Lawrence County calls itself Limestone Country, and the stone quarried around Bedford went into the Empire State Building, the Pentagon and 27 U.S. state capitols. A lot of that same stone went into local homes. In Bedford and Mitchell you still find older limestone and masonry houses, many of them multi-story with their original stairways.
Those homes sit alongside newer single-story construction in Oolitic, Avoca, Needmore, Huron, Williams and the countryside between them. This page walks through how the county's houses affect the type of stair lift that fits, and which local and state programs may help pay for one.
Staircases in the limestone-era homes of Bedford and Mitchell tend to be narrower and steeper than what you find in newer ranch-style houses. That matters, because a stair lift rail and folded seat take up part of the stair width. We measure the tread depth, the width at the narrowest point and the headroom before recommending anything.
If the staircase runs in one straight line from bottom to top, a straight rail is usually the simplest fit. If it turns at a landing or winds near the top, a curved rail is built to follow that exact path. Original stairways in older homes often have quirks, so a careful measurement comes first.
Split-level homes have short flights between floors. Depending on how the levels connect, that can mean one curved rail or separate straight rails for each flight. Townhouses usually have one main staircase, often straight, which keeps the job simpler.
In a walk-up apartment, the stairs may be shared or owned by someone else. Talk with the building owner before planning an install, since any permanent rail needs their approval.
Much of the county is limestone terrain with small homes and farms spread around Bedford and Mitchell, and part of the Hoosier National Forest lies within its borders. Out here, the hardest steps are sometimes outside: porch stairs, a sloped entry or steps down from a raised foundation.
Outdoor stair lifts are built to handle weather on exterior steps. For someone who uses a wheelchair, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat, because the person rides up without leaving the chair. It helps to look at inside and outside access together during the same visit.
Many families here own older homes and want to stay in them rather than move. A stair lift is often the change that keeps an upstairs bedroom or a basement laundry usable.
The clearest public funding route is the Indiana Health and Wellness Waiver, which lists home modifications as a covered service, and a secondary source names stair lifts specifically. Hoosier Uplands in Mitchell handles local intake for that waiver, so it is a good first call at (812) 849-4457.
Other programs on this page help with home repairs or ramps but do not name stair lifts, and the VA HISA grant source lists stair glides as not covered. Statewide, families can also ask about the CHOICE Program (Community and Home Options to Institutional Care for the Elderly and Disabled) and the INDATA Alternative Financing Program (AFP).
A Medicaid waiver for aged, blind or disabled Indiana residents who meet nursing-facility level of care, with stair lifts listed among covered home modifications. In 2024 it split into the Health & Wellness Waiver for ages 59 and under and the Indiana PathWays for Aging waiver for ages 60 and up; call Hoosier Uplands at (812) 849-4457 to start.
The local aging and disability resource center for Crawford, Lawrence, Orange and Washington counties, serving people of all income levels with intake, case management and referrals. It does not list a stair lift benefit of its own, but it is the entry point for the Medicaid waiver; call (812) 849-4457.
A $500,000 state OCRA award that funded health and safety repairs for 21 low-to-moderate-income Lawrence County homeowners, administered by the Southern Indiana Development Commission. Wheelchair ramps and grab bars are named as eligible repairs; stair lifts are not mentioned.
A VA grant for medically necessary home changes, up to $6,800 lifetime for a service-connected disability or $2,000 for other eligible disabilities. The VA source lists stair glides among removable equipment it does not cover, so veterans should check va.gov/indiana-health-care about other options.
A nonprofit serving people with disabilities of all ages in eight counties including Lawrence, which partners with other organizations to provide items such as ramps. Stair lifts are not mentioned; call (812) 277-9626 to ask what help is available.
Older adults
521 W. Main St., Mitchell, 47446
Veterans
916 15th Street, Room 8, Bedford, 47421
Often it can, but older limestone-era homes tend to have narrower, steeper stairs than newer houses. We measure width, tread depth and headroom first, then recommend a straight or curved rail that fits.
The Indiana Health and Wellness Waiver lists home modifications as a covered service, and a secondary source names stair lifts. Each service is approved through your case manager's Plan of Care. Call Hoosier Uplands at (812) 849-4457 to begin.
Yes. Since 2024, the Health & Wellness Waiver covers people ages 59 and under, while the Indiana PathWays for Aging waiver covers ages 60 and up.
Income can be no more than 300% of the maximum SSI amount, which one source puts at about $2,829 a month for 2024. The asset limit is $2,000 for a single applicant or $3,000 for a married couple both applying, and the home equity limit is $713,000.
The VA source lists stair glides as equipment HISA does not cover. HISA can help with things like entrance access and roll-in showers. The Lawrence County Veterans Service office is at 916 15th Street, Room 8, in Bedford, and va.gov/indiana-health-care has more on VA benefits.
Hoosier Uplands (PSA 15) is at 521 W. Main St., Mitchell, IN 47446. The phone number is (812) 849-4457.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
