From the lake streets of Skidway Lake to the county seat in West Branch, and out to Rose City, Prescott and Lupton, Ogemaw County is all small towns and back roads. The 2020 Census counts the county as 100.0% rural, spread across 575 square miles of Northern Michigan.
Many houses here are older lake-area homes and cabins, plus split-level, ranch-style and manufactured homes. Most were built long before anyone planned for aging in place. When the stairs get hard, a stair lift is often the most practical way to stay in a house you already own.
The county skews older. The median age is 50.6 years, and 22.8% of residents are 65 or older.
Owners occupy 80.5% of occupied homes, so most families here are making decisions about a house they own outright or are paying off. That makes a permanent stair lift a reasonable investment rather than something a landlord has to approve.
Distance matters too. With I-75, M-30, M-33 and M-55 as the main routes, the nearest single-story home or assisted-living option can be a long drive away. Keeping a parent in a familiar home is often the simpler path.
Split-level homes usually have short flights between levels. Each flight needs its own lift, or a curved rail if the stairs turn at a landing, so we measure every run before quoting.
Ranch-style homes often have just one staircase that matters: the one to the basement, where the laundry or the furnace sits. A straight stair lift is usually the right fit when that flight runs in a single line.
Manufactured homes and many lake cabins have the problem outside, at the entry steps or a deck. An outdoor-rated stair lift handles Northern Michigan weather, and a platform lift works better for someone who uses a wheelchair.
About 39.6% of the county's housing units sit vacant at any given time, which points to a lot of seasonal and vacation property. Some of those cabins are becoming full-time homes for retirees.
Older lake houses tend to have narrow or steep stairs and odd landings. We look at stair width, the top and bottom landings, and nearby outlets before recommending straight, curved or outdoor equipment.
Money is a real concern here. The county's median household income is $54,666 and the poverty rate is 16.7%, above the national average of 12.5%. Several programs are worth a phone call before you pay out of pocket.
None of the sources below promise stair lift coverage by name, and the VA's HISA benefit excludes stair glides outright. Still, the Medicaid waiver, the Area Agency on Aging, the VA housing grants and the USDA repair program all fund home modifications in some form, so ask each one directly.
Statewide, residents can also ask about MI Coordinated Health (formerly MI Health Link) and the MSHDA Property Improvement Program (PIP). For local help in person, the Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency AAA is at (989) 356-3474, and the Ogemaw County Office of Veterans Affairs in West Branch is at (989) 345-5170.
Provides Medicaid-covered nursing-home-level services for people age 18 and up who want to remain at home; the source does not mention stair lifts or home modifications. Call NEMCSA at (989) 358-4661 or 800-219-2273 to ask whether a stair lift can be included.
A general referral point for older adults in NEMCSA's 11 core counties, which include Ogemaw County; the source does not mention stair lifts. Call (989) 356-4600 and ask whether a Housing Services or in-home benefit can cover one.
Pays for medically justified home changes for enrolled VA health-care patients, up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime depending on disability status. Stair glides are specifically excluded, so it does not cover stair lifts.
Helps veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities buy, build or modify a permanent home, up to $126,526. The VA source does not mention stair lifts specifically.
Provides up to $25,350 for home adaptations for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands. The VA source does not mention stair lifts specifically.
Offers loans up to $40,000 at 1% over 20 years and grants up to $10,000 for very low income rural homeowners, with grants limited to those age 62 or older. The source lists accessibility items like ramps and walk-in tubs but does not mention stair lifts.
Older adults
2375 Gordon Rd., Alpena, 49707
Veterans
205 S. Eighth Street, Room 111, West Branch, 48661
Not through HISA, which explicitly excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants fund home modifications for veterans with qualifying disabilities but do not name stair lifts, so call the Ogemaw County Office of Veterans Affairs at (989) 345-5170 to ask.
The USDA Section 504 grants require age 62 or older, though its loans do not. The MI Choice Waiver serves people age 18 and up who need nursing-home-level care at home; call NEMCSA at (989) 358-4661.
The county is classified as 100.0% rural, so it is very likely within USDA-eligible areas. Eligibility is still checked address by address on the USDA map, along with income and age rules.
Yes. Each short flight usually gets its own straight lift, or a curved rail if the stairs turn. We measure every run during the home visit.
An outdoor-rated stair lift is built for the weather on entry steps and decks. If the person uses a wheelchair, a platform lift is usually the better choice.
The Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency AAA is at 2375 Gordon Rd., Alpena 49707, phone (989) 356-3474. Ogemaw is one of NEMCSA's 11 core counties.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
