From Greenwood and Franklin down to Edinburgh, Trafalgar and Nineveh, a lot of Johnson County's houses went up during the suburban growth of the later 20th century. Many of those are ranch and split-level homes, two styles that put stairs right in the middle of daily life.
Local economic-development sources say many seniors here live in oversized, multi-level homes with few downsizing options. New senior communities such as Sagebriar by Del Webb in Greenwood are part of the response, but plenty of families would rather keep a parent in the house they already know. A stair lift is often the piece that makes that possible.
Ranch and split-level houses were a large share of new construction in Greenwood, Franklin and the unincorporated townships. Both are described as stair-heavy, so the question is usually not whether there are stairs but how many runs there are and how they turn.
A single straight flight takes a straight rail, which is the simplest and quickest install. Stairs that turn at a landing, or a home with more than one short flight, may call for a curved rail built to fit that exact staircase. We measure every run before recommending anything.
Not everyone in the county lives in a detached house. Townhouses, duplexes and low-rise buildings are part of the local mix too, and each one raises its own questions.
In a townhouse or duplex, the interior stairs are often narrow, so rail placement and folding seats matter. If the home is rented or shared, the owner's approval comes first. Where the trouble is the front steps rather than the inside stairs, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can be worth a look.
About 15.0% of residents are 65 or older, and 66.3% own their homes. Owners have the most freedom to install a lift, and several of the programs below require that you own the house.
The Johnson County Veterans Affairs office at 18 W Jefferson St in Franklin, (317) 346-4563, can help veterans sort out which VA benefits apply before anything is ordered.
The program that most clearly names stair lifts is Indiana's Medicaid waiver, split into PathWays for people 60 and older and the Health & Wellness Waiver for people 59 and under. It requires nursing-facility level of care and has an income limit.
For other help, start with CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions (PSA 8) at (317) 254-5465, the area agency on aging that serves Johnson County. Several programs below cover home modifications in general without naming stair lifts, so ask directly before counting on one. Veterans should know the VA HISA grant excludes stair glides; those are handled through other VA Prosthetic Service funds instead.
Statewide Medicaid waivers for people who meet nursing-facility level of care, with PathWays serving ages 60+ and Health & Wellness serving 59 and under; home modifications including stair lifts are covered within an approved care plan. Call (800) 403-0864.
A state-funded in-home services program for people 60+ or any age with a disability who need help with daily activities; it lists environmental modification but does not name stair lifts. Call (800) 986-3505.
A home-safety grant for low-income senior homeowners in Johnson and nearby counties that covers items like stairwell handrails, grab bars, ramps and faulty-step repair; stair lifts are not named. Call (317) 803-6131.
A nonprofit home-repair program open only to residents inside Greenwood city limits; the program page does not list which repairs are covered, so stair lift help is not confirmed and contact is by email only.
A statewide nonprofit that builds free exterior wheelchair ramps for income-qualified people with mobility disabilities; it does not mention stair lifts. Call (317) 844-7664.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime, depending on disability status, for medically needed home changes; stair glides are specifically excluded and go through VA Prosthetic Service funds instead.
VA housing grants for veterans with specific severe disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026; the VA describes ramps and wider doorways as examples and does not mention stair lifts.
Loans up to $40,000 and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income owners, with grants limited to ages 62+, for repairs including accessibility improvements; stair lifts are not named, and Greenwood is generally not an eligible area while smaller towns may be.
A county office in Franklin that helps veterans and families apply for VA and Indiana benefits but does not issue grants itself; appointments only. Call (317) 346-4563.
Older adults
8440 Woodfield Crossing Blvd., Ste. 175, Indianapolis, 46240
Veterans
18 W Jefferson St, Franklin, 46131
Yes, possibly. The Health & Wellness Waiver serves people 59 and under who meet nursing-facility level of care, and its home modification benefit includes stair lifts. CHOICE also serves any age with a disability, though it does not name stair lifts.
No. The VA lists stair glides as excluded from HISA and routes them through Prosthetic Service funds instead. The Johnson County Veterans Affairs office at (317) 346-4563 can help with that request.
Larger cities such as Greenwood are generally not USDA-eligible. Smaller towns and unincorporated parts of the county may qualify, but each address has to be checked with the USDA eligibility tool.
CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions (PSA 8) at (317) 254-5465 is the area agency on aging for Johnson County and handles CHOICE and other local services.
Usually, yes. Each flight is measured on its own. Straight runs take a straight rail, and stairs that turn may need a curved rail made to fit.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
