help identify which programs you're eligible for.