Ellaville is the only incorporated city in Schley County, and its older core grew up around a courthouse dating from 1899. Beyond town, the county is entirely rural, so most homes sit out in the countryside across 168 square miles of relatively flat west-central Georgia.
Flat land does not mean a flat entry. Much of the housing here is older and rural in character, with multi-step front porches and raised foundations built without accessibility features. Those steps, inside or out, are usually where a stair lift conversation starts.
The local housing mix includes single-family homes, ranch-style homes, split-level homes and a few low-rise buildings. A raised foundation with a porch stair is one of the most common trouble spots, and an outdoor stair lift built for weather exposure can handle that run.
Split-level homes bring a different problem: short flights between levels that get used many times a day. A straight rail often fits those runs well, while a stair with a turn or landing usually needs a curved rail made to measure.
A straight stair lift fits a single run with no turns and is the simplest install. Curved lifts follow landings and bends, so we measure the stair on site before anything is ordered.
For a porch or entry stair, an outdoor model is the usual answer. If the person uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift or a ramp may be the better fit, and we will say so during the visit.
Because 100.0% of Schley County residents live in rural areas, many homes are well outside Ellaville. That lengthens travel time for any in-home service provider, so it helps to plan the measurement visit and the install with some lead time.
Have the stairs clear and know which entrance gets used most. If more than one stair is a problem, such as a porch step and an inside flight, we can look at both on the same trip.
About 18.7% of Schley County residents are 65 or older, and 71.5% own their homes. Owning the home makes it easier to install a permanent rail and to qualify for some modification programs.
If that includes someone in your family, the VA grants below are worth a call before you pay out of pocket.
Of the Medicaid waivers available here, the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) is the one whose services explicitly include home modifications. The source does not name stair lifts, so ask directly when you apply. The CCSP and SOURCE Waiver services listed do not mention home modifications.
For aging services, the River Valley Regional Commission AAA in Columbus can be reached at (706) 256-2910. Veterans can contact the Georgia Department of Veterans Service – Americus Field Service Office at (229) 931-2546.
Georgia's statewide list also names the Home Access Program, the Credit-Able Loan Program and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics). Ask about these when you call the offices above.
A state Medicaid waiver for adults ages 21-64 with severe physical disabilities or traumatic brain injury; its listed services include home modifications, which may cover a stair lift. Call Alliant Georgia Medical Care Foundation at (800) 982-0411.
A state Medicaid waiver for frail elderly or disabled Georgians who meet nursing-facility level of care; its listed services do not mention stair lifts or home modifications. Call the Georgia ADRC at (866) 552-4464.
A state Medicaid waiver for frail elderly or disabled Georgians, coordinated through River Valley AAA for Schley County; the source does not mention stair lifts or home modifications. Call (866) 552-4464.
Medicaid waivers run by DBHDD for Georgians with intellectual or developmental disabilities; the listed services do not mention stair lifts or home modifications. Call (404) 657-2252.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 for a permanent home, or up to $50,961 for a Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA), for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities; the source gives ramps and widened doorways as examples but does not mention stair lifts. Ask the Americus Field Service Office at (229) 931-2546.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 for a permanent home, or up to $9,100 for a TRA, for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, and the home can be owned by a family member; stair lifts are not mentioned in the source. Ask the Americus Field Service Office at (229) 931-2546.
Older adults
710 Front Avenue, Suite A, Columbus, 31901
Veterans
1601 North Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd, Americus, 31719
Yes, an outdoor stair lift is built for that kind of exterior run. Many older rural homes in the county have multi-step porches and raised foundations, which is a common reason families call.
The Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) serves adults ages 21-64 with severe physical disabilities or traumatic brain injury, and it lists home modifications. Call (800) 982-0411 to ask about eligibility.
Their listed services, such as personal care, adult daycare and home-delivered meals, do not mention stair lifts or home modifications. You can still call (866) 552-4464 to ask what applies to your situation.
The Georgia Department of Veterans Service – Americus Field Service Office at 1601 North Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd in Americus, phone (229) 931-2546, can explain the SAH and SHA grants.
Schley County is served by the River Valley Regional Commission AAA at 710 Front Avenue, Suite A, Columbus, phone (706) 256-2910.
Yes. Most homes in the county are out in the countryside, so we plan visits with travel time in mind and can measure every problem stair in one trip.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
