Otsego County stretches across 526 square miles of Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula, with more than 370 lakes concentrated mostly in its southern half. Gaylord is the county seat and largest city, and Vanderbilt sits to the north. Homes here range from ranch-style and split-level houses to walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings in town.
At the 2020 census the county had 14,861 housing units, and 30.0% stood vacant, which fits a place with a lot of seasonal and vacation homes. Among occupied homes, 76.7% were owner-occupied. For a family deciding whether a parent can keep living in a house with stairs, that mix of year-round homes, lake cabins and in-town apartments shapes which kind of stair lift makes sense.
A ranch-style home often has its living space on one floor, but the laundry or a family room may be down a basement staircase. When that staircase runs straight from top to bottom, a straight stair lift is usually the simplest and quickest install.
Split-level homes are different. They tend to have several short flights instead of one long one, so you may need either a curved lift that follows the turns or separate straight lifts for the runs your parent uses most. We measure each flight before recommending one approach over the other.
With so many lakes in the southern part of the county, plenty of homes have exterior steps down to a deck, a walkout level or the water side of the lot. An outdoor stair lift is built with weather-resistant parts for that kind of run.
Where a wheelchair user needs to get up a few porch steps, a platform lift can carry the chair itself. If the home is a seasonal place that sits empty part of the year, mention that during the assessment so the lift and its power setup fit how the house is used.
Walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings in Gaylord can have shared stairwells. Installing a lift in a common stairway usually needs the owner's or building manager's written approval, so start that conversation early.
Stair width matters too. We check that a lift can fold up and still leave room for other residents to pass before anything is ordered.
Of the programs listed below, the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver is the one whose source explicitly lists stair lifts among covered home modifications. It is for Medicaid-eligible seniors and adults with disabilities who meet a nursing-facility level of care, and some regions have waitlists.
For other help, the local aging offices are the best first call. The Otsego County Commission on Aging (OCCOA) is at 1165 ElkView Ave in Gaylord, and the Region 9 Area Agency on Aging (NEMCSA) serves a 12-county northeast Michigan area that includes Otsego County. Veterans can reach Otsego County Veterans' Affairs at 225 W Main Street, Room 213, Gaylord, at (989) 731-7575.
Statewide options also include MI Coordinated Health (formerly MI Health Link) and the MSHDA Property Improvement Program (PIP). Ask any program directly whether a stair lift qualifies before you sign a contract.
The area agency on aging for older adults (60+) and adults with disabilities in a 12-county northeast Michigan region that includes Otsego County; its source does not list stair lifts. Call (989) 356-4600 to ask about current in-home and home-modification referral services.
The county senior services agency offers home-based services, information and assistance, and caregiver support, but its source does not mention stair lift coverage. Call (989) 732-1122 to ask about home-modification referrals.
A state Medicaid home and community-based services waiver that explicitly lists stair lifts and elevators among covered home modifications. It serves Medicaid-eligible seniors and adults with disabilities who meet a nursing-facility level of care, with income and asset limits and possible waitlists.
Offers rural very-low-income homeowners loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest over 20 years, and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners age 62+. The source names ramps, grab bars and walk-in tubs as accessibility examples but does not mention stair lifts.
Provides up to $126,526 (FY2026) to veterans and servicemembers with certain severe service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home. The source names ramps and doorway widening but does not mention stair lifts.
Provides up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities when the veteran or a family member owns the home. The source names ramps and doorway widening, not stair lifts.
Pays up to $6,800 lifetime for service-connected disabilities, or up to $2,000 for other non-service-connected disabilities, toward permanent home alterations. It does not cover stair lifts, since it excludes porch lifts and stair glides.
Older adults
2375 Gordon Rd., Alpena, 49707
Veterans
225 W Main Street, Room 213, Gaylord, 49735
It can through the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver, which lists stair lifts among covered home modifications. You must be Medicaid-eligible, meet a nursing-facility level of care and choose to stay at home, and some regions have waitlists.
Start with the Otsego County Commission on Aging (OCCOA) at (989) 732-1122 or the Region 9 Area Agency on Aging (NEMCSA) at (989) 356-4600. Neither lists stair lift funding, but both can explain in-home services and referrals.
The HISA grant does not cover stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not mention stair lifts on their source page, so call Otsego County Veterans' Affairs at (989) 731-7575 to ask about your situation.
USDA Section 504 loans of up to $40,000 are open to very-low-income rural homeowners regardless of age, while the grant portion requires age 62+. The program does not name stair lifts, so confirm eligibility for that use.
No. A curved lift can follow turns between levels, or separate straight lifts can serve the flights your family member uses most. An in-home measurement shows which option fits.
Yes. Outdoor stair lifts are made for exterior steps, and a platform lift can carry a wheelchair up a few porch steps.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
