Duval County holds a lot of different houses under one government. Jacksonville and the county have been a consolidated city-county since 1968, and the beach towns of Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach, along with Baldwin, run as their own municipalities. That mix shows up on the stairs: tall older homes in Riverside, Avondale and Springfield, long rows of single-story ranch subdivisions, and multi-story condos along the coast.
Because the housing stock is so varied, there is no single answer for a Duval County home. A ranch house may only need help with a few steps at the garage or back door, while a historic two-story in Springfield may need a full rail up a narrow staircase. This page walks through what each kind of home usually calls for and which programs can help with the bill.
The historic homes in Riverside, Avondale and Springfield are often built on more than one floor, with the bedrooms upstairs. If the staircase runs in one straight line, a straight stair lift is usually the simplest and quickest install.
Many older staircases turn at a landing or wind near the top. Those need a curved lift, with a rail shaped to that specific staircase. We measure on site before quoting, since no two older staircases are quite alike.
A lot of suburban Duval County is single-story ranch housing. Inside, there may be no stairs at all, but the steps from the garage, the back patio or the front entry can still be a problem for someone with weak knees or balance trouble. A short straight lift or an outdoor lift can cover those spots.
Split-level homes and townhouses are different. Split-levels have several short flights between levels, and townhouses often stack living space over two or three floors. In both cases it is worth deciding which flight matters most for daily life, such as the one to the bedroom and bathroom, before choosing a lift.
In Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach, many people live in multi-story condos, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings. When the stairs are inside your own unit, a stair lift works much like it does in a house.
Shared stairwells are another matter. A lift on common stairs usually needs approval from the building or association, and there may be space rules for the stairway. For outside stairs or a porch, an outdoor lift or a platform lift may be a better fit than an indoor model.
Around 58.0% of residents own their homes, which matters because owners can usually install a lift without asking a landlord.
Renters in walk-up apartments should talk with their landlord first. Some programs also require that the home be your primary residence, as the VA does.
Medicare is not on the list below, so look first at Florida and local programs. Florida's Medicaid long-term care plan can approve home accessibility changes case by case, and the state's Home Care for the Elderly program and ElderSource both fund home modifications for people who qualify.
For veterans, the VA HISA grant does not pay for stair lifts, but the VA Prosthetics service or the SAH/SHA grants can. The county's Veterans Services office at (904) 255-5550 can help sort out which route fits. Florida also lists the FAAST New Horizon Loan Program and the Florida Homestead plus Senior Additional Homestead Exemption as statewide resources worth asking about.
A Florida Medicaid managed-care benefit for adults 18 and older who meet nursing-facility level of care and are enrolled in an LTC plan. Stair lift coverage is decided case by case in the care plan; call (877) 711-3662.
A state program for people 60 and older living with an approved adult caregiver, paying a basic subsidy of $160/month plus special subsidies that can fund ramps and home accessibility modifications. Stair lifts are not specifically named; call (800) 963-5337.
The local aging agency for Duval and six nearby counties, serving people generally 60 and older or adults with a disability, with minor home repair and home modifications among its services. Stair lifts are not named as a covered item; call (904) 391-6699.
A lifetime VA grant of $6,800 for service-connected or 50%+ rated veterans and $2,000 for non-service-connected veterans, for medically necessary home-access changes. It does not cover stair lifts or porch and platform lifts; those go through VA Prosthetics/PSAS or the SAH/SHA grant.
Older adults
10688 Old St. Augustine Rd., Jacksonville, 32257
Veterans
117 W. Duval Street, Suite 175, Jacksonville, 32202
Yes, possibly. The SMMC LTC benefit starts at age 18 for people who meet Medicaid and level-of-care rules, and ElderSource also serves adults living with a disability.
It can, but it is not automatic. Under SMMC LTC Home Accessibility Adaptation, a stair lift is decided case by case in your care plan with approval from your managed care plan. Call (877) 711-3662 to start.
No. HISA specifically excludes stair lifts and porch or platform lifts. Ask about VA Prosthetics/PSAS or the SAH/SHA grant instead, and call Veterans Services at (904) 255-5550 for help. The Jacksonville 1 VA Clinic and the Jacksonville North VA Clinic and Domiciliary are local VA sites.
ElderSource (PSA 4) is at 10688 Old St. Augustine Rd., Jacksonville 32257. The office number is (904) 391-6600.
If the stairs are inside your unit, usually yes. For shared stairwells or outside stairs, you will likely need building or association approval, and an outdoor or platform lift may fit better.
Sometimes. Even a single-story ranch can have steps at the garage, porch or patio, and a short straight or outdoor lift can handle those.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
