Turner County is three towns, Ashburn, Sycamore and Rebecca, spread across about 290 square miles of flat south-central Georgia with Interstate 75 running along the eastern side. Much of the housing here is modest, older single-family stock: ranch-style houses, detached homes and split-level layouts built well before accessibility was a design concern.
Many of those homes still have stepped entries or multi-level floor plans with no built-in way around the stairs. That is where a stair lift can help. This page walks through what Turner County homes usually need, what it means for the type of lift, and which programs to call about paying for one.
A ranch-style house sounds like it should be stair-free, but many in this area sit up off the ground with a set of steps at the front or back door. For those homes the problem is often outside, getting from the yard to the porch, rather than inside.
Split-level homes are a different job. They tend to have short flights between levels, and a person may need to get up one flight to the bedrooms and down another to the den. We look at each flight on its own before recommending anything.
A straight stair lift fits a single run of stairs with no turns or landings. It is the simplest install and works on many split-level flights and on plain straight interior staircases.
If the stairs turn, wrap around a landing or change direction, a curved lift with a custom-built rail is needed. For stepped entries, an outdoor stair lift is made to handle weather on an exterior run. When someone uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift may be the better fit for an entry.
The 2020 census counted 18.2% of county residents at 65 or older, with a roughly even split between urban and rural living (52.6% urban, 47.4% rural). That means a good share of older residents live out in the county, farther from home-service providers based in Ashburn or in Tifton and Cordele.
For a rural home, it is worth asking up front about service visits and how maintenance will be handled. Getting the right lift the first time matters more when the nearest technician is a drive away.
The 2020 census found 64.7% of occupied housing units in Turner County were owner-occupied and 35.3% were rented. Owners can generally decide on a lift themselves, while renters should talk with the landlord before anything is attached to the stairs.
Some veteran grants also depend on who owns the house, so ownership is worth sorting out before you apply for help.
Money is a real concern here. Data USA puts the county's 2024 median household income at $36,799 and the poverty rate at 20.3%, and many older residents live on fixed incomes that leave little room for an out-of-pocket home modification.
None of the programs below list stair lifts by name, so call and ask directly before counting on funding. The Southern Georgia Regional Commission AAA in Waycross is a good first call at (912) 285-6097.
Other statewide programs worth asking 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.
A regional home-modification service for older adults, typically 60 and up, in the 18-county Southern Georgia region that includes Turner County, with intake through the Aging and Disability Resource Connection. The source names wheelchair ramp construction but does not mention stair lifts, so call (888) 732-4464 to ask.
A state Medicaid waiver for Medicaid-eligible Georgians who meet nursing-facility level of care and want to stay at home, covering services such as case management, personal care and home-delivered meals. Stair lifts and home modifications are not listed; call (877) 423-4746 or apply through the Southern Georgia AAA.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026), usable up to 6 times, for veterans with certain serious service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home being adapted. The source mentions ramps and wider doorways but not stair lifts; call (800) 827-1000.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, with a Temporary Residence Adaptation variant up to $9,100, and the home can belong to a family member the veteran lives with. Stair lifts are not listed on the source; call (800) 827-1000.
Older adults
1725 South Georgia Parkway, W., Waycross, 31503
Veterans
1824 Ridge Ave North, Tifton, 31794
Yes. Many ranch-style homes in Turner County have stepped entries, and an outdoor stair lift is built for exterior steps. If the user is in a wheelchair, a platform lift at the entry may work better.
It depends on the layout. Split-level homes often have separate short flights, and a straight lift covers one straight run. If stairs turn or you need to reach more than one level, we look at each flight to see what fits.
The Southern Georgia Area Agency on Aging serves older adults, typically 60 and up, in Turner County and offers home modification and ramp construction. Stair lifts are not listed, so call (888) 732-4464 or the Waycross office at (912) 285-6097 and ask.
The EDWP CCSP/SOURCE waiver does not list stair lifts or home modifications among its services. The state's separate Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) does reference home modifications, so that may be worth asking about.
Call the Tifton Veterans Field Service Office at (478) 272-1210 or the VA at (800) 827-1000. The SAH and SHA grants fund home adaptations for qualifying service-connected disabilities, though the VA source does not mention stair lifts specifically.
It can. Nearly half of Turner County residents live in rural areas, farther from providers in Ashburn, Tifton and Cordele. Ask about service visits and maintenance before you choose a lift.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
