Lancaster's National Register Historic District covers roughly three square miles and holds over 14,000 buildings, and many of them are two- and three-story rowhouses and Victorian homes. Climb the stairs in one of those houses and you usually find a steep, narrow run with the bedrooms and bathroom up top. Out in East Hempfield, Manor, Warwick, Ephrata, Elizabethtown and the rest of the county's 95 towns, the homes change, but the second-floor bedroom stays a common problem.
This page walks through how Lancaster County homes affect the choice of stair lift, who in the county is likely to need one, and which programs may help pay for it. The goal is simple: help you figure out whether a lift fits your stairs before anyone drills a hole.
Most of Lancaster's historic buildings date from the nineteenth century, with rowhouses and other structures going back to the 1700s. Styles range from Federal and Second Empire to Romanesque Revival and Art Deco. What they tend to share inside is a tight staircase.
A straight staircase with no turns can usually take a straight stair lift, which rides on a rail fastened to the treads, not the wall. Narrow rowhouse stairs need a slim rail and a seat that folds up so others can still pass. If the stairs turn at a landing or wind near the top, as many older homes do, a curved rail built to that exact staircase is the usual answer.
Three-story homes often have two separate flights. Each flight gets its own lift, so plan for that when you look at which floor matters most.
Beyond the city, places like Lititz, Millersville, Mount Joy and Willow Street have plenty of single-family homes, townhouses and split-level homes. A split-level puts a short flight of stairs between almost every level, which means you have to decide which trips are the hard ones.
Short straight runs are often the simplest installs in the county. Townhouses usually have one straight flight to the bedrooms, which suits a standard straight lift well.
Walk-up apartments are a different case. A shared stairwell typically needs the building owner's approval before anything is mounted, so ask that question first.
Lancaster County is mostly gentle, rolling land, bounded on the west by the Susquehanna River and drained by the Conestoga River and Little Conestoga Creek. On rolling lots, a house often sits above or below the driveway, with a run of exterior steps to reach the door.
For those steps, an outdoor stair lift with weather-resistant parts is one option. Where a wheelchair user needs to get in and out, a platform lift may be a better fit than a seat. We look at the slope, the step count and where the power would come from before recommending either.
The county has 538,651 residents, and 18.7 percent are 65 or older. About 70.0 percent of households own their home, which matters because owners can make permanent changes like a mounted rail without asking a landlord.
That makes it worth checking VA benefits before paying out of pocket, even though those grants come with strict rules, explained below.
Medicare is not on the list below, and most families end up combining savings with whatever program they qualify for. The program with the clearest stair lift coverage is the Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver, which is for Medicaid-eligible adults age 21 and up who need a nursing facility level of care.
For people 60 and older who are not on Medicaid, the Lancaster County Office of Aging at 150 N. Queen St. Suite 415 in Lancaster runs the OPTIONS Program, which uses a sliding co-payment based on income and offers home modifications for safety and accessibility. Veterans can start with Lancaster County Veterans Affairs at (717) 299-7920, in the same building at 150 N. Queen St., Suite 103.
The PA Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) is another statewide resource some families look into. Each program is summarized below with its phone number where one is available.
A Medicaid home and community-based waiver for adults 21+ who meet a nursing facility level of care and Medicaid financial limits; stair lifts are covered when written into the individualized service plan. Call (800) 757-5042.
A Medicaid waiver for people age 18-59 with a severe developmental physical disability that began before age 22, covering home modifications and other supports; the source does not specifically list stair lifts, so confirm with a service coordinator at (800) 757-5042.
OPTIONS serves Pennsylvania residents 60+ with no income cutoff and a sliding co-pay, and includes home modifications; the Family Caregiver Support Program can reimburse caregivers for home modifications, though stair lifts are not specifically named. Call (717) 299-7979.
A nonprofit serving people with disabilities of any age in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties with benefits counseling and referrals to home modification funding; it does not pay for stair lifts directly, and current offerings should be confirmed at (717) 394-1890.
Federal grants of up to $126,526 (SAH) and $25,350 (SHA) for FY2026 for veterans with specific qualifying service-connected disabilities; stair lifts are not listed outright and are only funded as part of an approved adaptation plan. Call (800) 827-1000.
A no-cost repair and accessibility program for low-income homeowners, especially seniors, veterans and people with disabilities, focused on ramps, grab bars, handrails and similar work; powered stair lifts are not mentioned and no Lancaster County affiliate is named, so verify locally.
Older adults
150 N. Queen St. Suite 415, Lancaster, 17603
Veterans
150 N. Queen St., Suite 103, Lancaster, 17603
Often, yes. Older two- and three-story rowhouses tend to have steep, narrow stairs, so the lift needs a slim rail and a fold-up seat. A measurement of the stair width and any turns tells you whether a straight or curved rail is needed.
Through the Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver, stair lifts are listed among covered accessibility modifications. You must be 21 or older, financially eligible for Medicaid and assessed as needing a nursing facility level of care, and the lift has to be in your service plan. Call (800) 757-5042.
The Lancaster County Office of Aging runs the OPTIONS Program for Pennsylvania residents 60 and older. There is no income cutoff, but co-pays slide with income, and home modifications are offered for safety and accessibility. Call (717) 299-7979 to request an assessment.
Possibly, but only through the SAH or SHA grants for veterans with specific qualifying service-connected disabilities, and only as part of an approved adaptation plan. The HISA grant is generally understood not to cover stair lifts. Lancaster County Veterans Affairs at (717) 299-7920 can help you start.
The Family Caregiver Support Program, offered through the Lancaster County Office of Aging, provides financial reimbursement for home modifications to eligible caregivers. Stair lifts are not named specifically, so ask about them when you call (717) 299-7979.
Rolling lots are common in Lancaster County. An outdoor stair lift built for weather exposure can handle exterior steps, and a platform lift may suit someone who uses a wheelchair. The right choice depends on the number of steps and the layout of the entry.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
