Camden is South Carolina's oldest inland city, settled around 1732 by English traders and farmers. Around it, Kershaw County spreads across the Sandhills and Midlands, from the Camden and Lugoff corridor out to Bethune, East Camden and Abney Crossroads, with the Wateree River, the Catawba River and Lake Wateree along the way.
That mix of an old county seat and spread-out rural homes means a lot of houses here were built with stairs and no thought of accessibility. This page walks through how local homes line up with different stair lift types, and which programs in Kershaw County and South Carolina may help with the cost.
Most people here own the house they live in. The 2020 Census shows 79.1% of occupied housing units in Kershaw County are owner-occupied, which matters because an owner can install a stair lift without asking a landlord.
The common home styles each bring their own stair question. Ranch-style homes often have only a few steps at the entry or a stair down to a basement. Split-level homes have short runs between levels, sometimes more than one. Townhouses usually have a full straight flight between floors, and walk-up apartments put the stairs in a shared space, which needs the building owner involved.
A straight stair lift fits a single run with no turns or landings. It is the usual answer for a two-story single-family home or a townhouse with one straight flight.
If the stairs turn, wrap around a landing or curve, the rail has to be built to that staircase, so a curved lift is the fit. Split-level homes with more than one short flight sometimes need a separate lift for each run, and we look at that on the visit.
Front porch and entry steps are a different job. An outdoor stair lift is made for weather exposure, and a platform lift can carry a wheelchair user up a few steps where a seat would not work.
About 20.0% of Kershaw County residents are 65 or older. For many of them, especially outside Camden and Lugoff, moving closer to services would mean leaving a home they own on land they know.
Kershaw County covers about 740.26 square miles, and rural households can be a long drive from contractors and medical offices. A stair lift that keeps the bedroom and bathroom usable is often simpler than a move.
No program in the sources we used names stair lifts as a guaranteed covered item, so the goal is to ask the right office directly. The Community Choices Medicaid Waiver lists home modifications, the Housing Trust Fund covers accessibility repairs, and USDA Section 504 can help rural homeowners with very low incomes.
For a starting point, call the Santee-Lynches AAA at (803) 775-7381, at 39 E. Calhoun Street in Sumter. Veterans can visit Kershaw County Veterans Affairs at 515 Walnut Street in Camden or call (803) 425-1521. It is also worth asking about the South Carolina Assistive Technology Loan Program and the South Carolina Homestead Exemption (Property-Tax Relief).
A Medicaid waiver for SC residents 65 and older, or adults 18-64 with a physical disability, who need nursing-facility level care; the 2026 income limit is $2,982/month and the asset limit $2,000 for a single applicant. Home modifications such as ramps and bathroom changes are listed, but stair lifts are not named, so call (888) 549-0820 to ask.
Home Accessibility Adaptation is a covered service in the Community Choices, ID/RD, HIV/AIDS and Mechanical Ventilator waivers, but the source does not list which modifications qualify or mention stair lifts. Call (888) 549-0820 about eligibility and waiver slots.
The regional aging agency for Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter counties, serving adults 60+ and adults with disabilities with information and referral, assessment, respite help and insurance counseling. The source does not list stair lift or home modification funding; call (803) 775-7381.
Runs adult day programs in Bethune, Camden and Lugoff, Meals on Wheels, congregate meals and senior transportation. Stair lifts and home modifications are not listed, but it can be a first call at (803) 432-8173.
Offers repair loans up to $40,000 at 1% for 20 years and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners 62+ with very low incomes in eligible rural areas, with property eligibility checked through the USDA Property Eligibility Tool. The program funds repairs and health and safety fixes, but stair lifts are not specifically named.
Provides up to $6,800 or $2,000 over a lifetime for disability-related home changes to entrances and bathrooms. The VA explicitly excludes stair glides, so HISA does not cover stair lifts.
For veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, offering up to $126,526 for FY2026 to adapt a permanent home. The VA page does not name stair lifts, so ask Kershaw County Veterans Affairs at (803) 425-1521.
Provides up to $25,350 for FY2026 for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands or severe burns. Stair lifts are not named on the VA page.
The independent living center serving people with disabilities in the Midlands, including Kershaw County. Its source page does not mention stair lifts, so call (803) 779-5121 to ask about funding or referrals.
Up to $25,000 per owner-occupied home for health, safety or accessibility repairs for households at or below 80% of Area Median Income, applied for through an approved nonprofit partner. Stair lifts are not named; the Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments can point you to the current local partner.
Older adults
39 E. Calhoun Street, Sumter, 29150
Veterans
515 Walnut Street, Camden, 29020
Possibly, but it is not guaranteed. The Community Choices Waiver lists home modifications like ramps and bathroom changes without naming stair lifts, and enrollment is limited with possible waitlists. Call (888) 549-0820 to ask about your situation.
No. The VA explicitly excludes stair glides from HISA. Veterans with severe service-connected disabilities can ask about the SAH or SHA grants through Kershaw County Veterans Affairs at (803) 425-1521.
Yes, some programs serve younger adults. The Community Choices Waiver covers adults 18-64 with a physical disability who need nursing-facility level care, and Able South Carolina serves people with disabilities in the Midlands.
It depends on the property. Kershaw County has both eligible rural areas and the more built-up Camden and Lugoff corridor, so the address has to be checked with the USDA Property Eligibility Tool.
Often each short run gets its own straight lift, and if a run turns, a curved lift is needed. We measure each flight during the home visit before recommending anything.
The Santee-Lynches AAA at (803) 775-7381 handles information and referral for Kershaw County. The Kershaw County Council on Aging at (803) 432-8173 is another local starting point.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
