Drive from the subdivisions of Avon, Brownsburg and Plainfield out to Lizton, North Salem or Amo and you pass through every kind of house a stair lift has to fit. Much of the county is recent subdivision construction, while Danville, the county seat, and the older town centers hold the county's pre-automobile housing.
That mix matters when someone in the family starts having trouble with the stairs. A newer two-story in Avon, a split-level in Brownsburg and an older home near the square in Danville each call for a different lift. This page walks through what fits where and which local and state programs can help pay for it.
Most of the housing here is single-family homes, townhouses, split-level homes, ranch-style homes and walk-up apartments. In the newer subdivisions, a two-story home with one straight staircase is the most common setup we see, and a straight rail is the simplest, quickest install.
Split-level homes are different. They usually have two or three short flights with a landing or a turn, so the choice is between a curved rail that follows the turn or separate straight lifts on each flight. Townhouses often have narrow stairs, so we measure the width before recommending a model.
A ranch-style home may seem like it needs nothing, but many have a basement stair with the laundry at the bottom. Older homes in Danville and the other town centers can have steeper, tighter staircases that tend to need a custom curved rail.
Hendricks County sits on low rolling hills, and the highest point is only about 1,030 feet near Danville. That gentle ground means most homes have a few entry steps rather than a long climb from the driveway.
For those front or garage steps, an outdoor stair lift built for weather is one option. Where a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift is usually the better fit because the person stays seated in the chair.
Most older residents own their homes, so a permanent stair lift is a decision they can make for their own house without asking a landlord.
The county also splits between the built-up eastern townships nearest Indianapolis and the more rural western and southern townships, where 15.2% of residents live. If your parent lives out toward Stilesville, Coatesville or Belleville, some aging services and repair programs reach those areas differently, so it pays to ask early.
The clearest public source is the Indiana PathWays for Aging Waiver, which has listed stair lifts by name as a home modification. CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions at (317) 254-5465 is the local intake point for that waiver and for the state CHOICE program.
Veteran grants are more limited than people expect. The VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides, and the larger SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts. Hendricks County Veterans Services in Danville, at (317) 745-9239, can help a veteran sort out which VA benefit applies.
Other programs, including the USDA Section 504 repair program and the state CDBG owner-occupied rehabilitation program, cover accessibility work but do not name stair lifts. Statewide, the INDATA Alternative Financing Program (AFP) is another name worth asking about. The program list below gives the details.
A Medicaid waiver for Indiana residents age 60+ who meet a nursing-facility level of care and Medicaid income and asset limits; its source lists stair lifts among covered home modifications, though you should confirm current stair lift coverage with your care manager. Call (800) 403-0864.
The local area agency on aging for Hendricks County and seven other counties, handling intake and care management for the Medicaid waivers and the state-funded CHOICE program; the source does not mention stair lifts by name. Call (317) 254-5465.
A $25,000 grant to CICOA funding safety modifications such as stairwell handrails, grab bars, ramps and step repair for low-income older adults and people with disabilities in Hendricks County; stair lifts are not listed among the funded work. Referrals start through CICOA at (317) 254-5465.
Grant money that flows through local governments to fund home repairs and ADA accessibility work for income-eligible homeowners; stair lifts are not named, and availability depends on whether a local unit of government has an active award.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% for 20 years, and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners 62+ who cannot repay a loan, for very-low-income owners in USDA-eligible rural areas; accessibility modifications are covered but stair lifts are not named. The more rural parts of the county are more likely to qualify.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary home alterations such as entrance ramps and roll-in showers; it specifically excludes stair glides. The phone listed for this program is (317) 745-9260.
Grants up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities to buy, build or remodel an accessible home; stair lifts are not specifically named. Call (800) 827-1000.
A nonprofit offering information, referral, advocacy and some assistive-technology items at no cost to people with disabilities in Hendricks County and seven other counties; stair lifts are not named. Call (317) 926-1660.
Older adults
8440 Woodfield Crossing Blvd., Ste. 175, Indianapolis, 46240
Veterans
355 S Washington St #110, Danville, 46122
It can. The Indiana PathWays for Aging Waiver has listed stair lifts among covered home modifications for people age 60+ who meet a nursing-facility level of care and Medicaid financial limits. Confirm current coverage with your care manager when you apply through CICOA at (317) 254-5465.
Since July 1, 2024, people under 60 are served by the Health & Wellness Waiver instead of PathWays for Aging. CICOA handles intake for both, and accessABILITY Center for Independent Living at (317) 926-1660 works with people with any type of disability.
Not through HISA, which specifically excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either. Hendricks County Veterans Services at 355 S Washington St #110 in Danville, (317) 745-9239, can help you review your options.
The source lists handrails, grab bars, toilets, ramps, floor leveling, step repair and lighting, but not stair lifts. It may still help with stair safety, such as handrails, for low-income residents. Start with CICOA's Resource Center.
Usually, yes. Split-levels often have short flights with a turn or landing, so we look at either a curved rail or separate straight lifts on each flight after measuring the stairs.
The USDA Section 504 program only serves USDA-eligible rural areas, and the more rural western and southern parts of the county are more likely to qualify than the built-up areas near Indianapolis. Check the USDA eligibility map for your specific address.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
