Trinity County covers 3,179 square miles of the Klamath Mountains, with about 5 people per square mile and not a single incorporated city. Homes in Weaverville, Hayfork, Lewiston, Junction City and the other towns are often built into slopes, so a house that looks like one story from the road can have a full level of stairs inside or a long run of steps out to the driveway.
That terrain shapes which stair lift makes sense. A split-level in Douglas City, a ranch-style home in Trinity Center with steps down to the yard, and a walk-up apartment in Weaverville each call for a different setup. This page walks through the options and the programs that can help pay for one.
About 27.6% of Trinity County residents are 65 or older, and the median age is about 55, well above the state average. Around 69.6% of households own their home, so many people here plan to stay in a house they know rather than move.
Owning the home matters for a stair lift. Owners can decide on installation themselves, while renters in walk-up apartments will need the landlord's approval before anything is mounted to the stairs.
A straight stair lift fits a single, uninterrupted flight, which is common in many single-family and detached houses. It mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, and is usually the simplest and least costly option.
Split-level homes and staircases with a landing or turn need a curved lift with a rail built to the exact shape of the stairs. We measure on site so the rail follows each bend.
Because so many lots in the county are sloped, the stairs that cause trouble are often outside: from the parking area to the front door or down to a lower deck. Outdoor lifts are built to handle weather, and where a wheelchair user needs to get up a few steps, a platform lift can be the better fit.
Weaverville started as a Gold Rush town and still has many historic buildings, including several of the oldest brick buildings in California. Older homes can have narrow or uneven stairs, which we check closely before recommending a lift.
The county has 8,183 housing units spread across mountain towns like Coffee Creek, Burnt Ranch, Salyer, Mad River and Trinity Village. A home visit lets us look at the stairs, the outlets and the approach to the house in one trip.
About 23% of residents live below the poverty line, so need-based help is worth looking into before paying out of pocket. The two programs in the list below that cover stair lifts are the Medi-Cal Environmental Accessibility Adaptations benefit and the VA Specially Adapted Housing and Special Home Adaptation grants.
Medi-Cal help depends on documented medical need and your managed-care plan, so start with your doctor or therapist.
Other statewide programs you can ask about include the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) and the FreedomTech Low-Interest Assistive Technology Loan. For general guidance on aging services, the PSA 2 Area Agency on Aging office in Yreka can be reached at (530) 842-1687.
A statewide Medi-Cal home-modification benefit that explicitly covers stair lifts, ramps, grab bars and similar changes when a physician or therapist documents medical necessity. Amounts are decided case by case, and caps vary by managed-care plan.
A county-run Medi-Cal program that pays for caregiver hours such as bathing and meal prep for residents who are 65+, blind or disabled. It does not pay for stair lifts or home modifications; call (800) 510-2020.
The entry point for aging and adult services for people 60+ and adults with disabilities, offering caregiver support and referrals to home-safety resources. The source does not list stair lift funding; call (800) 510-2020.
Offers mostly free assistive technology, housing assistance and referrals for people with disabilities and older adults in Humboldt, Del Norte and Trinity Counties. Stair lifts are not listed and it is not a direct purchase grant; call (707) 445-8404.
VA grants for veterans with qualifying permanent service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA (FY2026), and a stair lift can be covered as part of an approved home-adaptation plan. Apply with VA Form 26-4555 or call (800) 827-1000.
Older adults
P.O. Box 1400, Yreka, 96097
Veterans
61B Airport Road, Weaverville, 96093
It can. The Medi-Cal Environmental Accessibility Adaptations benefit covers stair lifts when a physician or therapist documents medical necessity. There is no fixed statewide cap, and limits vary by managed-care plan.
No. In-Home Supportive Services pays for personal-care and domestic-service hours only, not equipment or home modifications.
Veterans with qualifying permanent service-connected disabilities may have a stair lift covered through the SAH or SHA grant as part of an approved plan. The VA HISA grant excludes stair lifts. The Trinity County Veteran Services Office in Weaverville, (530) 623-3975, can help with the application.
Yes. Outdoor stair lifts are built for exterior steps, and a platform lift can work where a wheelchair needs to get up a few steps. We look at the slope and the route to the door during the home visit.
The PSA 2 Area Agency on Aging serves people 60+ and also adults with disabilities. Tri-County Independent Living serves people with disabilities as well as older adults, and most of its services are free.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
