Many houses in Du Quoin and Pinckneyville went up during the coal boom that followed the Illinois Central Railroad's arrival in the 1850s. A lot of those single-family homes are still standing, still lived in, and often still in the same family. That is good news for anyone who wants to stay put, because an older multi-story house can usually be fitted with a stair lift instead of being left behind.
Perry County is spread out. It covers about 447 square miles of the Little Egypt region, with Tamaroa, Willisville and Cutler joining the two larger towns, and state highways rather than an interstate tying them together. With specialized senior housing thin on the ground, plenty of families here choose to change the house rather than move out of it.
Older single-family and detached houses in Perry County tend to have one main staircase between floors. When that staircase runs straight from bottom to top, a straight stair lift is the simplest fit. The rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so plaster and old trim are left alone.
Stairs that turn at a landing or wind partway up need a curved rail built to match. That takes a measuring visit and more lead time, but it is the usual answer for staircases tucked into the tight footprints of older homes.
Townhouses and low-rise buildings bring their own questions, such as shared stairwells and who has to approve the work. If you rent or share walls, check with the owner or association before planning an install.
The county is mostly flat with some rolling hills, so many lots sit fairly level. Even so, a raised front porch or a few steps to a side door can stop someone who can no longer handle stairs. An outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can cover those steps where a ramp would run too long for the yard.
Outdoor units are built to stand up to the weather, but they need a solid base to mount to. We look at the steps, the footing and the path to the driveway before recommending one.
About 18.1% of Perry County residents are 65 or older, and many of them own the homes they raised families in. For an adult child living in St. Louis, roughly 70 miles away, or farther, a stair lift can make a parent's upstairs bedroom and bathroom reachable again without a move.
Their benefits work differently from the state programs, so they are covered separately below.
Several Illinois programs name home modification or stair lifts as something they can fund. Age matters a lot: the Home Services Program and the Persons with Disabilities waiver are for people under 60 at application, while the Department on Aging services and the Egyptian Area Agency on Aging serve adults 60 and older.
The Egyptian Area Agency on Aging lists Perry County among its 13 counties and runs a minor home modification program. Its examples are ramps and grab bars rather than stair lifts, so ask them directly whether a stair lift would be approved. You can reach them at (618) 985-8311.
Some programs people expect to help do not. The Community Care Program pays for in-home and similar services, not home changes, and the VA HISA benefit specifically excludes stair glides. The full list is below.
A state Medicaid waiver program for Illinois residents under 60 at application with a severe, long-lasting disability, and its page lists stair lifts among examples of covered modifications. Call (800) 843-6154.
This Medicaid waiver for Illinois residents under 60 at application covers physical changes to the home that help with daily living, which can include a stair lift. Call (877) 581-3690.
A statewide referral point for adults 60 and older and their caregivers, with home modification named among its supportive services. Call the Senior HelpLine at (800) 252-8966.
This waiver for people 60 and older funds in-home, adult day, emergency response and medication dispenser services; its page does not mention stair lifts or home modifications. Call (800) 252-8966.
CCP serves adults 60 and older with non-exempt assets of $17,500 or less, covering in-home and related services; its page does not mention stair lifts or home modifications. Call (800) 252-8966.
This program funds minor home modifications and repairs for older adults in a 13-county area that includes Perry County, though stair lifts are not listed by name, so confirm with the agency. Call (618) 985-8311.
A statewide home modification program for income-qualified Illinois households with a member who has a documented disability; stair lifts are not itemized, and the page notes a waiting list of 800+. Call (217) 525-1308.
An independent living organization serving people with disabilities in Perry County and nearby counties; its page does not mention stair lifts or home modifications. Call (618) 457-3318.
Repair loans and grants for very-low-income owners of homes in USDA-designated rural areas, with grants limited to homeowners 62 and older. Its listed accessibility examples are ramps, grab bars and walk-in tubs, and stair lifts are not mentioned.
A VA benefit for enrolled veterans with medically necessary home accessibility needs, with lifetime caps of $6,800 or $2,000 depending on disability status. It does not cover stair lifts; the VA excludes stair glides by name.
Grants for veterans with certain severe disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA. The VA page gives ramps and widened doorways as examples and does not mention stair lifts.
Older adults
200 East Plaza Drive, Carterville, 62918
Veterans
833 South Spring Street, Springfield, 62704
Yes, possibly. The Illinois Home Services Program, at (800) 843-6154, and the Persons with Disabilities HCBS waiver, at (877) 581-3690, both serve Illinois residents under 60 at application who have a severe disability expected to last 12 months or longer.
The Egyptian Area Agency on Aging at (618) 985-8311 serves Perry County and runs a minor home modification program. The Illinois Senior HelpLine at (800) 252-8966 can also point you to services for adults 60 and older.
Its page does not mention stair lifts or home modifications. CCP covers in-home service, emergency home response, adult day service and automated medication dispensers.
The HISA benefit excludes stair glides by name, and the SAH and SHA grant pages do not mention stair lifts. For questions about state veteran help, the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs is at (800) 437-9824.
Often it can. Outdoor stair lifts and platform lifts are made for porch and entry steps, and we check the steps and their footing during the home visit to see which one fits.
The INCIL Home Modification Program accepts renters who have landlord approval, along with homeowners, if a household member has a documented disability and the household meets its income limit. Call (217) 525-1308.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
