Brunswick County stretches from the new neighborhoods of Leland, Belville and Navassa near Wilmington down to the beach towns of Oak Island, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach. In between are places like Southport, Shallotte, Bolivia and Boiling Spring Lakes. That spread of 18 towns means the stairs we see vary a lot from one call to the next.
Some homes are recently built one-level or two-story houses. Others sit in older coastal communities on barrier islands. This page walks through how those homes match up with straight, curved, outdoor and platform lifts, and which local and state programs are worth a phone call before you pay.
Much of the recent building in the county happened in the east, around Leland, Belville and Navassa. Those homes are largely one-level or two-story stick-built houses put up for incoming retirees. A two-story home with a single straight staircase is usually the simplest fit for a straight stair lift, which mounts to the stair treads rather than the wall.
The older coastal communities on Oak Island, Holden Beach, Sunset Beach and Bald Head Island are a different job. Stairs there are more likely to turn, have landings or run outside. A staircase with a bend generally needs a curved rail made to measure, so plan on a home visit before any quote.
Split-level homes often have several short flights instead of one long one. Sometimes a single curved lift covers the route; other times two short straight lifts make more sense. We look at which rooms you actually use every day before suggesting either.
Townhouses tend to have narrow, straight stairs, which a slim straight lift can usually handle with the seat folded when not in use. For low-rise buildings and walk-up apartments, the stairs may be shared space, so the owner or association has to approve any installation. Where a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift may be the better tool than a seat.
Brunswick County sits at the southernmost tip of North Carolina's coast, with the Cape Fear River, the Brunswick River and direct Atlantic Ocean access. The county's coastal exposure carries hurricane risk. If your main entry is an exterior staircase, an outdoor-rated lift is the type to ask about.
Distance matters too. People live both in the inland suburbs and in more remote beach and waterway communities, and storms can disrupt access. Ask any installer how they handle travel time and repair visits after a storm before you sign.
About 34.8% of residents are 65 or older, and 82.3% of households own their homes. Owning the home matters here, since a stair lift attaches to the stairs and most repair programs below are limited to homeowners.
If that includes someone in your family, talk to Brunswick County Veterans Services in Bolivia at (910) 253-2233 early, because VA rules on stair lifts are specific.
The county's 2024 median household income was $77,024, and a lot of local income comes from pensions, investments and Social Security. Many families here pay for a lift out of pocket. For lower-income homeowners, especially in the more rural western part of the county, Medicaid waiver, USDA, state housing finance, VA and nonprofit programs are the main paths.
None of the programs below name stair lifts as a covered item, and the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. Several do cover home modifications or accessibility work in general terms, so call and ask directly. For aging services across the region, the Region O - Cape Fear Council of Governments AAA in Wilmington is at (910) 395-4553.
North Carolina also offers the Elderly or Disabled Property Tax Homestead Exclusion (G.S. 105-277.1). It does not pay for a lift, but it can lower ongoing costs of staying in your home.
A Medicaid waiver for adults 18 and older who need a nursing-facility level of care, with services set by an individual plan of care. It lists equipment, modification and technology among covered services but does not name stair lifts; call (888) 245-0179 or apply through the county DSS.
The county's senior-services provider for residents 60 and older offers a home repair and modification referral, but its page does not say whether stair lifts are funded. Call (910) 754-2300.
Loans up to $20,000 at 1% over 20 years, and grants up to $7,500 for homeowners 62 and older who cannot repay, for very-low-income owners in eligible rural areas. It covers repairs that remove health or safety hazards; stair lifts are not specifically named.
An interest-free, deferred loan forgiven at $5,000 a year for elderly or special-needs homeowners at or below 50% of area median income. It can pay for accessibility modifications in general, though stair lifts are not listed; call (919) 877-5700.
A forgiven loan for major health and safety repairs for elderly or disabled homeowners at or below 80% of area median income, forgiven at $8,000 to $14,000 a year depending on the cycle. Stair lifts are not specifically named; call (919) 877-5700.
A nonprofit that completes repairs at no cost for eligible homeowners who have lived in the home at least 3 years, including wheelchair ramps and accessibility modifications. Stair lifts are not named among its repair types; call (910) 399-7563.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability status, for medically necessary structural changes. The VA states it will not pay for stair glides, so it does not cover stair lifts.
Up to $126,526 for FY2026 for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities to buy, build or modify an accessible home. The VA gives examples like ramps and wider doorways but does not name stair lifts.
Up to $25,350 for FY2026 for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, such as loss of use of both hands. Stair lifts are not specifically named among covered improvements.
Offers information and referral, housing advocacy and other services for people of all ages with disabilities. It does not list a stair lift or home-modification funding program, so call (910) 815-6618 to ask about referrals.
Older adults
1480 Harbour Drive, Wilmington, 28401
Veterans
10 Referendum Drive, Building F, Bolivia, 28422
BSRI serves residents 60 and older, but CAP/DA is open to Medicaid-eligible adults 18 and up who need a nursing-facility level of care. The disAbility Resource Center serves people of all ages with disabilities at (910) 815-6618.
The VA HISA grant expressly excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either way. Brunswick County Veterans Services at (910) 253-2233 can help sort out which benefits apply.
It can. Older beach homes are more likely to have outdoor or turning stairs, and storms can delay service visits. Ask about outdoor-rated lifts and how repairs are handled after a storm.
WARM NC lists ramps, grab bars and general accessibility modifications, but not stair lifts. You must have owned and lived in the home for at least 3 years and meet income guidelines that vary by county and household size. Call (910) 399-7563 to ask.
Start with Brunswick Senior Resources at (910) 754-2300, which handles home repair and modification referrals for residents 60 and older. The Region O - Cape Fear Council of Governments AAA is at (910) 395-4553.
The USDA Section 504 grant of up to $7,500 is for very-low-income homeowners 62 and older in eligible rural areas who cannot repay a loan. It covers repairs that remove health or safety hazards; stair lifts are not specifically named.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
