Pike County runs from about 340 feet at the Bushkill and Delaware confluence up to roughly 2,110 feet in the hills of Greene Township. Houses here are built into that slope. In places like Hemlock Farms, Saw Creek and Lake Wallenpaupack Estates, many homes sit on wooded lots with the main living area over a garage or spread across a split-level footprint.
That layout works well at 50 and gets harder at 80. Moving to single-story living is not easy in a county with this terrain, so for many families the real question is whether a stair lift can keep a parent in the house they already own. This page covers which lift suits which kind of Pike County staircase and who can help pay.
Most homes in the county are detached single-family, split-level or ranch-style houses. The staircase is often what decides the job. A single straight flight, common in a raised ranch or a living area over a garage, usually takes a straight stair lift on a rail fastened to the treads.
Split-level homes are different. They often have short runs between several levels, sometimes with a landing or a turn. A turn or landing generally calls for a curved rail built to that exact staircase. Sometimes two straight lifts on separate flights do the job instead, so we measure every flight before recommending either.
Milford, the county seat, still has a stock of late-19th and early-20th-century houses, and a portion are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Stairs in these houses can be narrow or steep, with turns that were never planned for equipment. We look at stair width, the landing at top and bottom, and where the rail can be anchored before saying a lift will work.
Newer vacation and retirement homes in communities like Pocono Woodland Lakes, Birchwood Lakes, Fawn Lake Forest and Gold Key Lake tend to have more regular stair dimensions. They also tend to have more levels. It is common for a homeowner to need help on the stairs from the garage as well as the stairs to the bedrooms.
The county's hilly ground means many houses have elevated entries, with exterior steps up to the front door or a deck. An interior lift does not solve that. An outdoor stair lift, built for weather exposure, can run along exterior steps.
For someone who uses a wheelchair, a seat on a rail is not enough. A platform lift carries the person while seated in the chair and can handle the rise to a raised entry. We will tell you plainly which option your entry can accommodate.
About 23.1% of Pike County residents are 65 or older, and 87.4% of households own their home. That is a lot of owners in multi-level houses who would rather stay put than sell. Owning the home also matters for funding, since several programs below only pay for changes to an owner-occupied or primary residence.
If that includes someone in your family, read the VA notes below carefully, because not every VA home grant covers stair lifts.
Medicare is not on the list below. The program in this county most clearly tied to stair lifts is the Community HealthChoices waiver, which lists stair lifts among covered home adaptations for people who are on Medicaid and meet nursing facility level of care.
For residents 60 and older, the Pike County Area Agency on Aging at 506 Broad St., Milford, is the place to start. Its assessment can lead to the OPTIONS program or to CHC waiver enrollment. Veterans can contact the Pike County Veterans Affairs Office at 837 Route 6, Unit 3, Shohola, at (570) 296-3563.
This statewide Medicaid waiver covers home adaptations, including stair lift purchase or rental, installation, maintenance, repairs and permits, commonly capped at about $4,000 per person per lifetime (confirm with your CHC plan). It is for Pennsylvania residents 21 or older on Medicaid who meet nursing facility level of care; call (833) 735-4416.
A state-funded in-home services program for Pennsylvanians 60 or older that can include adaptations to the home for safety and accessibility, decided case by case with a possible sliding-scale co-payment. The source does not specifically mention stair lifts; call (717) 783-1550 or the Pike County AAA.
The local intake and assessment office for residents 60 and older, and the gateway to OPTIONS and CHC waiver enrollment. It does not publish its own stair lift grant, and its direct coverage of stair lifts is unknown; call (570) 775-5550.
A nonprofit that offers home-accessibility guidance, advocacy and referral to funding sources for people with disabilities of any age in its service area. It does not list a direct stair lift grant; call (570) 344-7211.
A VA home modification benefit of $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime depending on disability status, but it explicitly excludes stair lifts and stair glides. Call (800) 827-1000 for other HISA uses such as structural alterations.
Housing grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026. Stair lifts are not listed as a standard benefit, though one may be fundable as part of an approved broader adaptation plan; call (800) 827-1000.
Federal funds passed through the county for owner-occupied housing rehab, where accessibility changes for elderly or disabled residents are an eligible activity for income-qualified owners. Stair lifts are not specifically listed and availability depends on the current funding cycle; call (866) 466-3972.
Older adults
506 Broad St., Milford, 18337
Veterans
837 Route 6, Unit 3, Shohola, 18458
Often, yes. Split-levels in Pike County usually have several short flights, so the answer may be a curved rail through a turn or separate straight lifts on each flight. We measure each run before recommending one.
Many older Milford homes can take a lift, but narrow or steep stairs and tight turns need a careful look. Stair width, landings and rail anchoring decide what fits.
Not through HISA, which explicitly excludes stair lifts and stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants may fund one as part of an approved broader adaptation plan for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities. Call (800) 827-1000 or the Pike County Veterans Affairs Office at (570) 296-3563.
The CHC waiver serves Pennsylvania residents 21 or older who qualify for Medicaid and nursing facility level of care, and MyCIL has no age limit for people with disabilities. MyCIL can be reached at (570) 344-7211.
For a parent 60 or older, call the Pike County Area Agency on Aging at (570) 775-5550. Its assessment is the entry point to OPTIONS and CHC waiver services.
Elevated entries are common on Pike County's sloped lots. An outdoor stair lift can run along exterior steps, and a platform lift can carry a person seated in a wheelchair.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
