Mansfield's houses tell the county's history. Oak Hill Cottage, a Gothic Revival brick house, went up in 1847, and a lot of the homes around town were built during the tire, appliance and brass years of the early to mid 1900s. Many are two-story houses with the bedrooms and the only full bath upstairs.
Out in Shelby, Ontario, Lexington, Bellville, Lucas and the other towns, the land flattens into glacial till plains. Inside Mansfield it rises and falls, from about 1,240 feet at Central Park downtown to 1,493 feet at the Woodland Reservoir. Those slopes put steps at the front door and split levels inside, and that shapes which stair lift will work in your house.
The most common job in an older Mansfield home is a single straight staircase between the living floor and the bedrooms. A straight rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so plaster walls and old trim stay as they are.
Older staircases are often narrower than newer ones. We measure the width, the landing at the top and the clearance at the bottom before recommending a model, because a folding rail or a swivel seat can make the difference on a tight stair.
Split-level homes have short runs of stairs, sometimes several of them. Each short run can take its own straight lift, or a curved rail can carry a rider around a turn or landing without changing seats.
On Mansfield's hillier streets, the hard part is often getting from the driveway to the door. An outdoor stair lift is built for weather and can handle stepped entries. For someone who uses a wheelchair, a platform lift may fit better than a seat.
Townhouses usually have a straight interior stair, which suits a standard lift. In a walk-up apartment the stairs are often shared, so the building owner has to agree before anything is installed.
If you rent, talk with the owner first. We can explain what the installation involves so that conversation is easier.
About 18.9 percent of county residents are 65 or older, and many have lived in the same house for decades. When the only bathroom is upstairs, a stair lift can be what lets someone keep using the whole home.
If that includes your parent, check the VA programs below, but note that one of them excludes stair glides by name.
Start with Area Agency on Aging District 5 in Ontario at (419) 524-4144. It runs the local PASSPORT waiver and its own Minor Home Modification service, and both list home modifications as a covered category.
Homeowners in rural parts of the county can ask USDA Rural Development about Section 504 repair loans and grants, which cover accessibility changes. County repair programs and VA grants are listed below with what each one says it covers, so you know which calls are worth making first.
Ohio's Medicaid waiver for people 65 and older, or physically disabled adults 60 to 64 at enrollment, who need a nursing-facility level of care. Home modifications are a covered category; call PASSPORT at (866) 243-5678 or AAA5 at (419) 524-4144.
An AAA5 in-home service for older adults that covers wheelchair ramps, bathroom accessibility changes and other necessary home modifications. Stair lifts are not named, so call (419) 524-4144 to confirm.
A deferred loan, forgiven over 5 years if you stay in the home, for owners in unincorporated Richland County or its villages at or below 80% of the Mansfield MSA median income. It covers accessibility repairs for the physically impaired but does not mention stair lifts; call (419) 347-6310.
Grants up to $25,000 for owner-occupants earning up to 120% of area median income, with the owner paying 15% of the cost. The repair list covers items like roofs, windows and porches, not stair lifts or accessibility work; call (419) 774-5623.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% over 20 years, and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income owners 62 and older in eligible rural areas. Accessibility changes are covered; call (614) 255-2400 to confirm your address and stair lift approval.
A VA health-benefit grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for disability-related home changes. Stair glides are specifically excluded; call (419) 529-4602 about other uses.
Up to $126,526 for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities to adapt a permanent home. Stair lifts are not named in the program description; call (800) 827-1000.
Up to $25,350 for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands or severe burns. Stair lifts are not named in the program description; call (800) 827-1000.
Financial aid and VA claims help for veterans in the county, at 597 Park Avenue East in Mansfield, first come, first served. Home modifications are not mentioned; call (419) 774-5822.
A nonprofit offering advocacy, information and referral for people with disabilities in Richland and six nearby counties. It does not fund equipment itself, but it can point you to options; call (419) 526-6770.
Older adults
2131 Park Avenue W., Suite 100, Ontario, 44906
Veterans
597 Park Avenue East, Mansfield, 44905
Often, yes. Many older two-story homes have one straight staircase, which suits a straight rail mounted to the treads. We measure width and landing clearance first to choose a model that leaves room to walk.
PASSPORT accepts physically disabled adults who are 60 to 64 at enrollment, if they need a nursing-facility level of care. The Minor Home Modification service through AAA5 does not publish age limits, so call (419) 524-4144 to ask.
The HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants describe adaptations in general terms without naming stair lifts, so ask the VA at (800) 827-1000 about your situation.
The Richland County Emergency Home Repair Program serves owners in unincorporated areas and villages at or below 80% of median income, and it covers accessibility repairs. USDA Section 504 serves eligible rural addresses, so check your location with USDA at (614) 255-2400.
Yes. Outdoor stair lifts are built for exterior steps, which are common on Mansfield's sloped lots. If the rider uses a wheelchair, a platform lift may be the better choice.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
