Ferry County is a big place with few towns. Republic, Curlew Lake, Inchelium and Torboy sit in about 2,257 square miles of mountain country, with the Kettle River Range running through the middle and the Columbia River along the west and south. Many homes here are on rural acreage, a long drive from the nearest supplier.
That distance shapes how a stair lift project goes. Below we cover the kinds of homes we see in the county, which lift types fit them, and the programs that may help with the cost. Start with the stairs you use every day, then work out what help you might qualify for.
The county had 4,059 housing units in the 2020 census, spread between Republic and rural or mountain properties. Most are single-family homes and detached houses, along with split-level homes, ranch-style homes and some walk-up apartments. A lot of this housing is older and was not built with aging in place in mind.
A straight stair lift is the usual answer for a single, uninterrupted flight, like the stairs to a second floor or down to a basement. If the staircase turns or has a landing, a curved lift built to that stair is the option. Split-level homes often have more than one short flight, so we look at which levels you actually need to reach before suggesting anything.
On rural property, the hardest steps are often outside: the porch, the deck or the entry to a ranch-style home. An outdoor stair lift is built to handle weather and can carry someone up those exterior steps. For a person who uses a wheelchair, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat.
Walk-up apartments are different. The stairs are usually shared, so the building owner has to agree before anything gets installed. Ask that question first.
Sherman Pass, at 5,575 feet, is the highest year-round mountain pass in Washington, and WA-20 over it is how many people and services reach the county. Winter weather and long drives can slow down medical visits and home modification work coming from outside.
Plan for that. If a fall or a hospital stay is making stairs harder, start the conversation before winter so there is time for an assessment, any program paperwork and the install.
Ferry County has an older population. In the 2020 census, 29.6% of residents were 65 or older, and the owner-occupied rate was 73.9%. Owning your home matters here, because most repair and modification programs require that you own and live in the house.
If that includes you or your parent, the veteran programs below are worth a call before paying out of pocket.
Money is a real concern. The 2024 median household income was about $55,614, and the poverty rate of 13.6% is above the national average. None of the programs below name stair lifts outright, so coverage depends on your assessment or on how the program reviews health and safety repairs.
For Medicaid clients, the COPES waiver can pay for environmental modifications decided case by case. Homeowners with limited income can look at Rural Resources Community Action and the USDA Section 504 program. Veterans should check the VA housing grants and the county assistance board. Statewide, it is also worth asking about Community First Choice (CFC), VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) and the Senior Citizens & People with Disabilities Property Tax Exemption.
For general help with aging services, the Spokane Area AAA is at 1222 N. Post St., Spokane, (509) 458-2509. Ferry County Veterans Resources is at Ferry County Courthouse Box 14, Republic, (509) 207-0329.
A Washington Medicaid waiver that can pay for minor physical adaptations to the home for aged, blind or disabled clients who meet nursing-facility level of care; stair lifts are not named, so coverage is decided case by case in your assessment. Call (509) 524-4960.
A home repair loan program for rural Ferry County homeowners at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, for repairs that affect health and safety; the program page does not list stair lifts. Call (509) 684-8421, or visit the Republic office at 600 S. Clark Ave, 509-775-0912.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% over 20 years, and grants up to $10,000 for very low-income homeowners age 62 or older; stair lifts are not specifically listed. Call (800) 414-1226.
Federal grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, with SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 for FY2026; the VA describes adaptations like ramps and wider doorways but does not name stair lifts.
Temporary emergency help for Ferry County veterans, limited to $750.00 per veteran per year, mainly for utilities, rent and burial; home modifications and stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (509) 775-5225.
Older adults
1222 N. Post St., Spokane, 99201
Veterans
Ferry County Courthouse Box 14, Republic, 99166
Possibly. COPES covers environmental modifications that are needed for health, welfare or safety and increase independence, but the rule does not name stair lifts, so it is decided in your individual assessment. Call (509) 524-4960 to ask.
The USDA Section 504 program offers grants up to $10,000 to homeowners age 62 or older who cannot repay a loan. The grant must be repaid if the home is sold within 3 years. Call (800) 414-1226.
Yes. Rural Resources Community Action has an office at 600 S. Clark Ave, Republic, WA 99166, phone 509-775-0912. Ferry County Veterans Resources is at the Ferry County Courthouse in Republic, (509) 207-0329.
Yes. An outdoor stair lift is made for exterior steps like porches and decks, and a platform lift is an option for someone in a wheelchair. We can look at your steps and tell you which fits.
The Ferry County Veteran's Assistance Board lists help with utilities, rent and burial, and does not mention home modifications. It is capped at $750.00 per veteran per year, so treat it as a small supplement at most.
Split-level homes often have several short flights, and one lift usually serves one staircase. We start by figuring out which levels you need to reach each day, then choose straight or curved lifts for those stairs.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
