Highland County sits high in Virginia's Allegheny Highlands, with elevations running from 1,625 to 4,545 feet. Homes here are spread across scattered farmsteads and small hamlets around Monterey, the county seat, rather than grouped in subdivisions. Many are older owner-occupied farmhouses with more than one floor, and a good share of the county's 1,787 housing units are seasonal or vacation cabins.
That mix shapes how a stair lift gets chosen and installed. A narrow staircase in an old farmhouse, a short flight in a split-level, and steep entry steps at a mountain cabin each call for a different kind of lift. This page walks through what fits the homes here and where local families can look for help with the cost.
Most homes in the county are detached single-family houses, and the staircase is usually the first thing we look at. A straight flight with no turns or landings can take a straight stair lift, which is the simplest and quickest kind to fit.
Older multi-story farmhouses often have stairs that turn, have a landing partway up, or are tight at the top. Those usually need a curved lift, with a rail built to follow that one staircase. It takes longer to make, so planning ahead matters.
Split-level homes bring short flights between levels, sometimes more than one. Ranch-style homes keep living space on one floor, but a basement stairway or steps up to the front door can still be a problem. In those cases an outdoor lift or a platform lift at the entry may do more good than an indoor unit.
Highland County is about 153 miles northwest of Richmond, with no public airport and no rail line inside the county. Equipment comes in by road through steep mountain and valley country, so it helps to measure carefully and order the right lift the first time.
Contractor availability is thinner here than in bigger counties. If you are considering a curved lift, which is custom built, start the conversation well before the need becomes urgent.
Seasonal properties raise their own questions. A cabin that sits empty part of the year, or a home with exposed steps outside, may be better served by an outdoor-rated lift built to handle the weather.
The county has no hospital, so residents travel to medical facilities in neighboring Augusta and Bath counties. For an older homeowner, a fall on the stairs can mean a long trip for care and a hard road back home.
In the figures we have, 57.5% of residents are 65 or older and 69.1% own their homes. Many people here want to stay put in a house they own, and a stair lift can keep the upstairs bedroom or the basement laundry usable.
No single program here names stair lifts as a covered item, so expect to make a few calls. Several programs fund home modifications or accessibility repairs in general, and the program staff decide what qualifies case by case.
For older adults, the Valley Program for Aging Services is a good first call. Its Highland office is in Monterey at (540) 468-2178, and the main office, Valley Program for Aging Services (PSA 6), is in Waynesboro at (540) 949-7141. Veterans can reach the Staunton Benefits Office – Virginia Department of Veterans Services at (540) 332-2077.
Statewide options to ask about include the Virginia Livable Home Tax Credit (LHTC) and the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority (ATLFA). The programs listed below give more detail on who qualifies and who to contact.
A Virginia Medicaid waiver that lists Environmental Modifications and Assistive Technology as covered service categories for people 65 and older or under 65 with a qualifying disability who meet nursing facility level of care. Stair lifts are not named in the source, so ask directly at (844) 374-9159.
Serves adults 60 and older and their caregivers in Highland County, with services at no cost or on a sliding fee scale, including home repair and modification such as wheelchair ramps. Stair lifts are not mentioned, so call the Monterey office at (540) 468-2178 to ask.
A state grant of up to $4,000 per applicant for households at or below 80% of Area Median Income, with eligible repairs including wheelchair ramps and other accessibility modifications. Stair lifts are not named; call Virginia DHCD at (888) 229-3714.
A VA grant for medically necessary home changes, with a lifetime maximum of $6,800 or $2,000 depending on disability status. It does not cover stair lifts, since it excludes stair glides and porch lifts; call (800) 698-2411 for other uses.
VA grants for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities, with SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 for FY2026. Stair lifts are not listed as covered or excluded, so call (800) 827-1000 to ask about your case.
A Harrisonburg-based center serving people with disabilities of any age in Highland and nearby counties, offering information and referral, peer counseling, skills training and advocacy rather than cash grants. Stair lifts are not listed; call (540) 433-6513 for referrals.
Older adults
325 Pine Avenue, Waynesboro, 22980
Veterans
1600 North Coalter Street Suite 15, Staunton, 24401
Usually, yes. Stairs with turns or a landing need a curved lift with a rail made for that staircase, which takes longer to build than a straight lift. Starting early helps, given the county's distance from suppliers.
The HISA grant does not, because it excludes stair glides and porch lifts. The SAH and SHA grants do not list stair lifts either way, so a veteran who qualifies should call (800) 827-1000 or the Staunton Benefits Office at (540) 332-2077.
The Valley Program for Aging Services serves people 60 and older. Younger residents with a disability can look at the CCC Plus Waiver, which covers people under 65 with a qualifying disability, and VAIL, which serves people with disabilities of any age.
The 2026 income limit is about $2,982 per month for a single applicant. The asset limit is $2,000 for a single person or $4,000 for a couple who are both applying, and the person must meet nursing facility level of care.
Yes. If the steps are outside or the home sits empty through the colder months, an outdoor-rated lift is often the better choice. We look at the steps and the setting before recommending one.
The Valley Program for Aging Services office at 49 Spruce Street in Monterey, (540) 468-2178, is a good starting point for older adults. They can talk through home modification help and point you to other programs.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
