Maricopa County covers 37 towns, from Phoenix, Mesa and Glendale to Sun City, Fountain Hills, Wickenburg and Queen Creek. Most of the homes here are newer: 53% were built since 1990, and many are single-story tract houses typical of Phoenix-metro suburbs. That means the stairs we see are concentrated in specific places, not spread evenly across every street.
The two-story production-builder homes in Chandler, Gilbert and Surprise make up a large share of stair lift requests, along with split-entry and raised-entry ranch layouts. Add the Sonoran Desert heat of the Salt River Valley, and choosing a lift here comes down to the shape of your staircase and whether it sits indoors or out by the patio or pool.
In a two-story suburban home in Chandler, Gilbert or Surprise, the main staircase is often a single run from the entry or family room up to the bedrooms. A straight stair lift is the usual fit for that layout. It mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so the drywall stays as it is.
If the staircase turns at a landing or curves, a curved lift with a custom rail is the answer. Split-entry and raised-entry ranch homes are a different situation: the stairs are shorter, but there are often two short flights, one going up and one going down from the entry. We measure each flight and talk through which one you use most each day.
Townhouses, split-level homes, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings round out the county's housing types. Where a wheelchair needs to get up a few steps, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat lift, and we will say so during the visit.
Maricopa County sits at roughly 1,100 ft in the Salt River Valley, with July highs averaging over 104°F and about 110 days a year above 100°F. Snow and ice are not a concern here. Sun and heat are.
An outdoor lift for patio steps or a pool deck should use components built to stand up to UV exposure and high heat. Ask about this directly if your steps face the afternoon sun. An indoor lift does not face these issues, so most owners only deal with them on outside steps.
Out of a population of 4,312,252, about 15.9% of county residents are 65 or older. Many of the calls come from adult children whose parents want to stay in a two-story home they bought years ago.
About 64.3% of residents own their homes. Owners can install a lift on their own schedule, while renters in townhouses or walk-up apartments will need the landlord's approval first.
Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center in Phoenix is the place to start for VA help with stairs and home changes.
Home values in the county are among the higher ones in Arizona. Zillow's typical home value was about $467,781 in March 2024, and median monthly owner housing cost was $1,511 in 2023. For many families, that makes outside help worth checking before paying out of pocket.
Only one local program in our list states plainly that it covers stair lifts: the ALTCS Elderly and Physically Disabled (EPD) Waiver home modification benefit. Others cover related work or can point you to resources. For veterans, the VA lift itself goes through VA Prosthetics (PSAS) or the SAH/SHA grant, not HISA.
Statewide, it is also worth asking about Arizona Loans for Assistive Technology (AzLAT) and the Senior Property Valuation Protection Option (Senior Freeze, AZ Form 104). Details on each local program are below.
The Area Agency on Aging, Region One is at 1366 E. Thomas Rd., Suite 108, Phoenix 85014, phone (602) 264-2255. Staff there coordinate referrals to home-repair resources for older residents and caregivers.
For veterans, the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services (Headquarters) is at 1688 W. Adams Street, Phoenix 85007, phone (602) 255-3373.
A statewide Medicaid waiver benefit that covers stair lifts for ALTCS-eligible members as a change to an existing structure, with no fixed cap; amounts are set case by case in the member's plan. Call (855) 432-7587.
A free grant-matching program for low-to-moderate income, disabled Maricopa County residents, funded mainly through Community Development Block Grants. Its listed work includes ramps and grab bars but does not name stair lifts, so call (602) 256-2245 to ask about stair-specific cases.
The regional aging services agency for residents 60 and older and their caregivers, which refers people to home-repair resources. Whether it funds stair lifts is not known, so call the Senior HELP LINE at (888) 264-2258.
A federal VA grant for ramps and structural changes, up to $6,800 lifetime for service-connected cases or $2,000 for non-service-connected; it does not cover the stair lift itself, which goes through VA Prosthetics (PSAS) or the SAH/SHA grant. Call (602) 277-5551.
Older adults
1366 E. Thomas Rd., Suite 108, Phoenix, 85014
Veterans
1688 W. Adams Street, Phoenix, 85007
Yes, for people who qualify. The ALTCS Elderly and Physically Disabled (EPD) Waiver covers stair lifts as a home modification for members who meet nursing-facility level of care and the income and asset limits. There is no fixed cap. Call (855) 432-7587.
Not through the HISA grant, which covers ramps and structural changes. The lift itself is covered through VA Prosthetics (PSAS) or the SAH/SHA grant. Start with the Carl T. Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center at (602) 277-5551.
The Area Agency on Aging, Region One serves people 60 and older. Younger residents with a disability can contact the Ability360 Home Modification Project at (602) 256-2245 or ask whether they qualify for ALTCS.
Yes, outdoor lifts work for patio and pool deck steps. With about 110 days a year above 100°F, ask for components built to handle UV and high heat. Snow and ice are not a factor here.
A straight stair lift is the usual choice for a single straight run, which is common in two-story production homes in Gilbert, Chandler and Surprise. If there is a landing or turn, you would need a curved lift.
Its program page lists items like ramps and grab bars but does not name stair lifts. It is free to qualifying low-to-moderate income, disabled county residents, so call (602) 256-2245 and describe your stairs.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
