Along the Grand Strand in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach, many newer homes sit on pilings or raised foundations, with an outdoor flight of stairs leading up to the main living floor. Drive inland toward Conway, Aynor and Loris and the picture changes to slab-on-grade, single-story ranch houses. Both kinds of homes are found across the county's 17 towns, and they call for very different answers when someone starts struggling with steps.
Horry County is South Carolina's largest county by land area at 1,133 square miles, and its highest point is only 124 feet above sea level. That flat, low-lying ground is exactly why so many coastal homes are built up high. This page walks through what that means for stair lifts, and which local and state programs may help with the cost.
Much of the land near the beaches falls in FEMA AE or VE flood zones. County code requires homes in those zones to be elevated at least 3 feet above base flood elevation, and base flood elevations there commonly run well above grade.
The result is a main floor that can be a full flight or more above the driveway, reached by stairs outside the house. For a parent who can manage inside but not that climb, the entry stairs are often the real barrier, and an outdoor-rated stair lift is the piece to look at first.
Outdoor lifts face sun, rain and salt air, so we look at how the stairs are built, where the rail can be anchored and where power can be run. Some elevated homes also have interior stairs between floors, which may need a second lift.
A straight run with no landings is the simplest case and usually takes a straight rail. Stairs that turn at a landing, wrap around a corner, or split into two flights need a curved rail built to fit that staircase.
Split-level homes bring their own pattern: several short flights rather than one long one. Townhouses, low-rise buildings and walk-up apartments add another question, since shared stairways may need approval from an owner or association before anything is mounted.
Inland, many slab-on-grade ranch homes in places like Conway, Aynor and Loris have no interior stairs at all. There the issue is often a few entry steps, which can point toward a ramp or a platform lift instead of a stair lift. We will tell you plainly if a stair lift is not the right fit.
About 25.0% of residents in our county data are 65 or older, and 69.7% own their homes. For homeowners, a permanently installed lift is usually a straightforward choice, since there is no landlord to ask.
If that includes your parent, start with the Horry County Veterans Affairs Office at 1949 Industrial Park Rd, Suite 101, in Conway. Their staff can help sort out which VA benefits apply before you spend your own money.
Tourism drives the local economy, and many seniors and family caregivers here work in service jobs. That makes grant and waiver funding worth checking before paying fully out of pocket.
The clearest public option is the South Carolina Community Choices (CC) Waiver, whose home modification benefit names stair lifts. It is a Medicaid program with a nursing facility level-of-care requirement, a 2026 income limit of $2,982 per month and an asset limit of $2,000 for a single person.
Most other programs below fund home repairs or accessibility work but do not name stair lifts, so ask each one directly. One firm exclusion: the VA HISA grant does not pay for stair glides. For general help sorting options, the Waccamaw AAA at 1230 Highmarket Street in Georgetown can be reached at (843) 546-8502.
A Medicaid home and community-based waiver for South Carolinians 65 and older, or adults 18 to 64 with a physical disability, who need a nursing facility level of care. Its modification benefit lists stair lifts; the 2026 limits are $2,982 per month in income and $2,000 in assets for a single applicant or $4,000 for a married couple who both apply.
Medicaid waivers for people with an intellectual or related disability, or a head or spinal cord injury, with a $7,500 lifetime cap on environmental modifications under the ID/RD Waiver. Stair lifts are not named as covered or excluded; in Horry County, call Ability Beyond Barriers at (843) 347-3010.
Serves adults 60 and older in Georgetown, Horry and Williamsburg counties, plus a Family Caregiver Assistance Program for caregivers of any age. Stair lifts are not listed among its services, but it offers assessment, information and referral; call (843) 546-8502.
Provides meals, transportation, homemaker services, I-CARE counseling and information and referral for Horry County seniors. Stair lift or home modification help is not listed; call (843) 248-5523.
Repairs for owner-occupied homes in unincorporated Horry County for households at or below 80% of area median income, including accessibility improvements, though stair lifts are not named. There is no phone listed; contact [email protected].
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% interest and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners 62 and older in USDA-eligible rural areas, such as parts of Loris, Aynor and Green Sea. Stair lifts are not named, though accessibility work like ramps is mentioned.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for medically needed home changes, but stair glides are specifically excluded. Call (843) 915-5480 for help with other VA options.
Up to $126,526 for FY2026 for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home. Stair lifts are not named as covered or excluded; call (843) 915-5480.
Up to $25,350 for FY2026 for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands or a severe breathing injury. Stair lifts are not named; call (843) 915-5480.
A referral and advocacy office in Conway that helps veterans, surviving spouses and dependents file VA claims and appeals; it does not fund modifications itself. Call (843) 915-5480, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Countywide repairs for homeowners with income between 35% and 80% of area median income, with the homeowner paying a sliding-scale share. Listed repairs include ramps and step and handrail safety work, but not stair lifts; call (843) 650-8815.
Older adults
1230 Highmarket Street, Georgetown, 29440
Veterans
1949 Industrial Park Rd, Suite 101, Conway, 29526
Yes, outdoor stair lifts are built for exterior flights like the ones on elevated homes near Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach. We check the stair structure, anchoring and power before recommending one.
The South Carolina Community Choices (CC) Waiver lists stair lifts under its home modification benefit. You need a nursing facility level of care, and the 2026 limits are $2,982 per month in income and $2,000 in assets for a single person.
The HISA grant explicitly excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either way, so contact the Horry County Veterans Affairs Office at (843) 915-5480 to ask about your situation.
The Waccamaw Area Agency on Aging serves people 60 and older, but the Community Choices Waiver also covers adults 18 to 64 with a physical disability, and the ID/RD and HASCI waivers have no age cutoff in our data.
Rural parts of Horry County such as Aynor, Loris and Green Sea are more likely to qualify for USDA Section 504. Grants of up to $10,000 require the owner to be 62 or older and very low income; stair lifts are not named, so ask before applying.
Often not. With only a few entry steps, a ramp or platform lift may fit better, and we will say so after looking at the home.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
