Pike County covers about 672 square miles of south-central Alabama, and most of it is country. Troy is the county seat and the largest city, with Brundidge, Goshen and Banks rounding out the county's four towns. According to the source we use, 56.2% of residents live in rural areas, so a lot of the homes we look at sit well outside town along U.S. Highways 29 and 231 or one of the state routes like SR 10, SR 87 or SR 167.
The housing here leans toward single-family homes, and much of it is older rural and small-town construction rather than newer one-story ranch subdivisions. That matters for stair lifts. An older staircase or a multi-level layout is often the one thing keeping a parent from using the whole house, and it is usually the first thing we measure when we come out.
In single-family and detached houses with one straight run of stairs, a straight stair lift is usually the simplest fit. The rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so older plaster or paneling is rarely a problem.
Split-level homes are different. The stairs are short, but they often turn or break at a landing, which can mean a curved rail or two separate straight lifts. Townhouses tend to have tighter stairwells, so we check the width and the space at the top and bottom before recommending anything.
Walk-up apartments are worth a conversation with the property owner first, since the lift attaches to the building. Pike County has a large rental market shaped by Troy University, so this comes up more here than in many counties of similar size.
Many older country houses outside Troy, Brundidge, Goshen and Banks have raised porches with steps up to the front door. If those steps are the barrier, an outdoor stair lift built for weather exposure is one option. For someone who uses a wheelchair, a platform lift can carry the chair itself.
Because so much of the county is rural, some homes sit a good distance from installers and in-home care providers. It helps to plan the assessment ahead and have measurements, photos of the stairs and any questions ready so one visit covers as much as possible.
Pike County has a population of 20,579, and 13.1% of residents are 65 or older. Many of those older residents own homes they have lived in for years and would rather adapt than leave.
If that includes your parent, it is worth calling the Pike County Veterans Service Office at the courthouse in Troy before paying out of pocket, since VA grants may apply to home changes.
Money is a real concern here. The county's 2024 median household income was $48,677, and the poverty rate was 23.3%, compared with a U.S. average of 12.5%. Many families will want to check outside help before buying.
The strongest lead is the Alabama Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Medicaid HCBS Waiver, which lists home modifications as a covered service. The South Central Alabama Development Commission (SCADC) is the local Area Agency on Aging and the place to start that process. Veterans can look at VA grants, and homeowners in rural areas can look at USDA repair loans and grants.
Other statewide programs to ask about include the State of Alabama Independent Living (SAIL) Waiver, the Alabama Community Transition (ACT) Waiver, the Alabama Ability Loan Program (STAR / Southern Disability Foundation) and the Alabama Senior / Disabled Homestead Exemption (H-2 / H-3). Details for each are listed below where we have them.
A Medicaid program for people 65 and older, or younger if disabled, who meet a nursing-facility level of care, with a monthly income limit of $2,982 (2026) and a $2,000 asset limit for a single applicant. Its benefits list names home modifications, which can include stair lifts, but no per-item cap is stated, so confirm scope with SCADC or call (877) 425-2243.
The Area Agency on Aging for Pike County, serving adults 60 and older and caregivers, and the local intake point for the E&D Waiver and other case-managed services. Its source does not list stair lifts or home modifications as a direct service; call (334) 244-6903.
Rural homeowners with household income at or below 50% of the county's area median income can get a 1% loan up to $40,000, and those 62 or older who cannot repay a loan may get a grant up to $10,000, with a combined total up to $50,000. The source covers repairs, modernization and health and safety hazards but does not mention stair lifts, and no phone number was confirmed.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 lifetime for a service-connected disability, or $2,000 for other non-service-connected disabilities, for medically necessary home changes prescribed by a VA physician. The source does not mention stair lifts either way, so confirm with the VA at (800) 827-1000.
The SHA grant offers up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with certain service-connected conditions, such as loss or loss of use of both hands or severe burns. The source does not mention stair lifts, so ask the Pike County Veterans Service Office at (334) 566-1780 how it applies.
A center for independent living offering transportation, housing, peer support and advocacy for people with disabilities. Its source does not mention stair lifts or confirm that it serves Pike County, so call (334) 240-2520 to ask.
Older adults
5900 Carmichael Place, Montgomery, 36117
Veterans
County Courthouse 120 W. Church Street, Troy, 36081
Possibly. The Alabama Elderly and Disabled (E&D) Medicaid HCBS Waiver lists home modifications as a covered service. You must meet a nursing-facility level of care and the income and asset limits, and you should confirm stair lift coverage with SCADC at (334) 244-6903.
The South Central Alabama Development Commission/AAA is at 5900 Carmichael Place, Montgomery 36117. The phone is (334) 244-6903. It also serves Bullock, Butler, Crenshaw, Lowndes and Macon counties.
The E&D Waiver covers people younger than 65 if they are disabled and meet a nursing-facility level of care. The SAIL Waiver and Independent Rights and Resources at (334) 240-2520 are also worth asking about.
Start with the Pike County Veterans Service Office at the County Courthouse, 120 W. Church Street, Troy 36081, phone (334) 566-1780. They can walk you through HISA and SHA. You can also reach the VA at (800) 827-1000.
The USDA Section 504 program is for owner-occupied homes in designated rural communities. Our source could not confirm Pike County's specific eligibility, so check directly with USDA. The source also does not mention stair lifts by name.
Usually, yes. Split-level stairs are short but may turn or have a landing, which can call for a curved rail or two straight lifts. We measure the stairs during a home visit to see which fits.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
