Nome Census Area stretches across the Seward Peninsula and out to St. Lawrence Island, with 14 communities from Nome and Unalakleet to Gambell, Savoonga, Shishmaref and Golovin. Local roads reach only about 87 miles out from Nome, and there is no road or rail link to the rest of Alaska. Getting a stair lift here takes more planning than it does almost anywhere else in the country.
Most homes in the area are mid-to-late 20th century construction, because fires in 1905 and 1934 and storms in 1900, 1913, 1945 and 1974 destroyed much of Nome's Gold Rush-era building stock. Add months-long winters and icy exterior steps, and stair access becomes a real question for anyone who wants to stay in their own home. This page walks through what fits these homes and where to look for help paying.
Housing across the census area is mostly single-family homes and detached houses, with some low-rise buildings and walk-up apartments. Newer construction from the mid-to-late 20th century often has a single straight run of stairs, which is the simplest and usually the most practical stair lift to install.
Stairs with a landing or a turn need a curved lift with a rail built to match the staircase. In a walk-up apartment, the building owner usually has to agree before anything is mounted in a shared stairwell, so ask that question early.
For many older residents, the hardest stairs are not inside. Nome sits at only about 20 feet of elevation, and the long winters leave entry steps coated in ice for months. An outdoor stair lift is built for weather exposure and can carry a person up the entry steps while seated.
If someone uses a wheelchair, a seat lift may not be enough. A platform lift carries the chair itself and is worth considering where there is room beside the entry. It helps to measure the steps and note how snow and ice build up before choosing between the two.
Nome Census Area covers about 28,278 square miles with roughly 0.44 people per square mile. Because there is no road connection to the rest of Alaska, equipment and installation services depend on costly, weather-dependent air travel.
That changes how a project should be planned. Send clear photos and measurements of the stairs ahead of time so the right lift and rail come on the first trip. If you live in a village such as Koyuk, Elim, Wales or Teller, expect weather to affect the schedule and build in some flexibility.
Roughly 64.0% of households own their home, which matters because most home modification grants and installations assume the owner is on board.
The local job base is narrow, centered largely on gold mining, including offshore dredging that continues today. That can mean fewer family caregivers close by and less room in the budget for out-of-pocket modifications, so it is worth checking every funding avenue below.
None of the programs listed on this page names stair lifts directly in its source material, so call and ask before counting on any of them. Veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities should look first at the VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant and the VA Special Home Adaptation (SHA) Grant. The Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs can be reached at (888) 248-3682.
Statewide programs worth asking about include the Alaskans Living Independently (ALI) Waiver, 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 in Anchorage answers at (907) 465-3250.
In Nome itself, the Alaska Legal Services Corporation office at 110 Front Street, Suite 208, can help low-income seniors and veterans with benefits and housing applications. The senior center at 104 Division Street is a good first stop for local referrals.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 for a permanent home or up to $50,961 for a temporary residence (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities who own or plan to own the home. VA examples include ramps and wider doorways; stair lifts are not named, so confirm with the VA, and the funds can be used across up to 6 uses over a lifetime.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 for a permanent home or up to $9,100 for a temporary residence (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands. It covers structural home adaptations generally, and the source does not mention stair lifts.
A statewide Center for Independent Living in Anchorage offering referrals, housing assistance, benefits navigation and ADA guidance to Alaskans with disabilities and senior Alaskans. Stair lift help is not listed and rural outreach to Nome is not confirmed, so call (907) 248-4777 to ask.
A state housing office that shares information on senior housing options and funding sources rather than offering one defined grant. Stair lifts are not listed; call (907) 330-8436 to ask what is currently funded.
Free civil legal help for low-income Alaskans, including seniors and veterans with housing and public benefits issues, from an office at 110 Front Street, Suite 208 in Nome. It does not pay for home modifications but can help with Medicaid, VA and other applications; call (907) 443-2230.
A senior center at 104 Division Street offering meals, transportation, falls-prevention exercise and other services to registered participants. It does not list home modification or stair lift help, but it is a useful local starting point at (907) 443-5238.
Older adults
550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1600, Anchorage, 99501
Veterans
4600 DeBarr Rd, Suite 180, Anchorage, 99508
Yes, outdoor stair lifts are built for weather exposure and can be used on exterior steps. Given the long winters around Nome, many households find the entry steps are the first place a lift is needed.
Equipment and service travel by air, which is costly and depends on the weather. Sending accurate measurements and photos ahead helps the right lift arrive on the first trip.
The SAH and SHA grants fund home adaptations for veterans with qualifying disabilities, but the VA source does not name stair lifts. Call the Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs at (888) 248-3682 to ask about your situation.
The Alaska Legal Services Corporation office at 110 Front Street, Suite 208 offers free help to low-income seniors and veterans with benefits and housing matters. Their number is (907) 443-2230.
It is often possible, but shared stairwells usually need the building owner's approval. Get that permission before ordering equipment.
The Alaska Commission on Aging / Senior & Disabilities Services at (907) 465-3250 can explain statewide options such as the Alaskans Living Independently (ALI) Waiver and the Alaska Senior Benefits Program.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
