Petersburg sits on the north end of Mitkof Island, built on low mountains over muskeg, a wet and uneven soil that makes a poor base for building. To deal with that ground, many homes here stand on raised foundations or pilings, or are laid out on several levels. The result is that a lot of houses put a set of stairs between the front door and the main living space.
That layout is the reason a stair lift comes up so often in Petersburg kitchens. About 22.1% of the borough's 3,346 residents are 65 or older, and 70.6% of households own their homes, so many people here are deciding how to stay put rather than move. This page covers which lift types fit local homes, what island logistics mean for an install, and which programs may help with the cost.
The housing here is mostly single-family homes, split-level homes and low-rise buildings. A single straight flight, the kind you often find in a raised-foundation house running from the entry up to the living floor, is usually the simplest and least costly lift to install.
Split-level and multi-level layouts are different. If the stairs turn at a landing or change direction, a straight rail will not work, and a curved lift built to the shape of your staircase is the usual answer. We measure every flight before recommending anything, because the stair shape decides the lift type more than any other factor.
The borough averages 85.6 inches of snowfall and over 110 inches of precipitation a year. Exterior stairs and walkways stay icy and slick for much of the year, and for many households the outside steps are the real problem, not the inside ones.
An outdoor-rated stair lift is built to handle weather on an exterior flight. Where a wheelchair user needs to get from the ground to a raised entry, a platform lift may be the better fit. It is worth looking at the outside approach and the inside stairs together so you solve the whole trip from the driveway to the kitchen.
Petersburg has no bridges to the mainland. It is reached only by air on Alaska Airlines or by sea on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry, roughly halfway between Juneau, 120 miles north, and Ketchikan, 110 miles south.
That adds freight and travel time and cost to any lift or installer coming from off the island. Planning ahead helps: get measurements done early, settle on the lift type before ordering, and expect the schedule to depend on shipping. In a fishing town where income can swing season to season, knowing the full cost up front makes budgeting easier.
Two SAIL programs are the clearest fits on paper. The SAIL Consumer Service Fund assists with adaptive equipment and home modifications, and SAIL VOICE gives eligible veterans a monthly budget that can include home modifications.
Alaska's Medicaid waivers, the USDA Section 504 repair program and the AHFC Senior Housing Office are other paths, though their sources do not list stair lifts specifically. You can also ask about statewide programs such as HomeMAP – Home Modifications for Aging in Place and the AHFC Senior Access Program (SAP). For general help, the Alaska Commission on Aging / Senior & Disabilities Services is at (907) 465-3250, and the Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs is at (907) 334-0874.
Federal grants for veterans and service members with qualifying service-connected disabilities, with SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 for FY2026; the source names ramps and widening doorways but does not mention stair lifts. Call the VA at (800) 827-1000.
A VA benefit for home improvements and structural alterations related to a medical condition, applied for on VA Form 10-0103. The source does not mention stair lifts or list dollar amounts.
A veteran-directed care budget, historically $1,107-$4,791 a month based on need, for veterans enrolled in Alaska VA Healthcare who need help with daily activities; it can cover home modifications, including stair lifts. It is not income-based, and the program serves Southeast Alaska, so contact your nearest SAIL office to confirm Petersburg enrollment.
A fund that helps seniors and people with disabilities in Southeast Alaska purchase adaptive equipment and home modifications, and it covers stair lifts. SAIL's offices are in Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, so call (800) 478-7245 to confirm service in Petersburg.
The state-assigned information and referral hub for Southeast Alaska, including Petersburg, which pre-screens for the ALI and APDD Medicaid waivers; it is not a cash grant, and the source does not list stair lifts. Call (888) 487-1025.
A Medicaid waiver for adults 21+ who need nursing-facility level of care and meet Medicaid income and resource limits, with services set by an individualized care plan. The source does not list stair lifts; call (855) 565-2017.
A Medicaid waiver for adults 21+ with physical or developmental disabilities who need nursing-facility level of care and meet Medicaid financial limits. Stair lifts are not listed in the source; call (855) 565-2017.
A Medicaid waiver for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, with an annual cohort of 50 selected from a statewide waitlist and entry through the Developmental Disabilities Resource Connection (DDRC). The source does not list stair lifts; call (855) 565-2017.
A waiver for people with autism, developmental or intellectual disabilities who are on the IDD waiver waitlist, with a total individual cost cap and entry through DDRC. Stair lifts are not listed in the source; call (855) 565-2017.
Repair loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners in USDA-eligible rural areas, with grants limited to applicants 62+ for removing health and safety hazards. The source does not list stair lifts, and Petersburg Borough's eligibility should be checked on USDA's property eligibility site.
A statewide information and referral service, including Petersburg, that keeps an inventory of senior and disabled housing and refers seniors to funding sources for housing needs. It is not a direct grant and does not itemize stair lifts; call (907) 330-8436.
Older adults
550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1600, Anchorage, 99501
Veterans
4600 DeBarr Rd, Suite 180, Anchorage, 99508
The SAH, SHA and TRA grant page names ramps and widening doorways but does not mention stair lifts, and the HISA page does not either. SAIL VOICE, a veteran-directed care budget, does cover home modifications. Call the VA at (800) 827-1000 or the Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs at (907) 334-0874 to ask about your situation.
SAIL's listed offices are in Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, and its programs serve Southeast Alaska. The state assigns the whole Southeast region, including Petersburg, to the SAIL ADRC. Call the Consumer Service Fund at (800) 478-7245 or the ADRC at (888) 487-1025 to confirm.
Petersburg has no bridges to the mainland, so equipment and installers arrive by Alaska Airlines or the Alaska Marine Highway ferry. That adds freight and travel time and cost. Measuring early and choosing the lift type before ordering keeps delays down.
Outdoor-rated stair lifts are made for exterior flights, which matters with 85.6 inches of snowfall and over 110 inches of precipitation a year. For a wheelchair user at a raised entry, a platform lift may fit better. We look at the outside approach during the home visit.
USDA Section 504 grants are limited to very-low-income homeowners 62+ and must go toward removing health and safety hazards, with loans available to other eligible homeowners. The source does not list stair lifts, so ask directly. The AHFC Senior Housing Office at (907) 330-8436 can also refer you to funding sources.
Yes. A straight rail only works on a single straight flight, which is common in raised-foundation homes. Stairs that turn or change direction usually need a curved lift built to the shape of the staircase.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
