Delaware County runs north from Columbus through Powell, Delaware, Sunbury, Ashley, Galena and Ostrander. The city of Delaware and Sunbury both date to 1816, and their older streets still hold the traditional two-story houses where the bedrooms and bathrooms sit upstairs. Powell, incorporated in 1947, and the newer subdivisions around it grew fast during the Columbus-metro boom, and many of those homes are two stories as well.
That mix means the stairs inside the house, not the yard, are usually what makes staying home harder. This page walks through how the county's homes and land affect which stair lift fits, and which local and federal programs may help pay for one.
The historic core of Delaware had electric streetcar service by 1900, and much of the housing near downtown is early-20th-century two-story construction. In these homes the stairs are often the only route to a bathroom, so a lift can decide whether someone keeps using the second floor at all.
Staircases in older houses are often narrower or have a landing partway up. A straight stair can take a straight rail, while a staircase that turns at a landing needs a curved rail built to that exact stair. We measure before quoting so you know which one your house needs.
The county grew 58.4% between 2000 and 2010 and another 22.9% between 2010 and 2020. A large share of its 81,854 housing units are newer suburban homes, many with a full flight to the upstairs bedrooms. Those single straight flights are usually the simplest lift installs.
Split-level homes are different. They have several short flights between levels, so the question is which flight matters most for daily life, such as the one to the bedroom or the laundry. Townhouses often have stacked flights over two or three floors, and each flight is looked at separately.
In walk-up apartments, the stairs may be shared or owned by the building. A renter should talk with the landlord before planning any install.
Delaware County's land is even, flat-to-gently-rolling former farmland, not steep hill country. Most homes here do not need a long outdoor lift to get from the driveway to the door.
Some houses still have a few porch or entry steps. Those can call for an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift, depending on whether the person can sit and transfer or needs to stay in a wheelchair. We look at the entry during the same visit as the indoor stairs.
Delaware County is one of the wealthiest counties in the country, and many households here pay for a lift themselves. Income-capped aid such as Medicaid often will not apply, but it is still worth checking, especially for someone 60 or older who needs a high level of care.
The PASSPORT Medicaid waiver, run locally by the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, lists home modification among its covered services, decided case by case after an assessment. Call the agency at (614) 645-7250. Statewide, you can also ask about the Ohio Home Care Waiver, Ohio HOME Choice (Money Follows the Person) and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics).
Veterans can start with the Delaware County Veterans Service Office at 91 North Sandusky St. in Delaware, (740) 833-2010, which can help with VA housing grants listed below.
A Medicaid waiver for people 60 and older who meet nursing-facility level of care and the long-term-care Medicaid financial test; Home Modification is a listed service, approved case by case. Call the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging at (614) 645-7250.
The agency's application and detail page for PASSPORT, which lists services like personal care, meals and homemaker help but does not mention stair lifts or home modification. Call (614) 645-7250 to apply.
A VA grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans with certain serious service-connected disabilities to adapt a home they own or will own, with a related TRA grant of up to $50,961 for a family member's home. The VA describes adaptations in general terms and does not name stair lifts; call (800) 827-1000.
A VA grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026), plus a related TRA grant of up to $9,100, for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands or severe burns. Stair lifts are not named in the source; call (800) 827-1000.
A disability-led center serving Delaware, Franklin, Licking and Union counties that offers free information and referral, skills training, peer support, advocacy and transition services to people of any age. It does not list stair lifts or home modification but can point you toward funding; call (614) 575-8055.
Home repair and chore help for Delaware County residents 60 and older, usually funded by an optional suggested donation. Stair lifts are not mentioned; call (800) 589-7277.
Lets veterans of any age who are enrolled in VA healthcare and have an assessed need choose and direct their own in-home care, including hiring family. Stair lifts are not listed for this program; call (800) 589-7277.
Older adults
3776 S. High St., Columbus, 43207
Veterans
91 North Sandusky St., Delaware, 43015
Yes. A staircase with a turn or landing takes a curved rail made to fit that stair. A straight flight with no turn can use a straight rail, which is simpler.
Not always. Split-levels have several short flights, so we start with the flight used most each day, such as the one to the bedroom or bathroom, and look at the rest from there.
Possibly, through PASSPORT, for someone 60 or older who qualifies for long-term-care Medicaid and needs nursing-facility level of care. Home Modification is a listed service and is decided case by case. Call the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging at (614) 645-7250.
The Center for Disability Empowerment serves people of any age in Delaware County with information and referral at (614) 575-8055. Veterans of any age enrolled in VA healthcare can ask about Veteran-Directed Care at (800) 589-7277.
The Delaware County Veterans Service Office at 91 North Sandusky St. in Delaware, (740) 833-2010, can help with VA grants such as Specially Adapted Housing and Special Home Adaptation. You can also reach the VA at (800) 827-1000.
Less often than in hilly areas, since the county's ground is flat to gently rolling. A few entry or porch steps may still call for an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
