Scotland County grew up around Laurinburg, the county seat, where cotton mills and other factories took hold around 1900. Many houses in and near town date from that early-to-mid 20th century mill era. Later post-WWII and modern building filled in places like East Laurinburg, Laurel Hill, Wagram, Gibson and the rest of the county's 8 towns.
That mix of older and newer homes means no two staircases here are quite alike. This page walks through what the local homes and land mean for a stair lift, and which programs a Scotland County family can call about to help cover the cost.
The common house styles in Scotland County are single-family detached homes, split-level homes and ranch-style homes. Each one asks something different of a stair lift.
A split-level often has short flights of stairs between levels. A straight stair lift handles one short run well, but a home with two short flights joined by a landing may need a curved rail or two separate lifts. We measure both before suggesting either.
Ranch-style homes usually keep daily living on one floor, so the stairs that cause trouble tend to be the steps up to the front or back door. Those spots may call for an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift instead of an indoor model.
In an older house from the mill-town years, we look closely at stair width, tread condition and what the rail can be anchored to. That inspection decides whether a standard straight lift fits or a custom rail is the better choice.
Scotland County covers about 320.62 square miles. The northern part sits in the Sandhills, the southern part flattens toward the Coastal Plain, and the Lumber River runs along the eastern edge. Homes on rolling Sandhills lots are more likely to have raised entries with several outside steps.
Winters are mild, with January averaging around 44°F, so ice is less of a worry than in colder states. Rain is the bigger factor, at about 47 inches a year. An outdoor stair lift here should have a weather cover and parts rated for wet conditions.
The county's compact size also helps. Shorter drives mean service visits and follow-up checks are easier to schedule than in larger, more spread-out counties.
Those are the households most likely to ask us about stairs that have become hard to manage.
Only about 49.2% of residents own their homes. That matters, because several repair and modification programs require you to own and live in the house. If you rent, ask your landlord early and check the VA programs below, since one of them accepts rented homes.
Money is a real concern here. In 2024 Scotland County was ranked the state's second-most economically distressed county, and in September 2024 it had North Carolina's highest county unemployment rate at 5.6%. Median household income was estimated at $39,866.
None of the programs listed below name stair lifts as a covered item, and one VA grant rules out stair glides outright. Some do fund mobility and accessibility work or home modifications in general, so it is worth calling and asking directly whether a stair lift can be included.
For veterans, Scotland County Veteran Services is at 517 Peden Street, Laurinburg 28352, phone (910) 277-2448. Statewide, homeowners can also ask the county tax office about the Elderly or Disabled Property Tax Homestead Exclusion (G.S. 105-277.1), which can ease ongoing housing costs.
A Medicaid home-and-community-based program for disabled adults 18 and older who meet a nursing-facility level of care and qualify under MAA, MAB, MAD or HCWD. The source does not mention stair lifts, so ask about them directly at (888) 245-0179.
For people 60 or older, this program can fund mobility and accessibility improvements and minor repairs up to $7,000 per person per program year, though stair lifts are not named. Call Lumber River Area Agency on Aging at (910) 775-9700 to ask what Scotland County offers.
Deferred, forgivable loans up to $15,000 for emergency repairs and modifications in households at or below 50% of area median income that include an elderly, disabled or veteran member; stair lifts are not specifically named. The agency's number is (919) 877-5700.
Very low-income rural homeowners can get 1% loans up to $40,000, and those 62 or older who cannot repay a loan can get grants up to $10,000 lifetime; stair lifts are not named among the example modifications. The state office number listed is (919) 873-2000.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for disabled veterans' home alterations, in owned or rented homes. HISA does not cover stair glides, porch lifts or other removable equipment.
Grants of up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) in FY2026 for veterans who own or will own their home and have a qualifying service-connected disability. The VA does not mention stair lifts, so ask Scotland County Veteran Services at (910) 277-2448 for help applying.
Older adults
130 Gillespie St., Fayetteville, 28301
Veterans
517 Peden Street, Laurinburg, 28352
The HISA grant does not; the VA explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts from it. The SAH and SHA grants do not mention stair lifts either way, so a veteran with a qualifying service-connected disability should ask. Scotland County Veteran Services in Laurinburg can help at (910) 277-2448.
Yes. The Home and Community Care Block Grant home improvement service, run locally by Lumber River Area Agency on Aging, serves people 60 and older and can pay up to $7,000 per program year for mobility and accessibility work. Stair lifts are not named, so call (910) 775-9700 to ask.
Usually. Short single flights are well suited to straight lifts. If two flights meet at a landing, you may need a curved rail or two lifts, which we sort out when we measure.
Yes, with a model built for outdoor use. With about 47 inches of rain a year, a weather cover and moisture-rated parts are worth having. For entry steps on a ranch-style home, a platform lift may also be an option.
For the USDA Section 504 program and the VA SAH and SHA grants, yes. The VA HISA grant accepts owned or rented primary homes, but it does not cover stair glides.
CAP/DA serves disabled adults 18 and older who meet a nursing-facility level of care and qualify for Medicaid. Its source does not list stair lifts, so call (888) 245-0179 to ask whether one can be included.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
