Much of the housing in Grays Harbor County went up in the old timber towns of Aberdeen, Hoquiam and Montesano during the logging boom. Many of those houses are still standing and still lived in, and their stairs were built with no thought of anyone needing a lift decades later.
From Westport and Grayland on the coast to Elma, McCleary and Oakville inland, we see a mix of single-family homes, split-level homes, townhouses, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings. This page walks through what that housing means for a stair lift and where people in the county can look for help with the cost.
The county's housing stock is largely legacy housing from the logging era. In an older house, the first thing we check is the staircase itself: its width, whether it runs straight top to bottom, and whether there is a landing or a turn.
A single straight flight usually takes a straight stair lift, which is the simplest and quickest to fit. Stairs that turn, wind or stop at a mid landing need a curved rail built to that staircase. Older homes often have their own quirks, so we measure in person before recommending anything.
Split-level homes are common here, and they bring short flights between floors instead of one long run. Sometimes only one of those flights is the problem, and a short straight lift on that section solves most of the daily trouble.
Townhouses tend to have stacked floors with steeper, narrower stairs. In walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings, the stairs may be shared, so the owner or building manager has to approve any installation before work starts.
Around Grays Harbor itself the land is mostly flat and low. Aberdeen sits at just 3 feet of elevation, and the Chehalis River watershed creates real flood risk in the low-lying areas.
In flood-prone spots, it is worth thinking about entry steps as well as inside stairs. An outdoor stair lift or a platform lift at the front or back steps can make getting in and out of the house manageable. Farther inland, toward the Olympic Mountains foothills and the Quinault Rain Forest, homes on sloped lots often have longer exterior stairs where an outdoor lift is the practical choice.
About 23.4% of county residents are 65 or older, and 68.1% are homeowners. That means a lot of people are staying put in houses they own and want the upstairs to stay usable.
Veterans have some specific grant options, though the rules on stair lifts are narrow, as explained below.
None of the local programs we know of names stair lifts specifically, and the VA HISA grant expressly excludes stair glides. Still, several programs fund home modifications, medical equipment or in-home care, and it is worth asking directly whether a lift can be included in your plan.
A good first call is Aging & Adult Services of Coastal Washington at (360) 209-8338, whose Grays Harbor office is at 2700 Simpson Avenue, Suite 205, in Aberdeen. Veterans can reach the Veterans Relief Fund Ombudsman/Dedicated Service Officer at 2109 Sumner Avenue in Aberdeen, (360) 660-2640.
Statewide options to ask about include the COPES Waiver (Community Options Program Entry System), Community First Choice (CFC) and the Senior Citizens & People with Disabilities Property Tax Exemption. The programs listed below give more detail on each local option.
The regional entry point for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers in Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson and Pacific counties, referring people to Medicaid in-home care, caregiver support, HRSN and MAC/TSOA. Its materials do not mention stair lifts; call (360) 209-8338.
A Medicaid Transformation Project benefit for qualifying Apple Health enrollees that includes accessibility modifications and remediations, with funding that runs by fiscal year through June 30, 2028 and may waitlist. The source does not name stair lifts or stair glides.
Supports unpaid family caregivers of adults 55 and older, or older adults without a caregiver through TSOA, with services such as specialized medical equipment, respite and adult day care at no participation cost. Stair lifts and home modifications are not listed; call (360) 538-8870.
Medicaid in-home long-term care for people who meet financial rules and need a nursing-facility level of care, with services set by a person-centered plan. Stair lifts are not mentioned; start through Community Living Connections at (855) 567-0252.
A lifetime grant of $6,800 for service-connected disabilities (or non-service-connected with a 50%+ service-connected rating) or $2,000 for other non-service-connected disabilities. It does not cover stair lifts, since stair glides are explicitly excluded.
Up to $126,526 for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home, to make it accessible. Examples given are ramps and widened doorways; stair lifts are not named.
Up to $25,350 for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities to adapt their home. Stair lifts are not named specifically.
Covers insulation, air sealing and minor repairs for households at or below 60% of state median income or 200% of federal poverty guidelines, whichever is greater. It does not mention stair lifts or accessibility work; call (360) 533-5100.
Older adults
2500 Lower Elwha Rd., Port Angeles, 98363
Veterans
2109 Sumner Avenue, Aberdeen, 98520
Not through the HISA grant, which specifically excludes stair glides. The SAH grant (up to $126,526) and SHA grant (up to $25,350) fund home adaptations for qualifying service-connected disabilities but do not name stair lifts, so ask the Veterans Relief Fund Ombudsman/Dedicated Service Officer in Aberdeen at (360) 660-2640.
Aging & Adult Services of Coastal Washington at (360) 209-8338. Their Grays Harbor office is at 2700 Simpson Avenue, Suite 205, Aberdeen, open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and they can point you to Medicaid in-home care, caregiver support and HRSN services.
The HRSN program offers accessibility modifications and remediations to qualifying Apple Health enrollees. Its listing does not name stair lifts, and funds can run out and go to a waitlist, so ask early in the July 1 to June 30 funding year.
Yes. Medicaid Alternative Care helps unpaid family caregivers of adults 55 and older, with services like specialized medical equipment, respite and training. The Grays Harbor contact is Aaron Hamm at (360) 538-8870.
Not always. Split-level homes have several short flights, and often only one causes daily trouble, so a single short straight lift may be enough. We look at how you move through the house before suggesting anything.
It can. The low ground around Grays Harbor carries flood risk from the Chehalis River watershed, so entry steps matter as much as inside stairs, and an outdoor stair lift or platform lift at the door may be the better fit.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
