Washington stretches across 553 towns, from King County, Pierce County and Snohomish County to Spokane County, Yakima County and Walla Walla County. The homes and staircases in those places vary a lot, so the right stair lift in one house may be the wrong one next door.
This page covers the basics for the whole state: which kind of lift fits which staircase, who in Washington tends to need one, and the state, federal and nonprofit programs that can help with the bill. When you are ready, pick your county below for local details.
A straight stair lift runs on a single rail up a staircase with no turns or landings. It is the simplest kind to fit and usually the quickest to install.
If your stairs turn a corner, curve, or break at a landing, you need a curved lift with a rail built to the shape of your staircase. That rail is made for your home, so the measuring visit matters more.
Steps outside to a porch or front door call for an outdoor lift built to handle the weather. For a wheelchair user who cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift is the better fit. A good installer will look at the stairs in person before recommending one.
Washington has a population of 6,439,074, and 15.3% of residents are 65 or older. Many of them want to keep using the whole house, not just the ground floor.
Roughly 61.1% of households own their home. If you rent, talk with your landlord before ordering a lift, since it attaches to the stairs.
Start with the COPES Waiver if the person needing the lift qualifies for Medicaid long-term care. It can fund a stair lift as an environmental modification, with no fixed cap, based on the approved care plan.
Veterans should ask about VA Prosthetics, which can cover the lift itself when it is medically prescribed. The HISA grant is separate and pays for ramps and structural changes, not the lift.
If neither fits, the Northwest Access Fund offers low-interest loans of up to $60,000 for stair lifts and home access. Community First Choice and the property tax exemption do not pay for lifts, but they can ease other costs in the household. Details for each program are listed below.
We have pages for Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman and Yakima counties.
Open the page for the county where the home is to see local information before you schedule a visit.
A Washington Medicaid home and community based waiver that pays providers directly and can fund stair lifts as environmental modifications, with no fixed cap beyond the approved care plan. Call (855) 567-0252.
A low-interest nonprofit loan for Washington residents that covers stair lifts and home access work, up to $60,000. Call (877) 428-5116.
VA Prosthetics (PSAS) can cover a medically prescribed stair lift with no set dollar cap, while HISA pays $6,800 (service-connected) or $2,000 (non-service-connected) for ramps and structural changes, not the lift. Call (877) 222-8387.
A Washington Medicaid personal care entitlement with no waitlist that does not cover stair lifts; it allows $550 per state fiscal year for combined assistive technology and skills training. Call (855) 567-0252.
A Washington property tax exemption that lowers the yearly tax bill by an amount that varies by county and home value. It does not pay for stair lifts, but the savings can free up household money.
It can through the COPES Waiver, which funds stair lifts as environmental modifications under an approved care plan. Community First Choice does not cover stair lifts. For both programs, call (855) 567-0252.
Both, through different benefits. VA Prosthetics (PSAS) can cover the lift itself when medically prescribed, while HISA covers ramps and structural changes up to $6,800 for service-connected or $2,000 for non-service-connected conditions. Call (877) 222-8387.
Yes. The Northwest Access Fund offers low-interest loans of up to $60,000 for stair lifts and home access for Washington residents. Call (877) 428-5116.
Not directly. The Senior Citizens & People with Disabilities Property Tax Exemption reduces your property tax, and the money you save can go toward a lift, but it is not a lift grant.
A curved stair lift, with a rail shaped to your staircase. Straight lifts only work on stairs with no turns or landings.
We have pages for all the Washington counties listed above, from Adams County to Yakima County. Open your county page to get started.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
