Telfair County grew up around the railroad and the sawmill. McRae became the county seat in 1871 when the Macon and Brunswick Railroad put a depot there, and Lumber City started out as 'Artesian City' beside what was then the largest sawmill in the South. Today the county's 4 towns, McRae-Helena, Lumber City, Milan and Scotland, are still small, and most homes are modest and older.
That shapes what a stair lift job looks like here. We see few tall staircases and a lot of short flights: porch steps, a split-level landing, a back entry. This page walks through how those homes fit different lifts and where Telfair County families can look for help paying.
Most housing here is single-family homes and ranch-style homes, much of it single-story. In a ranch house the problem is rarely an indoor staircase. It is the steps up to the front or back door, which is where an outdoor stair lift, a platform lift or a ramp comes in.
Split-level homes are different. They have short flights between levels, and if those flights are straight with no turn, a straight stair lift is usually the simplest and least expensive fit. A flight that turns or has a landing in the middle needs a curved rail built to that staircase.
Walk-up apartments also show up in the county. If you rent, the landlord has to agree to any lift on a shared stairway, so ask before you schedule an assessment.
Telfair County sits in Georgia's southern coastal plain, along the Ocmulgee River basin. The land is mostly flat, so outdoor lifts here are typically about getting from the yard to a raised porch or entry door, not climbing a hillside.
An outdoor lift is built with weather covers and sealed parts, since it lives outside year round. A platform lift is worth a look if the person uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer onto a seat.
The county covers about 444 square miles, and McRae-Helena is its largest town. If you live near Milan, Scotland or out in the country, travel to doctors and contractors takes longer, and that affects scheduling.
Plan for the in-home measurement visit and the install visit to be set up in advance. Having the stairs clear and someone home who knows the house makes each trip count.
The county has a population of 8,052, and 17.1% of residents are 65 or older. About 60.3% are homeowners, which matters because owners can make permanent changes like a rail on the stairs or a lift at the porch.
If someone in your family served, check VA options before paying out of pocket.
Incomes in the county run below state and national norms, so many families look for outside help. None of the programs below name stair lifts directly in their published materials, so the right move is to call and ask whether a stair lift or stair glide can be considered.
For people 60 and older, start with the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Area Agency on Aging at (888) 367-9913. Its regional office is the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission AAA at 331 West Parker Street, Baxley, 31513, phone (912) 367-3648.
Veterans can contact the Georgia Department of Veterans Service at 1826 Veterans Blvd., Dublin, 31021, at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center, phone (478) 272-1210. Statewide options also include the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP), the Home Access Program, the Credit-Able Loan Program and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics).
The regional aging agency serving adults 60+ in 17 counties, including Telfair County, with a home modifications category described as accessibility adjustments; stair lifts are not listed, so ask intake whether one qualifies. Call (888) 367-9913.
A Medicaid waiver for frail elderly and disabled Georgians who meet nursing-facility level of care and Medicaid financial rules, covering services like case management, personal care, home-delivered meals and respite care. Stair lifts are not listed; call (877) 423-4746.
VA grants for veterans and service members with qualifying service-connected disabilities: SAH up to $126,526, SHA up to $25,350, and TRA up to $50,961 or $9,100 (FY2026). The source describes ramps and widened doorways and does not list stair lifts.
A statewide referral and benefits screening service for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers in all 159 Georgia counties; it does not fund stair lifts itself. Call (866) 552-4464 to be pointed to programs you may qualify for.
Older adults
331 West Parker Street, Baxley, 31513
Veterans
1826 Veterans Blvd.nCarl Vinson VA Medical Center, Dublin, 31021
Only if the flight turns or has a middle landing. Short, straight flights between levels usually take a straight stair lift, which is the simpler option.
Yes. The steps up to the porch or entry door are often the hard part, and an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can handle those.
The Heart of Georgia Altamaha Area Agency on Aging serves adults 60+ in Telfair County and offers home modification help. Stair lifts are not named, so call (888) 367-9913 and ask.
The CCSP and SOURCE waiver materials do not list stair lifts. You can call (877) 423-4746 to ask, and the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) is the Georgia program that lists home modifications.
Contact the Georgia Department of Veterans Service in Dublin at (478) 272-1210. They can talk through the VA SAH, SHA and TRA grants and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics).
Not the lift itself, but travel distances in a county of about 444 square miles mean visits are scheduled ahead. Expect to set the assessment and install dates in advance.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
