Walk through the Randall Park, Third Ward or Emery Street Bungalow historic districts in Eau Claire and you see houses built in the early-to-mid 20th century. Most of them have full staircases to a second floor, a basement, or both. Those are the stairs that start to cause trouble when knees, hips or balance change.
Eau Claire County covers 645 square miles in western Wisconsin, from the city of Eau Claire and Altoona out to Fall Creek, Augusta and Fairchild. This page explains which kind of stair lift tends to fit the homes here, what winter means for stairs, and which programs can help pay for one.
The county's historic districts were surveyed in 1982, and most were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Bungalows and other early-20th-century houses usually have a straight run to the upstairs bedrooms and a separate set of basement steps. A straight stair lift is often the simplest fit for those runs.
Split-level homes are a different story. They have several short flights with landings in between, so you may need more than one straight lift or a curved rail that follows the turns. We measure every flight before suggesting either option.
Local housing also includes townhouses, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings, alongside single-family and detached houses. In a townhouse you own, a stair lift on the interior staircase works much like it does in a house.
Shared stairways in a walk-up or low-rise building are common space. Talk with the owner or building manager before planning anything there. About 56.0% of county households own their homes, so renters should get permission in writing first.
The Eau Claire area averages 14.4F in January and gets about 47 inches of snow a year. Icy porch steps and a trip down to the basement laundry are both places where a fall can happen. That is why many families here look at indoor lifts first and outdoor options for entry steps second.
Nearly a quarter of county residents live in rural areas outside the urban core. If you are in the countryside around Fall Creek, Augusta or Fairchild, plan ahead for the visit, since in-home services can take more coordinating out there. When steps are too steep or a wheelchair has to come along, a platform lift may be worth discussing.
Many of the calls we get come from adult children trying to keep a parent safely in the house they have lived in for decades.
Veterans should start with Eau Claire County Veteran Services at (715) 839-4744, 721 Oxford Ave, Suite 1130, Eau Claire. They can check which VA benefits apply, including the HISA and prosthetics benefits listed among statewide options.
The clearest public funding source here is the IRIS Medicaid waiver, which lists stair lifts by name as a covered home modification. Family Care, the VA housing grants and the WHEDA loan do not mention stair lifts on their source pages, so ask each one directly before counting on it.
Your first call can be the Eau Claire County ADRC at (715) 839-2505, 721 Oxford Ave., Suite 1400, Eau Claire. Applications for IRIS and Family Care go through the ADRC. You can also ask there about other statewide options such as the Community Options Program (COP) and WisLoan (WisTech Alternative Loan Program).
A self-directed Wisconsin Medicaid long-term care waiver for adults 18-64 with a disability or 65+ who need a nursing facility level of care, with income up to $2,982/month and assets up to $2,000 for an individual. Stair lifts are explicitly listed as a covered home modification; apply through the Eau Claire County ADRC or call the IRIS Call Center at (888) 515-4747.
A Wisconsin Medicaid managed care waiver for adults 65+ or 18+ with a disability who need a nursing facility level of care, with the same $2,982/month income and $2,000 asset limits. Its home modifications list names grab bars, ramps and widening doorways but does not mention stair lifts; call Member Services at (800) 362-3002 or the county ADRC.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans with certain qualifying service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home, used to buy, build or change a permanent home. Stair lifts are not named in the source, so confirm with Eau Claire County Veteran Services at (715) 839-4744.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans or a family member who owns or will own the home, with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands, certain severe burns or certain breathing injuries. Stair lifts are not mentioned in the source, so ask Eau Claire County Veteran Services at (715) 839-4744.
The Area Agency on Aging for 70 Wisconsin counties and 11 tribes, offering information, benefits counseling and referrals to programs like IRIS and Family Care rather than direct grants. It does not list stair lift funding itself; call (608) 243-5670, or the Eau Claire County ADRC at (715) 839-2505 for local help.
A state home improvement loan of $10,000 to $50,000 for Wisconsin homeowners with a credit score of 620+ who are current on their mortgage, with up to a $500 closing cost credit. Accessibility work and stair lifts are not mentioned in the source; call WHEDA at (800) 334-6873 to ask.
Older adults
721 Oxford Ave., Suite 1400, Eau Claire, 54703
Veterans
721 Oxford Ave, Suite 1130, Eau Claire, 54703
Often, yes. Early-20th-century homes like those in the Randall Park, Third Ward and Emery Street Bungalow districts tend to have full straight staircases, which usually suit a straight stair lift. We measure the width, length and landings before recommending anything.
The IRIS waiver explicitly lists stair lifts as a covered home modification for people who qualify. Family Care does not mention stair lifts in its list, so ask your care team directly. Both start with the Eau Claire County ADRC at (715) 839-2505.
IRIS covers Wisconsin residents age 18-64 with a disability as well as those 65 and older, as long as they need a nursing facility level of care and meet the financial limits. Family Care also serves adults 18 and older with a disability.
For an individual in 2026, income can be up to $2,982 a month and assets up to $2,000. A functional screen also has to show a need for nursing facility level of care.
Call Eau Claire County Veteran Services at (715) 839-4744 or visit 721 Oxford Ave, Suite 1130 in Eau Claire. They can tell you whether the SAH or SHA grant, or other VA benefits, could apply to a stair lift in your home.
Yes, rural homes in the county can be served. Nearly a quarter of residents live outside the urban core, so it helps to schedule early, especially before winter weather sets in.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
