The Illinois River splits Marshall County into two uneven pieces, and the seven towns we serve sit on both sides of it: Lacon, Henry, Toluca, Wenona, Hopewell, Varna and Sparland. Some homes sit down in the river bottoms and others up on the upland ground. Nearly all of them are in a rural, spread-out county where the nearest single-story or assisted-living option can be a long drive away.
That distance is a big reason families here look at a stair lift. Many houses in the county are older multi-story homes that have stayed with the same owners for a long time. Putting a lift on the stairs you already have is often more practical than selling and moving somewhere unfamiliar.
Most homes here are single-family, detached houses. In an older two-story house, the main staircase is often one straight run, which is the simplest and quickest install. A straight rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so plaster and trim stay as they are.
Split-level homes are a different job. They usually have several short flights with landings in between, so the rail may need to turn corners. That calls for a curved lift built to the shape of your stairs, or in some layouts a separate straight lift on each flight.
Townhouses and walk-up apartments often have narrower stairwells. We measure the width and check the top and bottom landings so the seat can fold and swivel without blocking the stairs for anyone else.
The inside stairs are not always the only problem. Older farmhouse-style homes and homes on sloped lots often have steps up to the porch or down to a side door. An outdoor stair lift built for weather can handle those steps.
If a wheelchair is part of the picture, a seat lift may not be enough. A platform lift carries the chair itself and is worth talking through before you commit to anything.
About 20.8% of Marshall County residents are 65 or older, and 75.0% of homes are owner-occupied. That means a lot of people are aging in houses they own and plan to keep. Owning the home also makes it easier to approve a permanent install.
If that includes someone in your family, the VA programs below are worth checking, though they come with limits we explain plainly.
The first question is age. For adults under 60 with a disability, Illinois routes home modification help through the DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services and the local Center for Independent Living, which for Marshall County is the Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living (IVCIL). The state's Home Modification and Assistive Technology page names stair lifts directly.
For residents 60 and older, the state points you to the Illinois Department on Aging and the local Area Agency on Aging, Age Central. Its Community Care Program does not pay for home modifications, so ask Age Central and IVCIL what equipment or referral help is available right now.
Veterans should know that the VA's HISA benefit specifically excludes stair glides. The larger SAH and SHA grants cover home adaptations but do not name stair lifts, so confirm before planning around them. The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs in Springfield can be reached at (217) 782-6641.
A statewide program for Illinois residents with a disability that lists stair lifts as a covered modification, delivered through Centers for Independent Living such as IVCIL and generally used by adults under 60. Call (800) 843-6154.
Covers environmental modifications for Illinois residents with a severe disability who are under 60 at application, but the program page does not list stair lifts specifically; counselor approval and the home owner's written agreement are required. Call (800) 843-6154.
Provides in-home service, emergency home response, adult day service and medication dispensers for qualifying residents 60 and older; it does not cover stair lifts or home modifications. Call (800) 252-8966.
The Area Agency on Aging for Marshall County offers medical equipment and assistive technology help, but its page does not mention stair lifts, so call to ask what is currently available. Call (309) 674-2071.
Serves people with disabilities in Marshall County and runs an Equipment Loan program, though stair lifts are not listed by name; ask whether a stair glide can be funded or loaned. Call (815) 224-3126.
Pays for medically necessary home accessibility changes for enrolled VA patients, with a $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime maximum depending on disability status. It explicitly excludes stair glides.
Grants for veterans with qualifying severe disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA, covering adaptations such as ramps and wider doorways. Stair lifts are not named, so confirm with the VA first.
Funds health, safety and accessibility repairs for low-income and disabled homeowners through local grantees, but does not list stair lifts by name and demand far exceeds available funding. Contact IHDA to find the grantee serving Marshall County.
Older adults
700 Hamilton Boulevard, Peoria, 61603
Veterans
833 S Spring Street, Springfield, 62705
Yes. Adults under 60 with a disability can apply through the DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services at (800) 843-6154. The state's Home Modification and Assistive Technology program lists stair lifts, and IVCIL is the local Center for Independent Living for Marshall County.
No. CCP covers in-home service, emergency home response, adult day service and medication dispensers, not home modifications. For a parent 60 or older, call Age Central at (309) 674-2071 or IVCIL at (815) 224-3126 to ask about equipment help.
Age Central, the Central Illinois Agency on Aging, covers Marshall County as part of Planning and Service Area 4. Its office is at 700 Hamilton Boulevard in Peoria, and the phone number is (309) 674-2071.
The HISA benefit specifically excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants pay for home adaptations but do not name stair lifts, so check with the VA or the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs at (217) 782-6641 before counting on them.
It depends on the owner. The Home Services Program, for example, requires a written agreement from the home's owner before permanent changes are made. Talk with your landlord first, then we can check whether the stairwell fits a lift.
Usually not. IHDA says demand for HRAP far exceeds available funding, and local grantees typically keep waitlists. It is worth applying early if you qualify.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
