In Durango, a lot of houses climb away from the Animas River valley on sloped lots. Older two-story homes near the Durango Historic District and Main Avenue often have steep interior stairs. Out toward Bayfield and Ignacio, split-level and hillside homes add short flights and split entries of their own.
This page walks through how those homes and the mountain terrain affect which stair lift makes sense. It also covers the state, county and federal programs a La Plata County family can call about when it comes to paying for one.
Older Durango properties are often two-story homes with a single straight flight. A straight stair lift is usually the simplest fit there, as long as the stairs run top to bottom without a turn or landing.
Split-level homes are different. Each short run of stairs may need its own lift, or one curved rail that follows the turns. Townhouses tend to have straight, narrow stairs, so we check the width before recommending a model.
Walk-up apartments are harder, because the stairs are often shared and the building owner has to agree. Newer rural homes are more likely to be single-story and may not need a stair lift at all, though the front entry can still be a problem.
La Plata County covers roughly 1,700 square miles of mostly mountainous terrain, including part of the San Juan National Forest and the Weminuche Wilderness. Durango sits at roughly 6,500 feet. Many rural homes are built on slopes, so driveways and entries can involve real grade changes.
Winter snow and ice make exterior stairs and ramps riskier for older residents. An outdoor stair lift built for weather exposure can handle porch or deck steps. Where the climb is short but a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift may be the better choice.
About 65.6% of county residents live in rural areas. Families outside Durango proper should plan for longer travel distances to installers and service providers, so ask up front about service visits.
VA home grants have specific rules about stair lifts, and those rules are covered in the program list below.
For help sorting through VA benefits, the La Plata County Veterans’ Services Office is at 1970 East Third Avenue, Suite 102, Durango 81301. Call (970) 759-0117.
None of the programs below names stair lifts as a covered item, and one VA grant excludes them outright. That does not always mean a request will be denied, but it does mean you should ask directly before you count on the money.
A good first call is the San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging at (970) 264-0501. The Region 9 Economic Development District AAA office is at 295 Girard Street, Suite B, Durango 81303, phone (970) 247-9621. They can point you toward Medicaid waiver home-modification benefits and other local help.
The county's median household income is $86,056 (2020-2024), and many families pay for a stair lift on their own. Programs like the state retrofit tax credit can still help offset part of the cost.
A statewide Medicaid benefit for people enrolled in certain HCBS waivers, including the Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (EBD) waiver, with a $14,000 lifetime maximum for most waivers. It covers ramps, grab bars, doorway widening and bathroom changes, but stair lifts are not listed; La Plata County residents go through their EBD waiver case manager, and the listed phone is (303) 864-7810.
A nonrefundable state income tax credit of up to $5,000 per person with a disability in the family, for retrofitting a home for accessibility, available for tax years 2019-2028. You need a credit certificate from the Colorado Division of Housing first, stair lifts are not named as eligible work, and the listed phone is (303) 864-7810.
Serves older adults and family caregivers in La Plata, Archuleta, Dolores, Montezuma and San Juan counties and lists vouchers among its services. It does not list a stair lift or home-modification benefit, but it is the right first call for referrals at (970) 264-0501.
Helps county residents age 60 and older with grab bars, handrails, trip hazards, minor step and porch repair and snow work, for a suggested donation of $17.00 per hour plus materials; ramps are reviewed case by case. Stair lifts are not mentioned, and the Senior Services line is (970) 382-6445.
Offers repair loans up to $40,000 at a fixed 1% rate over 20 years, and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners age 62 or older in eligible rural areas, which includes much of unincorporated La Plata County outside Durango city limits. Covered work is described as removing health and safety hazards; stair lifts are not named.
Pays for permanent structural changes for veterans with a medical need, up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime depending on disability status. It does not cover stair lifts, since stair glides and porch lifts are specifically excluded.
Grants for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) for FY2026, usable up to 6 times. Examples include ramps and wider doorways, stair lifts are not named, and the VA number is (800) 827-1000.
Supports people with disabilities and older adults in the same five-county area with independent living help, Southwest Rides transportation, Veteran-Directed Care and benefits navigation. It does not fund home modifications or stair lifts; call (970) 259-1672.
Older adults
295 Girard Street, Suite B, Durango, 81303
Veterans
1970 East Third Avenue, Suite 102, Durango, 81301
The VA HISA grant does not, because stair glides are excluded. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either, so call the La Plata County Veterans’ Services Office at (970) 759-0117 or the VA at (800) 827-1000 to ask about your case.
Start with the San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging at (970) 264-0501. They serve La Plata County and can refer you to Medicaid waiver home-modification benefits.
The county Home Chore Program is for residents age 60 and older. The Medicaid home modification benefit depends on waiver enrollment rather than age, and the state retrofit tax credit is based on disability, not age.
Possibly. Much of unincorporated La Plata County outside Durango city limits counts as rural for the USDA Section 504 program, which offers 1% repair loans and, for very-low-income homeowners age 62 or older, grants up to $10,000.
Usually, but the layout matters. Separate short flights may each need a straight lift, or a single curved rail can follow the turns. We measure each run before suggesting one approach.
Yes, outdoor stair lifts are built for exterior steps. Given the snow and ice at this elevation, it is worth asking about weather protection and how the rail is mounted on a sloped lot.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
