Around the courthouse square in Forsyth, many homes date to the 19th and early 20th centuries. Out past town, toward Culloden, Bolingbroke and Smarr, older farmhouses sit on land that rises and dips along Georgia's fall line. Most of these houses were built long before anyone planned for single-story living, so the original stairs are still the only way up.
That is the problem a stair lift solves. Instead of moving away from a home a family has owned for decades, you add a powered seat that rides along the existing staircase. This page covers how Monroe County's homes and terrain affect which lift fits, and which local and state programs are worth a call when it comes to paying for one.
Historic homes near the Forsyth square and older farmhouses in the rural parts of the county often have steep, narrow staircases. A straight stair lift rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so plaster walls and old trim usually stay untouched.
If the staircase turns at a landing or curves, a straight rail will not work. Those stairs need a curved lift with a rail built to the exact shape of your steps. We measure on site before recommending either type.
Split-level homes are common here, and they bring short flights between floors. Sometimes one short straight lift covers the flight used every day, which is often enough to keep the bedroom and bathroom within reach.
Ranch-style homes look like they should be stair-free, but steps to a basement or a raised entry still show up. In walk-up apartments, a lift on a shared stairway needs the building owner's approval before any work starts, so that conversation comes first.
Monroe County sits where the Piedmont meets the Atlantic coastal plain, so the ground across its 398 square miles can be hilly. Homes on sloped lots often have porch or entry steps that are hard to manage. An outdoor stair lift, built to handle weather, can cover those steps. For a wheelchair user, a platform lift is the better fit.
About 81.8% of county residents live in rural areas, and Forsyth is the main services center. Longer drives to doctors, therapists and contractors make it more practical for many families to adapt the house they already have than to relocate.
Roughly 20.2% of residents are 65 or older, and many have lived in the same house for years. Planning a lift before a fall, rather than after, gives you time to compare options and line up any help with the cost.
If someone in your family served, the VA grants listed below are worth checking before you pay out of pocket.
Median household income in the county is $83,183, and many families cover part or all of a stair lift themselves. Still, some programs can help, and a few phone calls can tell you where you stand.
For adults ages 21 to 64 with severe physical disabilities, the Georgia Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) lists home modifications among its services. For people 60 and older, the Middle Georgia Regional Commission AAA in Macon is the starting point; its office line is (478) 751-6160. Veterans can reach the Georgia Department of Veterans Service at (478) 476-8868.
Other statewide programs to ask about include the Home Access Program, the Credit-Able Loan Program, and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics). Details for each are in the program list below where we have them.
The regional agency for adults 60 and older and adults with disabilities, and it covers Monroe County; it screens callers and refers them to funded programs based on availability. Its published materials do not mention stair lifts or home modifications, so call (866) 552-4464 to ask.
A Medicaid waiver for frail elderly and disabled Georgians who meet a nursing-facility level of care and want care at home, covering services like personal care, adult day care and home-delivered meals. Stair lifts and home modifications are not listed; apply through the local Area Agency on Aging at (866) 552-4464.
A Medicaid waiver for eligible Georgians 65 and older, or younger with a qualifying disability, who meet nursing-facility level of care. Its listed services do not include stair lifts or home modifications; call (866) 552-4464 for details.
A Medicaid waiver for adults ages 21 to 64 with severe physical disabilities or traumatic brain injury who meet an institutional level of care. Home modifications are a listed service; call (800) 982-0411.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 for a permanent home, or up to $50,961 through Temporary Residence Adaptation, for veterans with severe qualifying service-connected disabilities who own or plan to own the home. The VA gives ramps and widened doorways as examples but does not name stair lifts, so ask the Georgia Department of Veterans Service at (478) 476-8868.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 for a permanent home, or up to $9,100 through Temporary Residence Adaptation, for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities; the home can belong to the veteran or a family member. Stair lifts are not named on the VA source, so confirm with the Georgia Department of Veterans Service at (478) 476-8868.
A nonprofit serving people of all ages with all types of disabilities in a 12-county area that includes Monroe County, with help decided case by case. A specific stair lift program is not listed, so call (478) 741-1425 to ask what equipment or home modification help is available.
Older adults
3661 Eisenhower Pkwy, Ste. MB102, Macon, 31206
Veterans
5566 Thomaston Road, Macon, 31201
Yes, possibly. The Georgia Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) serves adults ages 21 to 64 with severe physical disabilities or traumatic brain injury and lists home modifications as a service. Call (800) 982-0411. Disability Connections at (478) 741-1425 also serves people of all ages.
It depends on the waiver. ICWP lists home modifications. CCSP and the SOURCE / Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program do not list stair lifts or home modifications among their services. You can only be enrolled in one of these waivers at a time.
Yes, but it needs a curved stair lift with a rail made to fit your stairs, not a straight one. We measure the staircase on site to confirm what will work.
An outdoor stair lift is built for that use, and it helps on the sloped lots common around Monroe County. If the person uses a wheelchair, a platform lift is usually the right choice.
The Georgia Department of Veterans Service office at 5566 Thomaston Road in Macon can be reached at (478) 476-8868. Ask about the VA Specially Adapted Housing and Special Home Adaptation grants, and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics).
The Middle Georgia Regional Commission AAA, at 3661 Eisenhower Pkwy, Ste. MB102, Macon 31206. The office number is (478) 751-6160, and the ADRC line is (866) 552-4464.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
