Huntington is the county seat and the only city here, with Roanoke, Warren, Markle and Andrews spread across the low rolling hills along the Wabash and Salamonie rivers. A lot of the homes in these towns are older multi-story houses with traditional stairways, built long before anyone planned for a bedroom on the main floor.
That matters when a parent starts struggling with the stairs. In older houses like these, a stair lift is often the most practical way to keep using the whole home. Below we cover how local homes affect the type of lift you need and which programs in and around Huntington County may help with the cost.
Most stairways we see in single-family homes and duplexes here run straight from one floor to the next. A straight stair lift fits those, mounts to the stair treads rather than the wall, and is usually the simplest install.
Older houses in Huntington and the smaller towns sometimes have a landing, a turn at the top, or a narrow winding section. Those need a curved rail built to the exact shape of the stairs, so we measure on site before quoting.
Split-level homes and townhouses bring their own puzzle: several short flights instead of one long one. Sometimes a lift on the main flight solves most of the problem, and sometimes each flight needs its own look.
About 52.1% of county residents live in rural areas, and many farmhouses and town homes have steps up to the porch or down to a basement door. An outdoor stair lift is built to handle Indiana weather on those exterior steps.
For someone who uses a wheelchair, a seat lift is not enough. A platform lift carries the chair itself and is often the better choice at an entrance with only a few steps.
About 16.3% of Huntington County residents are 65 or older, and the median resident age is 41.8. Many homeowners have been in their houses a long time and would rather adapt them than move.
If that includes someone in your family, the Huntington County Veterans Service Office at 1350 South Jefferson Street in Huntington, (260) 358-4863, can explain which VA benefits apply.
The clearest path to public help is the Indiana PathWays for Aging Waiver or Health & Wellness Waiver, the Medicaid programs whose source lists stair lifts among covered home modifications. Applications go through Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana, the Area Agency on Aging for Huntington County, at (260) 745-1200.
Other programs, like CHOICE, USDA Section 504 repair help and the county Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation grant, cover home modifications or accessibility work in general but do not name stair lifts. It is worth asking each one directly. Note that the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides, so veterans should look at other options.
Because Interstate 69 and U.S. Route 24 connect the county to Fort Wayne, several service providers based there, including the Area Agency on Aging and The League, serve Huntington County residents.
Indiana Medicaid home and community-based waivers, with PathWays for those 60 and older and Health & Wellness for those under 60; the source lists stair lifts among covered home modifications for people who need a nursing-facility level of care. Call (800) 403-0864 or apply through Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana.
A state-funded, non-Medicaid program for people 60 and older or with a disability who are at risk of losing independence; it lists environmental modification as a service but does not name stair lifts. Call (800) 986-3505.
The Area Agency on Aging for Huntington County, handling intake, case management and referrals into CHOICE and the Medicaid waivers; it does not list a stair lift benefit of its own. Call (260) 745-1200.
A VA grant for medically necessary home alterations such as ramps and roll-in showers, with a $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime maximum depending on disability status; it specifically excludes stair glides. Call (800) 827-1000.
VA grants for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities to build, buy or remodel a home for accessibility; the source does not name stair lifts. Call (800) 827-1000.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest, and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners 62 or older, for repairs such as ramps and grab bars; stair lifts are not named. Call (260) 244-6266.
A CDBG-funded repair program for low- and moderate-income homeowners that includes ADA accessibility modifications but does not name stair lifts. Call the County Commissioners' office at (260) 358-4822 to confirm whether the program is currently open.
A Fort Wayne Center for Independent Living at 5821 S. Anthony Blvd. that offers adaptive-equipment services and referrals to people with disabilities in Huntington County; stair lifts are not listed. Call (260) 441-0551.
Older adults
8101 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne, 46804
Veterans
1350 South Jefferson Street, Huntington, 46750
It can through the Indiana PathWays for Aging Waiver or Health & Wellness Waiver, which list stair lifts among home modifications. The person must need a nursing-facility level of care and meet income and asset limits. Start with Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana at (260) 745-1200.
Yes, possibly. The Health & Wellness Waiver serves people under 60, and CHOICE accepts people with a disability regardless of age. The League also serves people with disabilities in Huntington County.
No. The VA excludes stair glides and other removable equipment from HISA. It does cover permanent changes like entrance ramps, so call the Huntington County Veterans Service Office at (260) 358-4863 to sort out options.
Usually, yes. Stairs with a landing or a turn take a curved rail made to fit that staircase, so we measure in person before giving a quote.
Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana and The League are based in Fort Wayne, but both serve Huntington County. Calling first is the easiest way to begin.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
