Butler County stretches across about 779 square miles of the East Gulf Coastal Plain, from the Wolf Creek country in the northwest to Panther, Persimmon and Pigeon Creeks in the south. Greenville sits at the center as the county seat, with Georgiana and McKenzie farther out along the county's roads. Interstate 65 runs straight through the middle, with U.S. 31 and State Route 10 carrying much of the rest of the traffic.
Homes here range from single-family homes and ranch-style homes to split-level homes and walk-up apartments. The 2020 Census counted 9,806 housing units in the county, and much of that stock is older and modest. If a parent is starting to struggle with the stairs inside or the steps out front, this page walks through which kind of lift fits which kind of house and where Butler County families can look for help paying for it.
A two-story single-family home or detached house with one straight run of stairs is the simplest case. A straight stair lift mounts to the treads, not the wall, and is usually the most affordable option.
Split-level homes are different. They often have short flights broken up by landings, so the choice comes down to a curved rail that follows the turns or separate straight lifts on each run. We measure every flight before recommending either one.
Ranch-style homes may have everything on one floor, but many still have steps up to the porch or down from a raised entry. That is where an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can make the front or back door usable again.
With about 24 people per square mile, Butler County is rural, and older residents live far apart. That can stretch the time it takes to schedule an in-home assessment and installation, especially for houses well outside Greenville. Calling early, before a fall or a hospital stay forces the issue, gives the family more room to plan.
Older multi-level houses can also bring surprises: narrow stairways, uneven treads or tight top landings. A visit to the home is the only way to know what will fit, so we look at the stairs, the outlets nearby and the path to the door.
Of the occupied homes counted in the 2020 Census, 64.4% were owner-occupied and 35.6% were rented.
Those numbers matter for payment. Owners can usually install a lift on their own schedule, while renters in walk-up apartments or rented houses will want to talk with the property owner first. Veterans should also check VA programs, though not every VA grant covers stair lifts.
Median household income in the county was $44,850, below the Alabama statewide figure of $52,035. For many families, that means outside help is worth looking into before paying out of pocket.
The strongest lead is the Alabama Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Medicaid HCBS Waiver, which lists stair lifts among approved home modifications. The South Central Alabama Development Commission Area Agency on Aging at (334) 244-6903 handles intake and case management for that waiver. Other statewide options worth asking about include the State of Alabama Independent Living (SAIL) Waiver, the Alabama Ability Loan Program (STAR / Southern Disability Foundation) and the Alabama Senior / Disabled Homestead Exemption (H-2 / H-3).
Veterans can start with the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs - Butler County Veterans Service Office at 201 South Conecuh St., Ste. 102, Greenville, phone (334) 382-3231. The programs below spell out what each one does and does not cover.
Alabama's main Medicaid home and community waiver for people 65 and older or disabled who need a nursing home level of care, and it lists stair lifts, transfer equipment and handrails as approved home modifications. Call (800) 243-5463 to confirm current covered services and any dollar cap before relying on it.
Supports people moving from a nursing facility back to home with services such as personal care, homemaker help, respite and meals; the source does not mention stair lifts or home modifications. Call (800) 243-5463 for details.
The local intake and case-management point for people 60 and older or with disabilities, including the Elderly/Disabled Medicaid Waiver, Alabama Cares and SHIP counseling; it does not list a stair lift benefit of its own. Call (334) 244-6903.
Pays up to $6,800 lifetime for veterans with a service-connected disability and $2,000 for other qualifying disabilities, for permanent changes like entrance access and roll-in showers. It does not cover stair lifts or stair glides; call (800) 827-1000.
Grants of up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) for FY2026 for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home; stair lifts are not mentioned as a covered adaptation. Call (800) 827-1000.
Serves people with disabilities in Southwest Alabama, including Butler County, and lists home modifications among its frequent services, though stair lifts are not named specifically. Call (251) 460-0301 to ask what is available now.
Runs weatherization help such as insulation, air sealing and HVAC for low-income households up to 200% of the federal poverty level, with priority for elderly and disabled residents; it does not list stair lifts. Call (334) 382-2351 in Greenville or 334-376-0007 at the Georgiana office, open Tuesdays.
Older adults
5900 Carmichael Place, Montgomery, 36117
Veterans
201 South Conecuh St., Ste. 102, Greenville, 36037
The Alabama Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Medicaid HCBS Waiver lists stair lifts among approved home modifications for people 65 and older or disabled who need a nursing home level of care. Call (800) 243-5463 or the Area Agency on Aging at (334) 244-6903 to apply and confirm current coverage.
No. HISA specifically excludes stair glides and porch lifts and covers permanent changes like entrance access and roll-in showers. The Butler County Veterans Service Office in Greenville at (334) 382-3231 can help sort out other VA options.
The Area Agency on Aging serves people 60 and older and those with disabilities. The Independent Living Center of Mobile also serves people with disabilities in Butler County and lists home modifications among its services; call (251) 460-0301.
It can. Butler County is spread out at about 24 people per square mile, which can lengthen the time for in-home assessments and installation. Calling before the need becomes urgent helps.
Yes, if there are steps at the porch or entry. An outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can handle those steps so getting in and out of the house is safer.
Start with the South Central Alabama Development Commission Area Agency on Aging at (334) 244-6903. It is the local contact for waiver case management and aging-in-place referrals for Butler County residents.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
