Forsyth County runs from the Atlanta suburbs up toward the Blue Ridge foothills, with Lake Lanier forming its eastern edge. Most homes here, from Cumming out to the newer subdivisions and golf-course neighborhoods, were built fairly recently, and many of them were built with stairs everywhere: up to the bedrooms, down to the basement, and often up from the garage.
That layout works well for years, then starts to work against the people who bought these homes and planned to stay. This page walks through what Forsyth County houses and lots usually need in a stair lift, and where to look for help paying for one.
The county had 87,581 housing units as of 2020, and a large share are suburban and exurban homes built in the last few decades. Many follow a two-story floor plan with a full run of stairs to the upper level, plus a second stairway down to a finished or unfinished basement.
A straight staircase with no landing is usually the simplest fit for a straight stair lift rail. If the main stairs turn at a landing or curve, a curved rail is built to that exact staircase. Basement stairs are often straight, so some households end up with two lifts of different types in one home.
Split-level homes have short flights between levels, which can mean two or three separate lifts rather than one long one. We look at which levels you actually use every day before recommending anything.
Townhouses tend to have narrow, steep stairs, so we measure width and clearance at the top and bottom closely. In walk-up apartments, the stairs are often shared space, so the building owner usually needs to approve any installation.
Much of Forsyth County is rolling Piedmont hill country. Lakeside and golf-course lots are often graded with sloped yards and entries on more than one level, so the hardest climb may be outside the house or from the garage to the main floor.
Outdoor stair lifts are built to handle weather, and they can run along exterior steps to a front or side door. For garage steps or a steep entry where a seat is not practical, a platform lift may be the better answer. We check the slope, the surface and the power source during the visit.
Household incomes in Forsyth County run high. The county had a 2020 median household income of $112,834, the highest in Georgia. That matters because many older residents earn more than the income limits on Medicaid waiver programs, so veteran benefits, private pay or a nonprofit like disABILITY LINK are often the more realistic routes.
Veterans should start with the VA home adaptation grants listed below and call the Georgia Department of Veterans Service - Gainesville Office at (770) 531-6060. For aging services and referrals, the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission AAA in Oakwood can be reached at (770) 538-2650.
Other statewide options worth asking about include the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP), the Home Access Program, the Credit-Able Loan Program, VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics), the Community Care Services Program (CCSP) and the SOURCE Waiver.
This is the state's directory of waiver programs for elderly or disabled Georgians who need help to keep living at home instead of in a nursing home. The source does not list stair lifts or home modifications under CCSP or SOURCE; call (404) 657-5468 for details.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans and service members with a qualifying service-connected disability to buy, build or change a permanent home. The source does not specifically mention stair lifts, so ask the VA whether your project qualifies.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities, such as some vision loss, loss of both hands, severe burns or respiratory injuries, who own or will own the home they live in. Stair lifts are not mentioned in the source.
For SAH- or SHA-eligible veterans living temporarily in a family member's home, this grant pays up to $50,961 or $9,100 respectively to adapt that home. The source does not mention stair lifts.
A nonprofit Center for Independent Living in Tucker that works with people with disabilities and community partners to fund and complete home modifications. It serves the Metro-Atlanta Area, so call (404) 687-8890 to confirm Forsyth County is covered before applying.
Older adults
4080 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood, 30566
Veterans
311 Green St. NW, Gainesville, 30501
The state's source page does not list stair lifts or home modifications for CCSP or SOURCE. Many Forsyth County households also earn above the income limits for these programs. You can call (404) 657-5468 to ask about your situation.
Usually not. Each staircase needs its own rail, and the main stairs and basement stairs in many two-story Forsyth County homes are in different parts of the house. We measure both and tell you what each would need.
Yes. Outdoor stair lifts are made for exterior steps, and a platform lift can work for garage or entry steps. Sloped lake and golf-course lots are common here, so we plan for them during the visit.
Call the Georgia Department of Veterans Service - Gainesville Office at (770) 531-6060. They can help you look at the SAH, SHA and TRA grants and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics).
The Georgia Mountains Regional Commission AAA, at 4080 Mundy Mill Road in Oakwood, handles aging services for the area. Their number is (770) 538-2650.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
