Marion County's older homes sit around places like the Marion Downtown Historic District, centered on Center, Vine, Pleasant, and Orchard Streets, and the Caledonia Public Square and North Water Street Historic District. The Queen Anne-style Harding Home, built in 1890, shows the kind of house many families here grew up in: more than one level, with a full staircase up to the bedrooms.
That staircase is often the one thing standing between an older homeowner and staying put. We install stair lifts across the county's 8 towns, including Marion, Prospect, La Rue, Green Camp, Caledonia, New Bloomington, Morral, and Waldo. This page covers how local homes affect the choice of lift and where to look for help paying for one.
Homes from the era of the county's historic districts usually have a full staircase to the second floor. When that staircase runs in one straight line, a straight stair lift is the simplest fit and mounts to the treads, not the wall.
Older houses also tend to have turns, landings, or narrow stairwells. A staircase with a bend needs a curved lift built to that exact stair, so we measure in person before giving any recommendation.
Split-level homes are common in the county, and they bring short flights between several levels. Depending on which floors a person uses every day, that can mean one lift on the main flight or a curved rail that handles a turn.
Townhouses often have a straight interior staircase, which keeps installation simple. In walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings, the stairs usually belong to the owner of the building, so a renter needs the landlord's approval before any lift goes in.
Marion County covers about 404 square miles of largely flat glacial till plain, with no coastal or major flood-zone exposure. For most households, the climb that matters is inside the house rather than a steep yard or hillside approach, though a few entry steps can still call for an outdoor lift or platform lift.
About 65.3% of residents live in urban areas. With US Route 23 and a network of state routes running out from the county seat, most homes are a short drive from home-modification and medical services.
Many of those households are weighing whether to adapt the home they have or move.
For veterans, a county office in Marion can help sort out which federal benefits apply. For residents 60 and up, the regional Area Agency on Aging is the usual starting point.
The most direct local lead is the Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, which lists minor home modifications for older adults with mobility and safety concerns. Stair lifts are not named on its page, so ask about them specifically when you call (419) 524-4144.
Veterans have several VA grants to look at, but the HISA grant explicitly excludes stair glides. The full list of programs below notes what each one says about stair lifts and home modifications, and who to call.
A state Medicaid waiver for people age 60+ who are Medicaid-waiver financially eligible and meet nursing-facility level of care, run locally by the Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging. The source does not mention stair lifts or home modifications under PASSPORT itself, so confirm with a care manager at (419) 524-4144.
Minor home modifications for older adults in Marion County with mobility and safety concerns, with work scoped by a home assessment. Home modifications are covered, though stair lifts are not itemized, so confirm scope by calling (419) 524-4144.
Offers emergency financial assistance and help applying for VA benefits to veterans and their families in Marion County, at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 220 E. Fairground St., Ste. 101, Marion. Stair lifts are not mentioned; call (740) 387-0100 for help pursuing VA housing grants.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) toward a permanent home for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, or up to $50,961 for a Temporary Residence Adaptation. The VA page does not mention stair lifts; call (800) 827-1000.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) toward a permanent home, or up to $9,100 for a Temporary Residence Adaptation, for veterans with qualifying disabilities. Stair lifts are not mentioned on the VA page; call (800) 827-1000.
A VA health-benefit grant with a $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime maximum for medically necessary home alterations. It explicitly excludes stair glides, so it does not cover stair lifts; call (800) 827-1000 with questions.
A nonprofit offering advocacy, information and referral, and peer support to people with disabilities in Marion and nearby counties. It does not list a home-modification or stair lift program but can point you to other resources; call (419) 526-6770.
A critical home repair program for homeowners in Marion, Hardin, Wyandot, and Morrow counties, with repairs scoped per approved application. Stair lifts and accessibility work are not mentioned; call (740) 383-2007 to ask.
Older adults
2131 Park Avenue W., Suite 100, Ontario, 44906
Veterans
220 E. Fairground St., Ste. 101, Marion, 43302
Call the Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging at (419) 524-4144. It lists minor home modifications and also handles PASSPORT locally, so one call can cover both. Ask directly whether a stair lift fits within the modification service.
The agency's public information does not say. PASSPORT serves people age 60+ who meet Medicaid-waiver financial rules and nursing-facility level of care, and a PASSPORT care manager is the person to confirm what the plan can include.
No. The VA page lists stair glides among excluded items for HISA. A veteran can ask the Marion County Veterans Service Office at (740) 387-0100 whether the SAH or SHA grant might apply instead.
Usually, yes. Homes of that era typically have a full staircase to the second floor. A straight run takes a straight lift, while turns or landings need a curved lift measured to the stair.
Split-level homes have short flights between levels. We look at which levels are used every day and plan the lift around those stairs, which may involve a curved rail if the flight turns.
The Independent Living Center of North Central Ohio serves people with disabilities in Marion County and lists no specific age threshold on its homepage. Call (419) 526-6770 for referral to programs that may help.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
