Thomson, the McDuffie County seat, calls itself 'The Camellia City of the South,' and it keeps a lot of its old houses standing. The Old Rock House dates to 1785, and Hickory Hill was the home of U.S. Senator Thomas E. Watson. Plenty of private homes in and around Thomson and Dearing were built long before anyone planned stairs around a walker or a bad knee.
Out in the county, the picture changes. McDuffie County is 59.4% rural, and many older residents live on larger properties in single-story ranch layouts. This page walks through which kind of lift fits which kind of McDuffie County home, and which local and state programs may help pay for one.
Multi-level houses in Thomson and Dearing often have original staircases that predate accessibility design standards. That usually means steep treads, narrow widths, or a turn partway up. Those details decide what kind of lift you can use.
A staircase that runs straight from bottom to top can take a straight stair lift, which uses a standard rail cut to length. If the stairs turn at a landing or curve, a curved lift with a rail built to that exact staircase is needed. We measure every step before recommending one or the other.
Split-level homes have short flights between levels. Each flight can be handled on its own, so it helps to decide which levels you actually need to reach every day.
Ranch-style homes on rural properties are often single-story inside, but the trouble can be the steps up to the porch or the door. McDuffie County's terrain is relatively flat, which makes these entry steps a common place for an outdoor lift rated for the weather. Townhouses and walk-up apartments usually have a straight interior flight, though a walk-up apartment may need the building owner's approval first.
For veterans, it is worth checking VA grants before paying anything out of pocket.
Adult children helping a parent should look at the stairs the parent uses every day, not just the main staircase. A basement laundry flight or a back porch can matter as much as the bedroom stairs.
Median household income in the county is $56,733, and the poverty rate is 20.3%. For many older homeowners here, outside help with the cost is part of the plan from the start.
The best first call for someone 60 or older is the CSRA Area Agency on Aging at (706) 210-2000. Its Home and Community Based Services include home modification and repair, and the same office screens people for Georgia's Medicaid waivers. People with disabilities of any age can also contact Walton Options for Independent Living, and eligible veterans can look at the VA grants listed below.
Serves people 60 and older and their caregivers in a 13-county area that includes McDuffie County, with home modification and repair among its in-home services. Stair lift help depends on local funding, so confirm with intake at (706) 210-2000.
A Medicaid waiver that helps people who meet a nursing-home level of care stay at home, with screening through the CSRA Area Agency on Aging. Its published service list does not mention stair lifts or home modifications; call (866) 552-4464.
A Medicaid waiver for frail elderly or physically disabled Georgians who meet the Intermediate Nursing Home Level of Care. Its listed services do not mention stair lifts or home modifications; call (866) 552-4464.
A Medicaid waiver for adults ages 21-64 with a severe physical impairment or traumatic brain injury, covering medically necessary physical adaptations to the home. Apply through Alliant Health Solutions at (888) 669-7195.
A nonprofit home modification program for people with disabilities in a 16-county area that includes McDuffie County, funded case by case through grants. Call (706) 724-6262.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026, permanent home) for veterans with certain serious service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home. The VA page does not name stair lifts specifically.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026, permanent home) for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities, such as loss of use of both hands. The VA page does not name stair lifts specifically.
Older adults
3626 Walton Way Extension, Suite 300, Augusta, 30909
Veterans
520 Fenwick St, Augusta, 30901
Often, yes. Straight staircases take a straight lift, and stairs with a turn or landing need a curved lift built to fit. Original staircases that predate accessibility standards need careful measuring first.
It can be if there are steps at the porch or entry. An outdoor lift is made for that spot, and flat ground around many rural McDuffie County homes helps with placement.
The Georgia Independent Care Waiver Program serves Medicaid members ages 21-64 with severe physical disabilities and covers medically necessary home adaptations. Walton Options for Independent Living also serves people with disabilities in McDuffie County.
The Central Savannah River Area Regional Commission AAA is at 3626 Walton Way Extension, Suite 300, Augusta, GA 30909, phone (706) 210-2018. Intake for services is (706) 210-2000.
The Augusta - DHS veterans office is at 520 Fenwick St, Augusta, GA 30901, phone (404) 450-6809. Ask about the VA SAH and SHA grants.
Their published service lists do not mention stair lifts or home modifications. They may still help in other ways, so call (866) 552-4464 to ask.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
