Cheyenne County has two towns, Cheyenne Wells and Kit Carson, spread across about 1,781 square miles of high plains prairie in Colorado's northeast corner. Many homes here are older farmhouses and small-town dwellings, some still with their original stairways, sitting next to single-story ranch-style houses.
That mix matters when a parent starts having trouble with the stairs. An original farmhouse staircase, a split-level entry and a few porch steps each call for a different kind of lift. This page walks through what fits the homes in this county and where to look for help with the cost.
Housing in the county is mostly single-family homes, detached houses, ranch-style homes and split-level homes. A ranch-style home may have no indoor stairs at all, but a basement stairway is common enough that a straight lift can still make sense for reaching laundry or storage.
Older farmhouses are a different story. Original stairways are often narrow and steep, and some turn at a landing. A straight run usually takes a standard straight lift, while a turn or landing means a curved rail built to the exact shape of the stairs.
Split-level homes put short flights between floors. Each short flight can take its own straight lift, so it helps to count every set of steps someone uses in a normal day before deciding.
Plenty of rural houses have entry steps up to a porch or side door. An outdoor stair lift is built with weather-resistant parts for that spot, so the person who struggles with the front steps is not stuck at the door.
When a wheelchair is part of the picture, a seat lift is not enough. A platform lift carries the chair itself and is usually the better fit for a short rise at an entry.
About 20.8% of residents are 65 or older, and about 70.2% of households own their homes. Owning the house makes it simpler to install a rail that is fastened to the stair treads.
If that includes someone in your family, VA programs are worth checking, though not every one of them pays for stair lifts.
The county is sparse, and Cheyenne Wells is the main services center. Regional aging and disability programs often travel long distances to reach residents here, so calling early helps.
Most help comes from regional, state and federal sources rather than the county itself. The East Central Council of Governments AAA serves older adults 60 and up in Cheyenne, Elbert, Kit Carson and Lincoln counties and can be reached at (719) 336-2266.
For veterans, the Cheyenne County Veteran's Officer at 51 S 1st Street in Cheyenne Wells, (719) 892-4800, can help sort out which VA benefits apply. Statewide, families can also ask about the Assistive Technology Act Program of Colorado (AT Partners) and the Colorado Senior Property Tax Exemption (Senior Homestead Exemption).
The programs below list what each source says about stair lifts. Where a source does not mention them, ask the program directly before counting on it.
This agency funds and coordinates home- and community-based services for adults 60 and older in Cheyenne, Elbert, Kit Carson and Lincoln counties; it is not a direct cash grant. Its source does not mention stair lifts, so ask what services are available for your situation.
HISA pays for permanent changes like ramps, roll-in showers and lowered counters, up to $6,800 or $2,000 over a lifetime depending on disability status. It does not cover stair lifts, which it lists as excluded equipment; call (800) 827-1000 for details.
These grants help veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities adapt a home they own, with SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 for FY2026. The source names ramps and doorway widening but does not mention stair lifts; call (800) 827-1000 to ask.
This center serves people with disabilities in six counties, including Cheyenne, and lists home modifications among its independent living services. Stair lifts are not specifically mentioned; call (719) 471-8181 to ask what it can do for your home.
Older adults
128 Colorado Ave., La Junta, 81050
Veterans
51 S 1st Street, Cheyenne Wells, 80810
No. The HISA grant lists stair glides among the removable equipment it does not fund. It does pay for permanent changes such as ramps, roll-in showers and lowered counters, so it may still help with other parts of a home.
The East Central Council of Governments AAA serves adults 60 and older. Someone younger with a disability can contact The Independence Center Outreach Program at (719) 471-8181, which serves Cheyenne County and lists home modifications among its services.
Yes, in most cases. Stairs with a turn or landing usually need a curved rail made to fit that staircase, while a straight run can use a straight lift.
The Cheyenne County Veteran's Officer is at 51 S 1st Street in Cheyenne Wells, phone (719) 892-4800. The VA's general line is (800) 827-1000.
Maybe not for the main floor. A lift can still help with basement stairs or entry steps, and an outdoor lift or platform lift may fit better at the door.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
