Walk through downtown McMinnville, Newberg, Dundee or Carlton and you will see plenty of older homes where the bedrooms sit at the top of a staircase. Out past town limits, the picture shifts to farmhouses and vineyard-area properties spread across the northern Willamette Valley. Both kinds of homes can be hard to keep living in once the stairs become a daily obstacle.
We install stair lifts in all 10 towns in the county, from Sheridan and Willamina to Lafayette, Dayton, Amity and Yamhill. This page covers which lift types suit the homes here, what local and state programs may help with the cost, and who to call first.
A lot of Yamhill County's older downtown houses were built with a staircase leading to second-floor bedrooms. When that staircase runs in one straight line, a straight stair lift is usually the simplest fit. The rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so original plaster and trim stay intact.
Older staircases often have a landing or a turn partway up. Those need a curved rail built to the exact shape of the stairs. We measure the staircase at your home before anything is ordered, so you know which type you need.
Split-level homes are common here, and their short runs of stairs between levels can still be a real barrier. A short straight lift on each run often works well. Ranch-style homes are mostly on one floor, but a few steps down to a basement or garage can call for a lift too.
Townhouses usually have narrow stairs between floors, so we check the width and how much room is left for others to walk past the folded seat. In walk-up apartments, renters should talk with the building owner before planning any installation.
Rural farmhouses and vineyard-area properties often have porch or entry steps that face the weather. Outdoor stair lifts are built with covers and sealed parts for that kind of use. For someone who uses a wheelchair, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat.
Since the county covers about 718 square miles, from the valley floor up toward Trask Mountain in the northwest corner, some homes sit well away from town. We plan visits so a rural address gets the same measuring and fitting as one in town.
About 16.6% of Yamhill County's 84,633 residents are 65 or older, and 65.8% of households own their home. Many of those owners are in older, multi-level houses they would rather stay in than leave.
If that includes you or a parent, the VA grants below are worth checking, and Yamhill County Veterans Services at 340 NE Kirby Street in McMinnville can help at (503) 434-7503.
The most direct local option is the Housing Authority of Yamhill County rehabilitation program, which covers accessibility modifications for elderly or disabled household members. It is for owner-occupied homes and depends on income limits and available funds.
Yamhill County has no Center for Independent Living of its own, so the statewide Aging and Disability Resource Connection is the main entry point for Medicaid and in-home support programs. Call (855) 673-2372. NW Senior & Disability Services in Salem also serves as the aging office and can be reached at (503) 304-3456. The program list below explains what each one does and does not cover.
Grants and rehab loans from $15,000 up to $25,000 at 0%-2% interest for low-to-moderate income homeowners, and the program explicitly covers accessibility modifications for elderly or disabled household members. Apply through the online waitlist or call (503) 883-4300.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities to buy, build or adapt a permanent home. The source does not mention stair lifts specifically, so confirm with the VA.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) for adapting an existing home for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities. The source does not name stair lifts, so ask the VA whether one would qualify.
Pays up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for medically necessary structural changes like ramps and accessible bathrooms. It does not cover stair lifts, since stair glides are explicitly excluded.
A Medicaid program that funds in-home supports for Oregon Medicaid recipients under APD. The overview page does not mention stair lifts or home modifications, so ask for a caseworker assessment at (855) 673-2372.
Offers limited in-home help, including assistive technology, on a sliding fee scale for adults generally 60 and older who are not yet Medicaid long-term-care eligible. Stair lifts are not listed; call (855) 673-2372 to ask.
The recommended starting point for Yamhill County residents age 60 and older, adults with disabilities and caregivers, connecting them to the K Plan, OPI and other supports. It is a referral service, not a funding source; call (855) 673-2372.
A nonprofit offering energy, rental, housing stabilization and food help for low-income Yamhill County residents. It does not list a stair lift or accessibility grant, so call (503) 472-0457 to ask about current housing offerings.
Older adults
3410 Cherry Ave NE, Salem, 97303
Veterans
340 NE Kirby Street, McMinnville, 97128
Yes. The Housing Authority of Yamhill County rehabilitation program covers accessibility modifications for elderly or disabled household members in owner-occupied homes that meet income limits. Call (503) 883-4300 or apply through the online waitlist.
It covers McMinnville, Newberg, Amity, Dayton, Lafayette, Dundee, Carlton, Yamhill and Sheridan, plus portions of Willamina, Grand Ronde and Gaston.
The HISA grant excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants are for adapting a home, but their sources do not name stair lifts, so ask Yamhill County Veterans Services at (503) 434-7503.
Oregon DHS lists Yamhill among the counties without local CIL services. Residents are routed to the Aging and Disability Resource Connection at (855) 673-2372 instead.
Often, yes. Outdoor lifts are built for weather, and a platform lift is an option if a wheelchair is involved. We look at the steps in person before recommending one.
Oregon Project Independence serves adults generally 60 and older who are not yet Medicaid long-term-care eligible, on a sliding fee. Stair lifts are not listed, so call the ADRC at (855) 673-2372 to ask.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
