Ware County sits on Georgia's flat coastal plain, and a large share of it lies within the Okefenokee Swamp. Most people live in and around Waycross, the county seat and only incorporated municipality, while the rest live on more spread-out rural properties near Deenwood, Sunnyside and beyond.
Flat land does not mean a home has no stairs. Split-level homes, older houses in Waycross's historic districts, walk-up apartments and raised front porches can all put steps between a person and the rooms they use every day. This page walks through what a stair lift looks like in the homes found here and which programs may help with the cost.
Much of the housing outside the Waycross historic core is single-story, including the ranch-style homes common across southeast Georgia. In those houses the stairs that matter are often outside: a few steps up to the porch or the back door. An outdoor-rated lift or a short platform lift can handle that.
Split-level homes usually have short flights between levels. A straight lift on each flight is the common answer, and the turn at a landing decides whether one curved rail makes more sense than two straight ones.
Waycross keeps two National Register historic districts, the Downtown Waycross Historic District and the Waycross Historic District. Older houses there can have narrow or turning staircases, so we measure the width, the landing and any turns before recommending a straight or curved model.
As of the 2020 census, 67.9% of residents lived in urban areas, chiefly Waycross, and 32.1% lived in rural areas. In-town homes tend to be compact, with stairs inside. Rural homes are more spread out, and the trouble spots are often entry steps exposed to the weather.
About 49.7% of households in the county own their homes, so many families here rent. In a walk-up apartment or a rented house, the owner has to agree to an installation. A stair lift bolts to the stair treads rather than the wall, which can make that conversation easier.
For families, that often means a parent who wants to stay in a long-time home in Waycross or out in the county but finds the stairs harder each year.
Veterans have their own route to help. The Georgia Department of Veterans Service runs the Waycross Veterans Field Service Office at 415 Lott St, Waycross, and you can reach them at (912) 285-6340.
Cost matters here. The median household income is about $47,448 and the median owner-occupied home value is about $109,500, both well below state and national figures. A lift is a real expense next to those numbers, so it pays to check programs first.
Only one program below, the Independent Care Waiver Program, explicitly lists home modifications. The others either name only ramps or do not mention stair lifts, so ask directly before counting on them. Georgia also has statewide options named the Home Access Program, the Credit-Able Loan Program and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics), which are worth raising when you call.
A good first call is the Southern Georgia Regional Commission AAA office at 1725 South Georgia Parkway, W., Waycross, at (912) 285-6097. They can also take intake for the Elderly & Disabled Waiver Program.
This regional aging agency serves older adults and adults with disabilities in 18 counties, including Ware County, and its listed home modification service is wheelchair ramp construction; stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (888) 732-4464 or the Waycross office at (912) 285-6097.
A statewide Medicaid waiver for adults ages 21-64 with severe physical disabilities or traumatic brain injury who meet a nursing facility or hospital level of care, and it explicitly lists home modifications among its services. Call (800) 982-0411.
A Medicaid waiver for frail elderly and disabled Georgians who meet a nursing facility level of care, covering services such as personal care, adult daycare and home-delivered meals; stair lifts and home modifications are not listed. Call (404) 657-5468.
A Medicaid waiver using enhanced primary-care case management for elderly and disabled Georgians at a nursing facility level of care; its listed services do not mention stair lifts or home modifications. Call (404) 657-5468.
VA grants for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities to buy, build or adapt a home, with FY2026 limits of up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA; the VA does not specifically name stair lifts. Call (800) 827-1000.
Older adults
1725 South Georgia Parkway, W., Waycross, 31503
Veterans
415 Lott St, Waycross, 31501
Yes, possibly. The Independent Care Waiver Program serves Georgia Medicaid-eligible adults ages 21-64 with severe physical disabilities or traumatic brain injury, and it lists home modifications. Call (800) 982-0411 to ask about eligibility.
Its home modification service is listed as wheelchair ramp construction, and stair lifts are not mentioned. It is still worth calling (912) 285-6097, since the office handles other services and waiver intake and can point you to options.
Often the steps that matter in a ranch-style home are at the porch or back door. An outdoor-rated lift or a platform lift can cover those, and we can look at which fits your entry.
The Waycross Veterans Field Service Office is at 415 Lott St, Waycross, phone (912) 285-6340. The VA itself can be reached at (800) 827-1000 about SAH, SHA and TRA grants.
It can if the property owner agrees. The lift mounts to the stair treads, and we can talk with the owner about the layout before anything is installed.
Not always. Straight staircases take a straight rail, while stairs that turn or have a landing may need a curved rail. We measure first and recommend based on what the staircase actually looks like.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
