Jefferson County runs from flat suburban lots in Lakewood, Arvada and Wheat Ridge up into foothill communities like Evergreen, Indian Hills and Kittredge. Across those 22 towns, the staircases we see change as much as the elevation does. A split-level in Applewood and a home on a steep lot near Morrison call for very different lifts.
This page walks through how Jefferson County homes tend to be laid out, which kind of stair lift usually fits, and where local residents can look for help paying for one. About 17.3% of county residents are 65 or older, so the question of how to stay on every floor of the house comes up in a lot of families here.
Neighborhoods built during the postwar boom, such as Applewood, which spans unincorporated Jefferson County and the edges of Golden, Wheat Ridge and Lakewood, are known for mid-century ranch and split-level homes. A raised entry or a divided-level layout is often what puts stairs between a homeowner and the kitchen, bedroom or laundry.
Split-levels usually have short, straight runs between levels. A straight stair lift is often the simplest fit for each run, though a home with more than one short flight may need more than one lift. Ranch homes with a basement stair are usually straight runs too.
When a stair turns at a landing, a curved lift built to that staircase is the usual answer. We measure the stair in person before recommending either type.
Jefferson County covers about 774 square miles along the Front Range, moving from eastern plains into foothills and mountain terrain. Homes in places like Evergreen, Genesee, Aspen Park, Brook Forest and Idledale often sit on steeper ground than homes closer to Denver.
On a sloped property, the hard stairs are sometimes outside: the steps from the driveway or garage up to the front door. An outdoor stair lift built for weather exposure can handle that, and a platform lift can work where a wheelchair needs to go up a short rise.
Remote mountain households can take more planning for a visit and an install. If you are calling about a home up a long drive or a steep road, mention it so we can plan the trip.
Not everyone in the county lives in a detached house. Townhouses, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings are common too, and a narrow townhouse stair can still take a straight lift in many cases.
About 69.6% of county households own their home. If you rent, or live in a building with shared stairs, the owner or association usually needs to approve any installation in a common stairway. Inside your own townhouse, the decision is typically yours.
The program with the clearest path is Colorado's EBD Medicaid waiver, which lists home modifications for safety and accessibility as a covered benefit, with a stated limit of up to $14,000. In Jefferson County, the way in is the Single Entry Point agency at the Department of Health and Human Services in Golden.
Rebuilding Together Colorado's Safe at Home program does free home modifications and fall-reduction work for qualifying homeowners in the metro area, including Jefferson County.
For guidance on options, the DRCOG Area Agency on Aging and Atlantis Community can point you in the right direction. Details on each program are below.
A statewide Medicaid waiver that lists home modifications for safety and accessibility as a covered benefit, with a reported limit of up to $14,000 lifetime. Eligibility includes age 65+ (or 18-64 if physically disabled or blind), a nursing-facility level of care and a 2026 income limit of $2,982/month; call (800) 221-3943 or apply through the county Single Entry Point.
The county intake and case-management office that determines access to the EBD waiver, located at 900 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 170, in Golden. It is not a grant itself and the source does not list stair lifts; call (303) 271-4216.
Offers information and assistance, options counseling and case management for adults 60+ and caregivers in an 8-county region that includes Jefferson. Stair lifts are not listed among its services; the aging office can be reached at (303) 455-1000.
A nonprofit that provides free home modifications and fall-reduction work for homeowners who have owned their primary residence at least 2 years and meet Denver Metro income limits. Call (720) 524-0840 to apply.
Federal grants for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026. The VA source does not mention stair lifts; the Jefferson County Veterans Services Office at (303) 271-4700 can help with questions.
Pays for medically necessary home changes for veterans, up to $6,800 for service-connected disabilities or $2,000 for other qualifying conditions. HISA explicitly excludes stair glides, porch lifts and portable ramps, so it does not cover stair lifts.
A free center for independent living serving people with any disability in a 7-county area that includes Jefferson, offering advocacy, information and referral, and peer support. Stair lifts are not listed; call (303) 733-9324.
Older adults
1001 17th Street, Suite 700, Denver, 80202
Veterans
3500 Illinois Street, Suite 1600, Golden, 80401
The Colorado EBD waiver lists home modifications for safety and accessibility as a covered benefit, with a reported limit of up to $14,000. You need to qualify for the waiver first, which starts with the Jefferson County Single Entry Point at (303) 271-4216.
No. The VA's HISA page explicitly excludes stair glides, porch lifts and portable ramps. The Jefferson County Veterans Services Office in Golden, at (303) 271-4700, can talk through other VA options.
The EBD waiver covers adults 18-64 who are physically disabled or blind and meet the other requirements. Atlantis Community serves people with any disability and does not require proof of diagnosis.
For the Denver Metro area, the limits run from $74,800 for a household of one up to $132,450 for a household of seven. You also need to have owned the home as your primary residence for at least 2 years and be current on your mortgage and property taxes.
Often, yes. Split-level homes are common in neighborhoods like Applewood, and each separate run usually gets its own straight lift unless the stair connects in a way a curved lift can follow.
Yes, outdoor stair lifts are built for that, and a platform lift can work for a short rise with a wheelchair. Homes on steep lots in places like Evergreen or Indian Hills often need this kind of solution at the entry.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
