Most houses from Yuma out to Fortuna Foothills, Somerton and San Luis are single-story ranch-style homes with Spanish/Pueblo detailing, set on low-water desert lots. That changes the stair lift conversation here. The trouble spot is usually a few porch or entry steps, or a split-entry layout, not a long staircase to a second floor.
Yuma County also sits low and flat in the Sonoran Desert along the Colorado River, where summer heat is extreme. If the lift goes outside, the heat matters as much as the steps. This page walks through what that means for your home and how people in the county pay for a lift.
Local housing was built mostly from the late 20th century onward, and there are far fewer multi-story homes than in Arizona's mountain counties. So the most common jobs here are short runs: a raised front porch, a step down into a garage, or the half flight in a split-entry house.
A short, straight set of steps can often take a straight stair lift. When the steps are outdoors or only two or three high, a platform lift can make more sense, especially for someone who uses a wheelchair or walker.
Townhouses, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings also show up across the county. In those, the stairs may be shared, so the building owner or association usually has to approve any install.
Flat ground means few hills to climb, but distance and heat still keep people indoors. For entry steps outside the house, the lift has to handle Yuma summers.
Summer temperatures affect which materials and motor specs will hold up outdoors. Ask about weather-rated covers, seat materials that will not get too hot to sit on, and where the unit can be parked in shade. A unit meant for indoor use should not be put on an exposed porch.
About 20.2% of Yuma County residents are 65 or older, and 68.8% of households own their home. Owners can make permanent changes like a mounted rail or platform without asking a landlord.
Veterans can get help sorting out benefits from the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services - Yuma State Veteran Home Veterans Benefits Counselors at 6051 E. 34th Street in Yuma, (928) 247-8300. The Yuma VA Clinic (Southern Arizona VA Health Care System) is also in Yuma.
The program that lists stair lifts by name is the ALTCS Elderly & Physically Disabled (EPD) Waiver. It is for people who qualify for nursing-facility level of care, and the lift has to be medically necessary and written into the care plan.
For residents age 60 and up, the Region IV - WACOG Area Agency on Aging at 1235 S. Redondo Center Dr. in Yuma is the place to start, at (928) 782-1886. Its in-home services include adaptive aids and devices, though stair lifts are not itemized, and it has flagged waitlists for new clients in Yuma.
Other statewide options worth asking about include Arizona Loans for Assistive Technology (AzLAT) and the Senior Property Valuation Protection Option (Senior Freeze, AZ Form 104). Veterans should know that the VA HISA grant does not pay for stair glides.
This Arizona Medicaid waiver lists stair lift installation as an approved home adaptation for people who are financially and medically eligible for ALTCS and enrolled in the EPD or DDD waiver, with the amount approved case by case. Call (888) 621-6880.
Serves Yuma, La Paz and Mohave County residents age 60 and up with in-home services that include adaptive aids and devices, but stair lifts are not listed and waitlists have been flagged for new Yuma clients. Call (928) 782-1886 to confirm what is covered this year.
A VA grant for home structural alterations for veterans with a VA medical prescription, with a lifetime max of $6,800 or $2,000 depending on eligibility. It does not cover stair lifts, because the policy excludes stair glides as removable equipment.
Older adults
1235 S. Redondo Center Dr., Yuma, 85365
Veterans
6051 E. 34th Street, Yuma, 85365
Many Yuma County homes are single-story, but they often have porch or entry steps or a split-entry layout. A short straight lift or a platform lift can handle those few steps.
It can if it is built for it. Summer temperatures affect outdoor material and motor specs, so the unit should be made for outdoor use, not an indoor model moved outside.
The ALTCS Elderly & Physically Disabled (EPD) Waiver lists stair lifts as an approved adaptation if the person qualifies for ALTCS and the lift is medically necessary and in the care plan. Call (888) 621-6880.
The WACOG Area Agency on Aging serves people 60 and up. Someone younger may still qualify for ALTCS through the EPD or DDD waiver if they meet the medical and financial rules.
No. HISA policy excludes stair glides. Veterans can call the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services - Yuma State Veteran Home Veterans Benefits Counselors at (928) 247-8300 to ask about other benefits.
For an older adult, start with the Region IV - WACOG Area Agency on Aging at (928) 782-1886. If long-term care is involved, also call ALTCS at (888) 621-6880.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
