Sunbury has been the county seat since 1772, and coal boroughs like Shamokin, Mount Carmel, Kulpmont and Trevorton grew up around the anthracite mines. Many of the houses still standing in those towns were built when coal and railroad companies owned much of the worker housing, and they were not designed with a first-floor bedroom in mind.
Across the county's 42 towns, from Milton and Watsontown along the river to Elysburg and Ralpho in the hills, the same problem comes up again and again. The bedroom and the bathroom are upstairs, and the stairs are getting harder. This page explains how the local homes and hills affect the type of stair lift you need and which programs can help pay for one.
The 2020 Census counted about 43,300 housing units in Northumberland County, and 70.6% of occupied units were owner-occupied. Much of that stock dates to the coal and mill era, when bedrooms and baths were commonly put on upper floors.
Row houses, duplexes, detached houses and walk-up apartments all show up here. In a row house or duplex the staircase often runs along a shared wall in one straight shot, which is the simplest setup for a straight stair lift. Older homes can also have a turn or a landing partway up, and that calls for a curved rail built to the shape of your stairs.
Walk-up apartments are a different case. If you rent, the building owner has to agree to an installation, so it helps to have that conversation before anything is measured.
The county sits in Pennsylvania's ridge-and-valley region at the forks of the Susquehanna River, where it splits into the main river and the West Branch. Mahanoy Mountain rises to about 1,420 feet in the south, Big Mountain to about 402 m, and most of the interior is rolling hills.
Towns built into those slopes often have split-level or multi-story layouts, and some homes have exterior steps up from the street or down to a side door. Interior stairs are usually the first priority, but outdoor steps can be handled with an outdoor-rated lift, and a platform lift is an option when someone uses a wheelchair. We look at every set of steps you use daily, not only the main staircase.
About 21.5% of county residents are 65 or older, and the median age is 44.5. With so many longtime homeowners, a lot of families here are deciding whether a parent can stay in the house they already own.
If a veteran in your family has a service-connected disability, there is a separate federal grant route described below, and the county veterans office in Sunbury can help you start.
For residents 60 and older, the best first call is the Northumberland County AAA at 322 N. 2nd St. in Sunbury, (570) 495-2395. They do the intake and assessment for the OPTIONS program and can point you toward the Community HealthChoices waiver, both of which fund home accessibility adaptations.
Veterans with a qualifying service-connected disability can look at the VA SAH and SHA grants. The VA HISA grant is often mentioned too, but stair lifts are generally not covered by HISA, so SAH or SHA is the route to ask about.
Lower-income homeowners may also qualify for the Whole-Home Repairs Program or Habitat for Humanity repair help, though neither lists stair lifts specifically and funding is limited. Each program is summarized in the list below.
A Medicaid waiver for Pennsylvania residents 21 and older who meet nursing facility level of care, and it covers home accessibility adaptations, including a stair glide, when the managed care plan authorizes it as medically necessary. Income is limited to roughly $2,900 a month for an individual with assets generally about $2,000, slots may be limited, and you can call the enrollment broker at (800) 757-5042.
The county aging office offers free intake, assessment and care management for residents 60 and older and refers them to OPTIONS and the CHC waiver, which fund home modifications; it does not give a direct grant itself. Call (570) 495-2395.
A state program for residents 60 and older with unmet daily needs that covers home adaptations to improve safety and accessibility, with no income limit and a sliding co-payment based on income. Apply through the county aging office at (570) 495-2395.
Serves people with disabilities of any age in Northumberland and nearby counties and helps them apply for home modifications through waiver and nursing home transition programs. Whether it covers stair lifts is unknown, so ask when you call (570) 327-9070.
Federal grants for veterans who own or will own their home and have a qualifying service-connected disability, with FY2026 maximums of $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA, and interior stair or platform lifts fall within eligible adaptations. Apply with VA Form 26-4555 or call (800) 827-1000.
A county-administered repair grant for homeowners with income up to 80% of area median income that funds accessibility and safety repairs, though stair lifts are not specifically listed and funds may run out. Call (570) 524-4491 to ask whether the county has active funding.
A nonprofit repair program for low-income homeowners in Snyder, Union and Northumberland counties that typically handles ramps, grab bars and safety modifications. Stair lifts are not listed, so ask the affiliate about its current criteria and funding.
Older adults
322 N. 2nd St., Sunbury, 17801
Veterans
322 N Second Street, Sunbury, 17801
Many row houses in the coal boroughs have a single straight staircase, which suits a straight stair lift. If your stairs turn or have a landing, a curved rail is made to fit them. We measure in your home before recommending anything.
OPTIONS and the county aging office serve people 60 and older, but the Community HealthChoices waiver starts at age 21 for those who meet nursing facility level of care. The Center for Independent Living of North Central PA also works with people with disabilities of any age at (570) 327-9070.
No. Residents 60 and older can qualify regardless of income, though depending on income you may pay part of the cost on a sliding co-payment scale. Call the county aging office in Sunbury at (570) 495-2395 to start an assessment.
Stair lifts are generally not covered by HISA. The VA SAH and SHA grants are the route for a stair lift if the veteran has a qualifying service-connected disability. Northumberland County Veteran's Affairs at 322 N Second Street in Sunbury, (570) 495-2395, can help, or call the VA at (800) 827-1000.
Yes, homes built into slopes often have exterior steps, and an outdoor-rated lift is made for that. If a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift may be the better fit. We look at every set of steps you use during the in-home visit.
Apply through the agency designated to serve Northumberland County at (570) 524-4491. Homeowners with income up to 80% of area median income may qualify, but funds are limited and stair lifts are not specifically listed, so confirm before you plan around it.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
