Walton County runs about 1,038 square miles, from the Gulf of Mexico beaches of South Walton north to the Alabama border near DeFuniak Springs. A trip from Miramar Beach up through Freeport to Paxton crosses two very different kinds of housing, and the stairs inside them are just as different.
Around Lake DeFuniak, the historic district holds nearly 200 historic buildings, many of them two-story Victorian homes with turrets and double verandas. Down on the coast, many houses sit up on stilts with the living space a full flight above the ground. Each type calls for a different kind of lift, so it helps to know which one you are dealing with before you call anyone.
The DeFuniak Springs Historic District has about 40 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, and plenty of the surrounding homes date from the same era. Older two-story houses often have staircases that turn at a landing or wind as they climb. When a staircase changes direction, a straight rail will not work, and a curved rail is built to follow that exact path.
If the stairs run straight from bottom to top with no turns, a straight rail is simpler and goes in faster. We measure the staircase first so the rail matches what is actually there. Lifts mount to the stair treads rather than the wall, which matters in a house where original woodwork is worth keeping.
Along the county's 26 miles of beach, elevated stilt-style cottages and multi-story vacation homes are the norm. That often means the first climb happens outside, from the driveway or ground level up to the front door. An outdoor stair lift with a weather-rated rail and seat can handle those exterior steps.
For someone who uses a wheelchair, a seat on a rail may not be enough. A platform lift carries the chair itself, and it is worth asking about if transferring in and out of a seat is hard. Inside, multi-story homes may need a separate lift on each flight.
Not every home in Walton County is historic or on stilts. Split-level homes have short runs of stairs between levels, and a short straight rail is often all they need. Townhouses usually have one straight or turning flight to the bedrooms.
In walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings, the stairs are often shared, so the building owner or association has to approve any installation. It is a good idea to get that answer in writing before an assessment.
About 24.1 percent of Walton County residents are 65 or older, and 71.6 percent own their homes. Homeowners can generally install a lift without asking a landlord, which makes it a more practical option than moving.
Veterans can get help from the Walton County Veteran Services Office at 76 North 6th Street, Suite B, DeFuniak Springs, phone (850) 892-8140, and the nearest VA clinic is the Eglin Air Force Base VA Clinic in Eglin AFB.
None of the programs available here lists stair lifts by name, and the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. That does not mean there is no help, but it does mean you should ask direct questions before counting on any program.
Florida's Medicaid long-term care program covers home modifications for accessibility, and what that includes depends on the managed care plan. The Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging, based at 5090 Commerce Park Cir., Pensacola, can be reached at (850) 494-7101 to talk through services for people 60 and older. Statewide, it is also worth asking about the FAAST New Horizon Loan Program and the Florida Homestead + Senior Additional Homestead Exemption.
A Medicaid 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; the 2026 limits are $2,982 a month in income and $2,000 in assets for a single applicant. It lists home modifications for accessibility but does not name stair lifts, so call (800) 963-5337 and ask your plan directly.
Serves Walton County residents age 60 and older, along with Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, with services such as housekeeping and home health aides. Its program page does not list home modifications or stair lifts; call (850) 494-7100 for details.
A VA grant for veterans with a service-connected or compensable disability, with a lifetime maximum of $6,800 or $2,000 depending on disability status. Stair glides and porch lifts are explicitly excluded, so it does not cover stair lifts; call (877) 222-8387 with questions.
Older adults
5090 Commerce Park Cir., Pensacola, 32505
Veterans
76 North 6th Street, Suite B, DeFuniak Springs, 32435
Yes. Many Victorian-era two-story homes in the area have stairs that turn, and a curved rail is made to fit that specific staircase. A straight rail only works if the stairs run in one line.
Elevated stilt-style cottages in South Walton usually need a lift on the exterior stairs. An outdoor stair lift works for someone who can sit and transfer, and a platform lift is an option for someone in a wheelchair.
Not through the HISA grant, which lists stair glides and porch lifts as excluded items. The Walton County Veteran Services Office at (850) 892-8140 can help a veteran check other VA benefits.
The SMMC LTC program covers home modifications for accessibility but does not name stair lifts. Coverage varies by managed care plan, so call (800) 963-5337 and ask specifically.
The Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging serves Walton County residents age 60 and older. Its listed services are housekeeping and home health aides rather than home modifications, but you can call (850) 494-7101 to ask what is available.
Yes. We work across Walton County, including Miramar Beach, DeFuniak Springs, Freeport and Paxton.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
