Franklin County runs from the Connecticut River mill villages of Turners Falls, Millers Falls and Shelburne Falls up into hill towns like Heath, Rowe and Hawley near the Berkshire foothills. Much of the housing here is older, multi-story New England construction: colonial and farmhouse-style homes with a full flight of interior stairs between floors.
That layout is the main reason families in Montague, Orange, Deerfield and the other 28 towns call us. When a parent wants to keep living at home but the bedroom and bathroom are upstairs, a stair lift is often the most direct fix. This page covers which lift suits which kind of house, and where to look for help paying for one.
The county is dotted with historic farmhouses and tobacco barns from its agricultural past, and many town centers grew up as 19th-century mill villages along the Connecticut River and its tributaries. Homes from that era usually have one full flight of stairs, and that staircase is where we start every visit.
If the flight runs straight from bottom to top, a straight stair lift is usually the simplest and quickest install. Older homes often have a landing, a turn or winders partway up, and those stairs need a curved lift with a rail built to match your staircase.
We measure in person because no two old staircases are quite alike. The shape of the stairs, not the age of the house, decides which lift will work.
Not everyone in Franklin County lives in a farmhouse. Split-level homes, townhouses, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings are part of the mix too, especially closer to Greenfield, the county seat and largest city.
A split-level often has two short flights instead of one long one, and each may need its own lift. In a townhouse or walk-up apartment, check with the owner or association before planning an install on shared or rented stairs.
The county sits at the northern end of the Pioneer Valley, where steep hills rise on both sides of the Connecticut River. The highest point, Crum Hill in Monroe, reaches 2,841 feet, and plenty of homes sit on sloped lots with steps up to the door.
For exterior steps, an outdoor stair lift built for weather is one option. Where someone uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift may make more sense than a chair. We can walk the outside of the house with you and talk through both.
About 23.8% of Franklin County residents are 65 or older, and the county is widely described as the most rural in Massachusetts, with 54.9% of residents living in rural areas as of the 2020 census. In a hill town, moving to a one-floor apartment can mean leaving town altogether.
A stair lift lets someone keep using the whole house they already own. For many families that is the deciding factor.
Most programs available here fund home modifications in general and do not name stair lifts in their published materials. Only one program in our list names stair lifts directly, and its eligibility is narrow. One VA grant, HISA, specifically excludes stair glides.
The best first call is usually LifePath at (413) 773-5555, the designated Area Agency on Aging for Franklin County. They do not pay for stair lifts themselves, but they offer free options counseling and can refer you to MassHealth waivers and home repair resources. Veterans can also contact the Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans Services District at 294 Main Street in Greenfield, (413) 772-1571.
The programs below are listed with what each source actually says. Ask any program directly whether a stair lift qualifies before you sign a contract.
The designated aging agency for all of Franklin County, offering free options counseling, needs assessments, a Consumer Home Repair Guide and referrals to the Frail Elder Waiver and other programs; it does not fund stair lifts itself. Call (413) 773-5555 or visit 101 Munson St., Suite 201, Greenfield.
A MassHealth waiver for people over age 60 that lists Environmental Accessibility Adaptation as a service, approved through an individualized service plan; the source does not mention stair lifts. Call (800) 243-4636.
A provider funding directory states that MassHealth waiver enrollees may receive up to $50,000 (lifetime) for accessibility modifications, a figure that may overlap with the Frail Elder Waiver benefit; stair lifts are not named. Call (617) 204-3628.
A statewide program for vocational-rehabilitation clients with disabilities who are pursuing an employment goal; the source does not mention stair lifts. Call (617) 204-3721.
Offers 0% or low-interest deferred-payment loans to Massachusetts homeowners or landlords with a household member who has a disability; listed examples are ramps, accessible bathrooms and wider doorways, and stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (866) 500-5599.
Low-interest financing for Massachusetts residents with disabilities who need assistive technology; the source does not mention stair lifts. Call (800) 244-2756.
Below-market fixed-interest home improvement loans for low and moderate-income homeowners, with examples like ramps, wider doorways and a first-floor laundry; stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (617) 854-1000.
Very-low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas can get loans up to $40,000 at 1% over 20 years, and those age 62+ who cannot repay a loan can get grants up to $10,000, combined up to $50,000; stair lifts are not named. Call the Amherst office at (413) 253-4300.
Up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans with a qualifying severe service-connected disability who own or will own the home; the VA page does not name stair lifts. Call (800) 827-1000.
Up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands; the VA page does not name stair lifts. Call (800) 827-1000.
For SAH- or SHA-eligible veterans living temporarily in a family member's home, up to $50,961 or $9,100 (FY2026) depending on eligibility; stair lifts are not named. Call (800) 827-1000.
A lifetime benefit of $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary home changes, but VA policy explicitly excludes stair glides, porch lifts and portable ramps. Call (800) 827-1000.
Serves residents with a disability in Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden Counties with volunteer-built wheelchair ramps and durable medical equipment at no cost; stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (413) 256-0473.
Grants up to $7,000 for stair lifts, ramps and van conversions, but only for people of any age with an intellectual disability or children with a physical handicap under their 20th birthday; a physician's prescription and usually two contractor quotes are required. Call (781) 551-0628.
Older adults
33 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough, 01752
Veterans
294 Main Street, Greenfield, 01301
Call LifePath at (413) 773-5555. It is the designated aging agency for all of Franklin County and offers free options counseling, a needs assessment and referrals to MassHealth waivers and home repair resources.
The Frail Elder Waiver, for people over age 60 who meet MassHealth financial rules, lists Environmental Accessibility Adaptation as a service. The source does not name stair lifts, so ask MassHealth at (800) 243-4636 or LifePath whether one could fit your service plan.
The VA HISA grant explicitly excludes stair glides. The SAH, SHA and TRA grants do not name stair lifts on the VA page, so check with the VA at (800) 827-1000 or the Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans Services District in Greenfield at (413) 772-1571.
The USDA Section 504 program, through its Amherst office at (413) 253-4300, offers repair loans up to $40,000 at 1% and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners age 62+ who cannot repay a loan. Stair lifts are not named, so ask whether your project qualifies.
Yes, stairs with a landing or a turn generally call for a curved stair lift with a custom-built rail. A straight lift only works on a single straight run, so we measure your staircase in person first.
The Knights of Columbus Massachusetts State Council Charity Fund grants up to $7,000 for stair lifts, but only for people with an intellectual disability or children with a physical handicap under age 20. Call (781) 551-0628 to ask about eligibility.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
