- 1). Measure your staircase banister carefully. Ask someone to help you measure the distance from the ground floor to the floor of the second-floor landing.
- 2). Research stair lifts either online or via catalog. Narrow your choices to two or three models that would be suitable for your staircase. Determine which models are suitable for the size of wheelchair you use, if applicable.
- 3). Compare prices and all installation fees. Also compare service contracts and warranties.
- 4). Narrow your choices to two or three vendors who carry the models you are interested in, keeping in mind all of the costs involved as outlined in Step 3.
- 5). Contact each company to get a free quote. Make appointments for them to visit in person and take measurements as needed. Discuss financing options for the stair lift and payment methods accepted.
- 6). Draft a letter stating the nature of your disability and the amount needed to have the stair lift installed.
- 7). Contact the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A) for information on your local agency. Ask the local agency what your options are for finding assistance to pay for the stair lift to be installed if you are on disability.
- 8). Contact the Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs to find the location of your local agency and any assistance which might be available to help you secure your rights to access assistive technology such as a stair lift.
- 9). Consult the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for information on assistance for disabled people who require modifications to their existing housing situation.
- 10
Contact the Federal Housing Authority to see what assistance may be available to you in terms of home ownership and improvement loans, or information on a reverse mortgage to pay for the stair lift and free up some of your home equity to pay for your needs. - 11
If you do not live in a large city, contact Rural Housing Services about its grants and loans programs under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. RHS 502 Home Ownership Loans and Grants are designed to help pay for stair lifts and any other adaptive devices you may require, such as bathroom aids. - 12
Keep a record of all correspondence, and keep it organized in appropriate files for easy reference.
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