From the older farmhouses outside Blissfield and Morenci to the newer subdivisions around Adrian and Tecumseh, Lenawee County homes come with very different staircases. Lake homes in the Irish Hills, including the Manitou Beach-Devils Lake area, add their own layouts. We install stair lifts in all 14 towns, including Clinton, Hudson, Onsted, Deerfield, Britton, Addison, Cement City, Jasper and Clayton.
The county covers 761 square miles along the Ohio border, and about 56.9% of residents live in rural areas. That means a lot of homes sit on farmland or in small towns, a fair drive from the nearest service office. This page walks through what your stairs likely need and which local and state programs can help with the cost.
Many older farmhouses here are multi-story, and their staircases were often built steep and narrow. Some run straight, which suits a straight rail lift, the simplest and quickest kind to install. Others turn at a landing or wind near the top, and those need a curved rail that is made to fit the exact shape of the stairs.
Split-level and ranch homes from the region's mid-20th-century growth work differently. A split-level usually has short flights of a few steps between levels, so one person may need two separate short lifts. A ranch with a basement staircase often needs just one straight lift to reach the laundry or a lower bedroom.
Townhouses tend to have one straight, enclosed flight against a wall, which is a good match for a straight lift with a folding seat and rail so others can still use the stairs. In walk-up apartments, talk with the building owner before anything goes on a shared stairway.
Front and back porch steps matter too, especially at rural homes where the main entry may be several steps up. Outdoor stair lifts are built to handle Michigan weather. For someone who uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift is usually the better fit than a chair.
About 18.6% of Lenawee County residents are 65 or older, and the county's median age is 42.3 years. Plenty of families here are starting to think about how a parent will keep using a second-floor bedroom or a basement.
If that includes someone in your family, the Lenawee County Department of Veterans Affairs at 1040 S. Winter Street, Suite 3017 in Adrian can help sort out VA benefits. Call (517) 264-5335.
The MI Choice Medicaid Waiver is the one program on this list that lists home modifications as a covered service, approved through an individual plan of care. It has income and asset limits and can have a waitlist, so it helps to call early.
Several other programs fund accessibility work without naming stair lifts. The county's Home Improvement Partnership Program, Habitat for Humanity's repair program and the USDA Section 504 program are worth asking about directly. The Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Program offers loans rather than grants.
For veterans, know one thing up front: the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not mention stair lifts either way. The full list of programs is below.
For a starting point on senior services, the Region 2 AAA is at 101 W. Pearl St. in Jackson, (517) 592-1970.
A Michigan Medicaid program for older or physically disabled adults who meet nursing-home level of care, and it covers home modifications under each person's plan of care. The 2026 income limit is $2,982/month and the asset limit is $9,950 for a single person; call (517) 264-5280.
Offers information and referral, Home and Personal Services, meals and caregiver support for Lenawee County residents age 60 and over. Its materials do not mention stair lifts or home modifications, but it is a good first call at (517) 264-5280.
Provides up to $25,000 per home for low-to-moderate-income homeowners, with accessibility improvements listed as an eligible repair; stair lifts are not named. Call (517) 539-8306.
Helps owner-occupants with repairs through grants and low or no-profit loans, and accessibility modifications such as ramps and grab bars are eligible, though stair lifts are not named. Income limits are up to $3,937/month for one person and $5,620/month for four; call (517) 265-6157.
A Center for Independent Living offering residential ramps, a medical equipment loan closet and equipment repair; stair lifts are not mentioned. Reach the Adrian office at (517) 264-5330.
Fixed-rate loans up to $30,000 for Michigan residents with a disability or seniors who need assistive technology, repaid over up to 7 years, including home modifications; stair lifts are not named. Call (517) 203-1200 or 1-800-828-2714.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% and grants up to $10,000 for very low income owners in eligible rural areas, with grants limited to homeowners 62+; stair lifts are not named among the examples. Much of Lenawee County outside Adrian's urban core may qualify.
A lifetime benefit of $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary home changes, but it specifically excludes stair glides, so it will not pay for a stair lift. Call (800) 827-1000.
Grants of up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) in FY2026 for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities who own their home. Stair lifts are not mentioned in the program description.
Older adults
101 W. Pearl St., Jackson, 49201
Veterans
1040 S. Winter Street, Suite 3017, Adrian, 49221
Usually, yes. Straight farmhouse stairs take a straight rail, while stairs that turn at a landing or wind near the top need a curved rail built to fit them. We measure in person to tell which one your stairs need.
The MI Choice Medicaid Waiver covers home modifications for people who meet nursing-home level of care and the income and asset limits. Enrollment is capped and waitlists can apply. Call (517) 264-5280 to start.
Not through the HISA grant, which excludes stair glides by name. The SAH and SHA grants do not mention stair lifts. The Lenawee County Department of Veterans Affairs at (517) 264-5335 can review other options.
The Lenawee Department on Aging serves residents 60 and over, but disAbility Connections serves people with disabilities of any age in Lenawee County at (517) 264-5330. The Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Program is also open to any Michigan resident with a disability.
It can help with funding. The USDA Section 504 program serves eligible rural areas, and much of the county outside Adrian's urban core may qualify. Grants up to $10,000 are for homeowners 62+ who cannot repay a loan.
Each flight generally gets its own straight lift, since the rail runs one flight at a time. Short flights are typically simple installs, and we can look at both during one visit.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
