Massac County sits at the southernmost tip of Illinois along the Ohio River, in the part of the state people call Little Egypt. Its three towns, Metropolis, Brookport and Joppa, are tied together by Interstate 24, U.S. Route 45 and Illinois Routes 145 and 169, and a lot of homes sit out on rural roads between them.
Most houses here are single-family homes that owners have held for years: ranch-style homes, split-level homes and other detached houses. When the stairs in one of those houses start to feel risky, a stair lift is often the practical fix. This page covers how the local homes shape the choice of lift and which programs may help with the cost.
The 2020 Census recorded 6,797 housing units in Massac County, and 76.0% of occupied units were owner-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was a low 2.7%. In plain terms, people here tend to own their homes and stay in them.
About 24.3% of residents are 65 or older. For many of those households, adding a lift to an existing staircase is far more practical than selling a long-held home and moving.
A straight staircase, the kind often found going down to a basement or up to a second floor, usually takes a straight stair lift. These rails are the simplest to fit and the quickest to install.
Split-level homes are different. Their short flights and landings can mean a curved rail that follows the turns, or a separate straight lift on each flight. We measure every step before recommending either one.
Ranch-style homes may have few or no interior stairs, but the front porch or garage steps can still be a problem. An outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can cover those entry steps.
As of the 2020 Census, 52.9% of Massac County residents lived in rural areas. The county covers 242 square miles, so a lot of older homeowners live a fair drive from in-home care and medical services.
When help is farther away, a fall on the stairs is harder to recover from. A lift that lets someone get between floors safely on their own matters more out here than it might in a city.
The median household income in the county was $65,116 in 2024, and 16.3% of residents lived below the poverty line. The median home value was $121,900. Those numbers make a lift a cost-conscious choice compared with a move or a major renovation, but cost still matters.
None of the programs listed below names stair lifts outright in its published material. Several do offer home modification help, so they are worth a call. The Egyptian AAA (PSA 13) at (618) 985-8311 is a good first stop for older adults.
Veterans can reach the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs office at 1 Superman Sq., #2D, Metropolis, at (618) 524-5213, to ask about VA housing grants and other benefits.
Statewide options worth asking about include the Illinois Community Care Program (CCP), the Home Services Program, Persons with Disabilities Waiver, the IATP ATLOAN$ Program, the DRS Home Modification Program (Centers for Independent Living), VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) and the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption.
A state Medicaid waiver for Illinois residents who meet Medicaid financial rules and need an institutional level of care; its overview page does not say whether stair lifts or home modifications are covered. Call the Health Benefits Hotline at (866) 468-7543.
The local aging services agency for Illinois' 13 southernmost counties, including Massac, and it lists home modification among its services, though stair lifts are not named. Call (618) 985-8311.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home; it covers home modifications such as ramps and widened doorways but does not name stair lifts. It can be used up to 6 times over a lifetime.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands, where the veteran or a family member owns or will own the home; stair lifts are not named. A related Temporary Residence Adaptation grant offers up to $9,100 for SHA-eligible veterans.
A nonprofit network that routes Illinois residents with disabilities, including those in Massac County, to their local Center for Independent Living, and it references a Home Modification Program without naming stair lifts. Call (217) 525-1308 or toll free 1-800-587-1227.
Older adults
200 East Plaza Drive, Carterville, 62918
Veterans
1 Superman Sq., #2D, Metropolis, 62960
Usually, yes. Split-level layouts often need either a curved rail that follows the landings or a straight lift on each short flight. The right answer depends on measurements taken at the home.
Yes. Outdoor stair lifts and platform lifts are made for entry steps like porches and garage stairs, which are common trouble spots in ranch-style homes.
The Egyptian AAA (PSA 13) at (618) 985-8311 serves Massac County and lists home modification among its services. Its office is at 200 East Plaza Drive in Carterville.
Yes. The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs has an office at 1 Superman Sq., #2D, Metropolis, 62960. The phone number is (618) 524-5213.
The VA pages for the SAH and SHA grants describe home modifications but do not name stair lifts. The SAH grant goes up to $126,526 and the SHA grant up to $25,350 for FY2026, so a veteran with a qualifying disability should ask the VA directly.
The state's overview of the waiver for Persons Who Are Elderly does not say whether stair lifts are covered. Call the Health Benefits Hotline at (866) 468-7543 to ask about a specific situation.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
