Braxton County covers about 516 square miles of mountainous central West Virginia. Most people reach Sutton, Gassaway, Burnsville and Flatwoods by Interstate 79 or U.S. Route 19, and much of the land between those towns is rural and sparsely settled.
Houses here are built the way hill country demands. Many are older, multi-level single-family homes set on sloped lots, with steps inside and out. This page explains which kind of stair lift tends to fit those homes and which programs may help cover the cost.
A house on a slope often ends up with more than one set of stairs. There may be a main staircase, a short run down to a lower level, and steps from the driveway up to the door. Each one gets measured separately, because a single lift rarely solves every level.
A straight staircase with no turns or landings usually takes a straight rail, which is the simplest and quickest install. Stairs that turn at a landing or wrap around a corner need a curved rail built to the exact shape of the steps.
Split-level homes are common in Braxton County, and their short half-flights are often good candidates for a straight lift. Some families put a lift on the flight to the bedrooms and leave the shorter run alone if it can be managed with a rail.
Ranch-style homes have fewer interior stairs, but many sit above a basement or have entry steps outside. In those cases an outdoor lift rated for weather, or a platform lift for someone who uses a wheelchair, may matter more than anything inside.
About 24.7% of Braxton County residents are 65 or older, and the median age is 47.3. Housing data shows 16.1% of households have someone 65 or older living alone, a group especially affected by interior stairs in multi-story homes.
For someone living alone in an outlying part of the county, a fall on the stairs can go unnoticed for a long time. A lift lets a person keep using the whole house instead of moving a bed into the living room.
Since 77.8% of housing units are owner-occupied, many families are free to modify the home without a landlord's sign-off.
Coal mining once carried the local economy and has declined. Median household income is $42,519 and the poverty rate is 18.3%, so many families here rely on grant and waiver funding rather than paying out of pocket.
Two programs listed below say they can cover stair lifts or similar home modifications: the WV Aging and Disability Resource Center program for people 60 and up, and the Appalachian Center for Independent Living program for income-eligible people with disabilities. Others, like the Aged and Disabled Waiver and USDA Section 504, fund home accessibility or repairs but do not name stair lifts, so ask directly.
Statewide, you can also ask about the West Virginia Technology-Related Assistance Revolving Loan Fund. For general aging questions, the Region III - WVDA Southern AAA in Charleston can be reached at (304) 340-3501. Veterans can contact the State of West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance office at 848 Northside Drive in Summersville, (304) 872-0829.
A Medicaid waiver for adults 18 and over who need nursing-facility level of care; it includes Environmental Accessibility Adaptations to the home, though stair lifts are not named in the program description. Call (866) 767-1575.
A referral and coordination agency with a Sutton office serving Braxton County; its listing does not mention stair lifts, so call (800) 814-8514 to ask about current services and referrals such as the ADRC home-modification program.
A state program for people 60 and older who can show a need for home modifications or accessibility devices, with funding decided case by case; it is listed as covering stair lifts. Call (866) 981-2372.
A nonprofit program serving Braxton County that can provide assistive devices and home modifications for people with disabilities who meet income guidelines, which is where stair lifts fall; there may be a waiting list. Call (304) 965-0376.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income owners 62 and older to repair or improve a rural home; stair lifts are not named. Call (304) 284-4868.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for medically needed home changes; it does not cover stair lifts, since stair glides are specifically excluded.
VA grants for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities, with SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 in FY2026; stair lifts are not named on the program page, so ask the VA about your situation.
Older adults
1900 Kanawha Blvd. East, Charleston, 25305
Veterans
848 Northside Drive, Summersville, 26651
No. Stairs that turn or have a landing need a curved rail made to fit that staircase. A straight rail only works on a run with no turns.
Yes. The WV Aging and Disability Resource Center home modification program is for people 60 and older who can show a need, and it is listed as covering stair lifts. Call (866) 981-2372 to apply.
No. HISA specifically excludes stair glides and porch lifts. A veteran with a qualifying service-connected disability can ask about SAH or SHA grants, or contact the Department of Veterans Assistance in Summersville at (304) 872-0829.
Central West Virginia Aging Services has a Sutton office serving Braxton County at (800) 814-8514. They can tell you what is currently offered and make referrals.
The Appalachian Center for Independent Living program serves people with disabilities who meet income guidelines, with no age limit listed. The Aged and Disabled Waiver starts at age 18 for those who need nursing-facility level of care.
Often, yes. Outdoor lifts are built for weather, and a platform lift can carry a wheelchair user up entry steps. We measure the outside steps on the same visit as the inside stairs.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
