Madison County runs from the courthouse square in London out to farm towns like Mount Sterling, South Solon and Midway, with Plain City and West Jefferson on the side closer to Columbus. I-70 and I-71 both cross the county, and 66.2% of residents were counted as rural in the 2020 Census. That mix shows up in the houses: older two-story homes in town, single-family homes on open land, and newer townhouses where Columbus growth is pushing west.
The county had 16,216 housing units in 2020, and 73.5% were owner-occupied. When most families own their homes, a stair lift is usually a practical way to keep using the whole house instead of moving. This page covers which lift types fit the homes here and which local and state programs may help with the cost.
London is the county seat, about 25 miles southwest of Columbus, with 4,390 housing units in 2020. Parts of its downtown date to the early-to-mid 19th century, and like many older Midwest county-seat towns, it has plenty of two-story homes with the bedrooms upstairs.
Those homes often have one straight staircase, which is the simplest and lowest-cost lift to fit. A straight rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so plaster walls and old trim stay untouched. We check stair width, the landing at the top and whether a door swings into the path before recommending a model.
Split-level homes are common in the county, and they bring short flights of stairs between levels. Sometimes one short straight lift handles the trip people make most, such as from the main floor to the bedrooms. If the stairs turn or there are two connected flights, a curved rail built to the exact shape of the staircase is the usual answer.
Townhouses tend to have narrow straight stairs, so a slim rail with a folding seat and footrest keeps the stairs usable for everyone else. In walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings, the stairs are often shared, so the owner or landlord has to approve any lift first.
Most of Madison County is flat, but that does not make the entry safe. The area gets about 42.28 inches of precipitation a year across roughly 105 days, and recorded temperatures have ranged from -24 degrees F to 109 degrees F. Winter ice and snow make exterior steps a real fall risk.
For a porch or deck with several steps, an outdoor stair lift with a weather cover and sealed parts can carry someone up while family clears the steps later. Where a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat. Farmhouses with a raised back entry often get the most benefit from one of these.
Ohio's PASSPORT waiver lists home modifications among its covered services, so it is the main program to ask about for people who qualify for long-term-care Medicaid. The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging handles intake, and its number is (800) 589-7277. You can also reach Central Ohio AAA (AAA 6) at (614) 645-7250.
Other local options, like COAAA home repair services and Habitat for Humanity MidOhio, do not mention stair lifts on their pages, so call and ask before counting on them. Veterans have separate VA grants, and the Madison County Veterans Service Office in London can be reached at (740) 852-0676. Statewide, the Ohio Home Care Waiver and Ohio HOME Choice (Money Follows the Person) are also worth asking about.
A Medicaid waiver for Ohioans age 65+ (or 60-64 if physically disabled) who need nursing-facility-level care; it lists home modifications as a covered service, which is the basis for stair lift coverage. Income limit is $2,982/month for a single applicant, and you can call (800) 589-7277.
Services for Madison County residents age 60+ with no financial test, including home repairs, in-home care and transportation; stair lifts are not mentioned on the source. Call (800) 589-7277 to ask what home repair help covers.
The county's local entry point for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers, located at 280 W. High St. in London. It is a referral hub rather than a grant, and stair lifts are not listed; call (740) 852-3001.
A home repair program for owner-occupants in Franklin, Licking or Madison County with household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income ($61,050/year for one person). Stair lifts are not mentioned; call (614) 484-1966.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities to adapt a home they own or will own. Stair lifts are not named specifically.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands or certain respiratory injuries. Adaptations are described in general terms, with no stair lift mention.
Case-by-case financial assistance for veterans, active-duty members and dependents living in Madison County, based at 1 N. Main St. in London. Stair lifts are not listed; the Madison County Veterans Service Office can be reached at (740) 852-0676.
Older adults
3776 S. High St., Columbus, 43207
Veterans
1 N. Main St., Room 011, London, 43140
It can through the PASSPORT waiver, which lists home modifications as a covered service. You need to be 65 or older (or 60-64 with a physical disability), financially eligible for long-term-care Medicaid and assessed as needing nursing-facility-level care. Call (800) 589-7277 to start.
COAAA Title III services are open to Madison County residents age 60+ with no financial test, and a donation is suggested but not required. Their page lists home repairs but does not mention stair lifts, so ask directly at (800) 589-7277.
Yes. Outdoor models are built for weather, which matters here with winter ice and snow and about 105 days of precipitation a year. A platform lift is another option if a wheelchair needs to get inside.
Not always. If the stairs you use most are one short straight flight, a straight lift may do the job. If the stairs turn or connect through a landing, a curved rail is usually needed.
The Madison County Veterans Service Office at 1 N. Main St., Room 011, in London, phone (740) 852-0676, can help with county assistance and VA grants like SAH and SHA.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
