Henry County was settled by people from New England and western New York, who founded towns like Andover and Geneseo in the early-to-mid-1800s. That history still shows in the older, multi-story homes in the historic town cores. Many of those staircases now serve people who have lived in the same house for decades.
Outside the town centers, the county is mostly farmland, with small towns like Woodhull, Annawan, Alpha and Orion spread among dispersed farmsteads. Moving to a single-story home or assisted housing can mean a long drive from everything familiar. For a lot of families here, a stair lift is the more practical way to stay put.
The older multi-story homes in places like Geneseo, Galva and Kewanee often have one long main staircase. A straight staircase with no landings is usually the simplest case: a straight rail mounts to the treads, not the wall, so plaster and woodwork stay intact.
Older homes also tend to have stairs with a turn, a landing or a winder at the top. Those need a curved rail built to the exact shape of your stairs. We measure in the home before quoting, because no two of these staircases are quite alike.
Not every home here is a century old. Henry County also has split-level homes, duplexes and low-rise buildings, and each brings its own questions. A split-level often has several short flights instead of one long one, so the real question is which flight the person uses every day.
In a duplex or low-rise building, the stairs may be shared or narrow. If you rent rather than own, talk with the owner before planning an install. With 75.4% of county residents owning their homes, though, most families can make the decision themselves.
The terrain itself is fairly flat, with elevations between 650 and 850 feet, so steep hillside yards are rare. The trouble spot is usually the entry: porch steps, a back stoop or a basement door on a farmhouse.
For outside steps, an outdoor stair lift built for weather is one option. Where a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift may fit better than a seat. We look at how the person actually gets from the car or driveway to the kitchen before suggesting either.
About 20.6% of Henry County residents are 65 or older, and the county's median age is 43.2. Population has been slowly declining, which means more people are aging in long-owned homes rather than moving into newer single-story construction.
If that includes someone in your family, the county Veteran's Assistance office at 307 West Center Street in Cambridge, (309) 937-3450, is a good place to ask which VA benefits apply.
Only one program in the list below names stair lifts outright: the Illinois Home Services Program waiver, which is for people under 60. Several others fund accessibility modifications or home repairs in general, so ask them directly whether a stair lift qualifies for your situation.
For anyone 60 and older, the first call is usually the Western Illinois AAA in Rock Island at (309) 793-6800. They can point you to local providers and to statewide options such as the IATP ATLOAN$ Program, the DRS Home Modification Program through Centers for Independent Living, and the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption.
A state Medicaid waiver for Illinois residents under 60 with a severe, long-lasting disability who are at risk of nursing facility placement; stair lifts are explicitly listed as a covered adaptation. Call the IDHS Help Line at (800) 843-6154.
Provides in-home care, emergency home response, adult day service and medication dispensers for people 60 and older with non-exempt assets of $17,500 or less; it does not cover stair lifts. Call the Senior HelpLine at (800) 252-8966 or the local provider, Alternatives for the Older Adult, at 309-277-0167.
The information and referral hub for older adults and adults with disabilities in Henry County; stair lifts are not listed among its services, but it is the right first call. Reach them at (309) 793-6800 or 1-800-322-1051.
A zero-interest, deferred-payment forgivable loan of up to $15,000 for homeowners 62 and older or disabled who have lived in the home at least 2 years and meet income limits; accessibility modifications are an eligible category, though stair lifts are not named. Mobile homes are not eligible.
Free repairs for low-income homeowners, mainly seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and families with children, including grab bars, stair railings and wheelchair ramps; stair lifts are not listed. Call (309) 288-4600.
A nonprofit serving people with disabilities in Henry County with referrals, advocacy, skills training and peer support; stair lifts are not listed, but it is the Center for Independent Living the state points to for home-modification help. Call (309) 793-0090 (V/TTY).
Repair loans at 1% interest and grants for very-low-income rural homeowners, with grants limited to those 62 and older for removing health and safety hazards; stair lifts are not named, and eligibility depends on your address. Call (217) 403-6200 to confirm current amounts.
A lifetime benefit of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for enrolled VA patients who need accessibility improvements, but it specifically excludes stair glides and porch lifts. Call (800) 827-1000.
Grants of up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) for veterans with certain severe disabilities to adapt a home they own; stair lifts are not specifically listed. Call (800) 827-1000.
Funds health and safety repairs and accessibility improvements for low- and very low-income homeowners through local grantee organizations; stair lifts are not itemized, and demand far exceeds available funding, so expect a waitlist.
Older adults
729 34th Avenue, Rock Island, 61201
Veterans
307 West Center Street, Cambridge, 61238
Yes. The Illinois Home Services Program waiver lists stair lifts among covered adaptations for Medicaid-eligible residents under 60 with a severe disability. Start with the IDHS Help Line at (800) 843-6154 or the Illinois/Iowa Center for Independent Living at (309) 793-0090.
The HISA benefit does not; it excludes stair glides and porch lifts. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either way, so a qualifying veteran should ask the VA at (800) 827-1000 or the county Veteran's Assistance office in Cambridge at (309) 937-3450.
Possibly. The Henry County CDBG Senior Home Repair Program lists accessibility modifications as eligible and offers up to $15,000 as a forgivable loan for homeowners 62 and older or disabled. Stair lifts are not named, so ask before you apply, and note that mobile homes are excluded.
Stair lifts are not on their list. They do install grab bars, interior and exterior stair railings and wheelchair ramps at no cost for qualifying low-income homeowners in Henry County. Call (309) 288-4600.
Often, yes. An outdoor stair lift built for weather can handle porch or entry steps, and a platform lift may be the better fit if a wheelchair is involved. We would look at the steps in person before recommending one.
The Western Illinois AAA at (309) 793-6800, which coordinates senior services for Henry County. They can connect you with Alternatives for the Older Adult at 309-277-0167 and point out which repair or modification programs may apply.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
