Franklin County covers about 634 square miles of northwest Alabama hill country, with Russellville as the county seat and smaller communities in Red Bay, Phil Campbell, Vina and Hodges. As of the 2020 census, 69.0% of residents lived in rural areas, and part of the William B. Bankhead National Forest lies inside the county line.
That hilly, forested ground shapes the houses here. Sloped lots, raised foundations and multi-level entries are common, so many homes have steps to get in the door and stairs inside. This page walks through what that means for a stair lift and where local families can ask about help paying for one.
A house built on a slope often sits on a raised foundation, which means a run of entry steps before you even reach the front door. Those outside steps can matter as much as the staircase inside.
For exterior steps, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift may be the better fit than a ramp, since a ramp on a hilly lot can need a lot of length. We look at the grade of the yard, the porch and the path to the car before recommending anything.
Housing around Franklin County is mostly single-family and detached, including ranch-style and split-level homes, plus multi-story farmhouse-style construction common in this part of northwest Alabama. Each one raises a different stair question.
A ranch home may only need help at the entry steps. A split-level usually has short flights between levels, and each flight is measured on its own. A straight staircase in an older farmhouse is often a good match for a straight stair lift, while a staircase with a turn or landing calls for a curved rail built to fit.
County-wide 2020 census figures show 13,912 housing units with a 68.1% owner-occupied rate. Owning the home generally makes it simpler to install a rail that attaches to the stair treads.
For a lot of families, that means a parent who wants to stay in a home they have lived in for decades.
Incomes here are modest. 2010-era figures put the county median household income at $33,942 and Russellville's at $25,333, so it makes sense to check every funding option before paying out of pocket.
Most local help starts with NACOLG, the Area Agency on Aging that serves Franklin County. Its Aging & Disability Resource Center at (256) 389-0500 is the single point of entry for Medicaid Waiver intake, Alabama Cares and other services.
None of the program sources we reviewed name stair lifts as a covered item. Several do cover home modifications in general terms, such as Alabama Cares and the ACT Waiver, so ask directly whether a stair lift can count. The VA HISA grant states that stair glides are not covered.
Statewide, you can also ask about the Alabama Ability Loan Program (STAR / Southern Disability Foundation) and the Alabama Senior / Disabled Homestead Exemption (H-2 / H-3). The program list below gives the details we have on each local and state option.
Counseling, case management and referral for adults 60 and older, adults with disabilities and their caregivers in Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Marion and Winston counties. The source does not mention stair lifts or home modifications, so call (256) 389-0500 to ask about home-modification referrals.
Local intake for in-home services such as homemaker help, personal care, respite care and frozen meals for people who meet financial and medical criteria as an alternative to a nursing home. Stair lifts and home modifications are not listed; call (256) 389-0523.
Support for family caregivers of someone 60 or older, or with Alzheimer's or dementia, that funds minor home modifications, assistive technology and other items. Stair lifts are not named specifically, so confirm with NACOLG at (256) 389-0500.
A Medicaid waiver for people moving from a nursing facility back home, covering physical adaptations of the home up to $15,000 per participant, with state coordinator approval above that. Stair lifts are not named; call (800) 243-5463.
Covers environmental accessibility adaptations such as ramps, grab bars, doorway widening and bathroom changes for Medicaid-eligible adults and children with intellectual disabilities. Stair lifts are not among the listed examples; call (800) 243-5463.
For adults 18 and older with disabilities and specific medical diagnoses who would otherwise qualify for nursing-facility care, and it lists environmental accessibility adaptations as a service. Stair lifts are not named; call (800) 243-5463.
Provides personal care, homemaker, respite, adult day health, companion services and frozen meals for people at risk of nursing facility placement, with local entry through NACOLG. Home modifications and stair lifts are not listed; call (800) 243-5463.
A VA grant for medically necessary home improvements, with a $6,800 lifetime maximum for service-connected disabilities and $2,000 for other cases. It does not cover stair glides or porch lifts; call (800) 827-1000.
Grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026, for changes like ramps and wider doorways. Stair lifts are not mentioned by name; call (800) 827-1000.
Helps Franklin County veterans and dependents apply for VA benefits, including HISA and SAH/SHA, at 410 Jackson Avenue North in Russellville. No stair-lift-specific benefit is listed; call (256) 332-8845.
Older adults
P.O. Box 2603, Muscle Shoals, 35662
Veterans
410 Jackson Avenue North, Russellville, 35653
Start with the NACOLG Aging & Disability Resource Center at (256) 389-0500. It handles intake for Medicaid Waiver services and Alabama Cares for Franklin County and can point you to other programs.
The VA HISA grant states that stair glides are not covered. The SAH and SHA grants cover home adaptations for certain severe service-connected disabilities, but the VA page does not name stair lifts, so ask the Franklin County Veterans Affairs Office at (256) 332-8845.
Yes, some programs are not age-based. The SAIL Medicaid Waiver serves adults 18 and older with qualifying disabilities, and the ID Waiver serves adults and children. Call (800) 243-5463 to ask about eligibility.
Not according to the source we reviewed. It lists personal care, homemaker, respite, adult day health, companion services and frozen meals, but not home modifications or stair lifts.
Often, yes. Raised foundations and sloped lots are common in Franklin County, and an outdoor stair lift or platform lift can handle entry steps. We measure the steps and the approach before recommending a type.
The Franklin County Veterans Affairs Office is at 410 Jackson Avenue North, Russellville, AL 35653. The phone number is (256) 332-8845.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
