From Roanoke and Wedowee to Wadley, Woodland and Rock Mills, Randolph County sits in the rolling hills of Alabama's Piedmont Upland. Many homes here were built on sloped lots, and the houses along Lake Wedowee often have raised entries, walkout basements or living space spread over more than one level.
That layout is lovely until the stairs start to feel like a wall. About 20.1% of county residents are 65 or older, and many of them want to stay in the home they know. A stair lift is often the simplest way to keep every floor in use, and this page walks through what fits local homes and where to look for help paying for one.
Most housing here is single-family homes, along with ranch-style homes, split-level homes and some low-rise buildings. Each one puts different demands on a lift.
A ranch-style home may only have a few steps at the front or back door, which can point toward an outdoor lift or a platform lift rather than an indoor model. A split-level home usually has short flights between levels, and if a flight turns, a curved rail is built to follow it. A single straight run of stairs to a second floor or basement is the easiest and most common install.
Lake Wedowee was formed when Alabama Power completed the R.L. Harris Dam on the Upper Tallapoosa River in 1983. Its 10,000 acres and more than 270 miles of shoreline have drawn retirees and second-home owners, many from the Atlanta metro area.
Lakefront and hillside lots tend to produce walkout basements, raised entries and multi-level interiors. That can mean an indoor lift for the basement stairs plus an outdoor lift for the steps down to the yard or dock path. Outdoor units are built for weather, but the slope and footing still need to be checked in person before choosing one.
Randolph County covers about 585 square miles, and its hilly terrain and spread-out towns mean longer drives for in-home service providers. It is worth planning a lift with that in mind.
Ask about service and maintenance before you buy, not after. A straight lift on a single flight has fewer parts to adjust than a custom curved rail, which can matter when a technician has a long drive to reach you.
VA housing grants can help with some accessibility changes, but the rules on stair lifts are strict, so read the program notes below carefully.
The Randolph County Veterans Service Office is at One Main Street Rm 208 in Wedowee and can be reached at (256) 357-4775. Staff there can help a veteran sort out which VA benefits apply.
No single program here is a simple stair lift voucher. Funding usually comes through a Medicaid waiver plan of care, a home repair program, a loan, or a VA grant, and each has its own income, age or disability rules.
For older adults, the Area Agency on Aging of East Alabama is the usual first call, since it handles referrals to Medicaid waiver programs such as E&D. Homeowners with low incomes can also look at USDA Section 504 and the local Community Action Agency. The programs listed below explain what each one says about stair lifts and home modifications.
Alabama's main Medicaid waiver for adults 65 and older, or younger if disabled, who need nursing-facility level care; 2026 limits are $2,982/month in income and $2,000 in assets for a single applicant. Home Modifications are listed as a benefit but stair lifts are not named, so call (877) 425-2243 to confirm what is covered.
Home modification services under the State of Alabama Community Waiver Program, the ID Waiver and the LAH Waiver, with stair lifts listed among covered items. These waivers are for people with an intellectual-disability diagnosis, not the general senior population; call (800) 362-1504 to confirm eligibility.
The regional information, referral, benefits counseling and case management office for adults 60 and older and adults with disabilities, and the place Randolph County residents start for the E&D Waiver. It does not list a stair lift program of its own; call (800) 243-5463.
Rural repair help for very-low-income homeowners: 1% loans up to $20,000, grants up to $7,500 for homeowners 62 and older who cannot repay a loan, or up to $27,500 combined. Stair lifts are not named, and current caps may be higher, so confirm with USDA Rural Development through its office locator.
Local home repair help for households below 125% of federal poverty guidelines with an urgent housing need or active weatherization services, covering items such as steps, ramps, doors and floor repairs. Stair lifts are not named; call (256) 645-4999.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 lifetime for service-connected disabilities (or a combined rating of at least 50%) and $2,000 for other qualifying disabilities. Stair glides and porch lifts are explicitly excluded, though permanent ramps and roll-in showers are covered.
Grants for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026, to build or remodel a home for accessibility. Stair lifts are not named on the official VA page; apply with VA Form 26-4555 through the nearest VA Regional Loan Center.
A Birmingham-based center for independent living that serves Randolph County and offers a Home Modification service plus peer support and referrals. Stair lift coverage is not spelled out, so call (205) 251-2223 to ask.
Older adults
1130 Quintard Ave., Suite 300, Anniston, 36202
Veterans
One Main Street Rm 208, Wedowee, 36278
It depends on the waiver. The E&D Waiver lists Home Modifications but does not name stair lifts, so ask the Area Agency on Aging of East Alabama at (800) 243-5463. Stair lifts are listed under the Community Waiver, ID and LAH waivers, which serve people with an intellectual-disability diagnosis.
No. The VA excludes stair glides and porch lifts from HISA. Veterans can still use HISA for permanent ramps or roll-in showers, and the Randolph County Veterans Service Office in Wedowee at (256) 357-4775 can help with other VA options.
Yes, in some cases. The E&D Waiver accepts people younger than 65 if they are disabled, and Disability Rights & Resources serves people with disabilities in Randolph County regardless of age.
Often two pieces: an indoor lift for the basement stairs and an outdoor lift or platform lift for exterior steps. Hillside lots around Lake Wedowee vary a lot, so the slope and stair shape need to be measured at the house.
Only for the grant. Grants up to $7,500 are for homeowners 62 and older who cannot repay a loan, while loans up to $20,000 go to very-low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas.
TCRCC Home Repair Assistance covers steps and ramps for households below 125% of federal poverty guidelines, but it does not name stair lifts. Call (256) 645-4999 to ask what they can do for your home.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
