Wrangell sits at the northern tip of Wrangell Island, about 155 miles south of Juneau, and it is the only town in the borough. With no road to the outside world, everything that comes in arrives on one of the two daily Alaska Airlines flights or on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry. That includes stair lift rails, motors and the people who install them.
Most homes here are mid-20th-century or newer, since a severe fire in the early 1950s burned much of the historic downtown. Like a lot of Southeast Alaska fishing towns, those houses were generally not built with ground-level entries or wide stairwells. This page walks through what that means for a stair lift and where to look for help paying for one.
The 2020 census counted 1,273 housing units in Wrangell. The mix includes single-family homes, detached houses, split-level homes, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings. Each one points toward a different kind of lift.
A single straight flight in a detached house is usually the simplest job, using a straight stair lift on one rail. Split-level homes often have two or three short flights with a landing or turn, which can call for a curved lift built to the exact stair shape, or separate straight lifts on each run.
Narrow stairwells are common in homes of this era, so we measure the width, the landings and the clearance at the top and bottom before recommending anything. In walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings, shared stairs usually need the building owner's permission before any rail goes in.
Wrangell averages 91.21 inches of rain a year and 58 inches of snow. That keeps exterior stairs and ramps wet or icy for much of the year, and those are often the steps that worry families most.
An outdoor stair lift is built with weather covers and sealed parts for this kind of exposure. For a porch or deck where someone uses a wheelchair, a platform lift may be the better fit. Either way, the outdoor steps deserve a look during the same visit as the indoor ones.
Because access is limited to air and ferry, specialized accessibility contractors and equipment suppliers are harder to reach here than in a road-connected town. Shipping time and freight costs are a real part of the plan for any home modification.
The practical answer is to measure carefully once, confirm the exact model and parts before anything ships, and schedule the install around ferry and flight timing. Curved lifts take the longest, since the rail is made to fit your stairs, so starting early matters most for split-level homes.
About 2,106 people live in Wrangell Borough, and 23.9% are 65 or older. Population has been shrinking and the median age was 48.5 at the 2020 census, so more households are facing stairs with an older parent or spouse in mind.
And with 56.6% of residents owning their homes, many families have the ability to make permanent changes like a mounted rail.
The local economy leans on commercial fishing, the Silver Bay Logging Company sawmill, tourism and government jobs, and income can be seasonal. A large out-of-pocket bill is hard for many households, so it is worth checking every program before paying cash.
SAIL is the main regional starting point for Wrangell residents, and two of its programs explicitly mention home modifications. Veterans should also look at the VA grants and the SAIL VOICE program. The programs section below lists each one and its phone number.
Statewide, programs to ask 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 at (907) 465-3250 and the Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs at (907) 334-0874 can help sort out which apply.
Federal home modification grants for veterans and service members with qualifying service-connected disabilities: SAH up to $126,526, SHA up to $25,350, and TRA up to $50,961 or $9,100 (FY2026). The program describes covered work as installing ramps or widening doorways; stair lifts are not listed, so ask the VA directly.
A monthly care budget, historically $1,107-$4,791 based on assessed need, for veterans enrolled in Alaska VA Healthcare who need help with daily activities. The program says veterans can save budget for equipment or home modifications; call (800) 478-7245.
A fund through SAIL's Assistive Technology program that helps seniors and people with disabilities in Southeast Alaska buy adaptive equipment and pay for home modifications. Wrangell residents apply through SAIL's toll-free intake at (800) 478-7245.
An information and referral hub that pre-screens seniors and people with disabilities for the ALI and APDD Medicaid waivers. The source does not list which home modifications are covered; call (888) 487-1025.
A loan closet for items like wheelchairs, walkers, shower benches and bedside commodes, with no cost stated; stair lifts are not named among loaned equipment. Wrangell residents without a local office can arrange items through (800) 478-7245.
Older adults
550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1600, Anchorage, 99501
Veterans
4600 DeBarr Rd, Suite 180, Anchorage, 99508
Usually, yes. Split-level homes often have short flights with landings or turns, which can mean a curved lift made to fit the stairs or a straight lift on each run. We decide after measuring.
Outdoor stair lifts are built with weather covers and sealed parts for wet conditions. With 91.21 inches of rain and 58 inches of snow a year, an outdoor model is the right choice for exterior steps, not an indoor unit.
There is no road connection, so equipment comes by Alaska Airlines flights or the Alaska Marine Highway ferry. Shipping time and freight are part of the plan, and curved rails take the longest because they are custom-made.
Yes. SAIL VOICE at (800) 478-7245 lets enrolled Alaska VA Healthcare veterans save budget for home modifications. The VA SAH, SHA and TRA grants also fund home changes, and the Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs is at (907) 334-0874.
Call SAIL at (800) 478-7245 about the Consumer Service Fund, which covers home modifications, and the SAIL ADRC at (888) 487-1025 for a Medicaid waiver pre-screen. The Alaska Commission on Aging / Senior & Disabilities Services is at (907) 465-3250.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
