Clark County stretches across about 1,764 square miles along the Bitterroot Range, with Interstate 15 climbing to Monida Pass at 6,820 feet on the Montana line. Dubois is the county's only town and its county seat, and it is the least populous county in Idaho. Homes are spread out, and help for an aging parent can be a long drive away.
The 2020 census counted only 483 housing units here, and many are older homes with second-story bedrooms or split-entry designs. Those layouts work against anyone who struggles on stairs. This page explains which kind of stair lift fits which kind of house in Clark County, and which programs may help with the cost.
Most houses around Dubois are single-family homes and detached houses, with a mix of split-level homes and ranch-style homes. Limited new construction means many of them were built long before anyone planned for a walker or wheelchair.
A two-story house with one straight flight to the bedrooms is the simplest case. A straight stair lift rides a rail bolted to the stair treads, not the wall, and usually fits without remodeling.
Split-level and split-entry homes are different. They have short flights in more than one direction, so the choice is often a curved lift with a custom rail or separate straight lifts on each flight. We measure every run before recommending either.
Clark County sits high in the Rocky Mountains, and severe winters make icy steps a real hazard for older residents trying to reach a vehicle. For many families the outside steps worry them more than the inside ones.
An outdoor stair lift is built with weather covers and sealed parts for exterior steps. Where a wheelchair user needs to get in and out, a vertical platform lift can replace climbing steps altogether. Ranch-style homes with only a few entry steps are often good candidates for a platform lift.
That veteran share matters, because federal VA grants can be a major source of help with home changes.
Among occupied homes, 69.6% are owner-occupied. Owners can install a stair lift on their own decision. Renters should get the landlord's written approval first, since the rail mounts to the stairs.
Clark County's economy is mostly ranching and agriculture, with few modern industries. That narrow base limits local senior services and makes out-of-pocket costs hard for many households.
Veterans with a qualifying service-connected disability should look first at the VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant and the VA Special Home Adaptation (SHA) Grant. Neither names stair lifts on the VA's page, so confirm before you count on them. The Office of Veterans Advocacy in Boise can be reached at (208) 780-1380.
For other residents, Idaho Medicaid for Elderly or Disabled Adults (Home & Community Based Services) lists environmental accessibility adaptations as a possible service, and EICAP, the Area VI AAA in Idaho Falls, answers at (208) 522-5391. Other statewide options to ask about include the Idaho Medicaid Aged & Disabled (A&D) Waiver, VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) and the Idaho Property Tax Reduction (Circuit Breaker).
A federal grant of up to $126,526 for a permanent home (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities who own or plan to own the home. The VA's page gives ramps and widened doorways as examples and does not mention stair lifts, so ask the Office of Veterans Advocacy at (208) 780-1380 how it applies.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 for a permanent home (FY2026) for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities, and the home can belong to a family member the veteran lives with. Stair lifts are not mentioned on the source page, and unused amounts carry forward for later adaptations.
A statewide Medicaid program for qualifying Idahoans over age 65 or with a disability, where an individualized plan may include environmental accessibility adaptations and specialized medical equipment. Stair lifts are not named, so coverage would need to be confirmed through a case manager.
Chore and homemaker services for eastern Idaho residents age 60 and older with functional limitations; stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (208) 522-5391 to confirm the program currently serves Clark County.
A statewide lending library where older Idahoans and people with disabilities can test and borrow devices before buying. Stair lifts are not listed among loanable equipment, so call (800) 432-8324 to ask about current inventory.
Older adults
420 N. Holmes Ave., Idaho Falls, 83401
Veterans
444 Fort Street, Boise, 83702
Usually, yes. Split-level homes have short flights that turn, so the answer is either a curved lift on a custom rail or a separate straight lift on each flight. The right choice depends on measurements taken in your home.
An outdoor stair lift is built for exterior steps and weather exposure. For a wheelchair user, a vertical platform lift at the entry is often the better fit.
EICAP, the Area VI AAA in Idaho Falls, runs chore and homemaker services for eastern Idaho residents 60 and older. Its service area for Clark County is not confirmed, so call (208) 522-5391 or 1-800-632-4813 to check.
The Idaho Medicaid for Elderly or Disabled Adults (Home & Community Based Services) program lists environmental accessibility adaptations but does not name stair lifts. A case manager would need to confirm whether a stair lift can be part of your plan.
Veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities may be eligible for the SAH or SHA grant, which apply nationwide. The VA does not name stair lifts on its page, so contact the Office of Veterans Advocacy at (208) 780-1380 before planning around one.
The Idaho Assistive Technology Project lets Idahoans test and borrow devices through its lending libraries. Call (800) 432-8324 to ask what stair-related equipment is available.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
