Drive the low hills between Petersburg, Winslow, Otwell and Alford and you pass plenty of older farmhouses and small-town homes with the bedrooms upstairs. Many of these houses were built with traditional multi-level layouts and an interior staircase, and new construction in this small, rural county remains limited. That means most families here are working with the house they already have.
When climbing those stairs gets hard, a stair lift is often the simplest way to keep using the whole house. This page walks through how Pike County homes tend to be laid out, which kind of lift usually fits, and which programs in Indiana may help with the cost, starting with the local Area Agency on Aging in Vincennes.
Pike County's housing stock is mostly older and owner-occupied, with 82.5% of homes owner-occupied per the 2020 census. Around Petersburg, the county seat platted in 1817, and in towns like Arthur and Glezen, a lot of homes keep their original stair layout. Retrofitting a stair lift is a common request as homeowners here age in place.
A single straight run from the front hall to the second floor is the easiest case. The rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so plaster walls in an old farmhouse are not a problem. If your staircase turns at a landing or has a winder at the top, you will likely need a curved rail built to the shape of your stairs, which takes longer to make.
Not every home in the county is a two-story farmhouse. Manufactured homes are common, and those usually have a few steps up to the door rather than an indoor staircase. For that, an outdoor stair lift rated for weather or a platform lift that carries a wheelchair can make more sense than a ramp when there is not much yard to work with.
Low-rise buildings and walk-up apartments are a different situation, since the stairs are shared and the owner of the building has to agree to any installation. If you rent, talk with the landlord before you plan anything.
The county sits in southwestern Indiana between the White River to the north and the Patoka River through the middle, with mostly low, cleared hills that were long used for farming. Homes on rolling ground often have a raised porch or a set of steps down to a basement door or a garage. Those spots are where outdoor and platform lifts tend to come up.
An outdoor unit has to handle rain, snow and sun, so it uses sealed parts and a cover for the seat. We look at the grade, the footing under the steps and how the path meets the driveway before recommending one.
As of the 2020 census, 20.3% of Pike County residents were 65 or older, so many families here are thinking about stairs at the same time.
Because most people here own their homes, the decision usually comes down to the house itself and how to pay. A home visit to measure the stairs is the first step, and checking programs can happen at the same time.
Most stair lifts are paid for privately, but several programs are worth a phone call. None of the programs below name stair lifts in their official materials, so ask each one directly whether a lift can count as a home modification or accessibility repair. The VA HISA grant is the exception: it explicitly excludes stair glides.
Start with Generations Vincennes University at 1019 N. 4th St. in Vincennes, (812) 888-5880. They handle intake and options counseling for the Medicaid waivers and other aging programs covering Pike County. Statewide, you can also ask about the CHOICE Program and the INDATA Alternative Financing Program (AFP).
Veterans can reach the Veterans Services Office at 2206 S State Road 61 in Winslow, (812) 354-6245, for help sorting through VA options.
Indiana's Medicaid home and community waivers, with PathWays serving members 60 and older and the Health and Wellness Waiver serving people 59 and under who meet a nursing-facility level of care. Home modifications are a covered service, but stair lifts are not specifically listed; the helpline is (877) 284-9294.
The Area Agency on Aging for Pike County and five neighboring counties, offering case management, options counseling and help applying for waiver services rather than direct grants. Stair lifts are not listed as a benefit; call (812) 888-5880 as your first stop.
Repair loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest over 20 years, and grants up to $10,000 lifetime for very-low-income homeowners age 62 or older who cannot repay a loan, in eligible rural areas. Example repairs include walk-in tubs and wheelchair ramps, but stair lifts are not specifically listed.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 lifetime for a service-connected disability or $2,000 for other disabilities, for medically necessary changes to a veteran's home. Stair glides are explicitly excluded from this benefit.
Grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities who own their home, up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) for FY2026. Stair lifts are not specifically listed; VA's general benefits line is (800) 827-1000.
A nonprofit serving people with disabilities in Pike and seven other counties with information and referral, advocacy and assistive-technology education rather than cash grants. Stair lifts are not listed; call (812) 886-0575 to ask about current referral options.
State grant money awarded to local governments, which then run rehab programs for income-qualified homeowners; residents cannot apply to the state directly, and no source confirms an active award in Pike County. Accessibility modifications are eligible repairs, but stair lifts are not specifically named; the listed phone is (800) 457-8283.
Older adults
1019 N. 4th St., Vincennes, 47591
Veterans
2206 S State Road 61, Winslow, 47598
Call Generations Vincennes University at (812) 888-5880. They are the Area Agency on Aging for Pike County and handle intake and options counseling for the Medicaid waivers and other aging programs.
Yes, possibly. The Health and Wellness Waiver serves individuals 59 and under who meet a nursing-facility level of care and income limits, and PathWays for Aging serves those 60 and older. Home modifications are covered, though stair lifts are not named, so ask during intake.
No. The VA lists stair glides among the removable equipment HISA does not cover. Veterans with severe service-connected disabilities may want to ask about the SAH or SHA grants, and the Veterans Services Office in Winslow at (812) 354-6245 can help.
USDA Section 504 grants of up to $10,000 lifetime are for very-low-income homeowners 62 or older who cannot repay a loan. Stair lifts are not named on the program page, so ask USDA whether your project qualifies.
Usually, yes. Straight stairs take a standard rail, while stairs that turn at a landing need a curved rail made to fit. The rail mounts to the treads, so older walls are not a barrier.
Only if the county or one of its towns holds an active OCRA Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation award, and no source confirms one right now. Ask your town or county office whether an award is in place.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
