Jackson County runs from Seymour and Brownstown out to Crothersville, Medora, Vallonia, Freetown and the farm roads in between. The county's own economic development profile describes its housing as historic homes, modern subdivisions and new housing additions. That mix matters when you are deciding how to keep someone safe on the stairs.
Older multi-story houses in and around Seymour were often built without a main-floor bedroom or step-free entry. Newer single-story homes on the edges of the county tend to be easier to age in, but even a ranch house can have steps at the porch or down to a basement. This page walks through what those homes mean for a stair lift and where local families can ask about help paying for one.
The older core housing in and around Seymour includes multi-story homes common in Midwestern county seats. In many of them the bedrooms and the full bath are upstairs, so the staircase becomes the daily problem once climbing gets hard.
If the staircase runs straight from bottom to top with no turns, a straight stair lift is usually the simplest fit. Stairs with a landing, a turn or a curve need a curved rail built to that staircase. During a home visit we measure the run, check the width and look at where the rail can mount before recommending either one.
Newer ranch-style homes in the county's subdivisions often put everything on one floor. The steps that remain are usually at the front porch, the garage entry or a basement stairway, and those are worth looking at before assuming no lift is needed.
Per the 2020 Census, 47.8% of Jackson County residents live in rural areas. On a farmhouse or rural lot, outdoor entry steps are often the real barrier, and an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift may be the better fit than an indoor model. We look at the whole route from the car to the bedroom, not just one staircase.
About 14.4% of county residents are 65 or older, and 64.1% of households own their homes. Owning the home makes a permanently installed lift a practical option, since there is no landlord to ask.
Veterans and their families can start with the Jackson County Veteran’s Office at 270 Woodside Ct in Brownstown, (812) 358-6115, to sort out which VA benefits apply.
None of the official program pages listed below name stair lifts as a covered item, and one, the VA HISA grant, specifically excludes stair glides and porch lifts. Several programs do fund home modifications or accessibility repairs in general terms, so it is worth asking each one directly how they would treat a stair lift.
The most direct starting point is Thrive Alliance, the Area Agency on Aging for Jackson County, at (812) 372-6918. It is the required entry point for the Indiana PathWays for Aging and Health and Wellness Medicaid waivers, which both list Home Modifications as a service. Statewide, families can also ask about the CHOICE Program and the INDATA Alternative Financing Program (AFP).
Because nearly half the county lives in rural areas, many applications here are handled by phone or mail. Keep copies of what you send and write down who you spoke with.
A Medicaid waiver for Indiana residents 60 and older who meet Nursing Facility Level of Care, with income up to 300% of the SSI federal benefit rate and a $2,000 asset limit for an individual. It lists Home Modifications and Home Modification Assessment as services but does not mention stair lifts; apply through Thrive Alliance at (812) 372-6918.
A Medicaid waiver for Indiana residents 59 or under who are aged, blind or disabled and meet Nursing Facility Level of Care. Home Modifications are a listed service, though stair lifts are not mentioned; call Thrive Alliance at (812) 372-6918 to apply.
The Area Agency on Aging for Jackson County and four neighboring counties, offering referrals and housing help including home repairs and accessibility modifications in general terms. It does not name a stair lift program; call (812) 372-6918.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% interest, and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners 62+ who cannot repay a loan, for very-low-income owners in eligible rural areas. The program funds repairs and removal of health and safety hazards but does not name stair lifts; call the North Vernon office at (812) 346-3411.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 for veterans with a service-connected disability, or up to $2,000 for other eligible veterans, with a VA provider prescription. It does not cover stair lifts: the VA lists stair glides and porch lifts as excluded. Call (800) 827-1000.
Up to $126,526 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities to buy, build or adapt a permanent home. The VA page does not name stair lifts; call (800) 827-1000.
Up to $25,350 (FY2026 maximum) to adapt a home owned by a veteran with a qualifying service-connected disability or a family member. Stair lifts are not mentioned on the VA page; call (800) 827-1000.
Grants up to $25,000 for homeowners at or below 80% of area median income who need an entry ramp, run through local governments or nonprofits. The program page describes ramps only and does not mention stair lifts.
State grant money that Jackson County or a town within it must apply for, then use for repairs on qualifying owner-occupied homes, including ADA accessibility modifications. Homeowners cannot apply directly, and stair lifts are not named.
A nonprofit disability services center with an office in Seymour offering information, referral, advocacy and peer support for people of all ages. It does not fund stair lifts itself but can point you to other programs; call (812) 277-9626.
The Community Action Agency weatherization provider for Jackson County, handling insulation, air sealing, HVAC work and light rehab for low-income homeowners and renters. Its materials do not mention stair lifts or accessibility work; call (812) 265-5858, option 5.
Older adults
1531 13th St., Suite G900, Columbus, 47201
Veterans
270 Woodside Ct, Brownstown, 47220
The PathWays for Aging and Health and Wellness waivers both list Home Modifications as a service, but the official pages do not name stair lifts or give a dollar cap. Ask Thrive Alliance at (812) 372-6918 how a stair lift request would be reviewed.
Yes, the Indiana Health and Wellness Waiver serves residents 59 and under who are aged, blind or disabled and meet Nursing Facility Level of Care. SICIL in Seymour, (812) 277-9626, also helps people with disabilities of any age find resources.
No. The VA lists stair glides and porch lifts among items HISA will not fund. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either way, so a veteran should ask the Jackson County Veteran’s Office at (812) 358-6115 or the VA at (800) 827-1000.
USDA Section 504 repair loans and grants serve very-low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas, with grants up to $10,000 for owners 62 and older who cannot repay a loan. The program does not name stair lifts, so call the North Vernon office at (812) 346-3411 to ask.
Thrive Alliance serves Jackson County from 1531 13th St., Suite G900, Columbus, 47201. Its phone number is (812) 372-6918.
An outdoor stair lift or a platform lift may suit entry steps. If a ramp would work instead, IHCDA Ramp Up Indiana offers grants up to $25,000 for qualifying homeowners at or below 80% of area median income.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
