Orange County has 50 towns, and the homes in them were built over a long stretch of history. Older villages and hamlets such as Goshen, Warwick, and Newburgh still hold colonial-era and 19th-century houses, while places like Monroe, Middletown, and New Windsor filled in with mid-20th-century suburban homes as the county became part of the New York City commuter belt.
Most of those houses have more than one floor, and many sit on hills. If a parent in Cornwall, Port Jervis, or Washingtonville is starting to struggle with the stairs, a stair lift can keep the whole house usable. This page walks through how local homes and terrain affect the choice of lift, and which offices and programs can help with the cost.
The colonial-era and 19th-century homes in Goshen, Warwick, and Newburgh often have narrow staircases, tight landings, and stairs that turn partway up. A straight stair lift needs one clear, unbroken run. When the staircase bends or has a landing in the middle, a curved lift built to that exact staircase is usually the answer.
These houses also tend to have uneven old treads and walls that are not perfectly square. A lift rail mounts to the stair treads rather than the wall, so plaster and old woodwork usually stay untouched. We measure every step before recommending a model.
The county's housing also includes split-level homes, townhouses, duplexes, and low-rise buildings. A split-level often has several short flights instead of one long one. Each short flight can take its own straight lift, or one curved rail can sometimes connect two flights if the layout allows it.
Townhouses and duplexes usually have a single straight staircase between floors, which is the simplest and quickest install. In a low-rise building, a lift in a shared stairwell needs the owner's or association's approval first, so ask before scheduling a visit.
Orange County covers 840 square miles, with the Hudson Highlands in the east, the Wallkill River valley through the middle, and the flat Black Dirt Region farmland in the southern Wallkill valley. Schunemunk Mountain, the county's highest point, reaches 1,664 feet. That range shows up right at the front door.
Many older homes in the Hudson Highlands villages were built on sloped lots with exterior steps leading up to the entrance. An outdoor stair lift is built with weather-resistant parts for those steps. Where someone uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift may be the better fit for a porch or entry.
About 14.6% of the county's 463,280 residents are 65 or older, and 68.9% of households own their homes. With a median property value of $387,900, many long-time owners would rather adapt the house they have than move.
The Orange County Veterans Service Agency at 111 Craigville Road in Goshen, (845) 291-2470, can help a veteran sort out which VA benefits apply.
No single local fund is set up just for stair lifts, so the best first call is usually the Orange County Office for the Aging at 40 Matthews St. Suite 305 in Goshen, (845) 615-3700. They handle information, referrals, and care coordination, and they administer EISEP locally.
Of the programs below, the NY Medicaid NHTD Waiver is the one whose materials list home modifications as a covered service. Several repair programs, including RESTORE and the RUPCO Homeowner Repair Program, mention accessibility work in general terms, so ask them directly about a stair lift. Veterans should know that the VA HISA benefit excludes stair glides.
The county's information, referral, benefits counseling, and care coordination hub for residents 60 and older, with NY Connects at 845-615-3710 serving all ages. Stair lifts and home modifications are not mentioned in its materials; call (845) 615-3700.
A state program for people 60 and older who need help with daily activities, offering case management, personal care, respite, and ancillary services that may include home repairs or assistive devices. Stair lifts are not listed by name; call (800) 342-9871 or the county Office for the Aging, which runs it locally.
A Medicaid waiver for people who meet a nursing-home level of care, ages 18-64 with a physical disability or 65 and older, that lists home modifications among its covered services. Requests are reviewed case by case; call (844) 545-7108.
A nonprofit serving seniors and people with disabilities from offices in Newburgh, Middletown, and Monticello, offering ADA consultation and home-modification coordination. Stair lifts are not specifically named; call (845) 565-1162.
Helps income-qualified owner-occupants with critical repairs, accessibility modifications, and energy upgrades, with eligible applicants placed on a priority list as funding allows. Stair lifts are not named; call (845) 331-2140.
Up to $50,000 per household for homeowners at or below 80% of Area Median Income whose primary residence was damaged in the July 2023 flooding. Covered repairs do not include accessibility work or stair lifts; call (845) 713-4568 to confirm whether it is still open.
A Newburgh nonprofit offering housing counseling and home repairs. Stair lifts are not mentioned; call (845) 569-0770 for current eligibility.
Hamaspik in Monroe offers $4,000 to $5,000 for emergency repairs, including accessibility, to low-income owners 60 and older. Stair lifts are not named; call (866) 353-8400.
A state program for owner-occupants 60 and older at or below 100% of Area Median Income that pays for emergency repairs and code violations, with a $20,000 project cap. Stair lifts are not mentioned, and you apply through a local administrator such as Hamaspik of Orange County.
Offers very-low-income rural homeowners loans up to $40,000 at 1% and grants up to $10,000 for owners 62 and older, with accessibility items like ramps and grab bars listed. Stair lifts are not named, and the address must fall in a USDA-eligible rural area.
A VA benefit of up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for medically necessary home accessibility work. It explicitly excludes stair glides, so it does not cover stair lifts.
Grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, with FY2026 caps of $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA, used for work like ramps and wider doorways. Stair lifts are not named; the Orange County Veterans Service Agency at (845) 291-2470 can help with an application.
Older adults
40 Matthews St. Suite 305, Goshen, 10924
Veterans
111 Craigville Road, Goshen, 10924
Most local aging programs start at 60, but the NY Medicaid NHTD Waiver covers people ages 18-64 with a verified physical disability who meet a nursing-home level of care, and it lists home modifications as a covered service. NY Connects at 845-615-3710 also serves all ages.
The VA HISA benefit specifically excludes stair glides, so it will not. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either, but a veteran with a qualifying service-connected disability can ask. The Orange County Veterans Service Agency in Goshen, (845) 291-2470, is a good place to start.
Yes, exterior steps can take an outdoor stair lift built for weather exposure. If the person cannot move from a wheelchair to a seat, a platform lift may suit the entry better. We look at the slope and the steps during the home visit.
No. Stairs that turn or have a middle landing need a curved lift with a rail made for that staircase. It takes more measuring than a straight lift, but older homes with bends are very common candidates.
RESTORE is aimed at emergency repairs and hazards for owners 60 and older. Hamaspik of Orange County lists accessibility among its repair categories but does not name stair lifts, so call (866) 353-8400 and ask about your situation.
The Orange County Office for the Aging at (845) 615-3700 can point you to programs, including EISEP, and help coordinate care. You can schedule a stair lift assessment with us at the same time so you know what the home needs.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
