From the brick blocks around Wooster to farmhouses outside Kidron, Apple Creek and Fredericksburg, a lot of Wayne County's housing was built in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Those older, multi-story homes tend to put every bedroom and the only full bathroom up a full flight of stairs. When the stairs get hard, that layout decides whether someone can keep living in the house.
We install stair lifts across all 16 towns in the county, including Orrville, Rittman, Doylestown, Smithville, Shreve and Sterling. This page walks through what local homes usually need, which kind of lift tends to fit, and which Ohio, county and VA programs are worth a phone call before you pay out of pocket.
The 2020 Census counted 46,555 housing units in Wayne County, with 72.3% owner-occupied. Much of that stock is older, multi-story construction. In these houses the second floor is not optional space; it is where people sleep and bathe.
A straight staircase with a landing at each end is the simplest case. A rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so plaster walls in an old house are usually left alone. Stairs that turn, have a mid-landing or wind at the top call for a curved rail built to that exact staircase, which takes longer and costs more than a straight unit.
Older staircases are often narrower and steeper than newer ones. Measuring the width, the turns and the clearance at the top and bottom is the first thing we do, because it tells you right away which type of lift is realistic.
Wayne County housing also includes duplexes, townhouses and low-rise buildings, not only single-family homes. Townhouses often have tight straight runs between floors, which usually suit a straight lift with a folding seat and footrest so the stairs stay usable for others.
In a duplex or a rented unit, the owner or landlord has to approve the install. A stair lift bolts to the treads and can be removed later, which makes that conversation easier. Shared stairwells in low-rise buildings need the building owner's sign-off before anything goes in.
Wayne County covers 557 square miles, and 55.8% of residents lived in rural areas at the 2020 Census. Out on farm properties, the problem is often the steps from the driveway to the door or down to a basement, not just the inside staircase.
Outdoor stair lifts are built with weather-resistant parts for exposed steps. Where someone uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a vertical platform lift is usually the better answer than a chair lift. The rural setting also matters for funding, since it affects USDA eligibility and how far county aging services reach out to remote households.
About 18.9% of Wayne County residents are 65 or older, and most own the homes they live in. That combination is why so many families here look at a stair lift instead of a move: the house is paid for or close to it, and the problem is one staircase.
If someone in the house served, check VA and county veterans options before buying, keeping in mind what each one does and does not cover.
Two Ohio Medicaid waivers, PASSPORT and the Ohio Home Care Waiver, include home modifications and are handled locally by Direction Home Akron Canton. These are the most direct public routes, but they require Medicaid financial eligibility and a level-of-care assessment.
Other programs help with home repairs or veterans' housing but do not list stair lifts in their published rules. The VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. Call before you count on any program, and ask whether a stair lift qualifies in your case. The full list is below.
An Ohio Medicaid waiver for people age 60 and older who are Medicaid eligible and need a nursing-facility level of care; it covers home modifications under an individual care plan. In Wayne County it runs through Direction Home Akron Canton, intake at (877) 770-5558.
A Medicaid waiver for people with physical disabilities and complex medical conditions who meet an institutional level of care; it offers a home modification service, including up to 180 days before leaving an institutional setting. Call Direction Home Akron Canton at (877) 770-5558.
This county program funds area-wide projects such as infrastructure and downtown work in villages, townships, Orrville and Rittman, not individual homeowner repairs, and stair lifts are not listed. The Planning Department refers homeowners to CHIP; the CDBG contact is (330) 287-5426.
Home repair grants and a 5-year deferred, interest-free rehab loan for owner-occupants with incomes from $48,900 (1 person) to $92,250 (8 people); listed repairs are health and safety items like roofing, plumbing and electrical, and stair lifts are not listed. Call (330) 264-2727.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income owners in USDA-eligible rural areas, with grants limited to those age 62 and older who cannot repay a loan. Approved repairs listed include ramps, grab bars and walk-in tubs, but stair lifts are not listed.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for medically needed home changes for enrolled VA health-care patients. The VA explicitly does not cover stair glides or porch lifts under HISA; call (800) 827-1000 for details.
Up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities to adapt a home they own, or up to $50,961 for a temporary residence. Stair lifts are not listed in the published description; call (800) 827-1000.
Up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands, or up to $9,100 for a temporary residence. Stair lifts are not listed; call (800) 827-1000.
Helps Wayne County veterans and families get local, state and federal benefits, with case-by-case assistance. Home modifications and stair lifts are not listed, but staff can help with VA claims; call (330) 345-6638.
Service coordination for Wayne County children and adults with a diagnosed developmental disability; any home modification support would come through an approved Ohio DODD Medicaid waiver budget, and stair lifts are not listed. Call (330) 345-6016.
Older adults
1949 Town Park Boulevard, Uniontown, 44685
Veterans
356 W. North St, Lower Level, Wooster, 44691
Possibly. PASSPORT and the Ohio Home Care Waiver both cover home modifications under an individual plan, though neither names stair lifts specifically. You need Medicaid financial eligibility and a level-of-care assessment, and PASSPORT is for people 60 and older. Start with Direction Home Akron Canton at (877) 770-5558.
Not through HISA, which explicitly excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not list stair lifts in their published descriptions, so ask directly. The Wayne County Veterans Service Commission at 356 W. North St, Lower Level, Wooster, (330) 345-6638, can help with VA claims.
Stair lifts and accessibility work are not listed. CHIP focuses on health and safety repairs like roofs, plumbing, siding and electrical for owner-occupants under its income limits. Call (330) 264-2727 to ask about your situation.
USDA-eligible areas are generally towns under about 35,000 people, and most of Wayne County outside its larger incorporated areas qualifies. Check your address with the USDA Property Eligibility Tool. Stair lifts are not on the published repair list, so confirm before applying.
For older adults, Direction Home Akron Canton (AAA 10B) is the local aging office, at 1949 Town Park Boulevard, Uniontown, (330) 896-9172. They administer PASSPORT and the Ohio Home Care Waiver for Wayne County.
Often, yes. The rail mounts to the treads and folding seats save space, but steep or winding stairs may need a curved rail. An in-home measurement tells you which type fits.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
