From the canyons above Glendale and Burbank to the view lots around Pasadena and Redondo Beach, a lot of Los Angeles County housing is built into a slope. Homes on those parcels often step down or up with the grade, so the kitchen, bedrooms and main bathroom can sit a full flight above the garage or the street.
That layout works fine until climbing becomes hard. Across the county's 140 towns, we see interior stairs between living levels and exterior stair runs up to the front door, and both can be handled with the right kind of lift. This page walks through what fits these homes and which local programs may help with the cost.
Many hillside homes here are multi-level structures where the main living floor sits above garage level. When the stairs between levels run in one straight line, a straight stair lift is usually the simplest install.
Stepped construction often means turns, landings or split flights instead. Those stairs typically need a curved stair lift with a rail built to follow that specific staircase. We measure each run in person before recommending one.
On sloped lots, the entry is often reached by an outdoor flight of steps before anyone gets to the interior stairs. A ramp alone rarely solves that kind of climb, which is why outdoor stair lifts are common on these properties.
For someone who uses a wheelchair, a seat on a rail may not be enough. A platform lift carries the chair itself and can be a better match for an entry or a short change in level.
Housing in the county ranges from detached single-family homes to townhouses, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings. Townhouses frequently have a straight interior staircase, which keeps a straight lift on the table.
About 46.7% of households own their home. That matters for paying, since several programs below, including the LACDA Senior Grant Program and Rebuilding Together, are written for homeowners.
Residents 65 and older make up 14.7% of the county's 9,768,353 people. That group is projected to grow from 1.44 million in 2020 to more than 2.32 million by 2040, a 61% increase.
Only about 5% of older adults live in nursing homes at any given time, so most people age in place. For a family in a multi-level home, a stair lift is often what keeps the upper floor usable.
The clearest local option is L.A. Care Health Plan, which lists stairlifts as a covered home modification for qualifying members, up to a lifetime total of $7,500. Medi-Cal members at risk of nursing-facility care can also ask about the HCBA Waiver, though stairlifts are not named on its source.
Homeowners 62 and older in unincorporated areas of Supervisorial Districts 1, 2, 4 or 5 may qualify for the LACDA grant of up to $20,000 for mobility and habitability repairs. If you are not sure where to start, the LA County Area Agency on Aging (PSA 19) at (213) 637-2600 can point you toward the right program. Veterans can reach the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs at (213) 765-9681.
Statewide, you can also ask about the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP), VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) and the FreedomTech Low-Interest Assistive Technology Loan.
A statewide Medi-Cal waiver that covers home modifications for people who are Medi-Cal eligible and meet a nursing-facility, subacute, ICF-DD/CN or acute-hospital level of care; stair lifts are not listed on the source and a waitlist is noted. Call (916) 552-9105.
A Community Supports benefit for active L.A. Care Medi-Cal or L.A. Care Medicare Plus members at risk of hospitalization or nursing-facility care, and stairlifts are explicitly covered up to a $7,500 lifetime maximum. Call (855) 427-1223.
A grant of up to $20,000 for mobility and habitability repairs for homeowners 62 and older at or below 80% of Area Median Income in unincorporated areas of Supervisorial Districts 1, 2, 4 or 5; stair lifts are not named, though accessibility work like ramps and grab bars is. Call (626) 586-1814.
An information and referral hub for residents 60 and older and adults with disabilities that connects people to home-modification, IHSS and aging-in-place programs; it does not fund stair lifts directly. Call (626) 414-6439.
A volunteer nonprofit that provides critical home repairs at no cost to low-to-moderate-income homeowners, including seniors 60 and older, people with disabilities and veterans. Its focus is safety and accessibility work like ramps and grab bars; stair lifts are not specifically named.
Free assistive technology assessments, home-barrier evaluations and home-modification referrals for people with disabilities of all ages across Los Angeles City and County, including Santa Clarita and the Antelope Valley; stair lift funding is not stated. Call (818) 785-6934.
Federal grants for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, with FY2026 maximums of $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA. Stair lifts are not named and may be fundable only as part of an approved adaptation plan; call (877) 827-3702.
Pays for in-home caregiver services for aged, blind or disabled Medi-Cal recipients, but does not cover home modifications, equipment or stair lifts. Call (888) 944-4477.
Older adults
3175 West 6th St., Room 302, Los Angeles, 90020
Veterans
1816 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, 90015
Yes, for qualifying members. L.A. Care lists stairlifts as a covered adaptation for active L.A. Care Medi-Cal or L.A. Care Medicare Plus members at risk of hospitalization or nursing-facility care, up to a lifetime total of $7,500. Call (855) 427-1223 to ask.
No. IHSS pays for in-home caregiver services such as personal care and domestic help, not home modifications or equipment. It can still be worth applying for alongside a modification program.
The LACDA Senior Grant Program starts at 62, but Rebuilding Together serves seniors 60 and older and people with disabilities, and ILCSC serves people with disabilities of all ages. The Area Agency on Aging at (626) 414-6439 helps residents 60 and older find options.
ILCSC lists the Antelope Valley in its service area and offers free home-barrier evaluations and referrals. You can reach them at (818) 785-6934.
Possibly. The VA SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts, but one may be fundable as part of an approved adaptation plan. Call (877) 827-3702, or contact the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs at (213) 765-9681.
Yes. Outdoor stair lifts are built for exterior stair runs like those on many hillside lots, and a platform lift is an option when a wheelchair needs to go up with the rider.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
