Elkhart County has two kinds of homes we see over and over. In the older parts of Elkhart and Goshen, you find tall houses with full staircases, some of them over a century old. Out toward Nappanee, Wakarusa, Middlebury and the rural land between towns, newer construction is often single-story, with the trouble spots being a basement stair or a few steps at the door.
This page covers all 11 towns in the county, including Bristol, New Paris, Millersburg, Benton, Dunlap and Simonton Lake. Below we walk through how local house styles affect which stair lift fits, and which offices in and around the county can help with the cost.
The State-Division Street Historic District in the City of Elkhart was once the city's 'first fashionable subdivision.' Its Italianate, Queen Anne, Four Square and Bungalow-style homes often have multi-level layouts, and the stairs in them are the reason many families call us.
A Four Square usually has a straight run to the second floor, which suits a straight rail. Queen Anne and Italianate houses are more likely to have landings, turns or a narrow upper section, and those generally need a curved rail built to the exact shape of the stair.
Goshen, the county seat, has its own historic district around the 1870 Elkhart County Courthouse. Dickerson Landing, along the Elkhart River, is one of the oldest areas in the city, and older stairs there call for careful measuring before anyone talks about rail type.
Split-level homes are common here, and they bring short flights between each level. Each short flight may be a candidate for its own straight lift, so the first question is which levels the person truly needs every day.
Townhouses and walk-up apartments add another step: the narrow stair and the rules of the building or landlord. In a walk-up, a renter should get written permission before any installation, since the rail mounts to the stair treads.
Elkhart County covers about 463.2 square miles of small cities surrounded by rural land. A single-story home outside town can still have steep entry steps or a basement where the laundry sits.
For outside steps, an outdoor-rated stair lift is built to handle weather. Where a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift may be a better fit than a seat, and we look at the space at the top and bottom before recommending either.
The county's economy leans heavily on manufacturing, and for many retired households a private-pay home modification is a real stretch. About 61.7% of residents own their homes, which matters because most repair and modification programs are limited to owners.
Your first call should go to REAL Services, the Area Agency on Aging for this region, at (574) 284-2644. They handle intake for the Indiana Medicaid waivers and the CHOICE Program. Official program pages list home modifications for some of these, but none name stair lifts specifically, so ask about your situation directly.
Statewide, you can also ask about the INDATA Alternative Financing Program (AFP). Goshen homeowners have one more local option through LaCasa, described in the programs list below.
VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) are listed among the statewide options, and the local office can help you start.
Elkhart County Veterans Services is at 117 N. Second Street, Goshen 46526. Call (574) 523-2342.
A Medicaid waiver for Indiana residents age 60 and older who meet nursing facility level of care; the official page lists Home Modifications and Home Modification Assessment but does not mention stair lifts. Apply through REAL Services, or call (877) 284-9294.
A Medicaid waiver for eligible Indiana residents under age 60 who meet nursing facility level of care; the official source does not mention stair lifts or clearly list home modifications for this waiver. Call (877) 284-9294.
The local intake and case-management office for older adults and adults with disabilities in Elkhart, St. Joseph, Marshall and Starke counties; stair lifts are not listed, and any modification funding depends on the program you enroll in. Call (574) 284-2644.
Offers City of Goshen homeowners up to $25,000 for home repairs as a 0%-interest, $0/month deferred loan repaid when the home is sold or the owner moves out; stair lifts and accessibility work are not specifically listed. Call (574) 533-4450.
Older adults
1151 S. Michigan St., South Bend, 46601
Veterans
117 N. Second Street, Goshen, 46526
The PathWays for Aging Waiver lists Home Modifications as a service, but the official page does not name stair lifts or give a dollar cap. Applicants must be 60 or older, need help with at least 3 Activities of Daily Living, and fall under the 2026 income limit of $2,982/month, with assets under $2,000 single or $3,000 married. REAL Services at (574) 284-2644 can tell you whether your case qualifies.
Yes, the Indiana Health and Wellness Medicaid HCBS Waiver serves eligible residents under 60 who meet nursing facility level of care. Its official page does not mention stair lifts, so call (877) 284-9294 to ask what it can cover.
The program covers general home repairs up to $25,000 and does not specifically name stair lifts, so ask LaCasa at (574) 533-4450. You must have owned and lived in your Goshen home for at least 6 months, lived in Goshen at least 1 year, and meet income limits of roughly $50,350 for one person up to $94,950 for eight.
REAL Services is at 1151 S. Michigan St., South Bend 46601. It serves Elkhart County as part of Region 2, and you can reach it at (574) 284-2644.
Usually, yes. Stairs with landings or turns, common in Queen Anne and Italianate homes, take a curved rail made to fit that stair, while a straight run like many Four Squares have can take a straight rail.
Start with Elkhart County Veterans Services at (574) 523-2342, 117 N. Second Street in Goshen. They can help with VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics).
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
