Camden County's homes change a lot from one town to the next. A narrow rowhouse in Camden, a post-war ranch in Cherry Hill or Voorhees, and a Queen Anne in Haddonfield or Collingswood each have very different staircases, and each calls for a different kind of stair lift.
We install stair lifts across the county's 50 towns, from Pennsauken and Bellmawr near the river out to Sicklerville, Atco and Waterford. This page walks through what your type of house usually needs, how the weather here affects outdoor steps, and which local programs are worth a phone call before you pay out of pocket.
Most of the county outside Camden city is made up of suburban townships like Cherry Hill, Voorhees and Gloucester Township. Farmland there was turned into housing tracts after WWII, and by the 1960s over 90% of new construction in Cherry Hill was single-family or ranch-style. The median owner-occupied home in Cherry Hill was built in 1968.
A single-story ranch may still have a flight of stairs to a lower level, and those runs are usually straight, which keeps a stair lift simple. Split-levels have short flights between levels, so we look at each run separately. Colonials from the same building boom tend to have one main staircase to the bedrooms, and many of those are straight as well.
In Camden city, the typical home is a narrow attached or semi-detached rowhouse, many built for factory workers in the early-to-mid 20th century. Stairs in these houses are often tight, so we measure the width carefully and pick a slim rail and a seat that folds up out of the way for others using the stairs.
Older districts like Cooper Street have Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate and Second Empire houses. Haddonfield and Collingswood have a dense mix of 19th-century styles, including Queen Anne and Victorian Gothic. Staircases in these homes often turn at a landing or curve, which usually means a curved stair lift with a rail built to fit that exact staircase.
The county sits on the flat plain of the Delaware River, running from sea level along the river up to about 219 feet near the Burlington County line. With few hillside lots, entry steps are usually short and predictable, which makes outdoor lift planning more straightforward than in hilly places.
Winters are another matter. Average January lows at the county seat sit around 26°F, and snow and ice come through periodically. If a porch or entry stair is the hard part, an outdoor stair lift needs weatherproofing and a cover, and that matters for homes near the river and across the county.
About 16.3% of the county's 682,948 residents are 65 or older, and 67.3% of households own their homes. For homeowners who want to stay put, a stair lift is often far less disruptive than moving a bedroom downstairs or selling the house.
Veterans can start with the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs at (856) 374-5801 in Blackwood, and care is available at the Camden VA Clinic in Camden and the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia.
None of the county programs below publishes stair lifts as a covered item, so the honest answer is that most of them need a phone call first. The Camden County Home Improvement Program (HIP), the Senior Safe Home Program and Habitat for Humanity South Central New Jersey are the ones worth asking about directly.
Statewide, Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC), NJ Medicaid MLTSS and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) are other routes to look into. The Camden County Division of Senior & Disabled Services at (856) 858-3220 is a good first call to sort out which ones fit your situation.
A 0% interest deferred payment loan of up to $20,000, repaid only on sale or transfer of the home, for owner-occupants of single-family homes who meet HUD Section 8 income limits; Camden City, Gloucester City, Gloucester Twp and Cherry Hill have historically run separate local programs. Its published scope covers health, safety and code repairs and does not list stair lifts, so call the CCIA Rehab Office at (856) 374-6151 to ask.
A CDBG-funded program in which a county-hired contractor builds ramps for disabled and elderly homeowners; it covers ramps only, not stair lifts. Call county Community Development at (856) 374-6330 to confirm it is still running.
A home maintenance and repair program for Camden County homeowners 60+, based in Pennsauken, with sources describing its scope differently. Whether it helps with stair lifts is unknown, so call (856) 663-2255 to ask about current services.
A short-term loan closet for residents 60+ with items like wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs and commodes. It does not cover stair lifts; call (856) 456-1121 for loan equipment.
In-home counseling and case management for Camden County seniors and disabled adults that connects them to community resources. It does not fund stair lifts but may refer you to programs that help; call (877) 922-2377.
A nonprofit home repair program for income-eligible homeowners, with an Aging in Place track for residents 60+ that includes ramps, exterior handrails and fall-prevention work. Stair lifts are not listed, so call (856) 441-2740 to ask.
A statewide New Jersey program. Ask the Camden County Division of Senior & Disabled Services at (856) 858-3220 whether it applies to your situation.
A statewide New Jersey Medicaid program. The Camden County Division of Senior & Disabled Services at (856) 858-3220 can help you find out whether you qualify.
VA benefits for eligible veterans. Start with the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs at (856) 374-5801 or the Camden VA Clinic.
Older adults
512 Lakeland Road, 4th Floor, Blackwood, 08012
Veterans
200 College Drive, 3rd Floor (Wolverton Library), Blackwood, 08012
Often, yes. Many rowhouses in Camden city have tight staircases, so we measure the width and use a slim rail with a fold-up seat so others can still use the stairs.
No, but it usually means a curved stair lift. Victorian-era homes in Haddonfield and Collingswood often have turning or curved stairs, and the rail is made to fit that specific staircase.
Yes, if it is built for outdoor use. With January lows around 26°F and periodic snow and ice, we plan for weatherproofing and a cover on any outdoor lift.
Its published scope covers health, safety and code repairs and does not list stair lifts. An inspector decides eligible repairs, so call the CCIA Rehab Office at (856) 374-6151 before counting on it.
Several programs serve residents 60+, including the Senior Safe Home Program at (856) 663-2255 and Habitat for Humanity South Central New Jersey at (856) 441-2740. Neither lists stair lifts, so ask each one directly.
Call the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs at (856) 374-5801 in Blackwood and ask about VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics). The Camden VA Clinic is in Camden.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
