From the barrier-island beaches of Vero Beach to Fellsmere, Roseland and Vero Lake Estates on the mainland, Indian River County covers about 502.6 square miles of Florida's Treasure Coast. The Indian River Lagoon splits the county in two, and the homes on each side are just as varied, from beachside places in Indian River Shores and Wabasso Beach to subdivisions in Sebastian and the West Vero Corridor.
Plenty of homes here are single story, but many are not. Two-story houses in newer subdivisions like Venetian Grove, split-level homes, townhouses and walk-up apartments all have stairs that can become the hardest part of the day. This page walks through how a stair lift fits these homes and where to ask about help with the cost.
Indian River County has long drawn retirees. About 33.0% of residents are 65 or older, and the median age is 55.6, which is notably older than state and national averages.
Most people also own the home they live in. The homeownership rate is 78.2%, so a stair lift is often a way to keep living in a house you already own and know, instead of moving to a one-story place.
About 65.9% of housing units in the county are detached single-family homes. In a two-story house with one straight flight, a straight stair lift is usually the simplest choice. It mounts to the treads, not the wall, and runs on a single rail.
Split-level homes and townhouses are different. A split-level often has short flights with a landing, and a townhouse stair may turn as it climbs. If the stair turns or has a landing in the middle, a curved rail built to that staircase is usually needed.
Single-story villas in retirement communities such as Indian River Estates and Hampton Park may have no inside stairs at all. In those homes the question is usually a few steps at an entry, which is where an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift comes in.
Walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings often have shared stairs. Before anything is installed on a common stairway, the building owner or association usually needs to approve it, so that conversation should come first.
Outside steps to a front door, porch or raised entry can be handled with an outdoor-rated stair lift. For a wheelchair user who cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift is the better fit. We look at the steps, the landing space and the path to the door before recommending either one.
No program below promises to pay for a stair lift, so it helps to know what each one actually says. Florida's Medicaid long-term care program lists home accessibility adaptation as a benefit without naming stair lifts. The Area Agency on Aging of Palm Beach/Treasure Coast serves people 60 and older and can point you to current referrals.
The VA HISA grant excludes stair glides by name, but Indian River County Veterans Services at 2525 St. Lucie Avenue, Vero Beach, (772) 226-1395, can talk through other VA benefits, including prosthetics. The Indian River VA Clinic is also in Vero Beach.
Statewide, it is also worth asking about the FAAST New Horizon Loan Program and the Florida Homestead + Senior Additional Homestead Exemption.
A Medicaid managed long-term care benefit for people 65 and older (or 18 and older with a disability) who meet nursing facility level of care through a CARES assessment, with a 2026 income limit of $2,982/mo and an asset limit of $2,000 for a single applicant. Home accessibility adaptation is covered, but stair lifts are not named; call (877) 711-3662.
Older Americans Act services for Indian River County residents age 60 and older; whether stair lifts are covered is unknown, and no dedicated home modification program page was found. Call the helpline at (866) 684-5885 for current minor-repair referrals.
A VA grant for structural home changes for veterans with a service-connected or compensable disability, with a lifetime maximum of $6,800 or $2,000 depending on disability rating. It does not cover stair lifts, since stair glides and porch lifts are on its exclusion list; call (877) 222-8387.
Older adults
701 Northpoint Parkway, Ste. 115, West Palm Beach, 33407
Veterans
2525 St. Lucie Avenue, Vero Beach, 32960
The SMMC LTC program lists home accessibility adaptation as a covered benefit but does not name stair lifts. Coverage varies by managed care plan and individual care plan, so call (877) 711-3662 to ask.
No. The HISA exclusion list names stair glides and porch lifts. Indian River County Veterans Services at (772) 226-1395 can help you look at other VA benefits.
The Area Agency on Aging of Palm Beach/Treasure Coast serves Indian River County residents 60 and older. It does not list a stair lift program, but its helpline at (866) 684-5885 can share current minor-repair referrals.
The Area Agency on Aging of Palm Beach/Treasure Coast (PSA 9) is at 701 Northpoint Parkway, Ste. 115, West Palm Beach, 33407. Its phone number is (561) 684-5885.
Yes, in most cases. A stair that turns or has a landing usually needs a curved rail made for that staircase rather than a straight one.
For a few outside steps, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can work. A platform lift is the choice if the person uses a wheelchair and cannot move to a seat.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
