Ross County sits in the wooded Appalachian foothills of south-central Ohio, with the Scioto River running through the east-central part of the county and Paint Creek draining the lower central area. Chillicothe is the county seat and largest city, but most of the county is rural. In the 2020 Census, 58.8% of residents lived in rural areas, in places like Frankfort, Kingston, Richmond Dale, Bourneville and Massieville.
That spread shows up in the houses. Outside Chillicothe you find standalone single-family homes and farmhouses on their own lots, often on sloped ground, rather than rows of matching tract houses. Each one has its own staircase, entry steps and foundation, so a stair lift plan here starts with a visit to the actual home.
Local housing includes single-family homes, detached houses, split-level homes, townhouses and low-rise buildings. A single straight flight in a detached house or townhouse is usually the simplest case, and a straight lift runs on one rail mounted to the stair treads.
Split-level homes are different. They tend to have short runs of steps between levels, and the right answer may be one lift per run or a curved rail that follows a turn or landing. Curved rails are built to the measured stair, so we measure every step and landing before quoting.
Older farmhouses vary from house to house. Because the county's housing stock is so mixed, we do not assume a configuration from the outside of the home.
The county is described as having frequent wooded hills, and its highest point, Farrell Hill, sits about six miles northeast of Bainbridge. Many rural homesites sit on sloped ground, which often means several steps up to the front or side door.
On a sloped lot, a ramp can get very long, so an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift is often worth comparing. Outdoor lifts are built for weather exposure, and a platform lift can carry a wheelchair. We look at the grade, the door location and the path to the driveway before recommending one over a ramp.
Census figures from 2020 show a 69.5% owner-occupied split, so many older residents own the home they want to stay in.
That matters because some funding programs require you to own and live in the home, and others accept renters. The program list below notes which is which where the source says so.
Three programs are documented as covering home modifications that can include a stair lift: the PASSPORT Medicaid waiver and the VA SAH and SHA grants. Approval depends on medical need and each program's rules.
Several local programs, including CHIP, CDBG, the AAA7 Home Repair Program and USDA Section 504, fund accessibility or health and safety work but do not name stair lifts. Call them and ask directly whether a lift can be approved as an accessibility upgrade before counting on it.
One program is a clear no. The VA HISA grant lists stair glides, porch lifts and portable ramps as not covered. Veterans can still call the Ross County Veterans Service Office at (740) 772-1600, 475 Western Ave, Suite C, Chillicothe, for help filing VA claims.
Ohio's Medicaid home care waiver for people 65+ (or 60-64 with a qualifying physical disability) who need nursing facility level of care, with home modifications listed as a covered category, so a stair lift can be approved case by case in the care plan. Ross County residents apply through Area Agency on Aging District 7 at (800) 266-4346.
A home repair program offering critical repairs and accessibility upgrades for income-eligible senior homeowners in AAA7's 10-county region, which includes Ross County. Stair lifts are not listed, so ask whether one qualifies by calling (800) 582-7277.
A local senior services organization for Ross County residents 60+ that delivers PASSPORT personal care and homemaking help. Home modifications are not listed, but it is a useful local referral point at (740) 773-3544.
A county repair program for income-eligible homeowners who own and live in their home, with handicap accessibility improvements among its listed repairs; stair lifts are not named. Call Joanne Price at Ross County Planning & Development, (740) 702-3008, to ask whether a lift qualifies.
HUD-funded flexible money for housing and community development projects serving low-to-moderate income Ross County households; accessibility work and stair lifts are not detailed. Ross County Planning & Development handles it at (740) 702-3008.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for medically necessary home improvements, for owners or renters. It does not cover stair lifts: stair glides, porch lifts and portable ramps are listed as excluded.
A VA grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities to change a home they own or will own, and its home modification coverage can include a stair lift. Call the VA at (800) 827-1000.
A VA grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities such as loss of use of both hands, covering home modifications that can include a stair lift. Call the VA at (800) 827-1000.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners in USDA-eligible rural areas, with grants requiring an applicant 62+ who cannot repay a loan. Accessibility changes are an allowed use, but stair lifts are not named, so confirm with your local USDA Rural Development office.
The county veterans office offering short-term emergency financial help, rides to VA Medical Center appointments and help filing VA benefit claims; stair lift funding is not listed. Call (740) 772-1600, Monday through Friday 8am to 4pm.
Older adults
Rio Grande, Rio Grande, 45674
Veterans
475 Western Ave, Suite C, Chillicothe, 45601
It can. PASSPORT lists home modifications as a covered benefit, and a stair lift is decided case by case in your approved care plan. You need to be 65+ (or 60-64 with a qualifying physical disability), need nursing facility level of care and qualify for Medicaid. Call AAA7 at (800) 266-4346.
The 2026 figures are income up to $2,982 a month for a single applicant and assets up to $2,000 single, or $3,000 for a married couple when both spouses apply. Primary home equity up to $752,000 is exempt.
PASSPORT accepts people age 60-64 with a qualifying physical disability. The Ross County Senior Center serves residents 60+, and USDA Section 504 grants require at least one applicant age 62+ who cannot repay a loan.
No. HISA specifically excludes stair glides and porch lifts. Veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities may look at the SAH grant (up to $126,526) or SHA grant (up to $25,350) instead, by calling (800) 827-1000. The Ross County Veterans Service Office at (740) 772-1600 can help with the paperwork.
Many rural Ross County homes sit on sloped ground, and a ramp on a slope can run long. An outdoor stair lift or platform lift often fits better, but it depends on the number of steps, the grade and where the door is. We measure on site before recommending either.
Ross County's CHIP program lists handicap accessibility improvements for income-eligible homeowners who live in the home. Stair lifts are not named, so call Ross County Planning & Development at (740) 702-3008 to ask before you plan around it.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
