Fitzgerald was founded in 1895 as a planned colony city for Civil War veterans and incorporated in 1896. That deliberately platted core still shapes the housing today, and a good share of the homes in town were built long before anyone designed for walkers or wheelchairs. Multi-step front entries and interior stairs are common.
Outside the city, Ben Hill County spreads across about 254 square miles of rural South Georgia, with roughly 69 people per square mile. Fitzgerald is the only incorporated town, so many families live on rural or semi-rural properties farther from contractors and medical services. This page walks through which kind of stair lift fits the homes here and where to look for help paying for one.
Ben Hill County had 8,124 housing units as of the 2020 Census. Many of the homes in Fitzgerald's older core predate modern accessibility design, so the first question we ask is not just about the indoor staircase but about the steps at the front and back doors.
A straight interior staircase is the simplest and usually the quickest install. The rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so older plaster or paneling is rarely a problem. When the stairs turn at a landing or wrap around a corner, a curved lift with a custom-bent rail is the answer, and it takes longer to build.
Ranch-style homes often have everything on one floor, but the porch or carport steps can still be the hardest part of the day. For those, an outdoor stair lift built for weather exposure, or a vertical platform lift for someone who uses a wheelchair, can make coming and going possible again.
Split-level homes are different. They tend to have several short flights instead of one long one, and each flight may need its own straight lift, or one curved rail if the runs connect. We measure every flight before recommending either route.
Walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings usually have shared stairways. If you rent, you will need the property owner's approval before anything is attached to the stairs, so it helps to bring them into the conversation early.
That veteran share is worth noting, because some families here may qualify for VA housing grants that others cannot use.
For rural properties, plan ahead. Longer drives mean an installer may group visits, so calling before a planned surgery or hospital discharge gives everyone time to measure, order parts and finish the job before it is needed.
The county's median household income was $38,255 per the 2022 American Community Survey, and about 26.5% of residents live at or below the poverty line. That makes grant and waiver help especially important here.
Start with the Southern Georgia Regional Commission AAA, which serves Ben Hill County from its office at 1725 South Georgia Parkway, W., Waycross, GA 31503. Its home modification program lists wheelchair ramp construction, and stair lifts are not named, so ask directly what it can cover. Veterans should contact the Georgia Department of Veterans Service at 1824 Ridge Ave North, Tifton, GA 31794, phone (478) 272-1210, about the SAH and SHA grants.
Statewide options to ask about include the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP), the Home Access Program, the Credit-Able Loan Program, VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics), the Community Care Services Program (CCSP) and the SOURCE Waiver. Each has its own rules, so confirm eligibility with the agency before counting on it.
An Area Agency on Aging program for older adults, typically 60 and over, in the 18-county region that includes Ben Hill County; it lists wheelchair ramp construction, and stair lifts are not mentioned in its materials. Call (888) 732-4464 or (912) 285-6097 to ask what it can cover.
A federal VA grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans or service members with certain severe service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home being modified. The VA's program page does not mention stair lifts, so check details at va.gov or with the Georgia Department of Veterans Service at (478) 272-1210.
A federal VA grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans or service members with qualifying service-connected disabilities who own or live in a family member's home being adapted. Stair lifts are not named as a covered adaptation in the VA's description, so ask the VA before planning around it.
Older adults
1725 South Georgia Parkway, W., Waycross, 31503
Veterans
1824 Ridge Ave North, Tifton, 31794
Yes, the Southern Georgia Regional Commission AAA serves older adults, typically 60 and over, in Ben Hill County. Its home modification program lists ramp construction rather than stair lifts, so call (912) 285-6097 or (888) 732-4464 and ask what applies to your home.
Yes. Outdoor stair lifts are built for porch and entry steps, and a vertical platform lift is an option if the person uses a wheelchair. We look at the step height, the landing space and where the lift will park.
Sometimes. If the flights are separate, each usually gets its own straight lift. If they connect at a turn, one curved rail can cover both, though it costs more to build.
The VA's SAH and SHA grant pages do not mention stair lifts, so there is no promise either way. Veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities should call the Georgia Department of Veterans Service in Tifton at (478) 272-1210 to ask.
It depends on the property owner. Shared stairways in walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings need the owner's written approval before any rail is installed, so talk with them first.
Yes, but allow extra lead time. Rural properties mean longer drives for measuring and installation, so reaching out early helps get the lift in place when it is needed.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
