Washington County has one of the oldest housing stocks in North Carolina. 60.3% of homes here were built before 1980, the second-highest share of any NC county, behind only Anson County at 61.7%. In Plymouth, Roper and Creswell, that means a lot of houses were framed long before anyone thought about entry ramps, wide doorways or single-level living.
The land itself is flat, low coastal plain along the Albemarle Sound, with Lake Phelps and Pettigrew State Park nearby. So the stairs that cause trouble are rarely hills. They are the steps built into older homes: the half flights in split-levels, the front steps up to a raised entry, and the inside staircase that a parent has climbed for decades.
Most homes in the county fall into a few types: single-family homes, ranch-style homes and split-level homes, plus walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings. Each one points toward a different kind of lift.
Split-level homes usually have short, straight runs of stairs between levels. A straight stair lift is the simplest fit for those runs, and on a split-level you may need one for each half flight that the person actually uses.
Ranch-style and other single-story homes often have no indoor stairs at all. The problem is getting in the door. Steps up to a porch or entry are where an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift comes into the conversation.
If a staircase turns at a landing or bends partway up, a straight rail will not work. That calls for a curved stair lift, which is built to the shape of that specific staircase.
A significant share of homes in this part of rural coastal North Carolina are manufactured or mobile homes. These usually sit up off the ground, with a set of exterior steps to the door.
For those homes, the question is outdoor equipment. An outdoor stair lift can run along exterior steps, while a platform lift can suit someone who uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat. We look at the steps, the landing at the top and the ground at the bottom before recommending either one.
Washington County is entirely rural. The Census Bureau counts 100.0% of residents as living in rural areas, and the county averages 31.754 people per square mile.
In practice, installers and home-modification contractors cover a wide service radius to reach individual homes. It helps to plan ahead: get measurements done early, ask about scheduling for the install and any follow-up service, and line up funding paperwork before the lift is ordered.
Many families here are helping a parent stay in a house they have lived in for a long time.
Only 47.1% of residents are homeowners, so a good number of older adults rent, including in walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings. Renters should talk with the property owner before any equipment goes in, and some funding programs below are limited to homeowners.
The local economy runs on agriculture, forestry and public waters, and many households have limited room to pay for home changes out of pocket. That makes state, federal and local programs more important here.
None of the programs below name stair lifts outright, and one VA grant excludes them. Several do cover home modifications or accessibility improvements in general, so the best first calls are usually the Albemarle Commission Area Agency on Aging and the Washington County Senior Center, who can point you to what is open right now.
Statewide options also include the NC Innovations Waiver, the Community Alternatives Program for Children (CAP/C), and the Elderly or Disabled Property Tax Homestead Exclusion (G.S. 105-277.1), which may ease other household costs.
A Medicaid waiver for adults 18+ and adults 65+ who meet a nursing-facility level of care; its equipment, modification and technology service covers home modifications generally, but stair lifts are not named, so coverage depends on the care plan and case manager approval. Call (888) 245-0179.
Provides up to $7,000 per individual per program year for people age 60+ with no one able and willing to do the repairs, including mobility and accessibility improvements, though stair lifts are not named. Washington County is served through the Albemarle Commission Area Agency on Aging; call (800) 662-7030.
The regional agency on aging for Washington County and nine other counties, running home and community based services and the Family Caregiver Support Program and connecting residents to home-modification funding. It does not list stair lift coverage itself; call (252) 426-5753.
A local referral point for residents 50+ that lists home repair among its referral services, along with transportation, in-home aide services and Meals on Wheels; stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (252) 793-3816 for current options.
The county DSS office, offering adult services and Special Assistance depending on the program; specific home-modification programs are not listed. Call (252) 793-4041 to ask about current adult services.
An interest-free deferred loan, forgiven at $5,000 per year, for elderly or special-needs homeowners with household income below 50% of area median income; it can pay for accessibility modifications after an injury or serious illness, though stair lifts are not named. Call (919) 877-5700 to confirm a local administrator is active for Washington County.
A lifetime benefit of $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability status, for medically needed home changes for veterans. The VA explicitly excludes stair glides, so this grant does not pay for a stair lift.
Up to $126,526 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities to buy, build or adapt a permanent home. The VA gives ramps and wider doorways as examples and does not name stair lifts.
Up to $25,350 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities to adapt a home they or a family member own. Stair lifts are not named.
Washington County veterans issues are handled by this office, which offers benefits counseling, form preparation and hospital admission help; housing grant help is not listed. Call (919) 664-1015.
Older adults
1502 N. Market St., Suite A, Washington, 27889
Veterans
112 Latham Avenue, Plymouth, 27962
Often it can. Split-level homes have short, straight flights between levels, and each flight the person uses needs its own rail. A straight stair lift usually fits these runs well.
Yes, exterior steps can be fitted with an outdoor stair lift, or with a platform lift for someone who stays in a wheelchair. Many manufactured and mobile homes in the county sit up off the ground, so this is a common need.
The NC Housing and Home Improvement Assistance program offers up to $7,000 per individual per program year for people 60+, including mobility and accessibility improvements. Stair lifts are not named, so ask the Albemarle Commission Area Agency on Aging at (252) 426-5753 how it applies.
The HISA grant does not; the VA specifically excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants cover home adaptations for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities but do not name stair lifts. The Pitt County Veterans Service Officer, who serves Washington County, can be reached at (919) 664-1015.
The CAP/DA Medicaid Waiver covers home modifications generally for adults who meet a nursing-facility level of care. Whether a stair lift is included depends on the care plan and case manager approval. Call (888) 245-0179.
Start with the Washington County Senior Center at (252) 793-3816 or the Albemarle Commission Area Agency on Aging at (252) 426-5753. Both act as referral points and can tell you what funding is open now.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
