Kingston traces its roots to the Wiltwijck settlement of the 1650s, and plenty of houses in its historic districts, and in river towns like Saugerties, Port Ewen and Esopus, still have the narrow, steep staircases their builders put in. Farther west, in Woodstock, Olive, Shandaken and Kerhonkson, homes sit on Catskill slopes with entries on more than one level.
That mix of old staircases and hilly lots is what we look at first when a family in Ulster County calls about a stair lift. This page walks through how local homes and terrain affect which lift fits, and where to ask about help paying for one.
Many homes in Kingston's historic districts and the county's smaller river and foothill towns are multi-story 19th- and early-20th-century houses. Their stairs were not built to modern accessibility standards, so they tend to be narrow and steep.
A straight stair lift can often work on a narrow staircase, but we measure the tread depth, the width and the clearance at the top and bottom before saying yes. Stairs that turn at a landing or wind around a corner usually need a curved rail built to fit that exact staircase.
Ulster County covers roughly 1,124 square miles west of the Hudson River, taking in large parts of the Catskill Mountains and the Shawangunk Ridge. Slide Mountain, the county's highest point, reaches about 4,180 feet. Many houses are built into slopes, with multi-level entries and outside stairs.
Split-level homes, townhouses and row houses can mean several short runs of stairs instead of one long one. For exterior steps, an outdoor-rated lift is built to handle weather, and a platform lift may make more sense for someone who uses a wheelchair. Upstate winters add snow and ice to the picture, so a safe way in and out of the house matters as much as the stairs inside.
About 21.6 percent of county residents are 65 or older, and 69.4 percent of households own their homes. Owning the house usually makes installing a lift simpler, since there is no landlord to ask.
Public transit is limited, with no passenger rail in the county and bus service through Trailways and regional transit. When getting out is harder, being able to move around your own home safely carries more weight. With 46 towns, many of them rural, it also helps to plan an installation visit ahead of time.
None of the local programs we know of names stair lifts outright, but several cover accessibility work, assistive devices or home repairs and are worth a phone call. The program list below gives the details and numbers.
For people 60 and older, the Ulster County Office for the Aging at (845) 340-3456 is the place to start. Veterans can reach the Ulster County Veterans Services Agency at (845) 340-3190. Statewide options to ask about include New York Medicaid Home Modifications (NHTD Waiver & MLTC), VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) and the New York RESTORE Program.
A Kingston-based nonprofit that helps owner-occupants in Ulster and nearby counties with critical repairs and accessibility modifications; stair lifts are not listed by name, and funding status varies. Call (845) 331-2140 to ask what is open and whether a stair lift qualifies.
Ulster County's Center for Independent Living offers architecture modification consulting and an equipment loan closet for residents with disabilities; stair lifts are not listed by name. Call (845) 331-0541 to ask about stair lift consulting or loaner equipment.
A New York State program for people 60 and older who need help with daily activities and are not eligible for Medicaid home care; its ancillary services may include home repairs or assistive devices, though stair lifts are not named. Call (800) 342-9871 or the Ulster County Office for the Aging at (845) 340-3456 to start an assessment.
National grants for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in 2026; the VA gives ramps and doorway widening as examples and does not name stair lifts. The Ulster County Veterans Services Agency at (845) 340-3190 can help with the application.
Older adults
1003 Development Court, Kingston, 12401
Veterans
5 Development Court, Kingston, 12401
Often it can, but older houses here commonly have narrow, steep stairs not built to modern standards. We measure width, steepness and clearance at both ends before recommending a straight or curved lift.
Yes, outdoor-rated lifts are made for exterior stairs, and a platform lift is an option for wheelchair users. With snow and ice in winter, we look at the whole path from the driveway to the door.
EISEP serves people 60 and older who need help with daily activities and are not on Medicaid home care. Its ancillary services may include home repairs or assistive devices, so call the Ulster County Office for the Aging at (845) 340-3456 to ask about an assessment.
RUPCO says it helps with accessibility modifications but does not list stair lifts by name, and program funding changes. Call (845) 331-2140 to check what is currently open.
Veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities may be eligible for VA SAH or SHA grants, and statewide VA benefits such as HISA. The Ulster County Veterans Services Agency in Kingston, at (845) 340-3190, can walk you through the options.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
