From St. Anthony on the Henrys Fork of the Snake River to Ashton, Teton, Parker and Newdale, Fremont County is farm and small-town country. Many homes here grew out of a long agricultural settlement history, and multi-level farmhouses with full staircases are common. Built-in accessibility features are rare.
That makes the stairs inside the house the first thing we look at when someone wants to stay put. With about 7.2 people per square mile spread over 1,896 square miles, a stair lift that fits the home correctly the first time matters, because a technician may be a long drive away.
Most housing here is single-family homes and detached houses, with ranch-style homes, split-level homes and some low-rise buildings mixed in. Each layout points toward a different kind of lift.
A single straight staircase, common in older farmhouses and small-town homes, usually takes a straight stair lift. These ride on a rail fastened to the stairs, not the wall.
Split-level homes are different. Short flights with turns or landings often need a curved rail built to the exact shape of the stairs, or more than one straight lift. We measure every turn before recommending either.
St. Anthony sits at 4,964 feet, and the county sees about 54 inches of snow a year in a long, cold winter. Ice on porch and entry steps adds to fall risk, sometimes more than the stairs indoors.
For those entry steps, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift may be the better fit. Outdoor units are built to handle weather, and a platform lift can carry a wheelchair where a seat cannot.
Because homes are spread out, plan service ahead of the snow. Ask how the lift is maintained and what happens if it needs a part during winter.
Fremont County has a population of 7,091, and 13.6% of residents are 65 or older. About 75.5% of households own their home, which matters because several grant programs below require you to own and live in the house.
Fremont County Veteran's Services is at 101 N Bridge Street in St. Anthony, and you can reach them at (208) 624-7200 to talk through VA options before you apply.
The local economy runs on irrigated agriculture: hay, cereal grains, potatoes and beef cattle. Many households here look for grants or loans rather than paying out of pocket, so it helps to know what each program actually says.
Only one program below states a clear answer on stair lifts: the VA HISA grant excludes stair glides. The others fund home modifications but do not name stair lifts, so call and ask directly before counting on them.
For rural homeowners, the USDA Section 504 program is worth a close look, since Fremont County is rural. Statewide, Idaho also has the Idaho Medicaid Aged & Disabled (A&D) Waiver, the Idaho Assistive Technology Project, and the Idaho Property Tax Reduction (Circuit Breaker) program. The Area VI AAA in Idaho Falls, at 420 N. Holmes Ave., can be reached at (208) 522-5391.
A Medicaid waiver for Idahoans 65 and older, or ages 18-64 with a qualifying disability, who meet a nursing-facility level of care and income limits; its home-modification benefit lists ramps, grab bars and doorway widening, and stair lifts are not listed. Apply at (877) 456-1233.
Information, referral, in-home services, caregiver support, meals and transportation for adults 60 and older in Fremont County; stair lift or home-modification funding is not listed. Call (208) 542-8179 to ask about accessibility referrals.
A lifetime benefit of $6,800 for service-connected disabilities or $2,000 for other qualifying disabilities, for structural home changes; stair glides are explicitly not covered. Call (800) 827-1000.
Up to $126,526 for FY2026, usable up to 6 times, for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home; stair lifts are not listed among its examples. Call (800) 827-1000.
Up to $25,350 for FY2026, usable up to 6 times, for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands or severe burns; stair lifts are not listed. Call (800) 827-1000.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed over 20 years, and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners 62 and older who cannot repay a loan; accessibility items like ramps are named, but stair lifts are not listed. Call (208) 785-2090.
A nonprofit offering advocacy, skills training, information and referral, peer support and transition services for people with disabilities, with its nearest office at 985 Capital Ave in Idaho Falls; stair lift funding is not listed. Call (208) 529-8610.
Energy-conservation and health and safety repairs for income-qualified households, with priority for elderly or disabled members and a possible multi-year wait; stair lifts and accessibility changes are not listed. Call (208) 522-5391.
Older adults
420 N. Holmes Ave., Idaho Falls, 83401
Veterans
101 N Bridge Street, St. Anthony, 83445
No. The VA program page lists stair glides among the items HISA does not cover. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either way, so call (800) 827-1000 or Fremont County Veteran's Services at (208) 624-7200 to ask.
The A&D Medicaid Waiver includes people ages 18-64 with a qualifying disability, and AAA East serves adults 60 and older plus vulnerable adults 18 and older. Neither lists stair lifts specifically, so ask when you call.
Fremont County is rural, so homeowners here can apply. The grant portion requires being 62 or older and unable to repay a loan, and stair lifts are not named as a covered item, so confirm with the office at (208) 785-2090.
Outdoor stair lifts are made for exposed steps, and with about 54 inches of snow a year, entry steps are often where the risk is highest. A platform lift is another option if a wheelchair is involved.
A turn or landing usually means a curved rail made to the shape of your stairs, or two straight lifts on separate flights. We measure the stairs in person before suggesting either.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
