McConnellsburg was laid out in 1786, and its downtown is a National Register Historic District with 144 contributing structures. Many of those two-story houses still have their original period staircases: narrow, steep and often turning at the top. Out in Ayr, Todd, Belfast, Brush Creek and the other townships, multistory farmhouses sit on hilly ground shaped by the ridges of the Appalachian Mountains.
This page walks through what those homes mean for a stair lift, which type tends to fit, and which local and state programs may help pay for one. Fulton County has 11 towns and about 14,124 residents, and 22.2 percent of them are 65 or older, so a lot of families here are working out how to stay on both floors of the house they already own.
A period staircase in a historic home is rarely a simple straight run. Steep risers, narrow treads and a turn or landing near the top are common. When the stairs bend, a curved stair lift with a rail built to follow that exact path is usually the answer.
Narrow stairs need a careful measurement before anything is ordered. We check the width at the tightest point, the space at the top and bottom for getting on and off, and whether a folding seat and footrest will leave room for others to use the stairs.
If your staircase is one straight flight with no landing, a straight stair lift is the simpler and quicker install. Plenty of farmhouses and later single-family homes in the county have exactly that.
Fulton County housing includes single-family homes, detached houses, split-level homes, ranch-style homes and walk-up apartments. Each one raises a different question. A split-level home has several short flights, so the right plan may be one lift on the flight used most, or a rail that covers more than one section.
Ranch-style homes keep most living space on one floor, but the stairs that remain still matter if laundry or storage is on another level. In a walk-up apartment, the stairs are usually shared, so the building owner has to approve any rail before it goes in.
Some households need more than a seat. Where someone uses a wheelchair full time, a platform lift that carries the chair can make more sense than a seated stair lift. We will talk through both options at the visit.
The county covers 438 square miles in the Ridge and Valley section of the Appalachian Mountains, and it is overwhelmingly rural. Houses here are often set on slopes, with steps up from the driveway or onto a porch before you ever reach the front door.
An outdoor stair lift is built to handle weather on those exterior steps. Getting into the house safely is just as important as getting upstairs, so it helps to look at both during the same visit.
Most residents here own their homes, with a homeownership rate of 77.9 percent, and that matters because several programs require that you own the house you want to modify. Many seniors in the county live on fixed incomes, so it is worth checking funding before paying out of pocket.
Two programs below say they cover stair lifts: the Community HealthChoices waiver for Medicaid-eligible adults and the VA housing grants for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities. Others, like the Area Agency on Aging and the OPTIONS Program, offer home modifications case by case, though their materials do not name stair lifts specifically.
The county Veterans' Services office is at 116 West Market Street in McConnellsburg and can be reached at (717) 485-6873 for help starting a VA application.
A Medicaid managed-care waiver for adults 21 and older who need a nursing-facility level of care but live in the community, and it covers stair lifts when approved in the person-centered plan. Call (800) 757-5042 to start enrollment and assessment.
The local aging agency for Fulton County residents 60 and older, offering home environment modifications after an assessment; its materials do not list stair lifts specifically. Call (717) 485-5151.
A state Lottery-funded in-home services program for Pennsylvanians 60 and older with a sliding co-pay and no hard income limit; home modifications may be offered as a supplemental service, but stair lifts are not listed. Apply through HBF AAA or call (717) 783-1550.
Federal grants for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home, and they cover stair lifts; SAH goes up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 for FY2026. Call (800) 827-1000.
A nonprofit serving people with any disability in Fulton and nearby counties with information, referral and advocacy; it does not fund stair lifts directly. Call (814) 949-1905.
Home repair help for owner-occupied households at or below 80% of Area Median Income, with owners expected to stay in the home at least 5 years; stair lifts are not listed. Call (814) 623-9129.
Older adults
230 S. Juliana St., Bedford, 15522
Veterans
116 West Market Street, McConnellsburg, 17233
Often yes, but it depends on measurements at the narrowest point and the space at the top and bottom. If the staircase turns, a curved lift with a custom rail is usually needed.
The Community HealthChoices waiver serves adults 21 and older who are Medicaid-eligible and need a nursing-facility level of care, and it covers stair lifts. CILSCPA also serves people with disabilities of any age.
The Huntington-Bedford-Fulton AAA office is at 230 S. Juliana St., Bedford, 15522, phone (814) 623-8149. The program line listed for HBF AAA is (717) 485-5151.
No. OPTIONS has no strict income limit, but higher-income participants pay a sliding co-pay. You must be 60 or older and a Pennsylvania resident.
Veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home may use SAH or SHA grants, which cover stair lifts. Call (800) 827-1000, or visit Veterans' Services in McConnellsburg at (717) 485-6873.
Shared stairs mean the building owner must approve the installation first. Once you have permission, we can measure and recommend a lift that fits.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
