Marshall County stretches across low, rolling farmland in north-central Indiana, with towns like Plymouth, Bremen, Argos, Bourbon and Culver tied together by the Yellow River, the Tippecanoe River and lakes such as Lake Maxinkuckee, Lake of the Woods and Koontz Lake. In Plymouth, the county seat, the Downtown, Northside and Southside Historic Districts still hold 19th-century houses built around the Yellow River, many with their original interior stairways.
Those older multi-story homes, along with the county's split-level and ranch-style houses, are where most stair lift questions start. This page walks through how local homes and terrain shape the type of lift you need, and which Indiana and federal programs may help with the cost.
Plymouth's National Register-listed historic districts mean a good share of the county's older housing is multi-story with stairways that were never designed for mobility equipment. Some of these stairs run in one straight flight, while others turn at a landing or curve partway up.
A straight staircase can usually take a straight rail lift, which is the simplest and most affordable option. Stairs that turn or wind need a curved rail made to fit that specific staircase, so we measure carefully before quoting. The 2020 census counted 4,398 housing units in Plymouth with an 8.1% vacancy rate, which points to people staying in their homes for the long haul, the situation where a lift makes the most sense.
Split-level homes have short flights between levels, and a lift is often needed on more than one of them. We look at each flight separately, since one may be straight and the next may not be.
Ranch-style homes keep living space on one floor, but stairs still matter when the laundry or a bedroom is in the basement or when there are steps at the entry. Townhouses tend to have narrow, steep interior stairs, and walk-up apartments usually need the building owner's approval before any rail goes in.
Marshall County covers 443.63 square miles, and as of the 2020 census 73.4% of residents lived in rural areas. Farmhouses and homes near the lakes often have porch or deck steps that get as much use as the interior stairs.
Outdoor stair lifts are built to handle weather, and for some entries a platform lift fits better, especially for someone using a wheelchair. The rural spread also matters for funding, since programs like USDA Section 504 depend on whether your address sits in an eligible rural area.
The VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides, porch lifts and portable ramps, and the SAH and SHA grants do not mention stair lifts in their source material.
Even so, it is worth calling the Marshall County Veterans Service Office at (574) 935-8546. The office is at 112 W Jefferson St, Room 306, in Plymouth and helps veterans, spouses, dependents and survivors file claims for VA benefits.
For many families, the first call should be REAL Services, the Area Agency on Aging for Marshall County, at (574) 284-2644. They handle case management, access to the CHOICE Program, and connections to Medicaid waiver home modification benefits.
Indiana's two HCBS Medicaid waivers both list home modifications as a covered service, one for people 60 and older and one for people under 60. USDA Section 504 repair loans and grants may help rural homeowners with very low incomes, and the INDATA Alternative Financing Program is another statewide option to ask about. Details on each program are below.
A Medicaid waiver for Hoosiers 60 and older who meet nursing-facility level of care and HCBS income and asset limits; home modifications are a covered service. Apply through your local Area Agency on Aging or call (877) 284-9294.
A Medicaid waiver for people under 60 who are aged, blind or disabled, meet nursing-facility level of care and have income no greater than 300% of the maximum SSI amount. Home modifications and home modification assessments are covered services.
The Area Agency on Aging for St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall, Kosciusko and LaPorte counties, offering case management, CHOICE Program access and age-in-place home modifications. Call (574) 284-2644.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% interest over 20 years, and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners 62 and older, for very-low-income owners in eligible rural areas. The source does not mention stair lifts, so confirm before applying.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability status, for medically necessary home alterations. It explicitly excludes stair glides, porch lifts and portable ramps; call (574) 935-8546 for help with VA claims.
Grants of up to $126,526 (SAH) and $25,350 (SHA) for FY2026 for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities. Stair lifts are not mentioned in the source; call (574) 935-8546 for help applying.
Helps county veterans and their families file claims for HISA, SAH, SHA and VA disability compensation but does not run a stair lift fund itself. Call (574) 935-8546, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
A local senior services nonprofit at 1305 W. Harrison Street in Plymouth that lists transportation among its services; a home modification or stair lift program is not listed. Call (574) 936-9904 to ask about current offerings.
Older adults
1151 S. Michigan St., South Bend, 46601
Veterans
112 W Jefferson St, Room 306, Plymouth, 46563
Yes, possibly. The Indiana Health and Wellness Waiver serves people under 60 who are aged, blind or disabled and meet nursing-facility level of care, and it lists home modifications as a covered service.
No. The HISA source explicitly excludes removable equipment such as stair glides, porch lifts and portable ramps. The Marshall County Veterans Service Office at (574) 935-8546 can review other VA benefits with you.
Most of rural Marshall County outside Plymouth's core likely falls within the eligible area, but check your specific address on the USDA eligibility map. You also need to meet very-low-income limits and own and live in the home.
REAL Services serves Marshall County from its office at 1151 S. Michigan St. in South Bend. Their phone number is (574) 284-2644.
Yes. Stairs that turn at a landing or curve need a custom curved rail built to that staircase, which we measure on site before giving a quote.
Its listed services include transportation, but it does not itemize a home modification or stair lift program. Call (574) 936-9904 to ask what is available now.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
