Mitchell County sits in the High Country of western North Carolina, between the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail. The average elevation is around 2,700 ft, and the county counts 5 peaks above 6,000 ft and another 8 above 5,000 ft, Roan Mountain among them. Houses in Spruce Pine, Bakersville and the hollows around them are often built right into the slope.
That slope shows up at the front door. Many homes here have exterior steps, multi-level foundations and a driveway that climbs or drops before you reach the porch. When we look at a stair lift for a Mitchell County house, we look at every set of steps a person uses in a day, not only the staircase inside.
A single straight flight between two floors is the simplest job. A straight stair lift runs on one rail fastened to the stair treads, not the wall, and it is usually the quickest to fit.
Homes built on multi-level foundations are a different story. If the stairs turn at a landing or wrap around a corner, a curved rail is made to the shape of that staircase. Sometimes two short straight lifts on separate flights are the better answer, and we will tell you which one fits your stairs.
Exterior steps from the driveway or up to the porch call for an outdoor model built to handle the weather. For someone who uses a wheelchair, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat, since the chair rides along with the person.
Split-level homes are common here, and they tend to have several short flights instead of one long one. Each flight needs its own look, because a lift that solves the trip to the bedrooms may not help with the steps down to the den or garage.
Townhouses usually have a straight interior stair, which keeps things simple. In walk-up apartments the stairs may be shared or owned by someone else, so the building owner needs to agree before anything is installed.
About 25.9% of residents are 65 or older, and 65.0% of households own their home. A lot of people here want to stay in the house they have lived in for years, and the stairs are often the first thing that gets in the way.
If that includes someone in your family, the Mitchell County Veterans Service Office at 130 Forest Service Drive, Suite B, in Bakersville can walk through VA benefits with you. Call (828) 688-2200.
Most local and federal programs do not name stair lifts outright, so the honest answer is that you will need to ask each one. The programs below fund home repairs, safety fixes or modifications, and some may be able to help depending on your situation and your income.
One thing is clear: the VA HISA grant lists stair glides as an excluded item, so veterans should ask the Veterans Service Office about other options. For older adults, the Region D - High Country Council of Governments AAA at 468 New Market Blvd. in Boone is a good first call at (828) 265-5434.
North Carolina also offers the Elderly or Disabled Property Tax Homestead Exclusion (G.S. 105-277.1). It does not pay for equipment, but lowering a tax bill can free up money for other costs.
This Medicaid waiver's Equipment, Modification and Technology service covers adaptations identified during a comprehensive assessment for adults 18 and older who meet nursing-facility level of care; stair lifts are not mentioned in the policy. Requests need a team recommendation such as a PT or OT and, when applicable, a physician's order; call (888) 245-0179.
A VA grant for medically necessary home improvements, with a $6,800 lifetime cap for service-connected disabilities and $2,000 for other eligible disabilities. It does not cover stair lifts, since stair glides and porch lifts are listed as excluded.
Very-low-income rural homeowners can borrow up to $40,000 at 1% over 20 years, and homeowners age 62 or older can get grants up to $10,000 to remove health and safety hazards. Stair lifts are not specifically named, so ask whether your project qualifies.
WAMY's Essential Single-Family Rehabilitation / Home Repair Program serves Mitchell County homeowners with household income below 200% of the federal poverty level, fixing problems like leaking roofs and plumbing or electrical hazards. Stair lifts are not listed as covered; call (828) 264-2421 to ask.
Through the High Country Area Agency on Aging and the Mitchell Senior Center, this state-funded grant includes housing and home improvement among its services for older adults, typically 60 and up. Stair lifts are not named, so call the Mitchell Senior Center at (828) 688-3019 to check current-year funds.
Older adults
468 New Market Blvd., Boone, 28607
Veterans
130 Forest Service Drive, Suite B, Bakersville, 28705
Yes. Many Mitchell County homes have exterior steps from the driveway or up to the porch, and an outdoor stair lift is built for that. If a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift may be a better fit.
Sometimes. Split-level homes often have several short flights, and each one is measured on its own. Depending on the layout, the answer may be one curved lift or separate straight lifts.
Not through the HISA grant, which lists stair glides as excluded. Call the Mitchell County Veterans Service Office in Bakersville at (828) 688-2200 to ask about other VA benefits.
The USDA Section 504 program offers grants up to $10,000 to homeowners age 62 or older with very low income, for removing health and safety hazards. Stair lifts are not named in the program, so ask whether your need qualifies.
The Mitchell Senior Center at (828) 688-3019 handles HCCBG services locally, and the Region D - High Country Council of Governments AAA in Boone can be reached at (828) 265-5434.
The CAP/DA policy covers modifications identified in a comprehensive assessment, but it does not mention stair lifts either way. Call (888) 245-0179 to ask about your case.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
