Beaufort County is split roughly in half by the Pamlico River, with towns like Washington, Chocowinity, Aurora, Belhaven, Bath and Pantego spread along the water. Many homes here sit low and close to rivers and creeks, while the older homes in Washington's historic core often have tall original staircases.
That mix makes a real difference when choosing a stair lift. A narrow staircase in a late 19th century house, the entry steps on an elevated home near Goose Creek, and the short flights in a split-level each call for a different setup. This page walks through what tends to fit Beaufort County homes and where to look for help paying.
The Washington Historic District includes 512 contributing buildings, many dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Homes such as the Marsh House, Myers House, Hyatt House, Griffin House, Rodman House and Elmwood are multi-story, and houses of that era often keep their original staircases.
Original stairs can be steep, turn at a landing, or wind near the top. A straight stair lift works when the flight runs in one line from bottom to top. If the staircase curves or has a landing, a curved rail built to that staircase is usually the answer.
A stair lift mounts to the treads, not the wall, so the banister and woodwork in an older house can usually stay as they are. We measure each flight in person before recommending a model.
Outside the historic core, the county's housing includes single-family homes, ranch-style homes and split-level homes, plus older rural houses in places like Belhaven, Aurora and Chocowinity. A split-level often has two or more short flights, and each one may need its own lift or a rail that follows the turn between them.
Some residents live in walk-up apartments or low-rise buildings. In those cases the building owner usually has to approve any installation, so it helps to ask before scheduling a measurement.
About 13.51% of the county is water, with the Pamlico River, Pungo River, Blounts Creek, Tar River, Goose Creek and the Intracoastal Waterway all running through it. That low-lying coastal-plain ground makes parts of the county flood-prone, and some homes are raised with stairs at the front door.
For those entry steps, an outdoor stair lift built for weather exposure is one option. Where someone uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift may make more sense. We look at the slope, the landing space and how often the steps get wet before suggesting either one.
About 26.9% of the county's 18,901 residents are 65 or older, and 59.2% are homeowners. For many families, keeping a parent in a house they already own is the plan, and the stairs are what stand in the way.
If that includes your family, the Veteran's Services office in Washington is a good first call, though some VA grants have limits on stair equipment that are covered below.
No program in the list below names stair lifts as a covered item, and one VA grant specifically excludes stair glides. Several programs do pay for home modifications in general, so it is worth asking each office whether a stair lift could count in your case.
Start with the Region Q - Mid-East Commission AAA at 1502 N. Market St., Suite A, Washington, at (252) 974-1835. They can point you toward local aging services. North Carolina also has a statewide Elderly or Disabled Property Tax Homestead Exclusion (G.S. 105-277.1), which does not pay for equipment but may matter for a household's budget.
A statewide Medicaid waiver for adults who need a nursing facility level of care, with a 'Modification, equipment, and technology' budget raised from $13,000 to $28,000 for Plans of Care created on or after Nov. 1, 2024; stair lifts are not named in the sources. Call (888) 245-0179.
A rehabilitation program for owner-occupied Beaufort County homes where household income does not exceed 80% of the county's area median income; the source does not mention stair lifts or accessibility work. Contact Tim Andrews of McDavid Associates, Inc. at (252) 753-2139.
A VA grant with a $6,800 lifetime maximum for service-connected disabilities or $2,000 for other disabilities, covering medically necessary home alterations. It explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts, so it does not cover stair lifts; call Veteran's Services at (252) 946-8016.
VA grants for homeowners with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA (FY2026), with ramps and wider doorways given as examples; stair lifts are not named. Call Veteran's Services at (252) 946-8016.
A center for independent living at 3107 Evans Street, Suite A in Greenville that serves Beaufort, Pitt and Wilson counties with information, referral, peer support and advocacy rather than cash grants; stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (919) 833-1117.
The local Habitat affiliate at 101 N. Bonner St., Washington, lists aging in place among its work areas, but the source does not describe an accessibility repair program or mention stair lifts.
Older adults
1502 N. Market St., Suite A, Washington, 27889
Veterans
1308 Highland Drive, Washington, 27889
Often, yes. Many homes there date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and keep their original staircases. A straight lift fits a single straight flight, and a curved rail is built for stairs that turn or have a landing.
Outdoor stair lifts are made for exterior steps like those on elevated homes. If the person uses a wheelchair and cannot move to a seat, a platform lift may be the better fit.
The HISA grant explicitly excludes stair glides, so it will not. The SAH and SHA grants cover home adaptations but do not name stair lifts, so ask Veteran's Services at (252) 946-8016 about your situation.
The CAP/DA waiver has a 'Modification, equipment, and technology' category with a budget limit of $28,000 for Plans of Care created on or after Nov. 1, 2024. Stair lifts are not named, so confirm with CAP/DA at (888) 245-0179.
The ESFRLP rehabilitation program serves owner-occupied homes with income at or below 80% of the county's area median income. Call (252) 753-2139. The source does not say whether it covers stair lifts.
The Region Q - Mid-East Commission AAA in Washington at (252) 974-1835 handles aging services for the area. Veterans can also contact Veteran's Services at 1308 Highland Drive, Washington, at (252) 946-8016.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
