Marietta was founded in 1788 as the first permanent U.S. settlement in the Northwest Territory, where the Muskingum meets the Ohio River. Oil booms in 1875 and 1910 left the town full of large houses, and many of those tall Victorian and turn-of-the-century homes still stand, with their original steep, often ornate staircases.
Outside Marietta and Belpre, the picture changes. Towns like Devola, Beverly, Newport, Reno, Matamoras, Little Hocking, Lowell and Waterford sit in rural river-valley and hill country, where single-family and split-level homes are the norm. That range of homes means stair lift planning here starts with a careful look at your stairs, not a one-size answer.
Many of the houses built during Marietta's oil booms are multi-story homes with tall original stairs. Those staircases are often narrow and steep, and some turn at a landing or curve along the way.
A single straight run can usually take a straight rail, which is the simpler install. A staircase that turns, curves or has a mid-landing generally calls for a curved rail built to fit that specific stair. We measure the width, the pitch and any turns before recommending one or the other.
Washington County is the fifth-largest county in Ohio by land area, and per 2020 Census data 58.3% of residents live in rural areas. Across its 23 townships and 5 villages, you will see a lot of standalone single-family homes, split-level homes and ranch-style houses.
Split-level homes tend to have short flights between floors, which can still be a daily problem for someone with weak knees or poor balance. Ranch and single-story homes often have no indoor stairs at all, but the steps up to the porch or front door can be the real barrier.
The county's hills and river valleys along the Ohio, Muskingum, Little Muskingum, Duck Creek and Little Hocking River mean many lots are sloped or close to flood plains. On those properties, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift is sometimes a better fit than a long exterior ramp, and we will talk through both options on site.
About 22.5% of Washington County residents are 65 or older, and 62.8% own their homes. Ownership matters here because some local help, like the Buckeye Hills home accessibility program, is only open to homeowners.
If that includes you or your parent, the VA grants and county veterans office below are worth a call before you pay out of pocket.
None of the programs listed below names stair lifts specifically, and one, the VA HISA grant, rules out stair glides outright. That does not mean there is no help, but it does mean you should ask directly and expect a case-by-case answer.
For residents 60 and older, the first call is usually Buckeye Hills, the Area Agency on Aging for Region 8, which is based in Marietta. The Buckeye Hills AAA office is at 1400 Pike St., Marietta, and can be reached at (740) 374-9436. Veterans should start with the VA and the county veterans office. Statewide, Ohio also runs the Ohio Home Care Waiver and Ohio HOME Choice (Money Follows the Person), which you can ask about at the same time.
A Medicaid waiver for Ohioans 60 and older who are financially eligible and need hands-on help with daily activities; it lists Minor Home Modifications but does not name stair lifts, so any approval would be case by case under a physician-approved care plan. Washington County residents apply through Buckeye Hills at (800) 331-2644.
Helps homeowners 60 and older, and homeowners under 60 with disabilities for accessibility work, with projects like ramps, grab bars, handrails, tub-to-shower conversions and wider doorways; stair lifts are not mentioned. Renters and mobile-home owners who do not own the land are not eligible; call (800) 331-2644.
A VA health-benefit grant for medically needed home improvements, with lifetime caps of $6,800 or $2,000 depending on the disability. It explicitly does not cover stair glides, porch lifts or portable ramps, so it cannot be used for a stair lift.
Provides up to $126,526 (FY2026) toward a permanent home, or up to $50,961 for a Temporary Residence Adaptation, for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities. Stair lifts are not mentioned, but the grant funds structural changes in an approved adaptation plan; call the VA at (800) 827-1000.
Provides up to $25,350 (FY2026) toward a permanent home, or up to $9,100 for a Temporary Residence Adaptation, for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands. Stair lifts are not mentioned; call the VA at (800) 827-1000 to ask.
Helps county veterans with VA claims, disability claims, pensions and benefits counseling; home modification funding is not listed among its services. The program listing gives 205 Putnam St, Marietta, OH 45750 and (740) 373-6623.
Older adults
1400 Pike St., Marietta, 45750
Veterans
706 Pike Street Suite 1, Marietta, 45750
Many older Marietta homes have narrow, steep original stairs, and some turn or curve. A straight rail works on a single straight run, while turns and landings usually need a curved rail. We measure the stairs in person before recommending anything.
The PASSPORT waiver covers Minor Home Modifications but does not name stair lifts. A stair lift might be approved case by case if it is medically necessary and in the participant's approved care plan. Ask Buckeye Hills at (800) 331-2644.
The Buckeye Hills home accessibility program accepts homeowners under 60 who have disabilities, for accessibility modifications only. Stair lifts are not named in that program, so ask the Housing Coordinator, Jonah Kunz, at 740-376-7647.
The Buckeye Hills home accessibility program requires the applicant to own the home, so renters are not eligible there. The VA HISA grant allows rented homes, but it does not cover stair glides.
Two listings exist. The Washington County Veterans Service Office lists 205 Putnam St, Marietta, at (740) 373-6623, and another county listing shows Veteran Services at 706 Pike Street Suite 1, Marietta, at (740) 568-9009. Call to confirm which one serves you.
On sloped or flood-plain-adjacent lots, which are common in the county's river valleys, a long exterior ramp can be hard to fit. An outdoor stair lift or platform lift is often worth comparing, and we look at the site before suggesting either.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
