Washington County does not fit the flat Florida picture. Its 616 square miles of Panhandle land roll through hills, ravines and creek valleys, and Falling Waters State Park holds the tallest waterfall in Florida, a 73-foot drop into a sinkhole. Homes in Chipley, Vernon, Wausau, Caryville and Ebro sit on that uneven ground, and many have more steps than people expect.
In Chipley, the South Third Street Historic District keeps 13 late-19th and early-20th-century homes, including the 1898 Butler residence, that are counted among the best examples of Queen Anne Victorian architecture in Florida. Across the rest of the county you will find single-family homes, ranch-style homes and split-level homes. This page walks through what each of those means for a stair lift and where to look for help paying for one.
The houses along South Third Street were built as freestanding two-story farmhouses before the neighborhood filled in around them. A two-story home means a full flight of stairs between the main floor and the bedrooms, and that is where a stair lift does its most important work.
If the staircase runs in one straight line from bottom to top, a straight rail is the simpler and quicker install. If it turns, has a landing partway up or curves, the rail has to be custom bent to match those stairs. We measure every step and turn before recommending one or the other.
Historic homes can also have narrow stairways and original woodwork. The rail mounts to the stair treads rather than the wall, so the banister and walls can usually stay as they are. We check clearance at the top and bottom so the seat can fold and park out of the way.
A ranch-style home is often all on one floor, but that does not always mean no stairs. Entry steps, a porch or a drop down to a garage can still be hard to manage, and a short outdoor lift or a platform lift may be the better fit there.
Split-level homes are a different case. They have short flights between levels, sometimes in more than one spot in the house. One lift may cover the flight used most, or a person may need more than one run, depending on where the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen sit.
Because the land here rises and falls, a lot of houses in Washington County are set on slopes, with steps leading from the driveway or yard up to the door. Those outside steps can be the real barrier to getting in and out of the house.
Outdoor stair lifts are built to handle sun and rain and come with covers for the seat. For someone who uses a wheelchair, a platform lift that carries the chair itself can work where a seated lift will not. We look at the full path from the car to the front door, not just the indoor stairs.
About 16.1% of residents are 65 or older, and 65.5% of households own their homes. Homeowners can install a lift without asking anyone's permission, which makes planning simpler for older owners and the adult children helping them.
If a veteran lives in the home, it is worth talking with the county's Veterans' Service Office in Chipley before buying anything, so you know which VA benefits apply and which do not.
No single program in the county is confirmed to pay for stair lifts, so expect to make a few calls. Florida's Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program has a home accessibility benefit, but whether it covers a stair lift is not confirmed and is decided case by case by the plan.
The local Area Agency on Aging can point you to services for people 60 and over. Advantage Aging Solutions (PSA 2) is at 2414 Mahan Dr. in Tallahassee, phone (850) 488-0055. Other statewide options to ask about include the FAAST New Horizon Loan Program and the Florida Homestead + Senior Additional Homestead Exemption.
For veterans, the Veterans' Service Office is at 1331 South Blvd in Chipley, phone (850) 638-6140. The nearest VA facility listed is the Marianna VA Clinic in Marianna. Details on each program are below.
A Florida Medicaid long-term care benefit for people 65 and older, or 18 and older with a qualifying disability, who meet nursing-facility level of care and Medicaid financial limits. Stair lift coverage is unknown; the official text names items like grab bars and excludes major changes, so any approval is case by case through the plan. Call (877) 711-3662.
An information and referral line serving a 14-county area that includes Washington County, for residents 60 and over and adults with disabilities. Stair lifts and home modifications are not listed among its services, so confirm by calling (800) 510-2020.
A federal VA grant for veterans with a service-connected or qualifying non-service-connected condition who need structural changes to their home. HISA does not cover stair lifts, though it may help with other changes; the Veterans' Service Office in Chipley at (850) 638-6140 can explain options.
Older adults
2414 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee, 32308
Veterans
1331 South Blvd, Chipley, 32428
The VA HISA grant does not cover stair lifts or stair glides. Call the Veterans' Service Office in Chipley at (850) 638-6140 to ask about other VA benefits, including the Prosthetics side of VA benefits listed among Florida's statewide options.
It is not confirmed. The SMMC LTC Home Accessibility Adaptation benefit names grab bars and specialized toilet seats and excludes major changes, so a stair lift would need case-by-case approval from the plan. Call (877) 711-3662 to ask.
The Area Agency on Aging serves adults with disabilities as well as people 60 and over, and SMMC LTC is open to people 18 and older with a qualifying disability who meet its other rules. Eligibility differs by program, so ask when you call.
Usually, yes. The rail attaches to the stair treads, not the walls, so original woodwork can stay. If the staircase turns or has a landing, it will need a custom curved rail instead of a straight one.
An outdoor stair lift is built for weather and can run along entry steps. If the person uses a wheelchair, a platform lift that carries the chair may be the better choice. We measure the outdoor steps along with any indoor stairs.
Advantage Aging Solutions (PSA 2) is at 2414 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee, 32308. The phone number is (850) 488-0055, and the information and assistance line is (800) 510-2020.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
