Lewisburg holds one of the best-preserved 19th-century communities in the nation. Its historic district counts 868 contributing resources, and most are two- and three-story homes with narrow, steep original staircases and no bedroom on the ground floor. Out past town, in Mifflinburg, New Berlin, Laurelton and the rest of the Buffalo Valley, many houses sit on slopes and are split into several half-levels.
That mix shapes what kind of stair lift fits a home here. This page covers the housing and terrain across Union County's 19 towns, what each means for a lift, and the state, county and VA programs that can help pay for one.
The Lewisburg Historic District is full of Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Second Empire and Queen Anne homes. Many still have their original staircases, and those tend to be narrow and steep. Since most of these houses have no ground-floor bedroom, the stairs become the main obstacle to staying put.
A straight run from the first floor to the second is the simplest case and usually takes a straight stair lift. Staircases that turn at a landing, wind, or continue up to a third floor need a curved lift with a rail built to that exact stair. In a three-story house, it helps to decide early which floors you really need to reach.
Union County sits in central Pennsylvania's ridge-and-valley country, with the West Branch Susquehanna River on the east side and forested ridges running through the Buffalo Valley. Much of its roughly 318 square miles is ridge terrain, so plenty of homes are built into a slope.
A house with several short flights between half-levels may need more than one lift, or a curved lift that follows the stairs through a turn. Steps from the driveway or yard up to an entry door are a separate job. Those can call for an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift, depending on the steps and on whether a wheelchair is involved.
About 19.8% of Union County residents are 65 or older, and 72.1% of households own their homes. Many people have lived in the same house for decades and would rather adapt it than move. Owning the home also matters for some funding, since the VA housing grants require the veteran or a family member to own or plan to own the house.
If someone in your family served, check the VA grants below before paying out of pocket.
For Medicaid-eligible adults who qualify for nursing-facility level care, Community HealthChoices (CHC) lists stair glides and stair lifts among covered accessibility items. The person's CHC managed care organization approves the modification case by case when it is medically necessary and cost-effective.
For people 60 and older who are not on Medicaid, the OPTIONS Program covers home modifications that improve safety and accessibility. It has no income limit, though a sliding-scale co-payment may apply. The Union-Snyder Agency on Aging at 116 N. Second St. in Lewisburg is the local door for OPTIONS and CHC assessments, at (570) 524-2100.
Veterans should call the Union County Office of Veteran's Affairs at (570) 524-8677, 155 N. 15th Street, Lewisburg. The SAH and SHA grants can include stair lifts under an approved plan. The HISA grant does not cover them. Other statewide resources include the PA Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF).
A Medicaid home and community waiver for people 21 or older with a physical disability, or 60 and older, who meet nursing-facility level of care and Medicaid financial rules; stair glides and stair lifts are listed as covered items, approved case by case by the participant's managed care organization. Call (866) 550-4355.
A lottery-funded, non-Medicaid program for Pennsylvanians 60 and older that covers home modifications for safety and accessibility, though stair lifts are not named in the state service description. There is no income limit, but a sliding-scale co-payment may apply; call (717) 783-1550 or apply through the local Area Agency on Aging.
The local aging office for adults 60 and older and their caregivers in Union and Snyder Counties, handling OPTIONS, long-term-care assessments, and reimbursement for supplies; it does not publish a specific stair lift benefit, so whether one is covered is unknown. Call (570) 524-2100.
A nonprofit serving people with disabilities of any age in Union County and nearby counties, offering home modifications, home assessments and home-care help; stair lifts are not specifically mentioned. Call (570) 327-9070.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 for FY 2026 for veterans with certain permanent service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home; adaptations under an approved plan can include stair lifts and platform lifts. Call (800) 827-1000.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 for FY 2026 for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities such as loss of use of both hands, certain blindness or severe burns; it can fund stair lifts under an approved plan. Call (800) 827-1000.
A lifetime benefit of $6,800 or $2,000, depending on eligibility, for medically necessary changes like roll-in showers, widened doorways and ramps. It explicitly excludes stair glides, stair lifts and porch lifts.
Older adults
116 N. Second St., Lewisburg, 17837
Veterans
155 N. 15th Street, Lewisburg, 17837
Many homes in the Lewisburg Historic District have narrow, steep original staircases, and these are the stairs we measure most carefully. A straight run can often take a straight lift, while a stair that turns needs a curved rail made for it. The only way to know is to measure the actual staircase.
Through Community HealthChoices (CHC), yes, if the person qualifies. Stair glides and stair lifts are listed as covered items, and the managed care organization approves them case by case. Call (866) 550-4355 to ask about eligibility.
The OPTIONS Program serves Pennsylvanians 60 and older with no income limit and covers home modifications, though a sliding-scale co-payment may apply. Start with the Union-Snyder Agency on Aging at (570) 524-2100.
CHC covers adults 21 or older with a physical disability who meet its other criteria. Roads to Freedom Center for Independent Living serves people with disabilities of any age in Union County and offers home modifications; call (570) 327-9070.
No. HISA excludes stair glides and stair lifts. The SAH and SHA grants can include stair lifts for veterans who qualify, and the Union County Office of Veteran's Affairs at (570) 524-8677 can help you sort out which applies.
Steps outside need an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift, especially if a wheelchair is used. Homes built into slopes with several half-levels inside may also need more than one lift or a curved one.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
