Kit Carson County stretches across about 2,161 square miles of high plains prairie in far eastern Colorado, with Burlington as the county seat and Stratton, Flagler and Bethune spread out along the plains. Burlington was incorporated on January 12, 1888, the same year the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad built its depot there. Many houses here date back to the farming and ranching generations that built these towns.
That history shows up inside the homes. A good number are older single-family houses with split-level or multi-level layouts and the original interior stairways, sitting alongside single-story ranch-style houses. This page walks through what those layouts mean for a stair lift and which programs Kit Carson County residents can call about cost.
The older single-family and detached houses in Burlington and the smaller towns often still have the stairway they were built with. Those stairs can be narrow or steep, so we measure the width, the run and the landing space before recommending anything.
A single straight flight is the simplest case and usually takes a straight rail. If the stairway turns at a landing or wraps a corner, a curved rail built to that exact staircase is the usual answer.
Split-level homes are common in the county, and they bring a specific challenge: several short runs of stairs instead of one long one. Each short run may need its own lift, or the layout may allow one level to become the main living space so only one flight needs a lift.
Ranch-style homes keep most daily living on one floor. Even so, steps at an entry or down to a lower level can still be the hard part. For those spots, an outdoor lift or a platform lift may fit better than a standard indoor seat lift.
The county is very spread out, with about 3.3 persons per square mile, and I-70 along with US Highways 24 and 385 connect the towns. Aging, health care and home-modification services have to travel long distances to reach homes outside Burlington.
That makes it worth lining up the paperwork early. If a program needs a care plan, a doctor's note or a caseworker visit, starting those steps before the install visit keeps the project from stalling between trips.
The VA HISA grant does not pay for stair glides; the VA lists them as removable equipment it excludes. The larger SAH and SHA grants do not mention stair lifts on the VA page, so ask the VA directly before counting on them.
For local help with VA paperwork, the Kit Carson County Veteran Service Office is at 1650 Donelan Avenue in Burlington, 80807. The phone is (719) 343-0595.
Because the county's tax base is limited, most aging-in-place help here comes from state, federal and regional sources. The main ones are the Health First Colorado EBD Waiver, the ECCOG Area Agency on Aging, VA programs and The Independence Center's Outreach Program, each described below.
None of the program sources we reviewed name stair lifts as a covered item, and the VA HISA grant excludes them. Call each program and ask specifically about stair lifts before you plan on the funding. Statewide, you can also ask about the Assistive Technology Act Program of Colorado (AT Partners) and the Colorado Senior Property Tax Exemption (Senior Homestead Exemption).
This Medicaid waiver includes a Home Modifications benefit for safety and accessibility, but the reviewed source does not mention stair lifts or state a dollar cap. Kit Carson County residents apply through the Kit Carson County Department of Human Services and then work with a Single Entry Point case management agency; the listed phone is (800) 221-3943.
ECCOG is the Region V aging agency for Cheyenne, Elbert, Kit Carson and Lincoln counties and the local starting point for information, referral and in-home services; its source does not mention stair lifts. Call (719) 348-5562.
HISA pays for permanent structural changes such as ramps, roll-in showers and lowered counters, up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime depending on disability status. It does not cover stair lifts, since the VA excludes stair glides; call (800) 827-1000.
These VA grants, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026, help veterans with severe service-connected disabilities adapt a home they own. The VA page does not mention stair lifts; call (800) 827-1000 to ask.
This nonprofit brings independent-living services, including home modifications, to people with disabilities in six counties including Kit Carson County, through in-person visits. Stair lift coverage is not itemized, so call (719) 471-8181 to confirm.
Older adults
128 Colorado Ave., La Junta, 81050
Veterans
1650 Donelan Avenue, Burlington, 80807
The Health First Colorado EBD Waiver includes a Home Modifications benefit for safety and accessibility, but the source we reviewed does not name stair lifts. What gets covered is set in your individual care plan. Apply through the Kit Carson County Department of Human Services, and you can call (800) 221-3943.
Yes, possibly. The EBD Waiver covers people 65 and older, and also people age 18-64 who are physically disabled, blind or living with HIV/AIDS, as long as they need a nursing facility level of care and meet the income and asset limits.
For 2026, the monthly income limit is up to $2,982 for a single applicant. The asset limit is $2,000 for a single person or $3,000 for a married couple who are both applying, and the home equity limit is $1,130,000.
No. The VA lists stair glides as removable equipment that HISA does not fund. HISA can help with permanent changes like ramps or roll-in showers. For local help with VA benefits, call the Kit Carson County Veteran Service Office at (719) 343-0595.
Not at all. Each short run can get its own lift, or we can look at whether one level can serve as the main living floor so only one flight needs a lift. We measure each set of stairs during the home visit.
Call the ECCOG Area Agency on Aging at (719) 348-5562 for information and referral. The Independence Center's Outreach Team at (719) 471-8181 also makes in-person visits to rural residents in Kit Carson County.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
