From Kingwood and Terra Alta to Arthurdale, Rowlesburg and Albright, Preston County sits in the north-central West Virginia highlands. The Cheat River cuts through it, and steep hills and narrow hollows mean many houses sit above or below the road, with steps both outside and in.
That layout shapes what kind of stair lift makes sense. A split-level in Masontown, a bungalow in Reedsville and a manufactured home outside Tunnelton each need a different approach. This page walks through the homes here, the weather they face and the programs that may help with the cost.
Most homes here are single-family and detached houses, with plenty of bungalows, split-level homes and manufactured homes in the mix. The county's housing reflects rural Appalachian settlement, and much of it is older or built in an older style.
A bungalow with one straight run to an upstairs bedroom is usually the simplest job, and a straight stair lift often fits. Split-level homes have short flights between levels, so we look at which flight matters most for daily life before recommending anything. Stairs with a landing or a turn generally call for a curved lift built to the staircase.
On a hillside lot, the hardest stairs are often the ones from the driveway to the front door. Manufactured homes also tend to have exterior steps up to the entry. In those cases an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can matter more than anything inside the house.
Winter is a real factor. Preston County has a humid continental climate with severe winter weather, and Terra Alta holds the statewide snowfall record of 104 inches, set in January 1977. When we plan an outdoor lift, we talk through where it will sit, how snow will be cleared and whether a covered route makes sense.
About 19.4% of Preston County residents are 65 or older, and 71.8% are homeowners. Owning the home matters, because most of the grant and loan programs below require it.
Several VA programs exist, but their rules on stair lifts differ, so read those entries closely before applying.
No single program here names stair lifts as a covered item. The West Virginia Aged and Disabled Waiver and the state Home Modification and Accessibility Program both fund home accessibility changes, so a stair lift may be possible with the right documentation. USDA Section 504 repair loans and grants are another route for very-low-income rural homeowners.
For local help sorting this out, Region II - WVDA North Central AAA in Morgantown can be reached at (304) 296-0061. Veterans can contact the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance – Clarksburg Benefits Office at (304) 627-2175. The program list below has phone numbers and what each source says.
A state Medicaid waiver for residents 18 and older who meet Medicaid financial rules and need nursing-facility level of care; its Environmental Accessibility Adaptations cover physical changes to the home, but stair lifts are not named and would depend on medical-necessity documentation in the service plan. Call (304) 558-3317.
A state program for people 60 or older who need home modifications or accessibility devices to live more independently, with applications through the Aging & Disability Resource Center; stair lifts are not mentioned in the source. Call the ADRC intake line at (866) 981-2372.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income rural homeowners, with grants limited to homeowners 62 and older who cannot repay a loan; accessibility improvements such as ramps are allowed, but stair lifts are not specifically listed. Confirm your address eligibility with the WV Rural Development office.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 for service-connected disabilities or $2,000 for other eligible disabilities, for medically necessary home improvements. It explicitly excludes stair glides, porch lifts and portable ramps as removable equipment.
Up to $126,526 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities who own or intend to own the home, for adaptations like ramps and wider doorways. The source does not say whether stair lifts are covered or excluded.
Up to $25,350 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities, such as loss of use of both hands. Stair lifts are not named as covered or excluded.
A regional aging agency that lists Preston County among its 15 counties, offering meals, adult day care, transportation, employment services and in-home care; no home-modification or stair lift benefit is listed. Call (304) 257-2448.
A local senior center for residents generally 60 and older with a free loan closet for wheelchairs, canes, walkers and bedside toilets, plus SHIP counseling, medical escort and LIEAP help; it does not provide stair lifts or home modifications. Call (304) 329-0464.
A center for independent living serving people with disabilities in a 13-county area that includes Preston County, with Morgantown and Elkins locations. The source lists contact information only and does not mention stair lifts. Call (304) 296-6091.
Older adults
1948 Industrial Blvd., Suite 400, Morgantown, 26505
Veterans
153 W Main Street Suite C, Clarksburg, 26301
Not through the HISA grant, which explicitly excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either way, so veterans with severe service-connected disabilities should ask the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance – Clarksburg Benefits Office at (304) 627-2175.
The West Virginia Aged and Disabled Waiver (ADW) accepts adults 18 and older who meet Medicaid financial rules and need nursing-facility level of care. Its home adaptation benefit could include a stair lift if the service plan documents medical necessity. Call (304) 558-3317.
Most of rural Preston County is typically eligible for USDA Section 504 loans and grants. Grants up to $10,000 go to homeowners 62 and older who cannot repay a loan. Check your specific address with the WV Rural Development office.
Outdoor lifts are an option for hillside entries and manufactured home steps, but Preston County winters are severe, and Terra Alta once recorded 104 inches of snow in January 1977. We plan placement and snow clearing with you before recommending one.
No. Preston County Senior Citizens, Inc. lends wheelchairs, canes, walkers and bedside toilets, but does not offer stair lifts or home modifications. You can reach them at (304) 329-0464.
Region II - WVDA North Central AAA at 1948 Industrial Blvd., Suite 400, Morgantown, can be reached at (304) 296-0061. For the state Home Modification and Accessibility Program, call the ADRC at (866) 981-2372.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
