Madison County runs across six towns in northeast Georgia's Piedmont: Comer, Danielsville, Colbert, Ila, Carlton and Hull. Much of the housing here is older two-story farmhouses and split-level homes near the town centers, along with newer single-family construction. Those are the homes where we most often see a staircase become the hard part of the day.
The county calls itself the 'quintessential Southern Community,' and with that rural flavor comes a practical reality. Mobility equipment installers and medical suppliers are usually based in nearby Athens, Commerce and Elberton rather than in the county itself. This page walks through what kind of lift fits a Madison County home and where local families can look for help paying for one.
An older two-story farmhouse often has one long, straight staircase. That is the simplest case for a straight stair lift, which mounts to the stair treads rather than the wall, so original plaster and trim are left alone.
Farmhouse stairs are not always straight, though. A landing, a turn at the top or a narrow winding run usually means a curved lift built to the shape of that staircase. We measure every turn before recommending one or the other.
Split-level homes near town centers bring a different question: several short flights instead of one long one. Depending on which levels the person actually needs to reach, that can mean one lift on the most-used flight or separate lifts on more than one.
Plenty of Madison County homes sit off the road with porch or entry steps that have to be climbed before anyone gets to an inside staircase. Manufactured homes in particular tend to have raised entries. An outdoor stair lift built for weather exposure, or a vertical platform lift for someone who stays in a wheelchair, can handle that first climb.
Townhouses and walk-up apartments also appear in the county's housing mix. In a rental or shared stairwell, the owner or landlord generally has to approve any installation, so that conversation comes first.
For many families, the person who needs the lift is a parent who has lived in the same farmhouse for decades and wants to keep using the upstairs bedroom.
Roughly 66.2% of households own their homes. Ownership matters because several funding sources, including the VA housing grants, are tied to a home the applicant owns or will own.
The county's poverty rate is 17.2%, above the 12.5% national average, so many households look for outside help before paying on their own. The good news is that Madison County residents can reach Medicaid waivers, Area Agency on Aging services and VA grants, all listed below.
Two programs explicitly cover home modifications: the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) for adults 21-64 with severe physical disabilities, and the home modification and repair services offered through the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission AAA for people 60 and older. Neither names stair lifts specifically, so confirm with a care coordinator that a lift fits the plan.
Other statewide programs exist too, including the Home Access Program, the Credit-Able Loan Program and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics). Ask the intake offices below whether any of these apply to your situation.
For older residents, the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission AAA at 305 Research Drive in Athens is the main door. Call (706) 583-2546 and ask for a home modification assessment. The Madison County Senior Center can also point families in the right direction at (706) 795-6300.
Veterans can reach the Athens Veterans Field Service Office – Georgia Department of Veterans Service at 9249 U.S. Highway 29 in Athens, phone (706) 733-0188. While the paperwork moves along, we can measure the stairs so a quote is ready when funding is approved.
A Georgia Medicaid waiver for people ages 21-64 with a severe physical disability or traumatic brain injury who meet nursing-facility level of care; home modifications are a listed covered service, though stair lifts are not named, so confirm with your care coordinator. Call (800) 982-0411.
A Medicaid waiver for frail elderly and disabled Georgians that funds case management, adult day care, personal care, home-delivered meals and respite; the source does not mention stair lifts or home modifications. Call the ADRC at (866) 552-4464 to ask whether a care plan can include one.
Medicaid waivers run by DBHDD for Georgians with intellectual or developmental disabilities, covering services such as specialized medical equipment and vehicle adaptation; stair lifts and home modifications are not mentioned by name. Call (404) 657-2252.
In-home services for people 60 and older in the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission's 12-county area, which includes Madison County; home modification and repair is a listed service, with help allocated case by case. Call (706) 583-2546 and request a home-modification assessment.
Federal grants for veterans with specific service-connected disabilities, with FY2026 caps of up to $126,526 for SAH, $25,350 for SHA, and $50,961 or $9,100 for TRA; the source does not mention stair lifts, so confirm with the VA that a lift qualifies as an approved adaptation.
A referral network that connects Georgians with disabilities to their nearest Center for Independent Living; it is not a grant, and stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (770) 270-6860 to be connected to the CIL that serves Madison County.
The county's local starting point for seniors and families, which can connect residents to the Northeast Georgia AAA and other funding sources; it does not list stair lift funding of its own. Call (706) 795-6300.
Older adults
305 Research Drive, Athens, 30605
Veterans
9249 U.S. Highway 29, Athens, 30601
Yes, possibly. The Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) serves adults ages 21-64 with a severe physical disability or traumatic brain injury who qualify for Medicaid, and it lists home modifications as a covered service. Call (800) 982-0411.
Start with the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission AAA at (706) 583-2546 and ask for a home modification assessment. The Madison County Senior Center at (706) 795-6300 can also help you get connected.
The VA's SAH, SHA and TRA grants cover adapting a home for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities, but the source does not name stair lifts specifically. The Athens Veterans Field Service Office at (706) 733-0188 can help you ask whether a lift qualifies.
Usually not. A staircase with a landing or turn typically needs a curved lift built to that shape. We measure the full run before recommending a lift.
Yes. Outdoor stair lifts are built for porch and entry steps, and a vertical platform lift is an option for someone using a wheelchair.
The state's summary of the Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program does not list home modifications or stair lifts. Call the ADRC at (866) 552-4464 to ask whether an individual care plan can include one.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
