Pulaski County sits at the far southern tip of Illinois along the Ohio River, in the region people call "Little Egypt." Its six towns are Mounds, Mound City, Ullin, Karnak, Olmsted and Pulaski. Mound City is the county seat and Mounds is the largest city, but there is no large city here, and the whole county is counted as rural.
That shapes how people age at home. Most houses are established single-family homes, many lived in by the same owners for a long time, and newer single-story options are scarce. For a lot of families, adding a stair lift to the house they already own is more practical than moving to a distant single-story home or assisted living.
The housing here is mostly single-family and detached houses, with ranch-style and split-level homes mixed in. A ranch-style home may have only a basement stair or a few entry steps, while a split-level puts short flights between each floor level.
A straight stair lift fits most single, unbroken flights and is usually the simplest install. If a staircase turns, has a landing, or a split-level layout means more than one short flight, we look at a curved rail or separate straight lifts for each section. We measure every step before recommending anything.
Pulaski County covers 203 square miles, 199 of them land, and the terrain is generally flat. Hills are rarely the problem. Stairs inside the house and steps up to the door usually are.
Because 100.0% of residents live in rural areas, getting to a single-story apartment or care facility can mean a long drive away from family and church. When entry steps are the barrier, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can be part of the plan, depending on the steps and how the person gets around.
About 17.3% of Pulaski County residents are 65 or older, and 58.6% of households own their homes. Owners can make permanent changes like a rail-mounted lift, which renters usually need a landlord's approval for.
The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs has an office at 422 S Blanche St in Mounds, (618) 745-9411, which can help a veteran sort out which VA benefits might apply.
Help depends mostly on age. For someone under 60 with a severe disability who is Medicaid-eligible, the Illinois DHS home modification service through the Home Services Program and Persons with Disabilities Waiver names stair lifts among its examples. Call (877) 581-3690.
For anyone 60 or older, the first call should go to the Egyptian Area Agency on Aging at (618) 985-8311. Its service area includes Pulaski County, and it lists home modification among its services, though it does not name stair lifts specifically.
Rural homeowners may also look at USDA Section 504 repair loans and grants. Veterans should know that the VA HISA benefit excludes stair glides, so a veteran with a qualifying service-connected disability should ask about SAH or SHA grants instead. Each program is summarized below.
A statewide Medicaid waiver service for Illinois residents under 60 with a severe, long-lasting disability who are at risk of nursing facility placement; its listed examples include stair lifts. Call (877) 581-3690.
The waiver that funds home changes for eligible Illinois residents under 60 who are Medicaid-eligible; this program page does not mention stair lifts. Call (877) 581-3690.
Serves people under 60 with severe disabilities who need help at home, with services including assistive equipment and environmental modification; stair lifts are not named on this page. Call (877) 581-3690.
For Illinois residents 60 or older with non-exempt assets of $17,500 or less, it funds in-home services, adult day service, emergency home response and medication dispensers; stair lifts and home modifications are not mentioned. Call (800) 252-8966.
Serves older adults in 13 southern Illinois counties, including Pulaski County, and lists home modification as a service; stair lifts are not named specifically. Call (618) 985-8311.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% over 20 years and grants up to $10,000 for very low income homeowners in eligible rural areas, with grants limited to those 62 or older; the source does not mention stair lifts, and eligibility must be checked by address.
A lifetime benefit of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for enrolled VA patients with medically necessary home changes, but it explicitly excludes stair glides. Call (800) 827-1000.
Grants of up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home; the source does not name stair lifts specifically.
Older adults
200 East Plaza Drive, Carterville, 62918
Veterans
422 S Blanche St, Mounds, 62964
Yes, possibly. The Illinois DHS Environmental Accessibility Adaptations service lists stair lifts as an example for Medicaid-eligible residents under 60 with a severe disability expected to last 12 months or more. Call (877) 581-3690.
Start with the Egyptian Area Agency on Aging at (618) 985-8311. It serves Pulaski County and lists home modification among its services, and it can also point you toward the Community Care Program.
The VA HISA benefit explicitly excludes stair glides. A veteran with a qualifying service-connected disability can ask about SAH or SHA grants, though those sources do not name stair lifts either. The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs office in Mounds is at (618) 745-9411.
Pulaski County is 100.0% rural, so it is very likely eligible, but each address must be checked on the USDA eligibility map. The program's source does not mention stair lifts, so ask before counting on it.
Often, yes. Split-level homes have short flights between levels, so the answer may be one lift per flight or a curved rail, depending on the layout we measure.
Outdoor stair lifts and platform lifts are both options for entry steps. Which one fits depends on the steps themselves and whether the person uses a wheelchair.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
