Onslow County runs from Jacksonville, the county seat, out to coastal communities like Swansboro, Sneads Ferry and North Topsail Beach, with Richlands, Half Moon, Piney Green, Holly Ridge and Pumpkin Center in between. The homes here range from single-family houses and townhouses to split-level homes, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings.
Some of the oldest houses sit in Swansboro and Richlands, where two-story frame dwellings often still have their original narrow, steep staircase. That is the kind of home where a stair lift can keep the upstairs bedrooms in use instead of moving everything to the ground floor.
The county has four National Register historic districts: the Swansboro Historic District, the Richlands Historic District, Jacksonville's Mill Avenue Historic District and the Catherine Lake Historic District. All four were added to the register between 1989 and 1990.
Listed properties include the Avirett-Stephens Plantation and Taylor Farm near Richlands, plus Palo Alto Plantation and the William Edward Mattocks House in Swansboro. Frame houses of that age tend to be two stories with one steep, narrow flight of stairs.
A single straight flight is the simplest case for a stair lift. A straight rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so it usually suits these older staircases without changing their character.
Split-level homes are common in the county, and they bring short flights between levels. Each flight is measured on its own, and a landing that turns usually calls for a curved rail built to fit that staircase.
Townhouses often have one long interior flight, which typically takes a straight rail. In walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings, a shared stairwell raises questions about building rules, so it helps to talk with the owner or manager before planning anything.
For a staircase that is too tight for a seat, or for someone who uses a wheelchair full time, a platform lift may be worth looking at instead. We sort that out during the home visit.
Onslow County sits in North Carolina's Coastal Plain, with an extensive coastline plus rivers, bays and swamps. Homes in places like Sneads Ferry and Swansboro may have exterior steps as well as interior ones, and outdoor stair lifts are built for that use.
Outlying rural areas can mean longer travel distances for in-home services and modification contractors. If you live away from Jacksonville, mention it when you call so the visit can be planned around it.
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is described as a dominant factor in the life and economy of Onslow County, which is why VA benefits come up so often in our conversations.
About 48.9% of households own their homes. That matters because some programs, such as VA Specially Adapted Housing and the USDA Section 504 repair program, require home ownership.
No program listed below names stair lifts as a covered item, and the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. Several programs do fund home modifications or accessibility work, so it is worth asking each one directly whether a stair lift would count.
Veterans can start with Onslow County Veteran Services at (910) 347-3309. Older adults and caregivers can call Onslow County Senior Services at (910) 455-2747 or the Region P Eastern Carolina Council of Governments AAA at (252) 638-3185 for referrals.
Statewide options also include the Community Alternatives Program for Children (CAP/C) and the Elderly or Disabled Property Tax Homestead Exclusion (G.S. 105-277.1), which you can ask about when you call.
A Medicaid waiver for adults 18 and older who need a nursing-facility level of care, with an 'Equipment, modification and technology' service category that includes minor home modifications; stair lifts are not listed specifically. Call the Contact Center at (888) 245-0179.
A waiver for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities that includes home modifications such as wider doorways and ramps; stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (877) 685-2415.
Onslow County DSS provides labor and materials for small renovations and repairs for adults at risk of abuse, neglect or institutional placement; stair lifts are not named. Call (910) 455-4145.
In-home aide help for residents 55 and older, such as bathing, meal prep and ambulation assistance; it does not pay for home modifications but can refer you to programs that do. Call (910) 455-2747.
Offers the Long Term Care Ombudsman program plus education, information and referral for older adults and caregivers in Onslow County; it does not list stair lifts or direct grants. Call (252) 638-3185.
Repair loans up to $40,000 and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas, with grants for owners 62 and older to remove hazards or make a home accessible; stair lifts are not named. Call (919) 873-2051.
Pays up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for disability-related home alterations, but it explicitly excludes stair glides, so it does not cover stair lifts. Call (800) 827-1000.
Grants of up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) in FY2026 for homeowners with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities; the VA describes ramps and widened doorways, and stair lifts are not listed.
A free program serving New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus, Onslow and Pender counties that helps with assessment and connects residents to modifications like ramps and grab bars; stair lifts are not named. Call (910) 815-6618.
State-funded repair and accessibility programs for low-income elderly or special-needs homeowners, run through local partners; stair lifts are not named. Call (919) 877-5700 to find the current partner for Onslow County.
Older adults
233 Middle Street, Suite 300, New Bern, 28560
Veterans
234 NW Corridor Boulevard, Suite 201, Jacksonville, 28540
No. The HISA grant excludes removable equipment such as portable ramps, porch lifts and stair glides. Veterans can ask Onslow County Veteran Services at (910) 347-3309 about other VA options, such as SAH or SHA, which do not list stair lifts but cover larger home adaptations.
Usually, yes. Those two-story frame houses often have one straight, narrow flight, and a straight-rail stair lift is the practical choice for that layout. We measure the stairs during the home visit to confirm.
Yes. CAP/DA serves adults 18 and older who need a nursing-facility level of care, and Onslow County In-Home Services serves residents 55 and older. The USDA Section 504 grant is limited to homeowners 62 and older.
Outlying rural areas can mean longer travel for in-home services and contractors, so let us know your location when you call. Rural homeowners may also be within the area served by the USDA Section 504 repair program.
Some programs require ownership, including VA SAH and the USDA Section 504 program. Talk with your landlord before any installation, and call Onslow County Senior Services at (910) 455-2747 for referrals that fit your situation.
For older adults, Onslow County Senior Services at (910) 455-2747 is a good referral point. Onslow County DSS at (910) 455-4145 runs the Housing and Home Improvement Program, and veterans can start with Onslow County Veteran Services at (910) 347-3309.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
