Cabarrus County pairs old and new homes in a way few places do. Concord has the North and South Union Street Historic Districts, with significant late-19th- and early-20th-century homes near the Cabarrus County Courthouse. Kannapolis grew up around Cannon Mills beginning in 1906-1908 and still has modest mill-worker housing. Newer suburban single-family homes now fill much of the land around Harrisburg, Midland and Mount Pleasant.
That mix means no two staircases we see here are quite alike. A 100-year-old house on Union Street and a newer two-story home near Concord Mills call for different equipment. This page walks through how local home styles affect your stair lift options and which programs may help with the cost.
The county sits in the North Carolina Piedmont, with gently rolling countryside at roughly 500-800 feet and the westernmost foothills of the Uwharrie Mountains reaching into the eastern side. Steep hillside lots are not the norm here. Most stairs exist because a builder chose a two-story or split-level design, not because the land forced it.
That is good news for installation. Many homes have a single straight run of stairs, which is the simplest and usually the quickest lift to fit. When a staircase turns, has a landing in the middle or wraps around a corner, a curved rail is built to match that exact staircase.
Older multi-story homes in Concord's historic districts often have the stairs as the only route to the bedrooms. These staircases can be narrower or less regular than modern ones, so we measure carefully before recommending a straight or curved rail.
In Kannapolis, the older mill-worker houses tend to be modest in size. Even a short flight inside, or a few steps up to the front porch, can become the daily obstacle. Entry steps are where an outdoor lift or a platform lift can make more sense than a ramp that eats up a small yard.
Split-level homes usually have two or more short flights instead of one long one. Each flight may need its own lift, or a curved rail can sometimes connect them, depending on the layout.
Townhouses often stack living space over several floors, so the stairs get used many times a day. Ranch-style homes are mostly on one level, but steps at the garage or front door can still be a problem, which is where outdoor or platform lifts come in. In walk-up apartments, plan to talk with the building owner before any rail is mounted.
Cabarrus County has 188,815 residents, and 12.5% are 65 or older. About 69.2% of households own their homes, which matters because most stair lifts are mounted to the stairs and many funding programs require ownership.
If that includes your parent or you, call Cabarrus County Veterans Services at (704) 920-2869, 363 Church St N, Suite 180, Concord, before choosing a funding route.
Home values have climbed fast here. The 2024 Data USA estimate puts the median home value at $354,800, up 11.4% from $318,600 in 2023. Rising costs can make a private-pay modification hard for seniors on fixed incomes.
None of the programs below name stair lifts on their official pages, and the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. Several do cover home modifications in general, so it is worth calling and asking directly. For aging services across the region, Region F - Centralina Regional Council AAA is at (704) 348-2712. North Carolina also has the Elderly or Disabled Property Tax Homestead Exclusion (G.S. 105-277.1), which you can ask the county about.
A Medicaid waiver for disabled adults 18+ who need a nursing facility level of care; it lists equipment, modification and technology as a service, but its page does not mention stair lifts. Call (888) 245-0179.
A Medicaid waiver for medically fragile children ages 0-20 that covers home accessibility and adaptation in the primary residence, though stair lifts are not named. Call (888) 245-0179.
A Medicaid waiver for people of any age with an intellectual or developmental disability that describes changes to make a home accessible, like ramps or a lift, without naming stair lifts specifically. Call (800) 510-9132.
Minor home repairs and modifications, such as ramps and grab bars, for eligible older adults through Cabarrus County Department of Human Services; stair lifts are not listed. Call (704) 920-1400.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for disability-related home alterations. It does not cover stair lifts, since it excludes stair glides and porch lifts.
VA grants of up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities; the page gives ramps and wider doorways as examples and does not mention stair lifts. Apply through the online VA.gov form.
Repair loans up to $40,000 at 1% and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners 62+ with very low income in USDA-eligible rural parts of the county; stair lifts are not listed. Call (919) 873-2000.
Subsidized or free critical repairs for owners of single-family detached homes with income between 20% and 60% of Area Median Income; it names wheelchair ramps but not stair lifts. Call (704) 786-4001.
Older adults
9815 David Taylor Drive, Suite 100, Charlotte, 28262
Veterans
363 Church St N, Suite 180, Concord, 28025
None of the NC Medicaid waiver pages name stair lifts. CAP/DA, CAP/C and the NC Innovations Waiver do include home modification or equipment services, so ask the program directly at (888) 245-0179 for CAP/DA and CAP/C, or (800) 510-9132 for NC Innovations.
The HISA grant does not, because it excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either. Cabarrus County Veterans Services in Concord, (704) 920-2869, can help you sort out which VA benefits apply.
Yes. The Cabarrus County Housing & Home Improvement Service offers minor repairs and modifications, such as ramps and grab bars, to eligible older adults. Call (704) 920-1400, or reach Centralina's aging office at (704) 348-2712.
USDA Section 504 help is limited to USDA-designated rural areas. In 2020, 82.7% of county residents lived in urban areas, so many addresses will not qualify. Call (919) 873-2000 to check yours.
Often, yes. Older staircases can be narrow or irregular, so we measure before recommending a straight or curved rail. A home visit is the only way to know for sure.
Sometimes. Split-level homes usually have several short flights, and each may need its own lift, or one curved rail may connect them, depending on how the stairs are laid out.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
