Drive from Janesville down to Beloit and you pass through two cities that grew up around factory work, then out into farm townships around Footville, Orfordville and Clinton. Rock County's homes reflect that mix: older worker-era houses near the two cities, newer subdivisions on the urban fringe, and farmhouses out in the country.
Each of those homes puts its stairs in a different place and shape, and that is what decides which stair lift will work. Below we walk through the common house styles in Edgerton, Evansville, Milton and the rest of the county's 8 towns, what each means for a lift, and which programs can help cover the cost.
Much of the housing in and around Janesville and Beloit went up during the early-to-mid 20th century auto and machinery manufacturing boom. Many of these single-family homes have one straight staircase to the bedrooms, which is the simplest case for a stair lift.
A straight rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so plaster walls in an older house are not a problem. The main thing we check is stair width and whether a door or landing at the top or bottom gets in the way of the seat.
Split-level homes are common in newer construction on the edges of the cities. They usually have several short flights between levels instead of one long one. Depending on which level a person needs to reach, that can mean one short straight lift or a curved rail that follows a turn.
Townhouses often have a straight flight, but some turn at a landing. A curved lift is built to the exact shape of your stairs, so it takes longer to make than a straight one. We measure first so you know which type your home needs before anything is ordered.
Rock County is flat to gently rolling, so steep driveways are rare. The bigger issue in rural townships is often the steps up to the porch or side door of an older farmhouse.
An outdoor stair lift is built for weather and can handle those entry steps. For someone who uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift is the option to ask about instead. In walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings, a renter will need the owner's permission before any lift goes in.
About 16.2% of Rock County residents are 65 or older, and 64.8% own their homes. For homeowners who want to stay put, a lift on the existing stairs is usually less disruptive than moving a bedroom to the first floor.
Several VA grants exist for home changes, and the Rock County Veterans Service Office in Janesville is a local place to ask about them.
Since the General Motors assembly plant in Janesville went idle in 2008 and closed in 2009, the county has rebuilt around other manufacturers, including John Deere and Cummins. Many longtime homeowners are now on fixed or modest incomes, so funding programs matter here.
Two Wisconsin Medicaid waivers, IRIS and Family Care, list stair lifts among the home modifications they can cover. USDA and VA programs offer grants and loans for home repairs and adaptations, though their sources do not name stair lifts. Other statewide options include the Community Options Program (COP), WisLoan (WisTech Alternative Loan Program) and the WHEDA Home Improvement Loan Program (HILP).
The Rock County ADRC at 51 S. Main St. in Janesville, (608) 741-3600, is the county's aging office and can help you sort through local options.
A self-directed Medicaid waiver for people 65 and older, or ages 18 to 64 with a disability, who need a nursing-facility level of care; home modifications including stair lifts are covered out of each participant's individual budget. The 2026 income limit is up to $2,982 a month for a single applicant with a $2,000 asset limit, and the call center is (888) 515-4747.
A managed-care Medicaid waiver for adults 65 and older or adults with qualifying disabilities who meet level-of-care and financial requirements. It covers installation of home modifications like ramps, grab bars and stair lifts when approved by the member's managed-care organization.
Offers very-low-income rural homeowners loans up to $40,000 at 1% for 20 years, and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners 62 and older who cannot repay a loan. The source does not mention stair lifts specifically.
Pays for medically necessary home improvements prescribed by a VA physician, up to a $6,800 lifetime maximum for veterans with a service-connected disability; it applies to owned or rented homes. Stair lifts are not named in the source, so ask the Rock County Veterans Service Office at (608) 757-5552.
Grants for homeowner veterans with severe service-connected disabilities: SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 for FY2026. The source gives ramps and doorway widening as examples and does not name stair lifts.
Older adults
51 S. Main St., Janesville, 53545
Veterans
1747 Center Ave, Suite 100, Janesville, 53546
Two Wisconsin Medicaid waivers, IRIS and Family Care, list stair lifts among covered home modifications. You must meet age or disability rules, a nursing-facility level of care, and income and asset limits. For IRIS, call (888) 515-4747.
Yes. IRIS serves adults ages 18 to 64 with a physical, intellectual or developmental disability, and Family Care serves adults 18 to 64 with a physical or other disability, as long as they meet level-of-care and financial rules.
IRIS is an entitlement program, so there is no waitlist once you meet eligibility.
The USDA Section 504 program is for homeowners in eligible rural areas with very low household income. Loans go up to $40,000, and grants up to $10,000 are limited to homeowners 62 and older. Its source does not mention stair lifts, so confirm before counting on it.
The Rock County Veterans Service Office is at 1747 Center Ave, Suite 100, Janesville, phone (608) 757-5552. VA grants like HISA, SAH and SHA cover home changes, though their sources do not name stair lifts.
Usually, yes. Short straight flights take a simple straight rail, and stairs that turn need a curved rail made to fit. We measure the stairs first so you know which one you need.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
