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Stairlift FAQs
There are many great reasons to purchase a stairlift. But why should you choose A+ Stairlifts of Pittsburgh to help you with this important decision? We have plenty of answers to that – but here are the top 12.

What is a stairlift, and how does it work?
Does a stairlift attach to the wall or the stairs?
Will installing a lift ruin my stairs?
Can other people still use the stairs?
Are there special electrical requirements?
I want to be in my chair and moving as soon as possible. How long does the whole process take?
Looking at curved stairlifts, however, keep in mind that these are more custom in nature and usually require a longer timeframe from order to use. Preparation is more involved, including detailed engineering drawings and the use of a complex photo survey system. Because of this specialized design, turnaround time for curved lifts is about 3-4 weeks on average.
Does Medicare or private insurance pay for stairlifts?
One bright spot is Long-Term Care insurance, or what the insurance industry calls LTC. If you or your loved have an LTC policy, don’t delay – call them today, as many policies will fund stairlifts through a “Home Modification” benefit. Keep this in mind: insurers’ employees are programmed to say no to these requests. If your claim is denied, we suggest you opt to appeal (you may get paperwork with the denial detailing how the appeal process works). Stress to the company that the only other option may be a nursing home or assisted living facility – with such an expensive alternative to a stairlift in front of them, that may help you to get your point across.
How do you get off a stairlift at the top landing?
With the changes in lift design over the years, we’re happy to tell you that all chair models in production today have a seat swivel. In other words, the rider can easily swivel the seat at the top and plant their feet on the top landing, not on a stair. The seat is also a barrier for fall prevention.
Custom-built curved stairlifts can be created with an additional top bend at the landing and finish on the landing or hallway, but this feature is only available on curved lifts. Curved lifts are typically 3 to 4 times the cost of straight lifts, so going that route might be impractical.
My mother had a stairlift. It was loud and ugly! Please tell me that they are better today.
As to the “ugly” question – well, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We hear lots of comments over and over, customer after customer. One of the most common? “We should have done this sooner!”
Stairlifts seem so complicated to operate. Will my grandkids or young neighbors need to help me learn about it?
To answer that question: yes, lifts being manufactured today are very intuitive and easy to operate. First, hold the drive lever until the lift stops at the top landing. Second, swivel the seat so you can dismount. That’s it! Some riders elect to install an optional seat motor to perform the swiveling automatically; ask us for more information.