Covington County sits on the flat Gulf Coastal Plain of south-central Alabama, with homes spread from Andalusia and Opp out to Florala, Red Level, Lockhart, Heath and small communities like Onycha and Babbie. Much of the housing here is single-family, including ranch-style homes and split-level homes, and most residents live in rural areas.
Flat land means many houses are one story, but not all of them. Split-level layouts, raised entries and older two-story houses still put stairs between a person and the bedroom, the laundry or the front door. This page walks through what those homes mean for a stair lift and which programs may help with the cost.
Ranch-style homes often have no indoor stairs at all, so the problem is usually the steps up to the porch or back door. In that case an outdoor stair lift or a vertical platform lift at the entry may make more sense than an indoor unit.
Split-level homes are different. They tend to have short flights between levels, and a straight stair lift is often the simplest fit for a straight run. If the stairs turn or have a landing, a curved lift built to that staircase is the usual answer.
Some older houses, such as those near Andalusia's historic buildings like the Springdale Estate and the 1899 Central of Georgia Depot, can have narrower or steeper stairs. An in-home measurement tells us what will fit before anyone commits to a model.
Covington County covers roughly 1,044 square miles, and 68.8% of residents live in rural areas. Public transportation is limited to the Covington Area Transit System (CATS), a demand-response service.
For someone who no longer drives, a ride to a medical appointment depends on getting safely out the door and down the steps. That is one reason entry steps deserve the same attention as indoor stairs.
Outdoor lifts here face rain, heat and humidity, so weather-rated models and covers matter. Homes near the Conecuh and Yellow rivers or the Conecuh National Forest may also have uneven ground at the foot of the steps, which affects where a lift can land.
Of the county's 20,580 residents, 22.4% are 65 or older.
Homeownership is common, at 67.5% of residents, and 72.7% of the 18,596 housing units counted in the 2020 Census were owner-occupied. Owning the home makes permanent installation simpler and opens the door to programs like USDA repair grants.
The 2020 Census put the county's median household income at $42,566, below the Alabama figure of $52,035. Many families here will want to look at outside help before paying privately.
The first call for most older residents is SARCOA, the Area Agency on Aging that serves Covington County, at (334) 793-6843. SARCOA is the local intake point for the Alabama Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Medicaid HCBS Waiver and other case-managed services.
Veterans should contact the Covington County Veterans Service Office in Andalusia at (334) 428-2687. Be aware that the VA HISA grant does not pay for stair glides, so ask about the other VA grants too. Homeowners 62 and older with very low income can also look at USDA Section 504 grants.
Alabama's largest Medicaid HCBS waiver, for people 65+ or younger if disabled who meet a nursing-facility level of care; Home Modifications is a named service, but this source does not list stair lifts, so confirm with SARCOA or Alabama Medicaid. Call (877) 425-2243.
Helps people living in a Medicaid-certified nursing home move back to the community, with home modifications capped at $5,000 per lifetime; the source says stair lifts are not specifically mentioned. Call (800) 362-1504.
Lists stair lifts, transfer equipment and handrails as approved home modifications for people enrolled in an applicable Alabama Medicaid HCBS waiver, with case management pre-approval required. Call (877) 425-2243 and ask which waiver applies to you.
For adults 18+ with a severe qualifying disability diagnosed before age 63 who need nursing-facility-level care; it includes environmental accessibility adaptations, but the source does not name stair lifts.
The Area Agency on Aging for Covington County residents 60+, offering in-home help and a Neighbors for Seniors ramp program; stair lifts are not listed, but SARCOA is the intake point for Medicaid waivers. Call (334) 793-6843.
Loans up to $40,000 and grants up to $10,000 for very low income rural homeowners, with grants for those 62+ covering accessibility modifications such as ramps; stair lifts are not named on the source reviewed.
Pays for permanent structural changes like ramps and roll-in showers for veterans enrolled in VA health care, but it explicitly excludes stair glides, so it will not cover a stair lift.
Larger VA grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities; the source describes modifications like ramps and wider doorways but does not name stair lifts. Call (800) 827-1000.
The local office at 250 Hillcrest Drive Suite 151 in Andalusia that helps veterans and dependents apply for VA benefits including HISA and SAH/SHA; it does not list a stair lift benefit. Call (334) 428-2687 or (877) 862-5478.
State-run block grant money awarded to local governments, which may fund housing rehabilitation; homeowners cannot apply directly, and stair lifts are not listed. Call (334) 242-0492 to ask whether Covington County, Andalusia or Opp has an active project.
Older adults
170 Fortner Street, Dothan, 36303
Veterans
250 Hillcrest Drive Suite 151, Andalusia, 36420
One Alabama Medicaid HCBS source lists stair lifts as an approved home modification for people enrolled in an applicable waiver, with case management approval. Other waiver sources do not name them, so call SARCOA at (334) 793-6843 to find out which waiver fits.
No. The VA lists stair glides among the removable equipment HISA will not fund. Veterans can ask the Covington County Veterans Service Office at (334) 428-2687 about the SAH, SHA and TRA grants instead.
SARCOA's services start at age 60, but the E&D Waiver accepts people younger than 65 if they are disabled, and the SAIL Waiver covers adults 18+ with a severe qualifying disability diagnosed before age 63.
For entry steps, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift is usually the fit. We look at the steps, the landing area and the ground at the bottom before recommending one.
Covington County is rural, so homeowners 62+ with very low income may qualify for USDA Section 504 grants up to $10,000 for accessibility modifications. Stair lifts are not named on the source reviewed, so confirm before planning on it.
SARCOA's office is at 170 Fortner Street in Dothan, 36303, and it serves Covington County along with six other counties. You can reach it at (334) 793-6843.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
