From the village streets of Bath to the peninsulas of Phippsburg and Georgetown, Sagadahoc County is full of houses that were built long before anyone thought about accessibility. Permanent European settlement here dates to 1715, and a lot of building followed through the 19th century. That left the county with many older, multi-story homes where the bedroom and bathroom sit at the top of the stairs.
We install stair lifts across all 10 towns: Topsham, Bath, Richmond, Bowdoin, Woolwich, Bowdoinham, West Bath, Phippsburg, Georgetown and Arrowsic. This page walks through what local homes usually need and which Maine programs can help with the cost.
Most homes in the county are single-family homes and detached houses, and many are old enough that the staircase was fit into whatever space the builder had. Some run straight from the front hall to the landing. Others turn, narrow or wind near the top.
A straight stair lift rides a single rail and is usually the quickest to install. Stairs with a turn or a landing need a curved lift, with a rail shaped to that specific staircase. At the first visit we look at the stair width, the landings and the spot where someone will get on and off.
About 24% of county residents are 65 or older, and the median age is about 47.3 years, older than the national average. Of the county's 18,938 housing units, 75.2% are owner-occupied.
That adds up to a lot of long-time owners who want to stay put in a house where daily life still depends on the stairs. For families helping a parent, a stair lift is often the change that keeps the upstairs bedroom usable.
The Kennebec and Androscoggin rivers meet here on their way to the Gulf of Maine, and water covers 116 of the county's 370 square miles. Georgetown, Phippsburg and Arrowsic sit on peninsulas and islands, and many homes there have steps up to the entry as well as inside.
When the trouble is the outside steps or a porch, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can be the better fit. About 61.4% of residents live in rural areas rather than village centers like Bath, so we plan visits and service with the drive in mind.
Two Alpha One programs name stair lifts directly: a low-interest loan that is not based on income, and a grant for Mainers with significant disabilities. Those are the best places to start.
Several local programs, including Comfortably Home through Bath Housing, fund accessibility work but do not name stair lifts on their pages, so call and ask. Veterans should know that the VA HISA grant does not pay for stair lifts. Each program is listed below with its phone number.
A statewide nonprofit loan from $250 to $100,000 at a fixed 3.75% rate for Maine residents with a disability, approved on ability to repay rather than income. Stair lifts are named as qualifying; call (800) 640-7200.
A case-by-case grant for adaptive equipment and home modifications for Maine citizens with significant disabilities, and stair lifts are among the funded outcomes. Call (800) 640-7200.
A state waiver that pays for home care as an alternative to a nursing facility for people 65+, blind or disabled who meet MaineCare medical and financial rules. The source does not mention stair lifts, so confirm care-plan details at (800) 977-6740.
A lifetime VA benefit of up to $6,800 or up to $2,000 for medically needed alterations like ramps and roll-in showers. It does not cover stair lifts; ask about SAH/SHA grants instead at (207) 623-8411.
A free Sagadahoc County program offering safety checks, accessibility modifications and minor repairs for homeowners 62+ or disabled with income at or below $39,500 (one person) or $45,150 (two people). Stair lifts are not mentioned in the source; call (207) 443-3116 to ask.
A free program for homeowners 55+ or disabled with income up to 100% of area median income, delivered locally by Bath Housing. Its covered list includes grab bars, handrails and steps but does not mention stair lifts; call (207) 443-3116.
Housing rehabilitation and removal of architectural barriers for low- and moderate-income homeowners. 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+, covering repairs and accessibility modifications. Stair lifts are not named; call (207) 990-9100 and confirm your address qualifies as rural.
The Central Maine Area Agency on Aging and Aging and Disability Resource Center, a referral source rather than a stair lift funder. Call (800) 639-1553 to confirm service for your town and get pointed to help.
Older adults
2 Davis St., Augusta, 04330
Veterans
35 Westminster Street, Lewiston, 04240
Not through HISA. The VA's HISA guidance excludes stair glides as removable equipment. Ask about SAH/SHA grants at (207) 623-8411, or contact the Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services Lewiston Office at (207) 783-5306.
Yes. The Alpha One Adaptive Equipment Loan Program approves loans based on ability to repay, not income, and names stair lifts as qualifying. It is a loan, not a grant. Call (800) 640-7200.
Maybe not. The program requires an eligible rural area, and Bath itself may not qualify, though surrounding towns in the county often do. Check the address with USDA at (207) 990-9100.
Comfortably Home serves people 62+ or disabled, and the MaineHousing Community Aging in Place Program starts at age 55 or disabled. Both run through Bath Housing at (207) 443-3116.
Yes. Outside steps and porches often call for an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift. We look at the entry along with the inside stairs during the home visit.
Spectrum Generations, the Central Maine Area Agency on Aging, offers information and referrals. Reach its Augusta office at 2 Davis St. at (207) 622-9212 or call (800) 639-1553.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
