Franklin County sits in the northeast corner of Georgia, where the Piedmont rolls up toward Lake Hartwell. Across Lavonia, Royston, Gumlog, Franklin Springs, Canon and Carnesville, houses are built into hillsides, and that often means a basement level, a raised porch or a split floor plan.
For many families here, the stairs are the one part of the house that stops working first. A stair lift can keep a parent on the main floor and the upper floor without a move. This page covers what kind of lift fits the homes we see in the county and where to look for help paying for one.
The county covers 266 square miles of hilly Piedmont land, with several miles of shoreline on Lake Hartwell. Builders on sloped lots tend to add levels instead of spreading out, so a lot of local houses have stairs somewhere inside or outside.
Most of what we measure are single-family homes and detached houses. That matters because owners can make a permanent change, like bolting a rail to the stair treads, without asking a landlord.
Ranch-style homes usually keep daily living on one floor, but many have a straight flight down to a basement or laundry area. A straight stair lift is the simplest fit there, and it is often the quickest to install.
Split-level homes are different. They have short runs of stairs between several landings, and sometimes a turn. Depending on the layout, that can call for a curved rail that follows the turn, or separate straight lifts on each short run.
Entry steps on a sloped yard are another common problem. An outdoor stair lift built for weather can handle porch or deck steps, and a platform lift can be an option when someone needs to stay in a wheelchair.
Franklin County is entirely rural, with a small-town feel spread across five cities and one town. Families here tend to stay put, and long-time homeowners are the ones most likely to want to age in place.
If that includes someone in your family, it is worth checking VA benefits before you pay out of pocket, though the rules on stair lifts vary by grant, as noted below.
No single program here is set up just to buy stair lifts. The clearest path is the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP), which lists home modifications as a covered service for Medicaid recipients age 21 to 64 who meet its disability rules.
For older adults, start with Legacy Link, the Area Agency on Aging that serves Franklin County, and ask about in-home services. For people with disabilities of any age, the Disability Resource Center in Demorest is also the place to apply for the state Home Access Program.
Veterans should know that the VA HISA grant does not pay for stair glides. The Veterans Field Service Office in Demorest at (706) 894-1049 can help sort out which VA benefits might apply.
The Area Agency on Aging for the 13-county Georgia Mountains region, including Franklin County, serving older adults (typically 60+). Its source page does not list stair lifts or home modifications, so call (855) 266-4283 and ask about in-home service options.
A state grant for accessibility changes in homes owned and lived in by a person with a disability; stair lifts are not named on the program page, which lists items like ramps and widened doorways. Franklin County residents apply through the Disability Resource Center, and the program line is (770) 270-6860.
A Medicaid waiver for people 65+ (or younger with a qualifying disability) who meet nursing-facility level of care, covering services such as personal care, meals and respite. Stair lifts and home modifications are not listed; call (866) 552-4464.
A Medicaid waiver for adults 21 to 64 with a severe physical disability or traumatic brain injury that lists home modifications as a covered service, so a stair lift can be approved when it is in the care plan as medically necessary. Call (800) 982-0411.
A nonprofit Center for Independent Living in Demorest that serves Franklin County residents with disabilities of any age. It does not name stair lifts, but it is where you apply for the Home Access Program; call (706) 778-5355.
A VA lifetime benefit of $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability status, for medically needed home changes. It specifically excludes stair glides, so it will not pay for a stair lift.
VA housing grants for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities, with SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 for FY2026. The VA page does not name stair lifts, so ask the Veterans Field Service Office in Demorest at (706) 894-1049.
Older adults
4080 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood, 30566
Veterans
185 Scoggins Dr., Demorest, 30535
Often, yes. Split-level homes have short runs between landings, so we look at whether a curved rail or separate straight lifts fits the layout better.
Yes. Outdoor stair lifts are made for exterior steps, and a platform lift is another option if the person uses a wheelchair.
The Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) covers home modifications for adults 21 to 64 who qualify, and a stair lift can be approved if it is in the care plan. The CCSP / SOURCE waiver for people 65+ does not list home modifications.
Call Legacy Link at (855) 266-4283 and ask about in-home services. The Georgia Mountains Regional Commission AAA office in Oakwood can also be reached at (770) 538-2650.
The HISA grant does not cover stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either way, so contact the Veterans Field Service Office in Demorest at (706) 894-1049.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
