From Knox and North Judson to the lake communities of Bass Lake, Koontz Lake and Hartz Lake, and out to Hamlet and San Pierre, much of Starke County lives in older farmhouses and bungalows. Many of these homes were built when the county grew up around railroad and farm commerce, and a lot of them have a second story reached by one traditional interior staircase.
That staircase is where most of our Starke County jobs start. This page walks through how local homes and land affect the choice of a stair lift, and which state, federal and county programs may help with the cost.
The 2020 Census counted 11,123 housing units in Starke County, and most occupied homes are owner-occupied. Farmhouse and bungalow layouts often have a single straight run of stairs to the second floor, which usually fits a straight stair lift rail mounted to the treads, not the wall.
Older staircases can be narrow or have a turn or landing partway up. When the stairs bend, a curved rail is built to match that exact staircase, so we measure every step before quoting. Owning the home also matters, since you can make the changes without asking a landlord.
Split-level homes have short flights between floors, sometimes more than one. Each flight may need its own lift, so it helps to decide which levels you really need to reach every day.
Townhouses and duplexes tend to have tighter stairwells. We check the stair width and the space at the top and bottom so the seat can fold up and the stairs stay usable for everyone else in the house.
Starke County is mostly gentle land along the Kankakee River and the Yellow River, with high points around 780 feet. The modest grades suit ramps and outdoor mobility setups better than hilly areas do, and an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can handle porch or entry steps where a ramp would run too long.
The 2020 census classified 100.0% of the county's population as rural. Homes outside Knox can be spread out, so plan ahead when lining up assessments and paperwork for any aid program.
The county's median age is 43.7, older than Indiana's statewide median of 38.6, and many seniors here live on fixed incomes. Indiana PathWays for Aging is the one program in our list that names home modifications as a covered benefit, for Medicaid members 60 and older who meet a nursing facility level of care.
Other programs, like CHOICE, USDA Section 504 and the VA SAH and SHA grants, help with home repairs or accessibility but their sources do not name stair lifts, so ask directly. The VA HISA grant excludes stair glides. CoAction, the Area Agency on Aging for Starke County, is a good first call to sort out which program fits. Statewide, the INDATA Alternative Financing Program (AFP) is also listed as a resource.
A Medicaid waiver for people 60 and older who meet a nursing facility level of care, and it lists home modification assessments and home modifications as a covered benefit, with dollar limits set by the member's managed care entity (Anthem, Humana, or United Healthcare). Call (877) 284-9294.
A state-funded, sliding-scale program for people 60 and older, or younger with a qualifying impairment, who are at risk of nursing-home placement; its environmental modifications include grab bars, stairwell handrails and wheelchair ramps, but stair lifts are not listed. Call (800) 986-3505.
The local intake and referral point in Crown Point for CHOICE, PathWays and other aging and disability services for adults 60 and older and adults with disabilities; it does not pay for stair lifts itself. Call (219) 794-1829.
Offers loans up to $40,000 at 1% for up to 20 years, and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income rural homeowners age 62 and older who cannot repay a loan. The source names ramps and grab bars as examples but does not mention stair lifts.
Provides up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for medically needed home changes tied to a veteran's disability, but it specifically excludes stair glides and porch lifts. Call (800) 827-1000.
Grants for homeowner veterans with severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026; the source does not say whether stair lifts are covered. Call (800) 827-1000.
A Knox nonprofit offering homemaker service at $15.00 per hour and a handyman service for income-qualified residents 60 and older referred by the Area I case manager; stair lifts are not listed. Call (574) 772-7070.
Older adults
5240 Fountain Drive, Crown Point, 46307
Veterans
53 E. Mound St, Knox, 46534
Most traditional interior staircases in older farmhouses and bungalows can take a stair lift. A straight run usually takes a straight rail, while stairs with a turn or landing need a curved rail made to measure.
PathWays for Aging and CoAction's aging services start at 60, but the CHOICE program also serves younger people with a qualifying physical or mental impairment. Call CHOICE at (800) 986-3505 or CoAction at (219) 794-1829.
The HISA grant excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants serve veterans with severe service-connected disabilities, but their source does not say stair lifts are covered. The Starke County Veterans Service Office at 53 E. Mound St in Knox, (574) 772-9132, can help you ask.
CoAction in Crown Point is the Area Agency on Aging for Starke County and handles intake for CHOICE and PathWays. Reach them at (219) 794-1829.
Section 504 helps very-low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas, with grants limited to those 62 and older. Its source lists ramps and grab bars, not stair lifts, so confirm with USDA before counting on it for a lift.
Starke County's flat ground makes ramps practical in many yards. Where a ramp would be too long, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift is another option for entry steps.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
