St. Johns County runs from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to the St. Johns River on the west. In between sit 13 communities, from the old streets of St. Augustine to Nocatee, Fruit Cove, World Golf Village and the farm town of Hastings. The homes vary just as much, and that variety decides which stair lift will work.
A two-story coquina-and-wood house near the historic district needs a different plan than a newer single-family home in Palm Valley or a townhouse in St. Augustine Shores. This page explains what we look for in each kind of home and which local programs are worth a phone call before you pay out of pocket.
St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European-founded city in the U.S., and the county has 56 properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places. Spanish colonial buildings such as the Llambias House and the Gonzalez-Alvarez House ('Oldest House') show the local style: coquina and wood, with stairways inside and out.
Older stairways like these are often narrow, uneven or turn partway up. That usually points to a curved rail built to the exact shape of the stairs. When the only stairway is on the outside of the house, an outdoor stair lift made for weather is the better fit.
Outside the historic district, most building is newer and single-family. About 72.2% of housing units in the county are detached single-family homes, common in places like Nocatee, Fruit Cove and World Golf Village.
Many of these homes have one straight run of stairs to a second floor, which is the simplest and quickest install. Townhouses and split-level homes can have short flights or landings, so we measure each section before recommending a straight or curved rail.
The county also has walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings. In shared stairways, a lift usually needs the owner or association to sign off before anything is installed, so ask early.
Homes near the coast, in towns such as St. Augustine Beach, Butler Beach and Crescent Beach, sometimes have raised entries with exterior steps. An outdoor lift can handle a long flight. For a short rise where someone uses a wheelchair, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat.
About 22.5% of St. Johns County residents are 65 or older, and 81.7% of households own their home. Owners can make changes to their stairs without a landlord's approval, which makes a lift a practical way to stay in a familiar house.
The Leo C. Chase Jr. VA Clinic is in St. Augustine, and the county Veterans' Services office can explain what VA benefits do and do not pay for.
No single program here is known to pay for stair lifts outright, but a few are worth checking. Florida's Medicaid long-term care program covers home modifications for accessibility without naming stair lifts, and ElderSource handles home modification referrals for people 60 and older.
The VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides, so veterans should not count on it for a lift. Other statewide options to ask about include the FAAST New Horizon Loan Program and the Florida Homestead + Senior Additional Homestead Exemption. Details on each program are below.
A Medicaid long-term care benefit for people 65 and older (or 18 and older with a disability) who need a nursing facility level of care through a CARES assessment; it lists home modifications for accessibility but does not name stair lifts. The 2026 limits are $2,982 a month in income and $2,000 in assets for a single applicant; call (800) 963-5337.
The Area Agency on Aging for St. Johns County residents 60 and older, offering services that include minor home repair and home modification referrals. It is unknown whether stair lifts are covered; call the Elder Helpline at (904) 391-6699.
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 status. Stair lifts are not covered, since the exclusion list names porch lifts and stair glides; call (877) 222-8387.
Older adults
10688 Old St. Augustine Rd., Jacksonville, 32257
Veterans
200 San Sebastian View, Suite 1400, St. Augustine, 32084
Often, yes. Older stairways tend to be narrow or turning, so a custom curved rail is common, and exterior stairways call for an outdoor model. We look at the stairs in person before recommending anything.
Not through the HISA grant, which lists stair glides and porch lifts as excluded items. For questions about other VA benefits, call the county Veterans' Services office at (904) 209-6160, 200 San Sebastian View, Suite 1400, St. Augustine.
The SMMC LTC program covers home modifications for accessibility but does not name stair lifts. Coverage depends on the managed care plan and the person's care plan, so call (800) 963-5337 to ask.
ElderSource serves residents 60 and older and makes home modification referrals. Call the Elder Helpline at (904) 391-6699 or the office at (904) 391-6600, 10688 Old St. Augustine Rd., Jacksonville.
We work across the county, including Fruit Cove, Nocatee, World Golf Village, Palm Valley, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Shores, St. Augustine Beach, St. Augustine South, Sawgrass, Butler Beach, Flagler Estates, Crescent Beach and Hastings.
An outdoor stair lift is built for exterior stairs. For a short rise with a wheelchair user, a platform lift may be the better choice.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
