Sherman County is wheat and barley country on the Columbia Plateau, with Wasco, Moro and Rufus spread across 831 square miles of tableland between the Columbia, Deschutes and John Day rivers. The county is entirely rural, and most homes here were built long before modern accessibility codes.
That history shows up on the stairs. Older single-family homes, ranch-style houses and split-level homes each raise different questions about which lift will fit, how it mounts, and whether a service visit can be scheduled from outside the county. This page walks through those questions and the programs that may help with the cost.
Because most Sherman County homes predate accessibility codes, stairs can be narrower or steeper than what newer houses have. That does not rule out a lift, but it means we measure the width, the pitch and the landings before recommending anything.
A straight staircase with no turns is the simplest case, and a straight stair lift rail runs along one side. If a staircase turns or has a landing partway up, a curved lift with a custom rail is usually the answer.
Ranch-style homes often have their steps outside, at the porch or the back door, or a single flight down to a basement. An outdoor lift built for the weather can handle porch steps, and a basement flight is usually a straight-rail job.
Split-level homes are different. They tend to have short flights between several floor levels, so the real question is which levels a person needs to reach every day. Sometimes one lift covers it; sometimes a platform lift makes more sense for a short rise, especially where a wheelchair is involved.
In-home services like stair lift installation and repair typically have to come from providers outside the county, such as The Dalles or Pendleton. With homes dispersed across flat-to-rolling tableland, it pays to plan ahead rather than wait until a fall or hospital discharge forces a rush.
About 23.9% of Sherman County residents are 65 or older, and 68.8% own their homes. Homeowners generally have the most freedom to add a rail and wiring, but renters should get the landlord's written approval before an install.
Only one program on our list names stair lifts directly: the Northwest Access Fund loan, which is repayable financing rather than a grant. The Oregon K Plan and Oregon Project Independence through CAPECO do not name stair lifts, so a case manager has to confirm whether they can help in your situation.
For veterans, the VA HISA grant does not pay for stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants fund home adaptations but do not list stair lifts by name. The Sherman County Veterans Service Office in Moro, at 300 Dewey St, (541) 565-3408, can help sort out which benefits apply.
A Medicaid benefit that pays for home adaptations such as ramps, grab bars and hand rails for enrollees with mobility, toileting or bathing limitations; stair lifts are not listed in the rule, so a K Plan case manager must confirm case by case. Call (855) 673-2372.
In-home help like housekeeping, shopping and personal care for adults 60 and older, with a pilot for adults 19-59 with disabilities; no stair lift or home-modification fund is listed, so ask for a home-safety assessment referral. Call (855) 673-2372 or the CAPECO office in The Dalles at (541) 278-5681.
A lifetime VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability status, for medically necessary fixed alterations like roll-in showers and widened doorways. It does not cover stair lifts, since the VA excludes stair glides.
Up to $126,526 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities to make a home fully accessible. Stair lifts are not listed by name among covered adaptations.
Up to $25,350 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities where the veteran or a family member owns the home. Stair lifts are not listed by name.
A low-interest nonprofit loan of up to $60,000 over as long as 120 months that explicitly covers stair lift installation, and it serves rural Oregon including Sherman County. Call (877) 428-5116.
Older adults
515 East 2nd Street, The Dalles, 97058
Veterans
300 Dewey St, Moro, 97039
The Oregon K Plan covers home modifications like ramps, hand rails and grab bars, but stair lifts are not named in the rule. A K Plan case manager would need to decide case by case. Call (855) 673-2372.
Oregon Project Independence serves adults 60 and older, and its pilot project extends similar services to adults 19-59 with disabilities. The Northwest Access Fund loan is open to Oregon residents with disabilities of any type.
No. The VA excludes stair glides and other removable equipment from HISA. The Sherman County Veterans Service Office in Moro, (541) 565-3408, can help check whether the SAH or SHA grants might apply.
It depends on which levels you need to reach each day. Split-levels have several short flights, so some homes need one lift, others need two, and a platform lift may fit a short rise better.
Installation and repair usually come from providers outside the county, such as The Dalles or Pendleton. Plan ahead so a home assessment and install can be scheduled before the lift is urgently needed.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
