From the courthouse square in Irwinton to the crossroads around Gordon, Ivey, McIntyre, Toomsboro and Allentown, much of Wilkinson County grew up as stagecoach stops and post office settlements. That history left behind older farmhouses, often on more than one level, and small-town homes rather than big planned subdivisions.
Those houses sit on river-cut, gently hilly ground drained by the Oconee River and its creeks, so raised foundations and stepped entries are common. If a parent is starting to struggle with the stairs inside or the steps out front, this page walks through which kind of lift tends to fit and where to look for help paying for it.
Multi-level farmhouses and older small-town homes are where indoor stair lifts get the most use here. Many of these staircases run in a single straight flight, which is the simplest and quickest kind of lift to install.
Older homes also have their quirks. A staircase with a landing, a turn or a narrow width may call for a curved lift built to that specific stair. We measure before recommending anything, because the stairs decide the lift, not the other way around.
Across rural middle Georgia, homes are often built up off the ground, and the steps to the porch or back door can be the hardest part of the day. That holds true for ranch-style homes and manufactured homes as much as for two-story houses.
For entry steps, an outdoor stair lift made to handle weather is one option. Where someone uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift is usually the better fit. We look at the entry, the ground around it and how the person moves before suggesting either one.
About 21.1% of Wilkinson County residents are 65 or older, and 78.4% of households own their home. Homeowners can generally make permanent changes like a stair lift, which makes staying put a realistic plan for many families.
If your parent served, it is worth checking the VA grants listed below and talking with the veterans field office in Milledgeville before paying out of pocket.
Coverage depends on the program. Of the programs below, the Georgia Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) is the one whose source lists home modifications, and it serves adults aged 21-64 who meet a nursing facility or hospital level of care. The SOURCE Waiver and CCSP serve older and disabled Georgians, but their published service lists do not mention stair lifts or home modifications.
For older adults, a good first call is the Middle Georgia Regional Commission AAA at (478) 751-6160, located at 3661 Eisenhower Pkwy, Ste. MB102, Macon. Veterans can reach the Georgia Department of Veterans Service – GWVH‑Milledgeville Veterans Field Service Office at (478) 445-6900, 2249 Vinson Highway, Milledgeville.
Other statewide programs worth asking about include the Home Access Program, the Credit-Able Loan Program and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics).
A state Medicaid waiver for adults aged 21-64 with severe physical disabilities or traumatic brain injury who meet a nursing facility or hospital level of care; its listed services include home modifications. Call Alliant GMCF at (800) 982-0411.
A state Medicaid waiver for frail elderly and disabled Georgians who meet nursing facility level of care, covering services like case management, personal care and home-delivered meals. The source does not mention stair lifts or home modifications.
A state Medicaid waiver for people who meet a nursing facility level of care requirement, with services such as adult daycare, personal care and respite care. Stair lifts and home modifications are not mentioned in the source.
Provides information, referral and in-home service coordination for older adults, typically 60+, and caregivers across the 11-county Middle Georgia region, including Wilkinson County. The source does not list a stair lift benefit, so call (866) 552-4464 to ask about current offerings.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans who own or will own the home and have a qualifying service-connected disability. The VA describes covered changes in general terms and does not name stair lifts; call (800) 827-1000.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities such as loss of both hands or severe burns. Stair lifts are not named in the source; call (800) 827-1000.
Helps SAH- or SHA-eligible veterans adapt a family member's home they are temporarily living in, up to $50,961 or $9,100 for FY2026. Stair lifts are not named in the source; call (800) 827-1000.
Older adults
3661 Eisenhower Pkwy, Ste. MB102, Macon, 31206
Veterans
2249 Vinson Highway, Milledgeville, 31061
Yes, possibly. The Georgia Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) serves adults aged 21-64 with severe physical disabilities or traumatic brain injury who meet a level of care requirement, and its services include home modifications. Call (800) 982-0411.
Their published service lists do not mention stair lifts or home modifications. They focus on things like case management, personal care, adult daycare and respite care, so ask the program directly before counting on it.
The Middle Georgia Regional Commission AAA in Macon serves the county. You can reach it at (478) 751-6160 or (866) 552-4464.
The Georgia Department of Veterans Service – GWVH‑Milledgeville Veterans Field Service Office is at 2249 Vinson Highway, Milledgeville. The phone number is (478) 445-6900.
Often, yes. An outdoor stair lift can handle entry steps, and a platform lift is usually the choice for someone who stays in a wheelchair. We look at the steps and the person's needs before recommending one.
These homes are usually on one floor inside, so the need is often at the entry steps rather than an indoor staircase. An outdoor or platform lift at the door is the more common fit.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
