Iosco County runs along Lake Huron, from Tawas City and East Tawas up through Au Sable and Oscoda, then inland to Sand Lake and Whittemore. Much of the county is white pine forest, inland lakes and land within the Au Sable State Forest. That means most people who call us live outside any incorporated city, often on a long gravel drive or a lot facing the water.
The homes here are a mix of year-round houses and seasonal cottages. Of 19,856 housing units counted, 41.3% were vacant, which points to a large share of vacation homes. If you are trying to keep a parent in their own house, or stay in yours, this page covers which lift fits the stairs you have and which local programs may help pay for it.
Ranch-style homes are common here, and the stairs that matter in a ranch are usually the ones down to the lower level or out to the yard. A single straight run is the simplest job: a straight rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, and installs in a day in most cases.
Split-level homes are different. You may have two or three short flights with landings between them. A curved rail can follow the turns as one unit, or a family may choose short straight lifts on the flights used most. We measure each flight before recommending either.
Walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings need the building owner's permission before anything is attached to a shared stairway. Ask about that first, because it can decide the whole project.
Many homes near Lake Huron and the inland lakes of the '60 Lakes Area' sit above the water or on sloped ground, with steps from the driveway or down to a deck. Outdoor stair lifts are built with weather-resistant parts and covers for those runs.
Where someone uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift may make more sense than a chair. It takes more room, so we look at the space at the top and bottom of the steps before suggesting one.
About 29.2% of Iosco County residents are 65 or older, a high share, so the question of stairs comes up in a lot of households.
Ownership matters too. About 78.6% of residents own their homes, and most home-modification funding, including MI Choice, USDA 504 and county CDBG, requires that the owner live in the house. A seasonal cottage that is not someone's primary residence usually will not qualify.
The program most likely to help with a stair lift is the MI Choice Waiver. It covers home modifications as Environmental Accessibility Adaptations, approved one at a time through a supports coordinator. In Iosco County it runs through the Region 9 Area Agency on Aging, operated by NEMCSA.
Veterans have a separate path. The VA Specially Adapted Housing and Special Home Adaptation grants cover home modifications for severe service-connected disabilities. The smaller HISA grant does not cover stair glides, so do not count on it for a lift. Iosco County Veterans Affairs is at 671 E. M-55 in Tawas City, (989) 362-6571.
For a starting point on aging services, the Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency AAA is at 2375 Gordon Rd. in Alpena, (989) 356-3474. Each program is summarized below.
A state waiver for residents 65 and older, or 18 to 64 with a qualifying disability, who meet Nursing Facility Level of Care; it covers home modifications, approved individually as part of the care plan, with a 2026 single-applicant income limit of $2,982/month and asset limit of $9,950. Call (800) 803-7174.
The local agency for in-home services, care management and MI Choice enrollment in Iosco County; its source does not list stair lifts or home modifications directly, but it is where the MI Choice process starts. Call (989) 358-4661.
Free insulation, air sealing and related energy work for income-qualified households; it does not cover stair lifts or accessibility changes. Call (989) 358-4700.
Provides meals, homemaking, personal care, respite and medical transportation after a client assessment; stair lifts and home modifications are not listed. Call (989) 728-6484.
Repair loans up to $40,000 at 1% and grants up to $10,000 for very low-income rural homeowners, with grants limited to applicants 62 and older who cannot repay a loan; the source names ramps and grab bars but does not mention stair lifts.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary home improvements, but stair glides are specifically excluded. Call Iosco County Veterans Affairs at (989) 362-6571.
Grants for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026, and they cover home modifications. Call (989) 362-6571.
Older adults
2375 Gordon Rd., Alpena, 49707
Veterans
671 E. M-55, Tawas City, 48763
Yes, possibly. The MI Choice Waiver accepts adults 18 to 64 who meet disability standards and Nursing Facility Level of Care, as well as people 65 and older.
Usually not. MI Choice, USDA 504 and county CDBG generally require that the owner live in the home, so a seasonal place that is not a primary residence is unlikely to qualify.
The HISA grant excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants cover home modifications for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities. Start with Iosco County Veterans Affairs in Tawas City at (989) 362-6571.
The Section 504 grant requires the applicant to be 62 or older, to have household income at or below 50% of Area Median Income, and to be unable to repay a loan. Younger homeowners may still qualify for the loan.
Call the Region 9 Area Agency on Aging at (989) 358-4661 or the MI Choice line at (800) 803-7174. They arrange the assessment that decides eligibility.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
