From Davenport and Reardan out to Wilbur, Almira, Odessa, Harrington and Sprague, Lincoln County is wheat country. The 2020 Census counted no residents in urban areas, and the 5,732 housing units are spread across 2,339 square miles. Many of those homes are older single-family farmhouses on larger acreages, often with detached entry stairs and more than one level.
That mix of older layouts, outside steps and long drives between towns shapes what kind of stair lift makes sense and how to plan the install. This page walks through the home styles we see here, what winter does to exterior steps, and the programs that may help a Lincoln County family pay for the work.
Most homes in the county are single-family or detached houses, with some split-level homes, townhouses and low-rise buildings in the towns. A farmhouse with one straight flight to the bedrooms is usually the simplest job. A straight stair lift rides a rail bolted to the treads, not the wall, so older plaster walls are rarely a problem.
Multi-level farmhouse layouts are different. If the stairs turn at a landing or wrap around a corner, a curved lift with a custom rail is usually the answer. Split-level homes often have several short runs instead of one long one, so we look at which levels a person actually needs to reach before recommending one lift or more.
The Big Bend Plateau is fairly level ground, roughly 1,500 to 2,500 feet in elevation, so steep driveways are not usually the issue. The trouble spot is the front or back entry. Detached entry stairs on older homes get icy once winter temperatures drop below freezing.
An outdoor stair lift is built with weather covers and sealed parts for steps like these. Where someone uses a wheelchair or walker and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift may fit better than a seat-style lift. We measure the steps, the landing and the path to the door before suggesting either.
With homes scattered across a large farming county, getting an installer out to the house can take more planning than it would in a city. It helps to have the stair measurements, photos of any landings or turns, and a sense of who will use the lift before the first visit.
Doing the measuring and paperwork in one trip shortens the wait. It also helps to line up any funding approvals early, since some programs want a quote or a care plan before work starts.
Lincoln County skews older. The 2020 Census put 26.9% of residents at 65 or older, with a median age of 48.4, and 79.7% of housing units are owner-occupied. For many families, that means a parent who wants to stay in the farmhouse they own rather than move closer to town.
Veterans can start with the Lincoln County Veterans Service Office at 303 6th Street in Davenport, (509) 685-2837, to ask about VA housing grants and other benefits.
Only one program below names stair lifts outright: the Northwest Access Fund Home Modification Loan. The others cover home modifications, safety repairs or accessibility changes without naming stair lifts, so ask each one directly before counting on it.
A good first call for older adults is Aging & Adult Care of Central Washington in East Wenatchee, (509) 886-0700, the Area Agency on Aging for Lincoln County. Statewide options to ask about also include Community First Choice (CFC), VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics), and the Senior Citizens & People with Disabilities Property Tax Exemption.
The Area Agency on Aging for Lincoln County, serving adults 60 and older and adults with disabilities, and the local door to COPES Environmental Modification and other in-home supports; its services page does not name stair lifts. Call (509) 886-0700.
A statewide Medicaid waiver that pays for minor, medically justified home adaptations for adults who meet nursing-facility level of care; the regulation does not name stair lifts. Ask about it through AACCW at (509) 886-0700.
A state long-term care benefit of up to $36,500 (2026 figure) that lists home modifications as a covered service, though stair lifts are not named on its benefits page. Call (844) 227-3492 to check eligibility.
A nonprofit program for owner-occupants in rural Lincoln County with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, covering health and safety repairs such as roofs, electrical and structural work. Stair lifts are not named, so confirm the scope with the agency.
Federal loans and grants through USDA Rural Development for very low income rural homeowners to improve their homes or remove health and safety hazards; stair lifts are not named. Confirm current caps and eligibility with a USDA Rural Development home loan specialist.
VA grants for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, with SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 (FY2026); the program describes ramps and wider doorways but does not name stair lifts. Apply with VA Form 26-4555.
A nonprofit accessibility loan of up to $60,000 with terms up to 10 years for Washington residents with disabilities, including seniors, and it explicitly lists stair lift installation. Call (206) 328-5116.
Older adults
50 Simon Street SE, Suite A, East Wenatchee, 98802
Veterans
303 6th Street, Davenport, 99122
Yes, in most cases. Stairs that turn at a landing or curve usually need a curved stair lift with a rail made to fit that staircase, which is why we measure on site first.
Outdoor stair lifts are built for exterior steps and Lincoln County winters that drop below freezing. If the user cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift may be the better fit.
The Northwest Access Fund Home Modification Loan explicitly lists installation of stairlifts and lends up to $60,000. Call them at (206) 328-5116; poor credit or limited income do not automatically disqualify an applicant.
For a parent 60 or older, start with Aging & Adult Care of Central Washington at (509) 886-0700. They handle case management and local access to COPES Environmental Modification for Lincoln County.
For the Northwest Access Fund loan, family members or representatives may apply for the person with a disability. For other programs, ask the agency how they handle applications from family.
The Lincoln County Veterans Service Office is at 303 6th Street in Davenport, (509) 685-2837. They can help with VA housing adaptation grants, which are applied for with VA Form 26-4555.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
