Walk any block in Reading's Queen Anne Historic District and you will see the pattern: semi-detached houses and row houses, two and three stories tall, built in masonry between 1880 and the 1920s. In the Prince Historic District, almost three-quarters of the buildings went up between 1850 and 1890. These are narrow houses, and the stairs inside them tend to be steep.
Outside the city, Berks County covers about 866 square miles, from Blue Mountain on the northern edge down through rolling farmland and wooded ridges along the Schuylkill River. Towns like Wyomissing, Shillington, Kutztown University, Boyertown, Hamburg and Birdsboro each have their own mix of single-family homes, townhouses and split-level homes. This page walks through which kind of stair lift tends to fit which house, and where local help with the cost can come from.
Most rowhouses and twins in Reading's older neighborhoods have one straight staircase running up along a party wall. That layout suits a straight-rail stair lift, which is the simplest type to fit and install. The rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so the masonry stays as it is.
Steep, narrow stairs are the main thing we measure for. The chair folds up when not in use so others can still climb past it. In a three-story house, each flight usually needs its own lift, since a straight rail covers one run of stairs.
Split-level homes in places like Spring, Exeter, Cumru and Muhlenberg often have short flights between levels. A short flight can still be the hardest part of the day for someone with weak knees or balance trouble, and a straight lift on those few steps can make the whole house usable again.
When a staircase turns at a landing or curves, a straight rail will not work. A curved stair lift uses a rail built to the shape of that specific staircase. Townhouses with a turn at the top are a common case, so we look at the full staircase before recommending anything.
The ground around Reading is hilly, and the countryside toward Blue Mountain rolls and climbs. Many homes sit above street level, which means steps outside before you even reach the front door.
Outdoor stair lifts are built for porch and entry steps and handle the weather. For someone who uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift is the better fit, since the chair rolls right onto it.
About 17.8% of Berks County residents are 65 or older, and 72.5% of households own their homes. Owning the home matters because you can make changes like installing a stair lift without a landlord's approval.
If that includes someone in your family, ask about VA grants below before paying out of pocket. The Berks County Department of Veterans Affairs at 20 Commerce Drive, Wyomissing, PA 19610 can be reached at (610) 378-5601.
Several programs may help, and they work very differently. Community HealthChoices is Medicaid and covers stair lifts for people who meet nursing-facility level of care. The PA OPTIONS Program, run locally by the Berks County AAA, has no income requirement but may charge a sliding-scale copay.
Veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities can look at VA housing grants. Abilities in Motion and the PA Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) are other places to ask. A good first call for most families is the Berks County AAA at (610) 478-6500, located at 400 E. Wyomissing Ave., Mohnton, PA 19540.
A Medicaid home and community-based waiver that covers stair lifts and other home modifications when the managed care organization approves them based on assessed need. It serves people 21 or older with a physical disability, or 60 and older, who meet nursing-facility level of care and Medicaid financial rules; call (866) 550-4355.
A Medicaid waiver for people with severe developmental physical disabilities that lists environmental adaptations as a covered service; the source does not mention stair lifts specifically. A person can only be in one HCBS program at a time; call (866) 550-4355.
A non-Medicaid program for Pennsylvania residents 60 or older that can include adaptations to the home for safety and accessibility; stair lifts are not specifically listed. There is no income requirement, though a sliding-scale copay may apply; call the Berks County AAA at (610) 478-6500.
Federal grants for veterans and service members with qualifying service-connected disabilities that cover stair lifts, with SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 for FY2026. Apply with VA Form 26-4555 or call (800) 827-1000.
The local Center for Independent Living, offering assistive technology, independent living services and a Consumer Independence Fund; direct stair lift funding is not listed. Call (610) 376-0010 for a referral or assessment.
A charitable giveaway of one free Bruno Elan SRE-3050 stairlift with professional installation to one selected Berks County resident per cycle. It is for residents who lack the money for a stair lift, and nominations go through the company's website or Facebook page.
Older adults
400 E. Wyomissing Ave., Mohnton, 19540
Veterans
20 Commerce Drive, Wyomissing, 19610
Usually, yes. Rowhouses and twins in Reading's historic districts mostly have straight staircases, and a straight-rail stair lift is the common solution there. We measure the stairs first to confirm the fit.
Yes, possibly. Community HealthChoices serves people 21 or older with a physical disability who meet nursing-facility level of care and Medicaid rules, and it covers stair lifts. Call (866) 550-4355.
No. The OPTIONS Program has no income requirement, but a sliding-scale copay may apply based on income. It is for Pennsylvania residents 60 or older, and the Berks County AAA handles the assessment at (610) 478-6500.
Call the Berks County Department of Veterans Affairs at (610) 378-5601. If he has a qualifying service-connected disability, VA SAH and SHA grants cover stair lifts, and the VA can be reached at (800) 827-1000.
Paramount Living Aids takes nominations through its website or Facebook page. One Berks County resident who cannot afford a stair lift is chosen each giveaway cycle.
A straight rail will not work on a turning staircase. A curved stair lift uses a rail made to fit that staircase, so we look at the whole layout before recommending one.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
