Randolph County is home to Kaskaskia, one of the earliest European settlements in Illinois, and many houses in Chester, Red Bud and Sparta were built long before single-story, universal-design floor plans were common. That history shows up on the stairs. Plenty of local homes are older two-story houses with steps at the front door and a full flight between floors.
We install stair lifts across the county's 12 towns, from Prairie du Rocher and Ellis Grove near the Mississippi River to Coulterville, Tilden and Baldwin. This page covers which kinds of lifts suit the homes here and which state, county and federal programs may help with the cost.
The 2024 median home value in Randolph County was $135,100, and much of the housing is long-held family property rather than new subdivisions. In an older two-story house, the main staircase is often one straight run, which is the simplest and lowest-cost type of stair lift to fit.
For many families, a lift on that staircase is a practical way to keep using the whole house. It usually costs less than relocating or building a first-floor suite, which matters in a county where many homeowners live on fixed or modest incomes.
Not every problem is between floors. Ranch-style homes and detached houses here often have a set of steps at the entrance, and those few steps can be the hardest part of the day. An outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can handle a porch or entry stair.
Townhouses and walk-up apartments are a different job. Stairs in those buildings can turn or have landings, which may call for a curved lift built to the staircase, and renters will need the owner's approval before anything is mounted.
As of the 2020 Census, 79.0% of Randolph County residents lived in rural areas, spread across small towns and unincorporated countryside. That spread affects response times for installation and service compared with more urban Illinois counties, so it helps to plan ahead rather than wait for a fall.
The county's terrain is flat to gently rolling, but the Mississippi River forms much of the western boundary and low-lying river-bottom areas still face occasional flood risk. If your home sits in one of those areas, tell us at the visit so we can talk through where an outdoor lift or its controls should go.
About 19.3% of county residents are 65 or older, and the 2020 median age was 43.1. Many adult children are helping a parent stay in the home they have owned for decades.
The Illinois Department of Veteran's Affairs - Randolph County office at 1330 Swanwick St., Chester, can be reached at (618) 826-2326 to talk through VA benefits before you count on them for a lift.
Two state programs name home modifications directly. The Illinois Home Modification and Assistive Technology Program lists stair lifts by name, and the Persons with Disabilities HCBS Medicaid Waiver covers physical changes to the home for people under 60 who qualify.
Other local groups mostly help with referrals, income support or related services rather than paying for lifts. VA and USDA programs have dollar limits and rules worth checking early. The program list below explains each one and who to call.
A state program for Illinois residents with a documented disability that names stair lifts among its examples, with requests approved individually and handled locally by LINC Inc. for Randolph County. Call (800) 843-6154.
A Medicaid waiver for Illinois residents under age 60 at application with a severe disability who are at risk of nursing facility placement; it covers physical modifications to the home, which can include a stair lift. Call (877) 581-3690.
For Medicaid-eligible Illinois residents age 60 or older, this waiver funds four services only (in-home homemaker, adult day, emergency home response and automated medication dispensers), and the source does not mention stair lifts or home modifications. Call (800) 252-8966.
An income-based nonprofit program for homeowners or renters with a household member who has a documented disability, covering ramps and interior modifications; stair lifts are not listed, and the statewide waitlist tops 800 people (83 were served in the first year). Call (217) 525-1308.
The Center for Independent Living for St. Clair, Monroe and Randolph counties, with an office at 332 North Main Street in Red Bud, offering advocacy, peer support, referral and equipment loans; it does not list stair lift funding itself. Call (618) 282-2123.
The area agency on aging for Randolph County, offering options counseling, meals, respite, transportation and other services; stair lift or home modification funding is not listed. Call (618) 222-2561.
A county referral hub that connects seniors and people with disabilities to local providers such as the Sparta Senior Center, Steeleville Nutrition Center and LINC Inc.; it does not list a stair lift fund. Call (618) 826-5007.
A nonprofit at 1820 North Market, Bldg. A, in Sparta serving low-income residents with energy assistance, weatherization, housing and senior nutrition; stair lifts and accessibility changes are not mentioned. Call (618) 443-5231.
A VA benefit for enrolled veterans with lifetime limits of $6,800 or $2,000 depending on disability status, and it specifically excludes stair glides and porch lifts, so it does not cover a stair lift. Randolph County veterans are served by the VA Marion Health Care System.
VA grants for veterans with qualifying severe disabilities, with FY2026 caps of up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA, and TRA amounts of $50,961 or $9,100; the source mentions ramps and widened doorways but does not list stair lifts.
For very low-income owners in USDA-designated rural areas, a third-party summary lists loans up to $40,000 at 1% over 20 years and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners 62 and older; stair lifts are not named, so confirm with the Illinois state office at (217) 403-6200.
Older adults
2365 Amann Dr., Swansea, 62226
Veterans
1330 Swanwick St., Chester, 62233
Usually, yes. Many older homes in these towns have one straight flight between floors, which is the simplest staircase for a lift. We confirm the fit by measuring the stairs at a home visit.
The Illinois Persons with Disabilities HCBS Medicaid Waiver serves residents under age 60 at application who have a severe disability and qualify for Medicaid, and it covers physical home modifications. Call (877) 581-3690 to ask about eligibility.
The HISA benefit explicitly excludes stair glides, so it will not cover one. The SAH and SHA grants do not list stair lifts on their source page. Call the Randolph County veterans office in Chester at (618) 826-2326 to review your options.
The HCBS Medicaid Waiver for Persons who are Elderly funds four specific services, and home modifications are not among them. The Illinois Home Modification and Assistive Technology Program, which names stair lifts, is a better place to start at (800) 843-6154.
Most county residents live in rural areas, and that can lengthen response times for installation and service. Booking a home visit early gives more room to schedule.
LINC Inc. in Red Bud at (618) 282-2123 serves people with disabilities in Randolph County, and AgeSmart at (618) 222-2561 offers options counseling for older adults and caregivers. The Randolph County Health Department at (618) 826-5007 can also point you to local providers.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
