Clay County sits in the far-southwestern tip of North Carolina, with Hayesville as the county seat and Chatuge Lake stretching along the Georgia line to the south. About 60% of the land is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and much of the county lies within the Nantahala National Forest. Houses here are often built into the side of a mountain, not on flat ground.
That terrain shapes the stairs people climb every day. Raised entries, basement-level garages and split-level layouts are common on hillside lots. This page explains which kinds of stair lifts tend to fit these homes and which programs may help cover the cost.
A raised entry usually means a set of steps outside before you ever reach the front door. A basement-level garage often means a full flight inside between where you park and where you live. Split-level homes add short runs of stairs between floors.
Each of these calls for a different answer. A straight indoor flight is the simplest case and usually takes a straight stair lift. Split-level stairs with a landing or a turn may need a curved rail built to the exact shape of the staircase.
On sloped mountain lots, the hardest climb is often outside: from the driveway to the porch or from the yard to a raised entry. An outdoor stair lift is built to handle weather and can run along exterior steps.
If the person uses a wheelchair, a seat on a rail will not solve the problem. A platform lift carries the chair itself. Regional nonprofit home-repair groups such as No Place Like Home WNC and Project CARE in neighboring Jackson County describe ramps, hand-rails and grab-bars as recurring needs in this kind of housing, and a lift can work alongside those changes.
Most of the housing stock in Clay County is owner-occupied, which matters because owners can usually approve an installation on their own. Single-family homes, duplexes and townhouses can all take a stair lift if the staircase is wide enough and the rail can be anchored to the steps.
Walk-up apartments are different. The stairs are often shared, so a renter will need the property owner's permission before anything is installed.
Per the 2020 census figure on the source we reviewed, 33.3% of Clay County residents are 65 or older, and the median age is 51.5. Many of those residents want to stay in the homes they already know.
Hayesville is relatively isolated from larger metro areas, with main access on US 64, US 64 Business, NC 69 and NC 175. When help is a long drive away, making the stairs at home safe matters even more.
No single program here promises to pay for a stair lift by name. Several fund home modifications or accessibility improvements, and it is worth asking each one directly whether a stair lift request could qualify.
For people 60 and older, the place to start is the Region A Southwestern Commission AAA at (828) 586-1962, which handles local intake through the Clay County Senior Center. Veterans should contact Clay County Veterans Services at (828) 389-6301, 119 Courthouse Drive in Hayesville. The program list below covers Medicaid, state housing aid, USDA repair funds and VA grants.
A Medicaid waiver for adults 18 and older who meet a nursing-facility level of care; it covers an 'equipment, modification and technology' category, but stair lifts are not listed by name. Call (833) 522-5429 and confirm item-level coverage before counting on it.
Help of up to $7,000 per person per program year for people 60 and older, including mobility and accessibility improvements, though stair lifts are not named. Call (800) 662-7030; in Clay County it is delivered through the Clay County Senior Center.
The local route into the $7,000 HCCBG home improvement help for Clay County residents 60 and older; stair lifts are not listed, so ask whether a mobility request could be funded. Call (828) 586-1962, and confirm the number is current when you reach them.
Deferred or forgivable loans for low-income elderly or special-needs homeowners, run through local partners; the agency says accessibility modifications can help people stay home, but stair lifts are not named. Call (919) 877-5700 to find the partner serving Clay County.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% interest, and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners 62 and older, to fix health and safety hazards; stair lifts are not listed by name. Call (800) 414-1226 and check that your address is eligible.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for medically needed home changes for eligible veterans. It does not cover stair lifts: the VA excludes stair glides and porch lifts, though permanent ramps and bathroom work can qualify.
Grants for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities: SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 for FY2026. Stair lifts are not named among covered changes, so ask Clay County Veterans Services at (828) 389-6301.
Older adults
125 Bonnie Lane, Sylva, 28779
Veterans
119 Courthouse Drive, Hayesville, 28904
Often, yes. Outdoor stair lifts are built for exterior steps, and many Clay County homes on sloped lots have them. If a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift is usually the better fit.
If the stairs turn or have a landing, a curved rail is usually needed. A single straight run between levels can take a straight lift.
Yes. The HCCBG Housing and Home Improvement program offers up to $7,000 per person per program year for people 60 and older, including mobility and accessibility improvements. Start with the Region A Southwestern Commission AAA at (828) 586-1962.
The HISA grant will not, because it excludes stair glides and porch lifts. SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either way, so call Clay County Veterans Services at (828) 389-6301 in Hayesville to ask.
CAP/DA covers equipment, modification and technology for eligible adults, but stair lifts are not itemized. Call (833) 522-5429 to confirm before you plan around it.
Only with the property owner's permission, since the stairs are usually shared. Homeowners in single-family homes, duplexes and townhouses can generally decide for themselves.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
