Franklin County covers 21 towns in Maine's western mountains, from Farmington, Jay and Wilton in the south to Rangeley, Eustis and Carrabassett Valley up near Sugarloaf Mountain. Much of the housing here is multi-level: older farmhouses, split-level homes and single-family homes where the bedroom and full bath sit upstairs.
When the stairs get hard, moving downstairs often isn't practical in a house built that way. A stair lift lets someone keep using the whole home. This page covers which kind of lift tends to fit Franklin County homes and which programs may help pay for one.
Franklin County has Maine's lowest share of pre-1940 housing among its counties, at 18.4%. The wider Central-Western Maine region is still an older stock, though: MaineHousing reporting finds close to 60% of homes in the region were built before 1980.
Older rural homes and farmhouses often have no ground-floor primary bedroom. That puts a full staircase between a person and their bed every night, which is the most common reason we get called out.
A straight staircase with no landing is the simplest and usually the quickest install. Farmhouse stairs with a turn, a landing or winders need a curved rail built to that exact staircase.
Split-level homes have short runs of stairs between levels, and each run may need its own straight lift. Ranch-style homes can still have stairs down to a basement laundry or up to the front door.
Walk-up apartments are a different case because the stairwell is often shared. In those buildings, talk with the owner before planning any lift.
For entry steps outside, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can be an option. With the long winters here, ask your installer how a unit handles snow and ice before you choose.
About 23.3% of Franklin County residents are 65 or older, and 75.3% of households own their homes. Owning the home matters because most repair and modification programs require it.
The VA has its own rules on stair lifts, covered in the programs below, so veterans should check those before paying out of pocket.
Franklin County is rural with a modest tax base, and many residents here use grant or loan programs instead of paying entirely on their own. Only two programs on this page clearly cover stair lifts: the MaineCare Section 19 waiver and the VA Specially Adapted Housing grant.
The others fund home modifications or repairs but do not name stair lifts, so ask each one directly before you count on it. SeniorsPlus at (207) 795-4010 is a good first call because it connects people to the waiver and to home-repair programs.
Statewide, you can also ask about mPower Loans (Kim Wallace Adaptive Equipment Loan Program), the MaineHousing Home Accessibility and Repair Program and the Maine Property Tax Fairness Credit.
A MaineCare waiver for people 65+, or 18+ with a qualifying disability, who meet nursing-facility level of care; home modifications are a listed benefit and a stair lift can be covered under an individual plan of care. Call (800) 262-2232 or screen through SeniorsPlus.
The Area Agency on Aging for Franklin County offers free information, options counseling and referrals for people 60+, adults with disabilities and caregivers; it does not list stair lifts as something it funds. Call (207) 795-4010.
A grant for Maine residents with disabilities of any age that funds items such as wheelchair lifts, ramps and home modifications; stair lifts are not named in its list. Call (800) 640-7200.
For homeowners 55+ or living with a disability at or below 100% of area median income, covering items like grab bars, handrails, steps, ramps and free home safety checks; stair lifts are not on the listed scope. Call (207) 645-3764.
Home repair, elderly home repair (60+) and accessibility grants for Franklin County homeowners below 80% of area median income; stair lifts are not named in the program description. Call (207) 859-1524.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income rural homeowners, with grants limited to those 62+; listed accessibility repairs include ramps and grab bars, but stair lifts are not named. Call (207) 990-9160.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary accessibility work; HISA does not cover stair lifts because it excludes stair glides and porch lifts. Call (207) 623-8411.
For veterans and service members with specific severe, permanent service-connected disabilities, with a FY2026 maximum of $109,986; stair lifts between floors are a listed covered modification. Call (800) 827-1000.
Older adults
8 Falcon Road, Lewiston, 04240
Veterans
35 Westminster Street, Lewiston, 04240
Yes, usually with a curved rail made for that staircase. Farmhouses without a ground-floor bedroom are common in this region, and turns and landings are something we measure for at the home visit.
Some programs take younger applicants. The MaineCare Section 19 waiver accepts adults 18+ with a qualifying disability, Alpha One serves Maine residents with disabilities of any age, and the Community Aging in Place program starts at 55.
The HISA grant does not, since it excludes stair glides. The Specially Adapted Housing grant does list stair lifts between floors for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities; call (800) 827-1000 or the Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services Lewiston Field Office at (207) 753-9106.
The 2026 simplified figures are about $2,982 a month in income and $10,000 in assets for a single applicant. You also must meet nursing-facility level of care, so call (800) 262-2232 or SeniorsPlus to start a screening.
Most of Franklin County qualifies as rural, but the property has to be in a USDA-eligible area. Call USDA Rural Development at (207) 990-9160 to check your address and income.
SeniorsPlus at (207) 795-4010 is the Area Agency on Aging for Franklin County. It can point you to the waiver, home-repair grants and options counseling at no cost.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
