Kanawha County covers 911 square miles along the Kanawha River, from Charleston, the county seat and state capital, out to towns like St. Albans, Nitro, Belle, Marmet, Elkview and Clendenin. That makes it the fourth-largest county in West Virginia by area, and the homes across its 30 towns vary just as much as the distances between them.
A split-level house in Cross Lanes, a row house in Charleston and a walk-up apartment in South Charleston each need a different kind of stair lift. This page walks through what fits the homes here, which local and state programs may help with the cost, and who to call in Kanawha County to get started.
About 22.3% of Kanawha County's 119802 residents are 65 or older. Census data also shows that 15.0% of households in the county have someone 65 or older living alone, so many older residents are handling the stairs on their own every day.
Most people here own their homes. With 67.4% of residents being homeowners, a lot of families are deciding whether to adapt a house they already own rather than move. A stair lift is often the change that lets someone keep using the second floor or the basement.
Single-family homes and townhouses with one straight staircase are the simplest case. A straight stair lift mounts to the treads, not the wall, and usually goes in quickly with little change to the house.
Split-level homes are different. Short flights between levels, often with a turn or landing, may call for a curved lift built to the exact shape of the stairs, or a separate straight lift on each flight. We measure every run before recommending one or the other.
Row houses and walk-up apartments tend to have narrower stairways. A slim rail and a seat that folds up keep the stairs usable for everyone else in the home. In a rented walk-up, talk with the property owner before any installation.
If the trouble is outside steps to the front door or a porch, an outdoor stair lift built for weather is an option. For someone who cannot transfer from a wheelchair to a seat, a platform lift may be the better fit.
Several programs in the list below can help, but they work differently. The West Virginia Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver (ADW), the WV Bureau of Senior Services Home Modification and Accessibility Program and the Appalachian Center for Independent Living (ACIL) - Community Living Services Program (CLSP) all cover home modifications. None of their sources name stair lifts by product, so confirm with the program before you buy.
Location matters too. The City of Charleston Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Loan only serves homeowners inside Charleston city limits, while USDA Section 504 Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants generally exclude Charleston and its immediate suburbs and focus on rural addresses. You can also ask about the West Virginia Technology-Related Assistance Revolving Loan Fund, a statewide program.
A good first call is Kanawha Valley Senior Services at (304) 348-0707, the local Area Agency on Aging provider, or the Region III - WVDA Southern AAA at (304) 340-3501, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East, Charleston.
The VA Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant does not pay for stair lifts; the VA lists stair glides as excluded equipment.
A stair lift might instead be pursued through a VA prosthetic or rehabilitative pathway. The West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance - Charleston Benefits Office at 300 Technology Drive, Suite 201, South Charleston, can help; call (304) 746-4497.
A Medicaid waiver for people 65 and older, or 18 to 64 with a physical disability determined by the Social Security Administration, who need nursing facility level of care but choose to stay home; home modifications are a covered category. Income is capped at $2,982 a month and assets at $2,000 for a single person, and the helpline is (866) 767-1575.
A state program for people 60 or older who need home modifications or accessibility devices to live more independently, and it is listed as covering stair lifts. No dollar amount is published, so call (866) 981-2372 to confirm a stair lift qualifies and for how much.
Repair loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest over 20 years, and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners 62 and older, in USDA-eligible rural areas; stair lifts are not mentioned in the source. Charleston and nearby suburbs are typically excluded, so check your address by calling (304) 284-4868.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary home alterations like ramps and widened doorways, but it does not cover stair lifts. Call (800) 827-1000 to ask about other VA pathways.
A state-funded program for people with significant disabilities who meet income guidelines, covering home modifications, assistive devices and ramps as funding allows, with a waiting list. Call (304) 965-0376.
A loan of up to $20,000 for income-qualified homeowners inside Charleston city limits to keep homes in good repair; the source does not mention stair lifts. Call (304) 348-8035.
The local intake, information and referral point for older adults in Kanawha County; it offers no stair lift benefit of its own. Call (304) 348-0707.
Older adults
1900 Kanawha Blvd. East, Charleston, 25305
Veterans
300 Technology Drive, Suite 201, South Charleston, 25309
Yes, possibly. The West Virginia Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver (ADW) accepts people 18 to 64 with a physical disability determined by the Social Security Administration, and the ACIL Community Living Services Program serves people with significant disabilities who meet income guidelines.
Not through the HISA grant, which excludes stair glides. A stair lift might be pursued through another VA prosthetic or rehabilitative pathway; the Charleston Benefits Office in South Charleston at (304) 746-4497 can help you look into it.
Probably not. Charleston and its immediate suburbs are typically excluded from USDA rural eligibility, but the City of Charleston Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Loan of up to $20,000 is open to income-qualified homeowners inside city limits.
Usually, yes. Short flights with turns may need a curved lift, or a straight lift on each flight, and we measure every run before recommending one.
Kanawha Valley Senior Services at (304) 348-0707 handles local intake and referrals for older adults. The Region III - WVDA Southern AAA in Charleston is at (304) 340-3501.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
