From Scottsmoor and Mims in the north to Micco and Grant-Valkaria in the south, Brevard County stretches along Florida's Atlantic coast with 30 towns and a mix of mainland and barrier island neighborhoods. Many families here live in single-story ranch homes built during the NASA and space-program boom of the 1960s through the 1980s. Others are in newer two-story houses built since the 2000s, often inland or near the Indian River Lagoon.
That mix shapes what kind of lift makes sense. A two-story home in Viera East or West Melbourne usually calls for an indoor lift on the main staircase. A ranch house in Cocoa or Rockledge may have no inside stairs at all but still have steps at the front door or the back porch. This page walks through those cases and the programs that may help with the bill.
A straight stair lift fits a single, unbroken flight of stairs. It is the usual choice in two-story homes and many townhouses, where the staircase runs in one line from the first floor to the second.
Curved lifts are built for stairs that turn, have a landing, or wrap around a corner. These take more measuring, since the rail is made to fit that specific staircase.
Split-level homes deserve a closer look. The flights are short, but there may be more than one, so the question is which levels the person needs to reach every day and whether one lift or two makes sense.
Since so many Brevard homes are single-story, the stairs that cause trouble are often outside. A few steps up to the front door, a raised porch, or steps down to a garage can keep someone from getting in and out safely.
Outdoor stair lifts are made for this kind of spot. For someone who uses a wheelchair, a platform lift may be the better fit, because the person stays in the chair instead of transferring to a seat.
On the barrier islands, including Merritt Island and Cocoa Beach, homes sit close to the water. If you are looking at an outdoor unit there, ask how it handles weather and how the rail and seat are protected when not in use.
Condominiums and low-rise buildings are common along the coast, in places like Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach and Cape Canaveral. If the stairs are in a shared hallway or outside walkway, the building association typically has a say before anything is installed.
Inside a two-level condo unit, the choice works like any house: straight or curved, depending on the stair shape. Bring the association's rules to the first conversation so the plan fits them from the start.
About 23.2% of Brevard County residents are 65 or older, and about 75.5% of households own their homes. For many families, that means a parent who wants to stay in a house they own rather than move.
Veterans should know the VA has a home alteration grant, but it does not pay for stair lifts, so it is worth asking local veteran staff about other options before planning around it.
No single program here names stair lifts as a covered item, so it helps to know what each one actually says. Florida's Medicaid long-term care benefit lists home modifications for accessibility, and each managed care plan decides which items it covers through the member's care plan.
The local aging program lists ramps, grab bars and chair platforms, but not full stair lifts. The VA's HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. Statewide, families also look into the FAAST New Horizon Loan Program and the Florida Homestead + Senior Additional Homestead Exemption. The program details below show who to call.
A Florida Medicaid long-term care benefit for people 65+ (or 18+ and disabled) who need a nursing facility level of care through a CARES assessment, with a 2026 income limit of $2,982/mo and an asset limit of $2,000 for a single applicant. It lists home modifications for accessibility but does not name stair lifts, so coverage depends on your managed care plan; call (800) 963-5337.
A home-modification program for Brevard County residents age 60+, offered on a sliding-scale or donation basis rather than as a fixed grant. Its list includes grab bars, ramps, chair platforms, bed rails and minor repairs, but stair lifts are not named; call (321) 631-2744.
A VA grant for structural home changes for veterans with a service-connected or compensable disability, with a lifetime maximum of $6,800 or $2,000 depending on the disability. It does not cover stair lifts, since its exclusion list names porch lifts and stair glides; call (877) 222-8387.
Older adults
3319 Maguire Blvd., Ste. 100, Orlando, 32803
Veterans
2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Building B, Suite 102, Viera, 32940
Possibly, but it is not guaranteed. The SMMC LTC benefit covers home modifications for accessibility, and each managed care plan decides the specific items through the member's care plan. Call (800) 963-5337 to ask about eligibility, and ask the plan directly about stair lifts.
Yes. The Senior Resource Alliance / Aging Matters in Brevard Housing Improvements Program serves Brevard residents age 60+ on a sliding-scale or donation basis. It lists ramps and chair platforms, not full stair lifts. Call (321) 631-2744, or reach the Senior Resource Alliance (PSA 7) office in Orlando at (407) 514-1800.
No. The HISA exclusion list names porch lifts and stair glides. Brevard County Veteran Services in Viera, at (321) 633-2012, can talk through other VA benefits. The Viera VA Outpatient Clinic is the local VA clinic.
It can if there are steps at the entry, porch or garage. An outdoor stair lift handles a short run of exterior steps, and a platform lift works for someone who stays in a wheelchair.
Inside your own unit, usually yes, depending on the stair shape. If the stairs are shared or outside your unit, the condo association will need to approve the plan first.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
