Lincoln County has 106 properties on the National Register of Historic Places, and many of them are houses people still live in. In Damariscotta, Newcastle, Boothbay Harbor and Wiscasset, a lot of homes went up long before anyone thought about accessibility, and their stairs show it: narrow, steep, often boxed in, with winder treads at the top or bottom.
Across the county's 18 towns, from Waldoboro and Jefferson to Westport Island and Southport, we see that same pattern again and again. This page walks through what Lincoln County homes mean for a stair lift, how the rural layout of the county affects planning, and which programs may help pay for one.
Federal-era homes like the Chapman-Hall House, the Huston House and the Matthew Cottrill House in Damariscotta give a good picture of what we find inside many older houses here. These are usually full two-story homes, and the staircase is rarely a simple straight run.
Winder treads, the wedge-shaped steps that turn a corner, are common at the top or bottom. A straight rail cannot follow that turn, so these homes usually need a curved rail that is measured on site and built to fit that one staircase.
If your home sits in one of the county's historic districts, such as Main Street in Damariscotta, Head Tide in Alna, the Sheepscot district spanning Newcastle and Alna, or the Brick House district in Newcastle, expect the measurement visit to take a careful look at stair width and the turns. Narrow enclosed stairs leave less room for the seat, so getting the numbers right before ordering matters.
Not every house in the county is a two-story antique. Outside the village centers you will also find single-family homes, detached houses, townhouses, split-level homes and walk-up apartments.
A newer home with one straight flight is often the simplest job, since a straight rail fits without custom bending. Split-level homes have short flights between levels, and the right answer there may be a lift on the main flight or a platform lift, depending on how the floors connect.
For walk-up apartments and townhouses, the stairs are often shared or tight against a wall. We look at the full path from the door to the living space before suggesting straight, curved or platform equipment.
Lincoln County covers about 700 square miles, and roughly 244 of those are water. The shoreline folds in and out around harbor towns like Boothbay Harbor, and 91.3% of residents live in rural areas.
Most trips here mean a car and U.S. Route 1, and installers or home-modification assessors based outside the county may face long drives. Booking the measurement visit early helps, especially for a curved rail that has to be built after the stairs are measured.
Many coastal homes also have steps outside, from the driveway to the door. If getting into the house is as hard as climbing inside it, ask about an outdoor lift during the same visit.
Lincoln County has about 35,703 residents, and 28.9% are 65 or older. The median age is 51.4, which is high for Maine, so many families are thinking about stairs for a parent or for themselves.
Ownership is common too: 83.8% of residents are homeowners, which matters because several funding programs require you to own the home.
The programs with the clearest stair lift coverage in Maine come from Alpha One. Its Adaptive Equipment Loan Program lists stair lifts by name at a 3.75% fixed rate, and its Independent Living Services Grant lists home modifications and lifts among covered items, subject to individual approval.
Other programs, including MaineCare Section 19, the MaineHousing programs and VA Specially Adapted Housing grants, do not name stair lifts in the sources we reviewed, so call and ask directly before counting on them. The VA HISA grant explicitly excludes stair glides.
If you are not sure where to start, Spectrum Generations at (207) 622-9212 is the Area Agency on Aging for Lincoln County and can point you to current assistance. Veterans can also call the Togus Bureau of Veterans' Services Office at (207) 287-9933.
A Medicaid home and community-based services waiver for Maine residents 65 and older or adults with a physical disability who meet nursing-facility level of care and MaineCare financial rules. Stair lifts are not listed in the source we reviewed, so confirm with MaineCare at (207) 624-4050.
The designated Area Agency on Aging for Lincoln County, offering information, care coordination and referrals to home-modification assessments and funding. It does not list its own stair lift fund; call (207) 622-9212 as a first stop.
A state repair program for homeowners who have owned and lived in the home at least 1 year with income at or below 80% AMI, and it funds improvements for people with disabilities or physical barriers. Stair lifts are not named, so ask at (207) 816-3550.
Accessibility grants for people 55 and older or with a disability who own the home (or live in a family member's home) with income at or below 100% AMI. Listed examples include grab bars and handrails but not stair lifts; the partner number shown is (207) 859-1500.
A lifetime VA grant for medically necessary structural changes, up to $6,800 or $2,000 depending on disability status. It does not cover stair lifts, which the VA lists as excluded stair glides; call (800) 799-4889 for other uses.
VA grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) lifetime for FY2026. Stair lifts are not listed in the source, so ask about your adaptation plan at (800) 827-1000.
A statewide independent living grant for Maine residents with a significant disability, with a presence in Newcastle. It covers home modifications and lift equipment including stair lifts, subject to approval; call (800) 640-7200.
A low-interest loan at a 3.75% fixed rate for Maine residents with a disability who need adaptive equipment or home modifications. Stair lifts are listed by name; call (800) 640-7200.
Older adults
2 Davis St., Augusta, 04330
Veterans
Veterans Administration CenternBuilding 248, Room 110, Togus, 04330
Often it will not. Many pre-1900 homes in those towns have narrow, steep staircases with winder treads at the top or bottom, which usually call for a curved rail measured on site.
Alpha One's Adaptive Equipment Loan Program lists stair lifts by name and offers a 3.75% fixed rate loan. Its Independent Living Services Grant also covers lift equipment, subject to individual approval. Both use (800) 640-7200.
No. The VA HISA page explicitly excludes stair glides. Veterans with severe service-connected disabilities can ask about SAH or SHA grants at (800) 827-1000, or contact the Togus Bureau of Veterans' Services Office at (207) 287-9933.
Yes, possibly. The MaineHousing Community Aging in Place program serves people 55 and older or with a disability, and Alpha One serves Maine residents with a disability regardless of age.
Spectrum Generations, the Area Agency on Aging for Lincoln County, at (207) 622-9212. It can help you find current in-home accessibility assistance for your town.
For the Home Repair Program, yes: you must have owned and lived in the home for at least 1 year, with income at or below 80% AMI. The Community Aging in Place program also allows a home owned by a family member.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
