Bellingham climbs uphill from Bellingham Bay, and many of its older neighborhoods were built right into that slope. Homes there often have a flight of entry stairs out front or a split-level layout inside, so even a single trip to the kitchen can mean a few steps up or down.
Outside the city, the county runs from the flat Fraser Lowland around Lynden, Everson and Sumas, east to Deming, Glacier and Maple Falls in the Cascade foothills below Mount Baker. Across 19 towns, from Point Roberts to Sudden Valley, the stairs differ a lot. That is where a stair lift fits in, and where it doesn't.
Single-family homes, townhouses, split-level homes, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings are all common here. Each one raises a different question for an installer, so the first step is always measuring the actual staircase.
A straight staircase in a townhouse or two-story single-family home is usually the simplest job. The rail runs along one wall, and the lift parks at the top or bottom when not in use.
Split-level homes are trickier. The short half-flights between levels may need separate lifts, or a curved rail if the stairs turn at a landing. In walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings, the stairs are often shared, so the building owner has to sign off before anything goes on the wall.
Bellingham's slopes mean a lot of houses sit above the street with steps leading to the front door. For those, an outdoor stair lift built for weather exposure can handle the climb from the driveway or walk.
If the outside steps are steep, long or need room for a wheelchair, a platform lift may make more sense than a seated lift. We look at the grade, the landing space at the top and how the person actually gets in and out of the house before suggesting one.
About 71.4% of county residents live in urban areas and 28.6% live in rural areas, according to the 2020 census. For older residents in places like Acme, Kendall or Glacier, services are farther away and moving is a big change.
Roughly 17.5% of the county's 166,005 residents are 65 or older, and 57.2% are homeowners. For a homeowner whose only problem is the stairs, a lift often lets them keep the house they already know instead of relocating.
Household budgets here are modest. The source we use cites a median household income of $49,031 and 15.0% of residents below the poverty line (2010 figures), so many families look for help before paying out of pocket.
None of the local programs listed below name stair lifts specifically, so call and ask directly. The Northwest Regional Council says assistive technology and home modifications can be part of in-home care, and it is a good first call at (360) 676-6749 or (360) 738-2500.
The Whatcom County Veterans Program at 509 Girard Street in Bellingham, (360) 778-6050, can help with VA grant questions.
Statewide options worth asking about include the COPES Waiver (Community Options Program Entry System), the Northwest Access Fund - Home Modification Loan, VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics), Community First Choice (CFC), and the Senior Citizens & People with Disabilities Property Tax Exemption.
Medicaid-funded in-home care for older adults and adults with disabilities, with an income-based co-pay set through DSHS; the program says home modifications can be part of in-home care, but stair lifts are not named. Call (360) 676-6749.
Free information, referral and options counseling for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers; stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (360) 738-2500, and note the MAC & TSOA programs paused enrollments with a waitlist starting December 1, 2025.
Support and respite for unpaid caregivers age 18+ caring for someone 60+ or a person with Alzheimer's disease of any age; stair lifts are not listed, as respite funds are for caregiver relief. Call (360) 676-6749.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities who own or plan to own the home; the VA describes ramps and widened doorways, and stair lifts are not named.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities, and the home may belong to the veteran or a family member. Stair lifts are not explicitly named.
For SAH- or SHA-eligible veterans temporarily living in a family member's home, with up to $50,961 or up to $9,100 depending on eligibility. Stair lifts are not explicitly named.
Low-interest loans for low- and moderate-income homeowners inside Bellingham city limits; accessibility work is not listed as an eligible use, so confirm with Samya Lutz at (360) 778-8385.
A Center for Independent Living serving people with disabilities of any age in Whatcom County and several other counties; stair lift coverage is not listed. Call (253) 582-1253 to ask.
Older adults
600 Lakeway Drive, Suite 100, Bellingham, 98225
Veterans
509 Girard Street, Bellingham, 98225
Often, yes. Split-level homes have short flights between levels, so the answer depends on how many flights the person uses each day and whether the stairs turn. Some homes need a curved rail or more than one lift.
Start with the NW Regional Council AAA at 600 Lakeway Drive, Suite 100 in Bellingham, (360) 676-6749. Its Aging & Disability Resources line is (360) 738-2500.
The SAH, SHA and TRA grant pages describe ramps and widened doorways and do not name stair lifts. A veteran with a qualifying service-connected disability should ask the Whatcom County Veterans Program at (360) 778-6050.
No. The City of Bellingham Home Rehabilitation Loan Program applies only within Bellingham city limits, not the wider county.
The Northwest Regional Council Family Caregiver Support Program serves unpaid caregivers 18 and up caring for someone 60+. It offers respite and support rather than equipment funding. Call (360) 676-6749.
Yes, outdoor models are made for exterior stairs like the entry steps common on Bellingham's hillsides. For steep or long runs, or for wheelchair users, a platform lift 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.
