Upson County's homes run from the older streets around Thomaston's historic downtown and the Silvertown Mill District to ranch-style and split-level houses out toward Yatesville, Salem, Hannahs Mill, Sunset Village and Lincoln Park. Each of those layouts puts stairs in a different place, and that shapes which kind of lift makes sense.
This page walks through how local homes and terrain affect a stair lift, what the county's age and homeownership numbers tell us, and which Georgia and federal programs an Upson County family can call about paying for one.
Thomaston is the county seat, and much of its housing grew up around the textile-mill era. The Silvertown Mill District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as its own historic residential area, and the courthouse, built in 1908, is on the Register too.
Older houses often have stairways that were never planned around equipment. Before we suggest anything, we measure the stair width, the landing space at top and bottom, and where the rail can mount so it clears doors and trim.
A single straight flight usually takes a straight rail, which is the simplest install. If the stairs turn at a landing or wind partway up, a curved rail is built to fit that exact staircase.
Ranch-style homes keep living space on one floor, but many still have steps at the front door, the back porch or down to a basement. An outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can handle entry steps where a ramp would not fit the yard.
Split-level homes have short flights between levels. A person may need a lift on more than one run, or a curved rail that follows the turns, so we look at how the household actually moves through the house each day.
Walk-up apartments are a different situation. The stairs belong to the building, so a renter needs the owner's approval before any rail goes in.
In the 2020 Census, 18.8% of Thomaston residents were 65 or older, and the median age was 38.8. That is a sizable group of people who may want to stay in the homes they already know.
About 51.0% of households in the county own their homes. Owners can usually install a lift on their own schedule, while renters will want to talk with the landlord first.
Upson County sits in the west-central Piedmont, in the Upper Flint River sub-basin, and it has the lowest average summer humidity in Georgia. Outdoor lifts are still built for weather, with covers and sealed parts, but the drier summers are easier on equipment than muggier parts of the state.
For porch and entry steps, we check the footing, the slope of the walk and where power can reach before recommending an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift.
Most Medicare and Medicaid programs do not hand out stair lift checks, so it helps to know which doors to knock on. The Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) lists home modifications among its services, but it serves adults ages 21-64, so it fits a younger disabled adult better than a retiree.
The Community Care Services Program (CCSP) and SOURCE Waiver help frail older and disabled Georgians stay home, though their listed services do not include home modifications. Veterans can look at the VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant and the VA Special Home Adaptation (SHA) Grant.
Georgia also lists the Home Access Program, the Credit-Able Loan Program and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) as statewide options. The Three Rivers Regional Commission AAA in Griffin, at (706) 845-4560, can point you to what is open right now, and the Georgia Department of Veterans Service Macon Field Service Office at (478) 476-8868 helps veterans with VA paperwork.
A Georgia Medicaid waiver for adults ages 21-64 with a severe physical disability or traumatic brain injury who meet a nursing-facility or hospital level of care, and it lists home modifications among covered services within an approved care plan. Slots are limited statewide; call (800) 982-0411.
A Medicaid waiver for frail elderly and disabled Georgians who meet a nursing-facility level of care, covering services like personal care, adult daycare, home-delivered meals and respite. Stair lifts and home modifications are not listed; call (866) 552-4464.
A Medicaid waiver for frail elderly and disabled Georgians at a nursing-facility level of care, with the same listed services as CCSP. Stair lifts and home modifications are not named; call (866) 552-4464.
The regional aging and disability resource for a 10-county area that includes Upson County, serving adults 60 and older and adults with disabilities through information and referral. It does not list a stair lift program, but it can steer you to current help at (866) 854-5652.
A local referral point for older Upson County residents. No stair lift or home modification program is described, but staff can help you find services; call (706) 647-1607.
A federal VA grant of up to $126,526 for FY 2026 for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home. The VA gives ramps and wider doorways as examples but does not name stair lifts.
A federal VA grant of up to $25,350 for FY 2026 for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands, when the veteran or a family member owns the home. Stair lifts are not named on the VA page.
Older adults
120 North Hill St., P.O. Box 96, Griffin, 30224
Veterans
5566 Thomaston Road, Macon, 31201
Yes, possibly. The Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) serves adults ages 21-64 with a severe physical disability or traumatic brain injury and lists home modifications as a covered service. Slots are limited, so call (800) 982-0411 early.
Their listed services do not include home modifications or stair lifts. They can still help with personal care, meals and respite so a person can stay home. Both use (866) 552-4464.
The Upson County Senior Center at (706) 647-1607 is the local starting point. For regional programs, call the Three Rivers Area Agency on Aging at (866) 854-5652 or the Three Rivers Regional Commission AAA in Griffin at (706) 845-4560.
Veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities may get up to $126,526 through the SAH grant or up to $25,350 through the SHA grant for FY 2026, though the VA does not name stair lifts specifically. The Georgia Department of Veterans Service Macon Field Service Office, 5566 Thomaston Road, can help at (478) 476-8868.
Often an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift is the answer for entry steps. We look at the steps, the walk and the available space before suggesting one.
Only with the building owner's permission, since the stairs are not yours. Ask the landlord before we schedule a measurement.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
