Hampshire County runs from the flat river valley around Northampton and Hadley up into hill towns like Chesterfield, Middlefield and Pelham. Many of the houses here are small 18th- and 19th-century farmhouses and colonials, the kind of homes common across the Pioneer Valley.
Those older houses often have raised entries, a full staircase up to the second-floor bedrooms, and a finished or partial basement. That layout is where a stair lift tends to come up: the bedroom is upstairs, the laundry is downstairs, and the steps are getting harder. This page walks through what that means across the county's 19 towns and how local programs can help pay for it.
A straight staircase with no turns is the simplest case, and a lot of single-family homes and detached houses in Easthampton, South Hadley or Belchertown have one. A straight rail is measured, cut and mounted to the treads, not the wall.
Older farmhouses and colonials are a different story. Staircases in these homes can turn at a landing or wind as they climb, and those need a curved rail built to the exact shape of the stairs. We measure first, then tell you which type the stairs call for.
Split-level homes and townhouses often have several short flights instead of one long one. Sometimes the answer is more than one lift, and sometimes it is a lift on the flight that matters most, such as the one to the bedrooms.
Raised entries mean there are steps before you even get in the door. For those, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift may make more sense than an indoor unit, especially for someone who uses a wheelchair.
Basement stairs come up often too. One local loan program shares the example of a couple who put a stairlift and an accessible bathroom in their basement, which shows a lower level can be made usable again, not just the upstairs.
The county covers 527 square miles of land, and the terrain changes a lot from east to west. Towns in the valley sit close together, while hill towns such as Worthington, Cummington, Plainfield and Goshen are farther out.
For people outside the valley towns, that distance can affect how quickly an installer or contractor gets to the house. It helps to plan ahead, so the lift is in before a surgery or a hard winter rather than after.
About 22.1% of Hampshire County residents are 65 or older, and 73.2% of households own their home. Owning matters here, because most of the loan programs below are for homeowners.
If that includes your parent, the VA grants listed below are worth a call, though one of them does not cover stair lifts.
Paying out of pocket is one route. The county's median household income was $87,001 in 2024, but a fixed income in retirement can look very different, so it is worth checking the programs below first.
The Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP) is the main local option. It offers 0% interest loans with no monthly payments, repaid when the home is sold or transferred. Which agency handles it depends on your town: Way Finders for Amherst and Northampton, and Valley Community Development Corporation for 17 other Hampshire County towns.
Highland Valley Elder Services at (413) 586-2000 is a good first call to learn what help a resident qualifies for. Statewide, you can also ask about the MassHealth Frail Elder Waiver (FEW) and the Massachusetts Assistive Technology Loan Program (Easterseals MA).
A state-funded 0% interest deferred-payment loan of $1,000 to $50,000 for homeowners and small landlords ($1,000 to $30,000 for manufactured or mobile homes), and stair lifts are an eligible modification. In Hampshire County it serves Amherst and Northampton; call (413) 233-1615.
A 0% interest, no-monthly-payment loan of up to $50,000 (up to $30,000 for manufactured or mobile homes) for accessibility work in 17 towns including Belchertown, Easthampton, Ware and Williamsburg. The source lists ramps and lifts but does not name stair lifts specifically; call (413) 586-5855 to ask.
The local agency on aging, offering case management, Chore Services, a Consumer-Directed Program and referrals, not a cash grant. Its source does not mention stair lift funding, but it is the place to ask what help you qualify for at (413) 586-2000.
A no-cost program for homeowners age 62+ who receive or qualify for fuel assistance, covering items like stair rails, stair treads, grab bars and temporary ramps. Stair lifts are not among the listed items; call (413) 376-1163.
Stavros connects people with disabilities in Western Massachusetts to donated equipment, including stair-glides when one becomes available. The item is free, removal and reinstallation typically runs about $400 per item, and availability is not guaranteed; call (800) 804-1899.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest, or grants up to $10,000 for owners 62+ who cannot repay a loan, for very-low-income homeowners in USDA-eligible rural areas. The source does not mention stair lifts; use the USDA state-office locator to reach the county's repair specialist.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability status, for medically necessary structural changes to a veteran's home. It explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts; call (413) 584-4040 about other alterations.
Grants of up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) lifetime in FY2026 for veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities to buy, build or adapt a home. Stair lifts are not named in the source; call (413) 584-4040 to ask.
Older adults
320 Riverside Drive, Florence, 01062
Veterans
240 Main St, Suite #4, Northampton, 01060
Yes. Way Finders runs the Home Modification Loan Program for Amherst and Northampton, and it confirms stair lifts are eligible. Loans run from $1,000 to $50,000 at 0% interest with no monthly payments. Call (413) 233-1615.
Valley Community Development Corporation covers 17 Hampshire County towns, including Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Middlefield, Pelham, Plainfield, Westhampton and Worthington. Its page lists ramps and lifts but does not name stair lifts, so call (413) 586-5855 to confirm.
Community Action Pioneer Valley offers no-cost modifications to homeowners 62+ who receive or qualify for fuel assistance. Its list includes stair rails and stair treads but not stair lifts. Call (413) 376-1163.
The HISA grant does not; it explicitly excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants fund larger home adaptations for certain severe service-connected disabilities but do not name stair lifts. Call (413) 584-4040, or Central Hampshire Veterans' Services in Northampton at (413) 587-1299.
Sometimes. The Stavros Center for Independent Living passes along donated stair-glides when they come in, and removal and reinstallation typically runs about $400 per item. Availability depends on donations. Call (800) 804-1899.
Call Highland Valley Elder Services at (413) 586-2000. The office is at 320 Riverside Drive in Florence and can explain what in-home help and referrals are available.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
