Collier County runs from the beachfront in Naples and Marco Island out through Golden Gate, Immokalee, Ave Maria and down to Chokoloskee and Everglades. Across 21 towns and communities, the homes change a lot. Many older Naples houses are single-story ranch homes, while Marco Island and the barrier and beachfront areas have two- and three-story elevated coastal houses.
Those raised houses exist for a reason. FEMA flood rules push living space above ground level in much of the coast, which puts a staircase between the driveway and the kitchen. For someone whose knees or balance are slipping, that staircase decides whether staying home is realistic. This page walks through how local homes affect the choice of lift and where to look for help paying for one.
FEMA's 2024 coastal Flood Insurance Rate Maps place beachfront Naples and Gulf-facing Marco Island in high-hazard Zone VE, where storm surge and wave action are both expected. Much of the rest of the developed coast falls in Zone AE. Homes in these zones are often built on pilings or raised foundations.
In a two- or three-story elevated house, the main stairs are usually interior and often run straight, which suits a straight stair lift. If the staircase turns at a landing or wraps around, a curved lift built to that stair is the usual answer.
When the climb starts outside, from the ground up to a raised front door, an outdoor lift or a platform lift is worth a look. We measure both inside and outside stairs before recommending anything, since one home can need more than one solution.
Plenty of Naples homes are single-story ranch houses, and for those a stair lift inside may not be needed at all. The trouble spots tend to be a few entry steps, and a short platform lift can handle those, especially for someone using a wheelchair or walker.
Split-level homes bring short runs of stairs between levels, and each run gets looked at on its own. Townhouses in communities like Lely Resort, Verona Walk or Heritage Bay usually have one full flight, often a good fit for a straight lift. Walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings can involve shared stairwells, so the building owner or association typically has to sign off before anything is installed.
About 33.5% of Collier County residents are 65 or older, and roughly 69.5% of homes are owner-occupied. That is a large group of people living in houses they own and want to stay in, which is exactly where a stair lift tends to make sense.
The Naples VA Clinic, part of the VA Bay Pines Health Care System, serves the area, and Collier County Veteran Services in Naples can help veterans sort out which VA benefits apply.
Most people here pay privately, but it is worth checking programs before buying. Florida's Medicaid long-term care program includes home accessibility adaptations, though stair lifts are not named in its official materials, so coverage depends on the specific managed-care plan.
The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida runs Community Care for the Elderly services for adults 60 and older in Collier County. Whether those funds can go toward a stair lift is unclear, so an assessment call is the place to start. For veterans, note that the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair lifts.
Florida's statewide programs also include the FAAST New Horizon Loan Program and the Florida Homestead + Senior Additional Homestead Exemption. Ask the aging office whether either fits your situation. Details on each county program are listed below.
A Medicaid long-term care service for people 65+ (or 18+ with a disability) who need nursing-facility level of care; it covers home changes like grab bars, but stair lifts are not listed, so confirm with your managed-care plan. The Elder Helpline is (800) 963-5337.
State-funded in-home and community services for functionally impaired adults 60+ at risk of nursing-home placement in Collier and nearby counties; stair lift coverage is unknown. Call the Elder Helpline at (866) 413-5337 to request an assessment.
A VA grant for enrolled veterans with a medical need for home changes such as roll-in showers or permanent entry ramps. It does not cover stair lifts, stair glides or porch and platform lifts.
Older adults
2830 Winkler Ave, Ste. 112, Fort Myers, 33916
Veterans
2671 Airport Road South, 2nd Floor, Suite 202, Naples, 34112
Maybe, but it is not guaranteed. The SMMC LTC program covers home accessibility adaptations, yet its official pages do not name stair lifts. Coverage is decided by your managed-care plan with prior authorization, so ask the plan directly or call the Elder Helpline at (800) 963-5337.
No. HISA lists stair lifts and stair glides among items it does not cover. Collier County Veteran Services at (239) 252-8387 can help you look at other VA benefits.
Community Care for the Elderly serves functionally impaired adults 60 and older at risk of nursing-home placement. It is unclear whether it pays for stair lifts, so call (866) 413-5337 for an assessment.
Often, yes. Outdoor stair lifts and platform lifts are built for exterior steps, and we check the stair layout and exposure during the in-home visit before recommending one.
The AAA for Southwest Florida (PSA 8) is at 2830 Winkler Ave, Ste. 112, Fort Myers, 33916. Their phone is (239) 652-6900.
It depends on the building. Shared stairwells usually need approval from the owner or association, so check with them before scheduling a measurement.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
