From Manzanita and Nehalem down through Rockaway Beach, Garibaldi, Bay City, Tillamook, Netarts, Pacific City and Neskowin, most houses along this stretch of coast have stairs somewhere you can't avoid. Some sit on raised foundations above bay and river bottomland. Others climb the timbered slopes toward the Coast Range, with a floor plan stacked to fit the lot.
That is the practical problem we look at when a family calls from one of the county's 16 towns. The bedroom or the only full bath is up a flight, the entry is up a few steps outside, and there is very little single-level housing nearby to move into. A stair lift is often the way to keep living in the house you already own.
Tillamook County has 19,213 housing units, and 14,707 of them, about 77 percent, are single-family detached houses. There are roughly 1,998 mobile homes and only about 646 units in buildings of 20 apartments or more. For an older homeowner, that leaves few single-floor apartments to downsize into.
The homes are also old for a coastal county. About 3,025 units date to 1939 or earlier, and roughly 6,610, over a third of the county, were built before 1960. Those houses usually have narrow original staircases, so we measure the tread width and the landing before recommending a model.
Newer building came mostly in the 1990s (3,023 units) and 2000s (2,843 units), much of it two-story and split-level beach construction. Those plans often put bedrooms and full baths above the entry floor. A single straight run can take a straight stair lift, while a split-level with a turn or a landing usually needs a curved rail built to the stair.
The county is squeezed between the Pacific and the Oregon Coast Range, which tops out at 3,706 feet at Rogers Peak. Four bays and nine rivers cut the lowlands, so houses end up either on flood-exposed bottomland or on steep slopes. Both situations tend to add exterior steps up to the front door.
When the hard part is outside, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift may fit better than an indoor unit. Wet coastal weather is the reason we talk through covers and placement for anything mounted outdoors. Indoor access matters too, since a slick set of outside steps is not a route anyone wants to rely on.
The county is 60.7 percent rural, and U.S. Route 101 is the single north-south road for service and delivery calls. If you live far up a valley or off the highway, mention it when you call so the visit and any follow-up service can be planned around the drive.
About 25.1 percent of the county's 16,971 residents are 65 or older, a large share for any Oregon county. Many of them are in the same house they have owned for years, with stairs that were fine until a knee, hip or balance problem changed things.
If that includes you or a parent, the Tillamook County Veterans’ Services Office at 201 Laurel Avenue, Basement Level, Room 12, in Tillamook can help sort out which VA benefits apply. Call them at (503) 842-4358.
Median household income in the county is about $69,105, while the median property value has climbed to approximately $430,200. Plenty of older households have real equity in the home but modest monthly cash. That is why financing, refurbished units and referrals from aging services often matter more than the sticker price.
Of the programs listed below, the Northwest Access Fund loan is the one whose source names stair lifts directly. The VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. Others, like the USDA Section 504 program and the Habitat for Humanity critical repairs program, cover accessibility work in general without naming stair lifts, so ask them directly before you count on it.
For help finding services, NW Senior & Disability Services is the Area Agency on Aging for the county. Their office at 3410 Cherry Ave NE, Salem, 97303 can be reached at (503) 304-3456.
A nonprofit low-interest loan of up to $60,000 with a term of up to 120 months for Oregon residents of any age with a disability, including age-related limitations, and the source lists stair lift installation as a covered modification. It is a loan, not a grant; family members can apply on someone's behalf by calling (877) 428-5116.
A VA grant of $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime, depending on disability status, for medically prescribed home changes such as entrance access and bathroom work. The source explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts, so it does not cover a stair lift.
Federal grants for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026. The source covers modifying a home for accessibility but does not mention stair lifts.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% interest and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income rural homeowners, with grants limited to applicants age 62 or older; rural Tillamook County areas qualify. Grants can make a home accessible for a household member with a disability, though stair lifts are not named specifically.
A state and Medicaid in-home services program for older adults, offering housekeeping, personal care, meals, case management and assistive technology. Home modifications and stair lifts are not listed; apply through the ADRC at (855) 673-2372.
The Area Agency on Aging serving Tillamook County, connecting seniors and adults with disabilities to public benefits, transportation and caregiver support. It is a referral hub rather than a funding source for stair lifts; call (503) 304-3420.
A zero-interest, sliding-scale loan for owner-occupants below 80% of Area Median Family Income who need ramps, grab bars, handrails or safety repairs. Stair lifts are not listed, and it is not an emergency program; call (503) 842-7472.
Medicaid programs for people who need a nursing-facility level of care but want to stay at home, run by ODHS Aging and People with Disabilities and local Area Agencies on Aging. The source does not mention home modifications or stair lifts.
Older adults
3410 Cherry Ave NE, Salem, 97303
Veterans
201 Laurel Avenue, Basement Level, Room 12, Tillamook, 97141
Many homes here were built before 1960 and have narrow original stairs, so we measure tread width and landings first. Most can take a straight or curved lift, and the measurement tells us which.
If the stairs turn or break at a landing, a curved rail built to your stair is usually the answer. A single straight flight can use a straight lift.
The Northwest Access Fund Home Modification Loan lists stair lifts as a covered modification and lends up to $60,000. It is a loan, not a grant; call (877) 428-5116.
No. The HISA grant excludes stair glides and porch lifts. The Tillamook County Veterans’ Services Office at (503) 842-4358 can review other VA options.
The USDA Section 504 program offers grants up to $10,000 to very-low-income rural homeowners age 62 or older for accessibility work. Stair lifts are not named, so confirm with them before planning on it.
NorthWest Senior & Disability Services is the Area Agency on Aging for Tillamook County. Reach them at (503) 304-3420.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
