From Lincoln City down through Depoe Bay, Newport, Waldport and Yachats, a lot of Lincoln County homes sit on bluffs and hillsides where the Coast Range meets the Pacific. That ground produces split-level and multi-story houses, and many have stairs both inside and out. Inland, Toledo, Siletz and Rose Lodge have their own share of sloped lots and stacked floor plans.
About 28.8% of the county's 35,699 residents are 65 or older, so stairs come up often at kitchen tables here. This page walks through what Lincoln County homes usually need in a stair lift, how to tell if one will work in your house, and which local, state and federal programs might help with the cost.
Split-level homes are common in the county, and they often have two or three short flights instead of one long one. A short straight flight is usually the simplest job. When a staircase turns at a landing, or when you want to ride past more than one flight without getting off, a curved lift built to fit that staircase is the usual answer.
Homes built on bluffs often have the main living space up top and a garage or entry below. In those houses the stairs that matter most may be the ones between the driveway and the front door, not the ones inside.
Exterior steps are a big part of coastal homes from Lincoln Beach to Yachats. An outdoor stair lift is built for stairs outside the house, and it can make the trip from the car to the door possible again.
For someone who uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift is the option to talk through instead. It takes more space, so we look at the stair width and the landing at the top and bottom before recommending one.
The 2020 Census counted 32,066 housing units in Lincoln County, and roughly 29.2% were vacant, largely because of vacation and seasonal homes along the coast. If a parent lives here year-round, that matters for some repair programs, which require that you live in the home.
About 65.7% of residents own their homes. Owners have the most freedom to install a lift. If you rent a duplex or a unit in a low-rise building, talk with the owner before planning any installation.
Only one program on our list names stair lifts outright: the Northwest Access Fund Home Modification Loan, which serves Oregon residents with disabilities, including seniors with age-related limits. Several others fund accessibility or repairs without naming stair lifts, so ask each one directly before you count on it.
For in-home services and Medicaid questions, start with the ADRC at (855) 673-2372. The Oregon Cascades West COG - Senior & Disability Services office in Albany is at (541) 967-8630.
A state-funded, sliding-scale in-home services program for Oregon residents age 60+ (or younger with a disability) who are not yet on Medicaid long-term care; its listed services do not mention home modifications or stair lifts. Call the ADRC at (855) 673-2372 to apply.
A Medicaid benefit for people who need a nursing-facility level of care; the rule names overhead track systems, ramps and grab-bars but does not mention stair lifts. Ask about it through the ADRC at (855) 673-2372.
Very-low-income homeowners in USDA-eligible rural areas can get loans up to $40,000 at 1% over 20 years, and homeowners age 62+ can get grants up to $10,000, for repairs and accessibility improvements; stair lifts are not named. Find a local office through the USDA state office contacts locator.
Up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans and servicemembers with qualifying service-connected disabilities to adapt a home they own or will own; the source mentions ramps and widened doorways but not stair lifts.
Up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans or qualifying family members with disabilities such as loss of use of both hands or certain severe burns; stair lifts are not named.
A lifetime benefit of up to $6,800 or up to $2,000, depending on disability status, for medically necessary home alterations. The program explicitly excludes stair glides, so it is not a path to a stair lift.
Loans up to $60,000 with up to a 10-year term for Oregon, Washington and Idaho residents with disabilities, and installation of stair lifts is listed as covered. Call (206) 328-5116.
Grant-based health, safety and accessibility repairs for low-income Lincoln County homeowners who have lived in the home at least 2 years; stair lifts are not mentioned and there is typically a waiting list. Call (458) 277-7604.
0% interest home repair loans for low- to moderate-income homeowners, but the program is currently closed to new applications and does not mention stair lifts. Call (541) 752-7220 to ask about a future reopening.
Older adults
1400 Queen Ave SE, Suite 206, Albany, 97321
Veterans
1231 SE Bay Boulevard, Suite A, Newport, 97365
Oregon Project Independence serves people age 60+ and younger people with a disability. The Northwest Access Fund loan serves residents of all ages with disabilities and names stair lifts as covered.
The K Plan environmental modifications rule names overhead track systems, ramps and grab-bars, and it does not mention stair lifts either way. Call the ADRC at (855) 673-2372 to ask about your situation.
The HISA grant explicitly excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts, so call Lincoln County Veterans Services in Newport at (541) 265-0570 to ask what applies.
Yes, outdoor stair lifts are made for exterior stairs, which are common on bluff and hillside lots here. If the rider uses a wheelchair, a platform lift may be the better fit.
Some programs require you to live in the home. Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln County requires living there at least 2 years, and the USDA Section 504 program requires that you own and occupy the home.
No. DevNW is not accepting new applications because all funds have been allocated. You can call (541) 752-7220 to ask about future openings.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
