Hancock County sits at the very tip of West Virginia's Northern Panhandle, squeezed between the Ohio River and the Pennsylvania line. It is the smallest county in the state by area, about 88 square miles, and its four towns (Weirton, Chester, Newell and New Cumberland) climb up from the river onto hilly bluffs.
Much of the housing here went up in the early and middle 20th century, when Weirton Steel and the Homer Laughlin China Company in Newell drew workers to the valley. On ground this steep, a lot of homes have steps inside, outside or both. This page walks through what that means for a stair lift and where people in the county can look for help paying for one.
The county's housing mix includes single-family homes, detached houses, townhouses, walk-up apartments and split-level homes. New Cumberland was known as the nation's unofficial brick capital from about 1840 to 1910, and Weirton grew up around Weirton Steel starting in 1909, so many neighborhoods are made up of older homes.
Terrain shapes these houses as much as age does. With the land rising toward a high point of roughly 1,363 feet, homes along the Ohio River bluffs often have front steps up from the street, a stairway to the bedrooms and sometimes a few steps down to a lower level.
A single straight flight from the first floor to the second is the simplest job. A straight stair lift rides a rail mounted to the treads, not the wall, and most stairways of normal width can take one.
Stairs that turn at a landing, wrap around a corner or have a split-level layout usually need a curved lift. The rail is built to the exact shape of your stairs, so we measure carefully before anything is ordered.
Steps outside the house are their own question. An outdoor lift is built to handle weather on a porch or entry stair, and a platform lift can be a better fit for someone who uses a wheelchair and needs to stay in it. In a walk-up apartment, talk to the building owner before planning any installation.
About 23,288 people live in the county, and 24.4 percent are 65 or older. That is roughly one in four residents, many of them in the same homes they have owned for years.
Ownership matters for a stair lift, because the rail attaches to the stairs. About 67.5 percent of households here own their homes.
Hancock County's median household income of $52,062 is slightly above the West Virginia median of $50,884, so many families pay out of pocket. Others look to public programs first, and it helps to know what those programs actually say.
None of the program sources listed below name stair lifts directly. Most describe home modifications or accessibility devices in general terms, so you will need to ask each one whether a stair lift qualifies in your case. The age 60 and older home modification program through the WV ADRC, USDA repair loans and grants for rural homeowners, and the VA HISA grant for veterans are the main places to start.
For help sorting out options, the Region I - Northern Panhandle AAA is at 2100 Market St., Wheeling, phone (304) 242-1800. Veterans can reach the State of West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance at 1082 East Bethlehem Boulevard, Wheeling, phone (304) 238-1085.
A West Virginia Medicaid housing initiative tied to the Take Me Home, West Virginia program, with modifications reviewed case by case. The source names ramps, grab bars, handrails and wider doorways but does not mention stair lifts, so confirm with a case manager before counting on it.
Helps residents age 60 and older who need home modifications or accessibility devices to keep living at home; the source does not specifically name stair lifts. Call (866) 981-2372 to ask about eligibility and current limits.
The county senior center at 647 Gas Valley Road, New Cumberland, offers transportation, caregiver support and referrals, but its service list does not include stair lift or home modification funding. Call (304) 564-3801 for referrals.
Offers very-low-income rural homeowners loans up to $40,000 at 1% interest and grants up to $10,000 for owners 62 and older who cannot repay a loan, combined up to $50,000. It covers repairs and removal of health and safety hazards; stair lifts are not specifically named. Call (304) 284-4868.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 for qualifying service-connected conditions or up to $2,000 for other conditions, for veterans enrolled in VA health care with a VA physician's certification. The source covers entrances, exits and bathroom work and does not name stair lifts, so confirm with the VA.
A nonprofit serving people with disabilities in northern West Virginia, useful for advocacy and referrals. Its source does not mention stair lifts or list a confirmed funding amount.
Older adults
2100 Market St., Wheeling, 26003
Veterans
1082 East Bethlehem Boulevard, Wheeling, 26003
Yes, outdoor stair lifts are built for porch and entry steps exposed to weather. If the person uses a wheelchair and needs to stay in it, a platform lift may suit the entry better.
Separate short straight flights can each take a straight lift. If the stairs turn or connect through a landing, a curved lift built to the shape of your stairs is usually the answer.
The WV ADRC Home Modification and Accessibility Program serves people 60 and older who need home modifications or accessibility devices. Its source does not name stair lifts, so call (866) 981-2372 and ask directly.
The VA HISA grant pays up to $6,800 or $2,000 for home modifications, but its source does not name stair lifts. The State of West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance in Wheeling, (304) 238-1085, can help you ask.
The Committee for Hancock County Senior Citizens in New Cumberland, (304) 564-3801, handles referrals. The Region I - Northern Panhandle AAA in Wheeling, (304) 242-1800, also helps older residents find services.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
