The city of Kodiak is built along the eastern shoreline beneath steep, mountainous terrain. Many homes there, and in Mill Bay, Kodiak Station and Womens Bay, sit on sloped lots with several entry steps or split-level floor plans. For someone with weak knees or poor balance, getting to the front door can be as hard as getting upstairs.
This page walks through what that housing means for a stair lift, which type tends to fit, and which programs in the borough and in Alaska are worth calling about. It is written for older homeowners and for the grown children helping them decide.
Split-level homes are common here, and they usually mean short flights of stairs between levels. A short, straight run is often the simplest lift to fit. If the stairs turn or have a landing, a curved lift built to that staircase is the usual answer.
Single-family homes and townhouses with one full flight between floors are often a good match for a straight stair lift. In low-rise buildings, the stairs and the rules about changing them can differ, so it helps to check with the building owner before measuring.
On a sloped lot, the first barrier is often the set of steps from the driveway or street up to the door. An outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can cover those steps so the person does not have to climb them at all.
The borough averages 78.32 inches of precipitation a year, with cold winters. Wet, slick steps are a real fall risk, so the entry is worth looking at as closely as the indoor stairs. An outdoor unit should be chosen with that weather in mind.
About 14.7% of borough residents are 65 or older, and 66.9% own their homes. Owners can usually make changes like a stair lift without asking a landlord, and several programs below require the applicant to own the home.
Veterans with a service-connected disability should look at the VA grants first.
Kodiak has no road connection to mainland Alaska. All commercial transportation to and from the outside world runs through the city by ferry or airline, so plan ahead for equipment and scheduling.
Some outlying villages in the borough can only be reached by boat or float plane. If the home is outside the city of Kodiak, mention that early so the visit and installation can be planned realistically.
Kodiak's economy runs on commercial fishing and military work, and income can change with the season. That makes outside help worth looking into. None of the sources for the programs below name stair lifts directly, so ask each one whether a lift could count under its home modification or equipment rules.
Veterans can start with the VA grants. Lower-income homeowners 62 or older may look at the USDA Section 504 program. For a local starting point, the Peninsula Center for Independent Living has a Kodiak Island office at (907) 486-0493, and Senior Citizens of Kodiak, Inc. can be reached at (907) 486-6181.
Statewide programs to ask about include the AHFC Senior Access Program (SAP), HomeMAP - Home Modifications for Aging in Place, VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics), Alaska Medicaid Personal Care Services (PCS) and the Alaska Senior Benefits Program. The Alaska Commission on Aging / Senior & Disabilities Services is at 550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1600, Anchorage 99501, phone (907) 465-3250.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 for a permanent home (up to $50,961 for a temporary residence, FY2026) to help veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities buy or change a home; the source does not mention stair lifts. Call (800) 698-2411.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 for a permanent home (up to $9,100 for a temporary residence, FY2026) for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, and the home may be owned by a family member; stair lifts are not listed. Call (800) 698-2411.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest and grants up to a $10,000 lifetime maximum for very-low-income rural homeowners, with grants limited to those age 62 or older who cannot repay a loan; stair lifts are not listed. Call (907) 761-7705.
State Medicaid waivers for eligible Alaskans who meet a Nursing Facility Level of Care assessment, with an individualized care plan; stair lifts are not listed in the source. Call (907) 269-3666.
A referral and counseling service for older Alaskans and adults with disabilities on long-term supports and Medicaid options, not a direct funder; stair lifts are not listed. Call (907) 262-6333, toll-free 800-770-7911, or the Kodiak Island office at 907-486-0493.
A nonprofit service with a Kodiak Island office that handles entry ramps, no-barrier showers, handrails and grab bars, and kitchen changes, and helps find grants to pay for them; stair lifts are not named. Call (907) 486-0493.
A local loan program for health equipment, offered alongside in-home services, caregiver support, the Island Cove Adult Day Program and meals and transportation; stair lifts are not listed. Call (907) 486-6181 or 800-774-6181.
State money that goes to local agencies serving seniors 60 and older and others, not cash paid to individuals; home modifications and stair lifts are not listed. Call (907) 269-3666.
Older adults
550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1600, Anchorage, 99501
Veterans
2414 Mill Bay Rd, Kodiak, 99615
The SAH and SHA grant sources do not mention stair lifts, but both help veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities adapt a home. Call (800) 698-2411 to ask, or visit Vietnam Veterans of America at 2414 Mill Bay Rd in Kodiak, (907) 512-0688.
The USDA Section 504 program offers grants only to very-low-income homeowners age 62 or older who cannot repay a loan, up to a $10,000 lifetime maximum. Stair lifts are not listed, so ask at (907) 761-7705.
Yes, an outdoor stair lift or platform lift can cover entry steps on a sloped lot. With 78.32 inches of yearly precipitation in the borough, the unit should be chosen for wet, cold conditions.
Not always. Short straight runs between levels can often take a straight lift. If the stairs turn or have a landing, a curved lift is usually needed.
The Peninsula Center for Independent Living has a Kodiak Island office at (907) 486-0493. Senior Citizens of Kodiak, Inc. offers information and referral at (907) 486-6181.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
