Martin County runs from the barrier-island beaches of Hutchinson Island, across the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Lucie River estuary, out to farmland in the west around Indiantown. In between are 11 towns, including Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Port Salerno, Hobe Sound and Sewall's Point, each with its own mix of houses and stairs.
Homes here include single-family houses, townhouses, split-level homes, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings. This page walks through what those layouts mean for a stair lift, and which local and state programs are worth a phone call when it comes to paying for one.
A townhouse with one straight flight between floors is usually the simplest job. A straight rail runs from the bottom step to the top, and the chair folds up against the wall when nobody is using it.
Split-level homes are different. They tend to have short runs of stairs with landings or turns, so a curved rail built to fit that exact staircase is often the answer. We measure on site before recommending one.
Walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings bring a separate question: who owns the stairs. If the stairway is shared, the building owner or association will need to approve any installation before work can start.
Downtown Stuart was largely built between the 1880s and 1930s, and its buildings mix Victorian, Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival, Tudor Revival and Beaux Arts styles. Landmarks like the Old Martin County Courthouse, the France Apartments, the Crary House and the Lyric Theater show how varied that era was.
Stairs in older houses can be narrow, steep or uneven compared with newer construction. That does not rule out a stair lift, but it makes a careful in-home measurement more important. Rails mount to the stair treads rather than the walls, which helps protect original woodwork and plaster.
With about 21 miles of Atlantic shoreline and homes along the lagoon and river, plenty of Martin County properties have exterior steps to a front door, porch or dock path. An outdoor stair lift is built with weather-resistant parts and a cover for the seat.
If the problem is a few entry steps for someone who uses a wheelchair, a platform lift may make more sense than a chair. We can talk through both options at the same visit.
About 29.8% of Martin County residents are 65 or older, and 77.6% of households own their home. For most families, that means the question is not whether they can change the house, but which change fits it best.
The Stuart VA Clinic serves veterans locally, and the Martin County Veterans Services Office in Stuart can help sort out which VA benefits apply.
No program in Martin County promises to pay for a stair lift outright, so it helps to know what each one actually says. Florida's SMMC LTC program has a home accessibility benefit, but stair lifts are not confirmed in its official text and approval is case by case through the plan.
The Area Agency on Aging of Palm Beach/Treasure Coast is a good first call for residents 60 and older or adults with disabilities, since it handles referrals to local services. The VA HISA grant pays for some home structural changes but does not cover stair lifts.
Other statewide options worth asking about include the FAAST New Horizon Loan Program and the Florida Homestead + Senior Additional Homestead Exemption. Details on each are below.
A Medicaid managed care benefit for people 65+ (or 18+ with a qualifying disability) who meet nursing-facility level of care and financial limits; stair lift coverage is unknown, since the official text names items like grab bars and excludes major changes, so treat it as a case-by-case plan decision. Call (877) 711-3662.
An information and referral helpline for Martin County residents 60 and older and adults with disabilities; stair lift and home modification coverage is not listed in its materials, so confirm by phone. Call (866) 684-5885.
A federal VA grant for veterans with a qualifying condition who need structural changes to their home. HISA does not cover stair lifts, so it is better suited to other modifications.
Older adults
701 Northpoint Parkway, Ste. 115, West Palm Beach, 33407
Veterans
2401 SE Monterey Road, Stuart, 34996
Possibly, but not reliably. The SMMC LTC Home Accessibility Adaptation benefit does not explicitly confirm stair lifts, and any approval is made case by case by the plan. Call (877) 711-3662 to ask about your situation.
No. HISA does not cover stair lifts or stair glides. The Martin County Veterans Services Office at (772) 288-5448, 2401 SE Monterey Road in Stuart, can help you look at other VA benefits.
The Area Agency on Aging serves adults with disabilities as well as people 60 and older. SMMC LTC also covers adults 18 and older with a qualifying disability who meet its other requirements.
Usually, yes. Split-level stairs often have short flights and landings, which typically calls for a curved rail made to fit your staircase. An in-home measurement tells us what will work.
The helpline is (866) 684-5885. The office, AAA of Palm Beach/Treasure Coast (PSA 9), is at 701 Northpoint Parkway, Ste. 115, West Palm Beach 33407, phone (561) 684-5885.
Yes. Outdoor stair lifts use weather-resistant parts and come with a seat cover. For a few entry steps and a wheelchair user, a platform lift may be the better fit.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
