From the isthmus at Elk Rapids to the hills around Torch Lake, Antrim County is lake country. Water covers 126 of the county's 602 square miles, and much of the housing sits in small historic towns like Bellaire, Central Lake, Mancelona, Eastport, Alba and Ellsworth rather than in newer subdivisions.
Many of those homes are older cottages and farmhouse-style buildings with more than one level. They were not built with aging owners in mind. If you or a parent want to stay in a long-held family lake place or an in-town house with stairs, a stair lift is often the change that makes it work.
Ranch-style homes here often have a single straight flight to the basement, which is usually the simplest install. A straight rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so older plaster and paneling stay untouched.
Split-level homes bring short runs of stairs between levels, sometimes with a landing or turn. Older cottages and farmhouses tend to have narrow or turning staircases that call for a curved rail built to fit that specific stair.
Walk-up apartments are a different situation, since shared stairways usually need the building owner's approval before anything is installed. We can look at the stairs and talk through what is possible before you ask.
Elk Rapids alone had 1,220 housing units in the 2020 Census, and 40.3% of them were vacant, which reflects how many places around the county are cottages and vacation homes used part of the year. Lake lots on Torch Lake, Elk Lake and Grand Traverse Bay often come with steps down to a deck or toward the water.
For those spots, an outdoor stair lift built for weather exposure may fit better than an indoor model. Where a wheelchair needs to go up or down, a platform lift is the option to discuss. We measure each stair before recommending one or the other.
The 2020 Census counted all of Antrim County's population as rural. With towns spread across hardwood hills and farm country, many older residents live well outside any town center, and moving to a single-story home or assisted living can mean leaving neighbors and family land behind.
About 78.0% of households here own their homes, so most families can make changes like a stair lift without asking a landlord. That is often less disruptive than a move.
Several local, state and federal programs reach Antrim County residents. Only one of them, the Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Fund, lists dwelling accessibility modifications as something it finances. The others either do not mention stair lifts or, in one case, exclude them, so it pays to call and ask before you count on any funding.
A good first call is the Antrim County Commission on Aging at (231) 533-8703. They can point you toward in-home services and the MI Choice waiver through the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan at (231) 947-8920 in Traverse City. Statewide options also include the MSHDA Property Improvement Program (PIP) and MI Coordinated Health (formerly MI Health Link).
Cayuga St. in Bellaire, phone (231) 533-8499. Each program is summarized below.
AAANM handles MI Choice intake, screening and support coordination for Antrim County residents age 65+ or disabled 18+ who meet income and asset limits. The program lists Environmental Adaptations as a covered service but does not name stair lifts; call (231) 947-8920.
A county home repair program for homeowners, with intake and eligibility handled by the Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency. Stair lifts are not listed, so call NMCAA at (800) 632-7334 to ask whether accessibility work qualifies in the current round.
Repair loans up to $40,000 and grants up to a $10,000 lifetime maximum (combined up to $50,000) for very low income rural homeowners, with grants limited to those 62 or older. Accessibility changes such as ramps are mentioned but stair lifts are not listed; call (231) 941-0951 and check your address on the USDA eligibility map.
A lifetime benefit of $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary home accessibility changes for enrolled VA patients. Stair glides and porch lifts are specifically excluded, so this does not cover a stair lift; VA can be reached at (800) 827-1000.
Grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, with FY2026 caps of $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA. Ramps and wider doorways are named but stair lifts are not listed, so ask Antrim County Veterans Affairs at (231) 533-8499 about your situation.
A statewide loan fund for Michigan residents with a disability or seniors needing assistive technology, and it lists dwelling accessibility modifications as a financeable category. Call (800) 827-4843 to ask about loan terms.
A Center for Independent Living serving 17 counties including Antrim, offering independent living skills, peer support and advocacy. Home modification funding is not listed; call (231) 922-0903 to ask about stair lift help or referrals.
The county's senior services hub for meals, in-home services, medical transportation and Medicare/Medicaid assistance (MMAP). Stair lifts are not listed, but it is a good first call at (231) 533-8703 for referrals, including to MI Choice.
Older adults
1609 Park Drive, Traverse City, 49686
Veterans
203 E. Cayuga St. PO Box 1049, Bellaire, 49615
Often, yes. Narrow or turning stairs usually need a curved rail made to fit that staircase, while a single straight flight can take a straight rail. We measure the stairs in person before recommending either.
Outdoor stair lifts are built for exposed steps, and a platform lift is an option where a wheelchair is involved. The right choice depends on the steps and the ground around them, which we look at on site.
The VA HISA benefit specifically excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not list stair lifts either, so a veteran should call Antrim County Veterans Affairs in Bellaire at (231) 533-8499 to talk through options.
MI Choice serves people age 65+ or disabled adults 18+, the Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Fund serves Michigan residents with a disability, and Disability Network Northern Michigan serves people with disabilities in Antrim County. USDA Section 504 grants require age 62 or older, though its loans do not.
The Antrim County Commission on Aging at (231) 533-8703 is a practical first call for referrals. If you want a loan, the Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Fund at (800) 827-4843 lists dwelling accessibility modifications as something it finances.
All of Antrim County's population was counted as rural in the 2020 Census, but USDA checks eligibility address by address on its map. Call USDA Rural Development at (231) 941-0951 to confirm.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
