Pinehurst has been a National Historic Landmark District since 1996, and many of its Colonial Revival and Queen Anne-style houses date from the resort era that began in 1895. A lot of those older, multi-story homes have interior staircases that were never built with a lift in mind. In 2020, 39.2% of Pinehurst residents were age 65 or older, so many people living in these homes are now planning how to stay in them.
The rest of Moore County looks different. Southern Pines, Aberdeen, Whispering Pines, Seven Lakes, Carthage, Robbins, Vass, Cameron, Jackson Springs and the other towns mix single-family homes, townhouses, split-level homes and low-rise buildings, with plenty of rural property between them. This page walks through what that means for a stair lift and where to look for help paying for one.
Historic houses often have staircases with turns, landings or narrow treads. When a staircase changes direction, a straight rail will not work, and a curved rail is built to follow that specific stair. That takes careful measuring, so expect a home visit before any quote.
If the staircase runs in one straight flight, a straight stair lift is usually the simpler and faster install. Either way, the rail mounts to the stair treads rather than the walls, which matters in older homes where you want to leave original walls and trim alone.
Split-level homes are common in Moore County, and they usually have short flights between levels instead of one long staircase. Sometimes one short straight lift solves the problem for the room used most, such as the bedroom level. Other times the owner needs two lifts or a curved rail to reach more than one level.
Townhouses often have a single straight staircase, which is a good fit for a straight lift. In a low-rise building, the stairs you need may be shared common space, so check with the building or association before planning anything there.
Moore County covers 705.69 square miles in the Sandhills region, and as of the 2020 census it was about 49.5% rural. Many older residents live on properties farther from home-modification contractors and public transit. For those homes, the first barrier is often the steps up to the porch, not the indoor stairs.
An outdoor stair lift is built to handle weather on exterior steps. Where steps are not a good fit for a seat, a platform lift can carry a wheelchair instead. Because rural homes can be a longer drive for service, ask how maintenance and repair visits will be handled before you buy.
About 28.1% of Moore County residents are 65 or older, and 73.2% of households own their homes. Owning the home makes a stair lift easier to arrange, since you do not need a landlord's permission to install it.
The Moore County Veterans Service Office in Carthage, at (910) 947-3257, can help a veteran sort out which VA benefits apply.
There is no single program that pays for every stair lift. The two NC Medicaid waivers listed below do cover lifts, but each has strict eligibility rules. Other programs fund home repairs or accessibility work in general without naming stair lifts, so call and ask before counting on them.
For older adults, the Moore County Department of Aging at (910) 947-4483 and Region J - Central Pines Regional Council AAA at (919) 558-9394 are good first calls. North Carolina also has the Elderly or Disabled Property Tax Homestead Exclusion (G.S. 105-277.1), which is a property tax program rather than a way to pay for equipment.
A Medicaid waiver for adults 18 and older who meet a nursing-facility level of care; it covers lifts used primarily inside the home, up to a $28,000 cap per 5-year approval cycle for all equipment and modifications combined. Statewide waitlists exist, and referrals can be made at (833) 522-5429.
A Medicaid waiver for people with an intellectual or developmental disability, not a general seniors program; it names porch stair lifts and indoor lift systems, with a $50,000 cap combined with assistive technology. Call (888) 245-0179.
A locally run home-repair program for people age 60 or older that includes mobility and accessibility improvements, up to $7,000 per person per program year where funding is allocated. Stair lifts are not specifically listed; call (800) 662-7030.
The county's senior services office, offering information and assistance, the Family Caregiver Program, in-home aide services, transportation and more. No stair lift or home-modification program is listed, but staff can point you to options at (910) 947-4483.
A federal repair program for low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas, with loans up to $20,000 and grants up to $7,500 for homeowners 62 and older who cannot repay a loan. Stair lifts are not specifically listed.
A VA grant for home modifications with medical justification, up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime depending on eligibility. It explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts, so it will not pay for a stair lift.
Grants for veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026. Stair lifts are not specifically listed.
Older adults
1307 Glenwood Ave., Suite 200, Raleigh, 27605
Veterans
707 Pinehurst Avenue, Agriculture Building, Carthage, 28327
It can, through the NC Medicaid CAP/DA Waiver or the NC Innovations Waiver, which both cover lifts used in the home. You must qualify for the waiver itself, and CAP/DA has statewide waitlists. Call (833) 522-5429 for a CAP/DA referral.
The NC DHHS Housing and Home Improvement Assistance program serves people 60 and older and funds mobility and accessibility improvements up to $7,000 per program year, though it does not name stair lifts. Call (800) 662-7030 or the Moore County Department of Aging at (910) 947-4483.
The HISA grant excludes stair glides and porch lifts. SAH and SHA grants serve veterans with severe service-connected disabilities but do not specifically list stair lifts. The Moore County Veterans Service Office at (910) 947-3257 can review your situation.
In most cases the rail attaches to the stair treads, not the walls. Staircases with turns or landings need a curved rail made to fit, so a measurement visit comes first.
An outdoor stair lift is built for exterior steps. If a seat is not practical, a platform lift can carry a wheelchair. Rural homeowners with low income may also ask about USDA Section 504 repair loans and grants.
Moore County is served by Region J - Central Pines Regional Council AAA in Raleigh, at (919) 558-9394. Locally, the Moore County Department of Aging is at (910) 947-4483.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
