Lee County sits at Virginia's westernmost point, about 437 square miles of mountain ground where the Powell River cuts through limestone country locals call 'the Cedars.' Homes in Pennington Gap, Jonesville, Dryden, Ewing, Keokee and Stickleyville are often built into hillsides or along steep grades, so getting from the driveway to the kitchen or from the living room to the bedrooms can mean more steps than a flat-land house.
This page walks through what those homes mean for a stair lift, which kind tends to fit which layout, and where Lee County families can look for help paying for one. If you are weighing a lift for yourself or a parent, start here and then call to talk through your own staircase.
The county is entirely rural by census classification. Housing is scattered across small communities and towns like Jonesville, Pennington Gap and St. Charles instead of packed into dense neighborhoods. That matters for planning, because contractors and aging-services outreach have to travel farther to reach you.
The 2020 census counted 10,835 housing units in the county, and 71.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied. Owning the home usually makes it simpler to install a lift that bolts to the stair treads, and some of the grant programs below require ownership.
Most homes here are single-family homes and detached houses, with ranch-style homes, split-level homes and some low-rise buildings mixed in. A straight staircase with no landings is the simplest case and takes a straight stair lift on a single rail.
Split-level homes are different. Short runs of stairs between levels, or a turn at a landing, often call for a curved rail built to the exact shape of the stairs. On a hillside lot, the steps you struggle with may be outside, from the parking spot to the porch, which is where an outdoor lift or a platform lift comes into the conversation.
Ranch-style homes can look like they need nothing, but many hillside ranches have a basement level or an entry staircase. We look at every set of steps a person uses each day before suggesting one lift over another.
For many families that means a parent who wants to stay in the home they know, on a lot where stairs are hard to avoid.
If the person who needs the lift served in the military, check the VA programs below before paying out of pocket. Some of them will not cover a stair lift, but they may cover other changes like ramps or entrance work, and the local veterans office can help sort that out.
The decline of tobacco farming and coal mining hit this region hard, and the 2010 census reported about 22.7% of the population below the poverty line. That is why funding sources matter so much here: Medicaid waiver services, VA grants and nonprofit rehab programs.
Be aware that none of the programs below name stair lifts as a covered item, and the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. The CCC Plus Medicaid Waiver does cover home modifications, so it is worth asking whether a lift could qualify in your case.
A good first call is Mountain Empire Older Citizens at (276) 523-4202, at 1501 3rd Ave. E. in Big Stone Gap. Veterans can reach the Big Stone Gap Office of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services at (276) 523-1411, at 322 Cloverleaf Square, Suite E-1. Statewide, the Virginia Livable Home Tax Credit (LHTC) and the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority (ATLFA) are also listed as options to ask about.
A statewide Medicaid waiver through Cardinal Care Managed Care for Virginians 65 and older, or under 65 and disabled, who need a nursing facility or hospital level of care; 2026 income limit is up to $2,982/month for a single applicant and the asset limit is $2,000 for an individual. It covers home modifications such as ramps, grab bars and wider doorways, but stair lifts are not specifically listed, so confirm with DMAS or your CCC Plus plan.
The local aging-services hub for Lee, Wise and Scott counties and the City of Norton, offering PACE, Medicaid personal care, transportation, heating and cooling assistance and benefits counseling. It does not list a stair lift or home-modification program, but you can call (276) 523-4202 to ask about a referral to CCC Plus home-modification benefits or other resources.
A VA grant for medically necessary home changes, with a $6,800 lifetime maximum for service-connected disabilities and $2,000 for other non-service-connected disabilities, for owned or rented homes. Stair glides are explicitly excluded, though ramps, roll-in showers and entrance work are covered; call (800) 827-1000.
Up to $126,526 for FY2026 to buy, build or modify a permanent home for veterans who own or will own it and have a qualifying severe service-connected disability. Stair lifts are not specifically named; call (800) 827-1000.
Up to $25,350 for FY2026 for a home the veteran or a family member owns or will own, for qualifying service-connected disabilities such as loss of use of both hands. Stair lifts are not specifically named; call (800) 827-1000.
Up to $50,961 if SAH-eligible or up to $9,100 if SHA-eligible for FY2026, to modify a family member's home where the veteran is temporarily living, with no ownership required. Stair lifts are not specifically named; call (800) 827-1000.
A nonprofit housing rehabilitation program for low-income rural homeowners that lists Virginia as a service area. The source does not list Lee County or name stair lifts, so call (540) 345-1184 to confirm coverage and whether a project could include one.
Older adults
1501 3rd Ave. E., Big Stone Gap, 24219
Veterans
322 Cloverleaf Square, Suite E-1, Big Stone Gap, 24219
The CCC Plus Medicaid Waiver covers home modifications like ramps, grab bars and wider doorways, but it does not name stair lifts and gives no dollar cap. Ask DMAS or your CCC Plus plan directly whether a lift could be covered for you.
Yes, the CCC Plus Medicaid Waiver includes people under 65 who are disabled and need a nursing facility or hospital level of care. Mountain Empire Older Citizens at (276) 523-4202 can help with next steps.
No. The VA lists stair glides among excluded items for HISA. The grant can still help with ramps, roll-in showers and entrance changes, and the other VA grants may be worth asking about at (800) 827-1000.
The Big Stone Gap Office of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services is at 322 Cloverleaf Square, Suite E-1, Big Stone Gap, 24219. The phone is (276) 523-1411.
Split-level homes often have short flights or turns that need a curved rail made for those stairs. If the hard steps are outside between the drive and the door, an outdoor or platform lift may fit better, which is why we look at the home in person.
The pages reviewed list Virginia as a service area but do not name Lee County. Call SERCAP at (540) 345-1184 to confirm current coverage.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
