From the tract streets of Levittown to the old estates of the North Shore Gold Coast, Nassau County has stairs of every shape. Levittown went up starting in 1947 in the Island Trees section as one of the nation's first mass-produced planned communities. Many of the large country estates up north were built from the early 1900s through the early 1930s.
Most of these homes are owner-occupied single-family houses with interior stairs, and with a county median home price near $900,000 as of 2025, plenty of owners would rather adapt the house than sell it. This page walks through how local home styles affect the kind of stair lift you need, and which Nassau County and New York programs are worth a call before you pay.
Split-level homes are common here, and they rarely have one long flight. You often get a short run up to the bedrooms and another short run down to the family room. Each run can take its own straight lift, or a single curved rail can follow the turns if the layout allows it.
Ranch-style homes usually keep daily living on one floor, so the stairs that matter are the ones to a basement or down from the front or back door. A straight indoor lift handles the basement. Entry steps outside call for an outdoor-rated lift or, for a wheelchair user, a platform lift.
Older single-family homes in places like Garden City, Rockville Centre and Glen Cove often have narrower stairways, landings and turns. We measure the width, the turn and the landing space before recommending straight or curved, because that choice drives most of the cost.
Townhouses and row houses tend to have straight, steep stairs between floors, which is the simplest layout for a stair lift. Some have two or three stories, so it is worth deciding early whether you need a lift on one flight or more.
Walk-up apartments are different. The stairway is usually a shared space, so the building owner or board has to approve any lift before installation. Ask about that first, before you spend time on quotes.
Nassau County covers 453.2 square miles between the Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean, and 37% of that area is water. Homes in towns like Long Beach, Freeport, Oceanside and Baldwin often have exterior steps where an outdoor lift built to handle the weather makes more sense than an indoor model.
The land is mostly flat to gently rolling, rising to its high point at Harbor Hill on the North Shore. The county is fully built out and tied together by the Long Island Expressway, Northern State Parkway and Southern State Parkway. That means a home visit is a short drive whether you live in Syosset, Elmont, Massapequa or Mineola.
About 18.3% of county residents are 65 or older, and 83.6% of households own their home. That combination is why so many families here plan for stairs instead of a move.
If a veteran in your family has a service-connected disability, check the VA grants below before paying out of pocket.
None of the programs below names stair lifts outright in its published material, so treat each one as a call to make, not a sure thing. Ask each office directly whether a stair lift counts as an eligible home modification.
Start with the Nassau County Office for Aging at (516) 227-8900 if the person needing the lift is 60 or older. Veterans can call the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency in East Meadow at (516) 572-6512. Statewide options to ask about include New York Medicaid Home Modifications (NHTD Waiver & MLTC), VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics), the New York RESTORE Program and New York EISEP.
Many Nassau County owners also have substantial home equity. The county's median property value reached $684,700 in 2024, which can be another way to fund a lift and other changes for aging in place.
A statewide grant for accessibility modifications for people with a documented disability, with income at or below 80% of area median income (up to 120% for eligible veterans). It lists ramps, lifts, handrails, doorway widening and roll-in showers but does not name stair lifts, so confirm with the local administering agency.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026 cap) to buy, build or modify a home for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities. Stair lifts are not specifically named; call (800) 827-1000 to ask.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026 cap) for adapting a home for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, such as loss of use of both hands. Stair lifts are not specifically named; call (800) 827-1000.
The county's agency on aging in Uniondale, offering information and referrals on home care, housing and long-term care for residents 60 and older. It does not list a stair lift grant itself; call (516) 227-8900.
A home improvement program run out of 200 North Franklin Street in Hempstead. Coverage and eligibility are not published, so call (516) 538-7100 to ask whether stair lifts qualify.
A county housing and home improvement program based in Mineola. Its scope is not published, so call (516) 571-0360 to ask whether a stair lift is covered.
A nonprofit in Levittown that gives people with disabilities referrals for home modification grants, adaptive equipment and assistive technology. It does not fund stair lifts directly; call (516) 796-0144.
A nonprofit that makes free repairs and accessibility changes, such as ramps, grab bars and handrails, for income-qualified Long Island homeowners. Stair lifts are not named, so call (631) 777-7894 to confirm.
Older adults
60 Charles Lindbergh Blvd. Suite 260, Uniondale, 11553
Veterans
2201 Hempstead Turnpike, Building Q, East Meadow, 11554
Often, yes, but split-levels usually have two short flights rather than one. You may need a straight lift on each flight or a curved rail if the layout lets one track follow the turn.
The Office for the Aging serves residents 60 and older, but the Access to Home Program and LICIL are based on disability, not age. Rebuilding Together Long Island is based on income and homeownership.
The 2026 limits are $57,750 for one person, $66,000 for two, $74,250 for three, $82,450 for four and $89,050 for five, plus $10,000 for veteran households. Household assets must be under $100,000, not counting the home and car.
Only with approval from the building owner or board, since the stairway is usually shared. Get that answer before scheduling a measurement.
The Nassau County Veterans Service Agency in East Meadow at (516) 572-6512 can help with VA claims. For the SAH and SHA grants, the VA line is (800) 827-1000.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
