Much of the housing in Ironwood, Bessemer and Wakefield went up between the 1880s and the 1920s, when the Gogebic Range was built out around iron mining. Those houses were made for miners' families, not for accessibility, and many still have exterior entry steps and layouts spread over several levels.
Watersmeet and the rural stretches between towns add their own challenges: hilly ground, long drives and lake-effect snow off Lake Superior. This page walks through what that means for choosing a stair lift and which programs may help cover the cost.
Single-family and detached houses from the mining boom often have narrow, steep staircases. If the stairs run in one straight line from bottom to top, a straight rail is usually the simplest fit.
Split-level homes and older houses with turns or landings are a different job. Those usually call for a curved rail built to follow the exact shape of the staircase, so we measure on site before quoting.
Walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings are also common here. In those cases the stairway may be shared, so the owner of the building needs to be part of the conversation early.
Gogebic County sits on the hilly Gogebic Range along Lake Superior's south shore, and winters are severe. Exterior entry steps that are manageable in summer can become the riskiest part of the house once snow and ice build up.
For those steps, an outdoor-rated stair lift or a platform lift may make more sense than an indoor model. A platform lift also works for someone who uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat.
About 64.1% of county residents live in rural areas, and the county covers 1,476 square miles. That means longer trips for installers, service visits and medical appointments.
It pays to plan an installation before winter sets in. Scheduling the assessment early leaves time to sort out funding paperwork and finish the work while roads are clear.
About 26.0% of Gogebic County residents are 65 or older, and 75.7% of households own their homes. For homeowners, that means the decision to add a stair lift usually rests with the family rather than a landlord.
If someone in your family served, the Veteran Services Office in Bessemer at (906) 667-1110 can help sort out which VA benefits apply.
The local economy has shifted from mining to tourism and outdoor recreation, and many older homeowners have limited money for out-of-pocket purchases. That makes it worth checking assistance programs before buying.
The MI Choice Medicaid Waiver is the clearest route, since it can include accessibility home modifications in an approved care plan. UPCAP, the area agency on aging, is the place to start, at (906) 786-4701, 1-800-338-7227, or by dialing 2-1-1.
Veterans have separate VA options, though the HISA grant does not cover stair glides. The program list below explains each one.
A Medicaid home and community-based services waiver for people 65 and older, or adults 18 and older who are blind or disabled, who meet nursing facility level of care and Medicaid financial rules. Accessibility home modifications may be included in a care plan; call (906) 786-4701.
The Upper Peninsula's area agency on aging, which handles information, referral and screening into programs like MI Choice rather than giving its own grants. Its own materials do not list stair lifts; call (906) 786-4701, 1-800-338-7227 or 2-1-1.
A lifetime VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability status, for medically necessary structural changes to a veteran's home. It specifically excludes stair glides and porch lifts; call (800) 827-1000.
VA grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH or $25,350 for SHA on a permanent home in FY2026. The program description does not mention stair lifts, giving ramps and wider doorways as examples.
A nonprofit center for independent living serving people with disabilities of any age in Gogebic, Ontonagon, Iron, Houghton and Keweenaw counties, offering accessibility consulting and assistive technology help. It does not list stair lifts specifically; call (906) 228-5744.
Older adults
P.O. Box 606, 2501 14th Ave. South, Escanaba, 49829
Veterans
200 N. Moore St. (Basement Level), Bessemer, 49911
Usually, yes. Split-level and older homes with turns or landings often need a curved rail, so the staircase has to be measured in person first.
Outdoor-rated stair lifts and platform lifts are made for exterior steps. Given the lake-effect snow here, it is worth raising during the home assessment.
The MI Choice Medicaid Waiver can include accessibility home modifications in an approved care plan. You need to meet nursing facility level of care and Medicaid financial rules, and be 65 or older or an adult who is blind or disabled.
MI Choice also covers adults 18 and older who are blind or disabled, and SAIL serves people with disabilities of any age in Gogebic County. Call SAIL at (906) 228-5744.
The HISA grant excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not mention stair lifts, so ask the Veteran Services Office in Bessemer at (906) 667-1110 or the VA at (800) 827-1000.
Start with UPCAP at (906) 786-4701 or dial 2-1-1. They can screen you for MI Choice and other in-home services.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
