Scots-Irish, German and Welsh settlers founded Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg and Waynesboro in the 1700s. Many of the houses that grew up after them are still standing: older two-story farmhouses and brick town homes with steep original staircases.
Those stairs are often what stands between an older owner and the bedroom or bath upstairs. This page covers how stair lifts work in Franklin County's homes, what the hilly Cumberland Valley lots mean for an install, and which local and state programs can help with the cost.
A steep, narrow staircase in an old farmhouse in Fannett or a brick town home in Mercersburg is a common job here. If the run goes straight from bottom to top with no landing turn, a straight stair lift is usually the simplest fit. The rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so original plaster and trim stay as they are.
Many older houses have a turn, a winder step or a landing partway up. Those need a curved rail built to the shape of that particular staircase. We measure every step before quoting so the rail clears the turn and the seat folds out of the way for others using the stairs.
Franklin County's 29 towns hold a mix of single-family homes, townhouses, row houses, walk-up apartments and split-level homes. A split-level often has two short flights, which can mean two short straight lifts instead of one long one.
Row houses and townhouses in places like Chambersburg and Waynesboro tend to have narrow stairs against a party wall. Clearance at the top and bottom matters as much as stair width, so we check where the seat will park and whether a swivel seat is needed to step off safely. In walk-up apartments, the building owner usually has to approve a lift in shared stairwells.
The county covers about 772 square miles of rolling, hilly valley land, and many homes sit on sloped lots. That often means steps from the driveway or yard up to the front door, not just stairs inside.
Outdoor stair lifts are built with weather-resistant rails and covers for those exterior steps. Where someone uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift may be the better choice. We look at both the inside stairs and the path from the car before recommending anything.
About 20% of county residents are 65 or older, compared with roughly 16.8% nationally, and the median age is 42.2. Most of those folks own multistory homes they would rather stay in than leave.
If a family member served and has a service-connected disability, the VA grants listed below are worth checking first, and the Franklin County Veterans Affairs office in Chambersburg can help you start.
Medicaid is the clearest route. Under Community HealthChoices, stair glides (stair lifts) are covered through the traditional Medicaid physical-health benefit that the managed care organization must provide, for people age 21 and up who meet a nursing-facility level of care.
For residents 60 and older, the Franklin County Area Agency on Aging at 425 Franklin Farm Lane in Chambersburg is the intake point for the state OPTIONS program, which offers home modifications for safety and accessibility with a sliding-scale co-payment and no income limit. Stair lifts are not named outright, so ask about them directly during the assessment.
Veterans can look at the VA Specially Adapted Housing and Special Home Adaptation grants, and the statewide list also includes VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) and the PA Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF). Each program below lists who to call.
Pennsylvania's Medicaid long-term services program for residents 21 and older who meet a nursing-facility level of care; stair glides are covered through the traditional Medicaid benefit your CHC managed care organization must provide, decided case by case. Call (866) 550-4355.
A Medicaid waiver for Pennsylvania residents ages 18-59 with a severe developmental physical disability that covers environmental modifications and assistive technology, though stair lifts are not listed on the state summary. Call (866) 550-4355.
A state-funded program for residents 60 and older that offers home modifications to improve safety and accessibility, with a sliding-scale co-payment and no income limit; stair lifts are not specifically listed. The state number is (717) 783-1550, and enrollment runs through the local Area Agency on Aging.
The county's intake and assessment office for residents 60 and older and the entry point for OPTIONS; whether it funds stair lifts directly is not known, so ask at intake. Call (717) 263-2153; appointments are recommended.
Federal grants for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026; stair lifts are not specifically listed, but the grant funds an approved, medically necessary adaptation plan. Call (800) 827-1000.
A nonprofit serving people with any disability in York, Adams and Franklin Counties that offers home modification and assistive technology consulting and helps people apply for CHC or OBRA-funded changes; it does not pay for lifts directly. Call (717) 849-0991.
Income-qualified repair help for owner-occupied homes in Franklin County that can include accessibility improvements, though stair lifts are not specifically listed and the program is currently waitlist-only with an expected wait of 8-14 months. Call (717) 977-3900 and ask for the current guidebook.
Older adults
425 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, 17202
Veterans
425 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, 17202
It can. Through Community HealthChoices, stair glides are covered under the traditional Medicaid physical-health benefit for people 21 and older who meet a nursing-facility level of care. Approval is case by case through the managed care organization. Call (866) 550-4355.
Call the Franklin County Area Agency on Aging at (717) 263-2153. It handles intake for the OPTIONS program, which offers home modifications with a sliding-scale co-payment and no income limit. Ask specifically about a stair lift, since the program does not list them by name.
The OBRA Waiver serves Pennsylvania residents ages 18-59 with a severe developmental physical disability and covers environmental modifications and assistive technology. CILO at (717) 849-0991 can help you work through the waiver application.
Yes. Staircases with a turn, landing or winder steps get a curved rail made to fit that staircase. We measure each step first, and the rail attaches to the treads rather than the old plaster walls.
Franklin County Veterans Affairs is at 425 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg 17202, phone (717) 263-4326. For the VA Specially Adapted Housing and Special Home Adaptation grants, the VA number is (800) 827-1000.
Often, yes. Outdoor stair lifts are built for weather, and a platform lift may suit someone who uses a wheelchair. We look at the exterior steps and the path from the driveway during the home visit.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
