Rockland County got its name from "rocky land," and anyone who has driven from Haverstraw up toward the Ramapo Mountains knows why. The ground climbs from near sea level along the Hudson River to 1,283 feet at Rockhouse Mountain, and a lot of houses in Clarkstown, Ramapo and Orangetown sit on sloped lots with stairs inside and out.
We install stair lifts across the county's 38 towns, from Nyack and Pearl River to Suffern, Monsey and Stony Point. This page covers what Rockland's houses and hills mean for choosing a lift, and where to turn for help with the cost.
The county stayed semi-rural until the 1950s, when the Palisades Interstate Parkway, the Tappan Zee Bridge and the New York State Thruway opened it up to commuters. That wave left a large stock of single-family homes with interior stairs, especially in Clarkstown, Ramapo and Orangetown.
A standard two-story house with one straight flight is usually the simplest job. A straight rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so plaster and paneling stay untouched.
Split-level homes are a different puzzle. They often have two or three short runs between levels, and each run may need its own lift, or one curved rail that follows the turn. We measure every landing before suggesting either path.
Rockland was settled in the 1670s and 1680s, and Dutch-style stone and sandstone farmhouses from the 17th and 18th centuries still stand in older hamlets. The DeWint House in Tappan, dating to circa 1700, is the oldest surviving home.
Stairs in houses this old tend to be narrow, steep or winding. Those staircases usually call for a custom curved rail, and sometimes the honest answer is that a different solution, such as moving a bedroom downstairs, makes more sense. We will tell you which one we see.
Because so many Rockland homes were built into hillsides, the hardest climb is sometimes outside: a run of steps from the driveway to the front door, or down to a lower-level entry. Outdoor stair lifts are built with weather-resistant parts and covers for that kind of spot.
Where someone uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift may fit better than a chair lift. Townhouses, duplexes and walk-up apartments add their own limits, such as shared stairways and landlord approval, so we look at those up front.
About 15.5% of Rockland residents are 65 or older, and 65.9% own their homes. Many have lived in the same house for decades and would rather adapt it than move.
If that includes someone in your family, the VA benefits below are worth checking before you pay out of pocket.
No single program here simply pays for stair lifts, so start with a phone call. The Rockland County Office for the Aging at (845) 364-2110, at 50 Sanatorium Rd. Bldg. B in Pomona, handles referrals for residents 60 and older and runs EISEP locally.
For people on Medicaid who need a nursing-home level of care, the NHTD Waiver lists mechanical lifts between floors as a covered environmental modification. Veterans can reach the Rockland County Veterans Service Agency in New City at (845) 638-5244.
Each program has its own rules, and some list only ramps or general lifts. The summaries below say plainly what each source does and does not mention.
An information, referral and care-coordination office for residents 60 and older, and the local administrator for EISEP; its page does not list a stair lift fund. It is the right first call for a funding referral at (845) 364-2110.
A state program for people 60 and older who need help with daily activities, offering case management, in-home care and ancillary services such as home repairs and assistive devices; stair lifts are not named. Call (800) 342-9871 or the Rockland County Office for the Aging.
A Medicaid waiver for people who need a nursing-home level of care but can live at home, and it lists mechanical lifts for moving between floors as a covered modification. Call (718) 922-9200.
Funds accessibility work such as ramps, lifts, handrails and doorway widening for households at or below 80% of area median income (120% for veterans with a certified disability); stair lifts are not named specifically. Residents apply through a local municipality or nonprofit, not directly to HCR.
A version of Access to Home for Medicaid members with a disability-related limitation, covering the same categories such as ramps and lifts; stair lifts are not named specifically. Applications go through a Local Program Administrator.
Free minor household repairs for Rockland residents 60 and older or living with a disability, including handrail and stair tread repair and grab bars; stair lift installation is not listed. Call (845) 624-1366.
Offers loans up to $40,000 at 1% over 20 years and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income owners age 62 and older in USDA-eligible rural areas; stair lifts are not named. Much of Rockland, including large towns like Ramapo and Clarkstown, is likely ineligible, so check your address first.
Pays up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for medically necessary home accessibility work, but it explicitly excludes stair glides. The Rockland County Veterans Service Agency at (845) 638-5244 can point you to other options.
Grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, with FY2026 caps of $126,526 (SAH), $25,350 (SHA) and up to $50,961 or $9,100 (TRA); stair lifts are not named among the examples. Ask the Rockland County Veterans Service Agency at (845) 638-5244.
Older adults
50 Sanatorium Rd. Bldg. B, Pomona, 10970
Veterans
20 Squadron Blvd, Suite 101, New City, 10956
Usually, yes. Split-levels often have several short runs, so the choice is between a separate straight lift on each run or one curved rail that follows the turns. We decide after measuring the landings.
Often it is, though narrow or winding stairs in older homes typically need a custom curved rail. If the staircase cannot fit one safely, we will say so and talk through other choices.
The VA HISA benefit explicitly excludes stair glides. The SAH, SHA and TRA grants do not name stair lifts, so a veteran should ask the Rockland County Veterans Service Agency at (845) 638-5244 about eligibility.
The NHTD Waiver lists mechanical lifts between floors as a covered environmental modification for people who need a nursing-home level of care but can live at home. It must be part of an approved service plan. Call (718) 922-9200.
The CHORE Program serves Rockland residents living with a disability regardless of age, though it does minor repairs rather than stair lift installs. Access to Home programs are based on disability and income, not age.
Start with the Rockland County Office for the Aging at (845) 364-2110 in Pomona. It handles referrals for residents 60 and older and runs EISEP locally.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
