Barbour County spreads across the Allegheny Plateau, with Laurel Mountain along its eastern edge and the Tygart Valley River running north through the middle. Philippi, Belington and Junior are the county's three towns, but many residents live in small unincorporated communities scattered across the hills.
Homes here tend to be older, individually owned and built on sloped lots, often with more than one level and a single interior stairway. For a family trying to keep a parent at home, that stairway is usually the first problem to solve, and a stair lift is often the most direct fix.
Single-family homes with one straight staircase are the simplest case. A straight stair lift mounts to the treads, not the wall, and usually goes in without any remodeling.
Split-level homes are common around the county and bring short flights with landings or turns between them. A turn or landing usually calls for a curved rail built to match your stairs, or sometimes two separate straight lifts, one per flight.
Townhouses, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings can work too, but if you rent, the building owner has to approve the installation before any work starts.
The rolling ground around the Tygart Valley River and its tributaries means many houses sit above the road or the driveway. Getting from the car to the front door can be as hard as getting upstairs.
Outdoor stair lifts are built for weather and can run along exterior steps up to a porch. Where a wheelchair is involved, a vertical platform lift is often a better fit than a seat-style lift, since the person stays in the chair.
Out of a population of 5,091, about 21.7% of residents are 65 or older, and 69.6% of households own their home. Many of those owners have no single-story option on their own property, so the choice is often between adapting the house and leaving it.
Veterans should know that VA programs treat stair lifts differently from ramps and other permanent changes, which is covered below.
Most programs available to Barbour County residents do not name stair lifts on their official pages, so the honest answer is that you need to ask. The West Virginia Aged and Disabled Waiver covers physical adaptations to the home, and the Bureau of Senior Services can tell you whether a stair lift qualifies.
For people 60 and older, the Home Modification and Accessibility Program takes applications through the ADRC at (866) 981-2372. Rural homeowners with very low income may look at USDA Section 504 loans and grants, and veterans should note that the VA HISA grant does not pay for stair glides.
Local offices such as the Barbour County Senior Center in Philippi and LiveAbility can help with referrals. Each program is listed below with the number to call.
A Medicaid waiver for adults 18 and older who meet nursing-facility level of care and Medicaid financial rules; it funds physical adaptations to the home, but the source does not name stair lifts. Call (304) 558-3317 and ask whether a stair lift qualifies as an EAA-Home item.
A state program for people 60 and older who need home modifications or accessibility devices to live more independently; stair lifts are not itemized on the source. Applications go through the ADRC at (866) 981-2372.
Helps people who have lived in a nursing home or long-term care facility for at least 60 consecutive days move back home, with examples like ramps, grab bars and wider doorways; stair lifts are not listed among the examples. Call (866) 981-2372.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% interest over 20 years, and grants up to $10,000 for very low income homeowners age 62 and older, including accessibility work; stair lifts are not specifically named. Call the state office at (304) 284-4860.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary structural changes such as ramps and roll-in showers; it explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts. Call (800) 827-1000.
Grants for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities to adapt a home they or a family member own; the source does not name stair lifts, and dollar limits should be confirmed with the VA. Call (800) 827-1000.
The regional aging agency serving Barbour County, offering meals, in-home care, transportation and Medicare counseling; stair lift help is not mentioned, but it is a gateway to ADRC programs. Call (304) 257-2448.
The local senior center at 47 Church St in Philippi, offering senior programs, in-home care and transportation; no home modification program is listed. Call (304) 457-4545 for referrals.
Free weatherization for low-income households, with priority for elderly and disabled residents; it does not fund accessibility equipment. Call (304) 457-3420.
A center for independent living serving Barbour County that provides home modification services and assistive technology coordination directly or by referral; stair lifts are not itemized on its directory listing. Call (304) 296-6091.
Older adults
1948 Industrial Blvd., Suite 400, Morgantown, 26505
Veterans
2275 Beverly Pike, Elkins, 26241
It might. The waiver covers physical adaptations that improve access to and within the home, but the official page does not name stair lifts. Call (304) 558-3317 and ask directly whether a stair lift counts as an EAA-Home item.
Yes. The Home Modification and Accessibility Program is for people 60 and older who need modifications or devices to stay at home. Applications are available through the ADRC at (866) 981-2372.
No. The VA lists stair glides and porch lifts as removable equipment that HISA will not fund. Veterans can ask about other VA options at (800) 827-1000 or the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance Elkins Benefits Office at (304) 637-0235.
No, but it changes the type. Short flights separated by landings or turns usually need a curved rail made for your stairs, or one straight lift per flight. We measure first and tell you which makes sense.
If she has lived in a nursing home or long-term care facility for at least 60 consecutive days, Take Me Home, West Virginia may help with home modifications. Stair lifts are not among its listed examples, so ask at (866) 981-2372.
Barbour County is rural and eligible for USDA Section 504 repair loans and grants if you own and live in the home and meet very low income standards. Grants require age 62 or older. Call (304) 284-4860 to ask about stair lift eligibility.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
