Newberry is the only incorporated community in Luce County. Most households live out in the rural townships instead, spread across a county of 1,912 square miles in Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninsula. McMillan Township alone covers roughly 589 square miles.
Homes here tend to be long-owned single-family houses on scattered lots, far from the nearest assisted-living option. For a lot of families, putting a stair lift in the house they already own is the practical way to stay put. This page covers how local home styles affect the lift you would need and which programs may help with the cost.
Most homes in the county are single-family, detached houses, including plenty of ranch-style and split-level homes. A ranch house often has its only stairs going down to the basement, where the laundry or furnace sits. A straight stair lift on that basement run can keep someone from carrying loads up and down a steep flight.
Split-level homes are different. They usually have several short flights between levels, and each one may need its own lift. If the stairs turn at a landing, a curved lift built to fit that staircase is the usual answer. We measure every flight before suggesting anything.
Newberry's January average high is 24 degrees F, with an average low of 8 degrees F. Entry steps and porches take the brunt of that weather. Where the trouble is getting into the house, an outdoor lift or a platform lift may fit better than an indoor model, and it needs to be chosen with snow and cold in mind.
Distance also matters here. The county is heavily forested, home to Tahquamenon Falls and more than 300,000 acres of public-access land, and travel times to contractors and installers can be long. Planning the measuring visit and the install together, and starting before the deep winter months, can make scheduling easier and keep costs down.
About 20.9% of residents are 65 or older, so many households are thinking about stairs now or will be soon. Adult children who live outside the area often handle the planning by phone. In that case it helps to have a parent or neighbor on site for the first measurement.
If that includes your family, the veterans programs below are worth checking before you buy, because the rules on what they cover vary.
The county's poverty rate is 16.7%, above the national average of 12.5%, so funding help matters for many families here. The strongest lead is the MI Choice Medicaid waiver, which can include stair lifts in a participant's care plan. In the Upper Peninsula it is handled through UPCAP at (906) 786-4701.
Veterans can call the Luce County Veterans Services Office at (906) 293-4890, at 407 W. Harrie Street in Newberry, to ask about VA housing grants. Statewide programs such as the MSHDA Property Improvement Program (PIP) and MI Coordinated Health (formerly MI Health Link) may also be worth asking about. Each program is summarized below, along with what its source says about stair lifts.
A Medicaid waiver for eligible Michigan seniors and adults with disabilities that covers stair lifts as part of an individual care plan, with no fixed per-item dollar cap stated. Income and asset limits apply, so confirm current figures by calling (906) 786-4701.
UPCAP serves a 15-county Upper Peninsula area that includes Luce County, and accessibility home modifications may be included in a care plan under its programs. Call (906) 786-4701 to ask about an assessment.
A federal repair loan and grant program for low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas to repair, improve or modernize homes or remove health and safety hazards. The source does not mention stair lifts, so call (517) 324-5210 to ask about current limits and whether your address qualifies.
Grants for veterans who own their home and have a qualifying service-connected disability, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA, usable up to 6 times. The VA source does not mention stair lifts, so ask the VA directly before planning around it.
A lifetime benefit of up to $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability status, for medically necessary home improvements. HISA does not cover stair lifts, since stair glides are specifically excluded.
A disability network serving the Upper Peninsula with an Accessibility Program and housing support. Its source does not mention stair lifts, so call (906) 228-5744 to confirm service in Luce County and what the program offers.
A senior services contact point at 113 W. Helen Street in Newberry and a practical first call for local aging-in-place referrals. Its listing does not mention stair lifts; reach it at (906) 293-8891.
Free home energy conservation services for low-income Michigan homeowners and renters. It is an energy program and does not mention stair lifts; call (906) 632-3363 for details.
Older adults
P.O. Box 606, 2501 14th Ave. South, Escanaba, 49829
Veterans
407 W. Harrie Street, Newberry, 49868
It can through the MI Choice Medicaid waiver, which lists stair lifts among covered modifications as part of a care plan. You must meet Medicaid income and asset limits. Call UPCAP at (906) 786-4701 to confirm current limits and start an assessment.
No. HISA specifically excludes stair glides. A veteran with a qualifying service-connected disability can ask about the SAH or SHA grants instead, though the VA source does not name stair lifts for those either. The Luce County Veterans Services Office is at (906) 293-4890.
Often not. Split-level homes usually have several short flights, and each may need its own lift, or a curved lift if the stairs turn. A measurement of every flight tells you what you actually need.
Outdoor and platform lifts are options for entry steps. With January average lows of 8 degrees F in Newberry, the equipment needs to suit snow and cold, which we go over at the home visit.
Yes, including homes in the rural townships. Because distances in the county are long, we try to plan the measuring visit and installation together to save trips.
The Tahquamenon Area Senior Citizens Center in Newberry, at (906) 293-8891, can point you to local aging resources. For funding through MI Choice, UPCAP at (906) 786-4701 is the direct line.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
