From Puget Island and Cathlamet out to Rosburg, Skamokawa Valley and Lower Elochoman, Wahkiakum County is river and timber country. Many houses here date back to the logging, fishing and farming settlement of the 1800s and early 1900s, and not much has been built since. That means a lot of steep, narrow stairs that were never planned for a walker or a cane.
This page walks through how those homes and the hilly, wooded land around them affect the kind of stair lift that fits. It also lists the programs that may help with the cost, along with the phone numbers to call first.
Much of the housing in Wahkiakum County, including in the county seat of Cathlamet, went up well before modern accessibility standards existed. Stairways in older single-family and detached houses are often tight, steep, or turn partway up.
A straight staircase with no landing is usually the simplest job, because a straight rail can run the full length. Stairs that turn at a landing or wind around a corner need a curved rail built to that exact staircase. When we visit, the first thing we measure is the shape of the run, since that decides which type of lift is possible.
The county is densely wooded and hilly, cut by the Columbia, Elochoman and Grays Rivers, and the whole population is classified as rural. Flat, buildable ground is limited, so many homes sit on slopes with exterior steps up to the door.
For those houses, the hard climb may be outside rather than inside. An outdoor stair lift can run along porch or entry steps, and a platform lift can be a better fit for someone who uses a wheelchair. Manufactured and modular homes, which are common here, often have a short set of entry steps where one of these options makes sense.
The same rugged terrain and limited roads can make it harder to get equipment and contractors to a property. It helps to tell us about the driveway and the path to the door when you call, so we can plan the visit.
About 30.3% of the county's 3,386 residents are 65 or older, and the median age is 53.4, which puts Wahkiakum among the oldest counties in Washington. Roughly 85.9% of residents are homeowners, so most families can decide on a modification without asking a landlord.
Cost is the other side of it. Median household income is $40,372, and 12.2% of residents live below the poverty level. That is why the funding programs below matter, and why it is worth calling before deciding a lift is out of reach.
The Northwest Access Fund is the one program on this list that names stairlifts directly. It offers home modification loans of up to $60,000 with up to a 10-year term, and it serves Washington, Oregon and Idaho with no county exclusions listed.
For people who qualify for Medicaid and need nursing-facility level care, the COPES waiver covers environmental modifications. Stair lifts are not named in the rule, so the DSHS/HCS case manager decides case by case. The Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington can screen for in-home help that includes home safety equipment.
A good first call for county residents is Wahkiakum County Senior and Disabled Assistance at (360) 795-8630, option #7. The county contracts with AAADSW for information and referral, so that line can point you to the right program. Veterans can reach Wahkiakum County Veterans Resources at (360) 795-3219, at 64 Main Street, Third Floor, in Cathlamet.
A state Medicaid waiver for people who meet financial rules and need nursing-facility level care; it covers environmental modifications, but stair lifts are not listed by name and are decided case by case by a DSHS/HCS case manager. Call (360) 725-2300.
A regional agency serving Wahkiakum and four other counties with in-home services that can include home safety equipment; stair lifts are not listed, so call the Resource Center at (360) 577-4929 for an individual screening.
The county's intake and referral point for seniors and adults with disabilities, run in partnership with AAADSW; it does not list home modification or stair lift funding itself. Call (360) 795-8630, option #7.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 for FY 2026 for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities to buy, build or modify a home; stair lifts are not named on the source page. Wahkiakum County Veterans Resources can be reached at (360) 795-3219.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 for FY 2026 to adapt an existing home for certain disabilities, such as loss of use of both hands or severe burns; stair lifts are not itemized by name. Wahkiakum County Veterans Resources is at (360) 795-3219.
A nonprofit low-interest loan of up to $60,000 with up to a 10-year term for people with disabilities, including seniors with age-related limitations, and installation of stairlifts is listed as a covered use. Call (206) 328-5116.
Older adults
1338 Commerce Avenue, Suite 309, Longview, 98632
Veterans
64 Main Street, Third Floor, Cathlamet, 98612
Start with Wahkiakum County Senior and Disabled Assistance at (360) 795-8630, option #7. The county contracts with AAADSW for information and referral, so they can steer you to programs you may qualify for.
Yes. The Northwest Access Fund lists installation of stairlifts as a home modification it will lend for, with loans of up to $60,000 and up to a 10-year term. Their number is (206) 328-5116.
The COPES waiver covers environmental modifications for people who meet Medicaid financial rules and need nursing-facility level care. Stair lifts are not named in the regulation, so a DSHS/HCS case manager decides each case. The COPES number is (360) 725-2300.
Often, yes. Hillside homes here commonly have exterior steps, and an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can be used for those. We look at the steps, the ground and access to the property during the visit.
Manufactured and modular homes are common in Wahkiakum County, and the climb is usually the entry steps outside. An outdoor stair lift or platform lift is the usual option for those steps.
Veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities may be eligible for the VA SAH grant, up to $126,526, or the SHA grant, up to $25,350, for FY 2026. Wahkiakum County Veterans Resources in Cathlamet can help, at (360) 795-3219.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
