Twin Falls County runs along the south side of the Snake River, with the city of Twin Falls perched on the canyon rim near Shoshone Falls and Pillar Falls. Out from the city are Kimberly, Buhl, Filer, Hansen and Hollister. Many houses here grew up with the farms after the Milner Dam opened the high desert to irrigated agriculture.
That history shows up on the stairs. A lot of the older in-town and farmstead housing dates to the early-to-mid 20th century, when multi-level farmhouses and raised staircase entries were common. This page walks through what that means for a stair lift and where people in the county can look for help paying for one.
The county recorded 34,693 housing units as of 2020, with 20,439 of them in the city of Twin Falls. You will find single-family homes, detached houses, townhouses, walk-up apartments and split-level homes across the six towns.
A single straight flight, common in many detached houses and townhouses, usually takes a straight stair lift. Those rails are the simplest to fit and often the quickest to install.
Split-level homes and multi-level farmhouses are different. Short flights broken by a landing, or a turn partway up, usually call for a curved rail built to the exact shape of the staircase. We measure each stair before recommending one or the other.
Raised staircase entries mean the hardest climb is sometimes outside the front door. An outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can handle porch and entry steps when going up from the yard is the daily struggle.
The weather matters for outdoor equipment. Winter snowfall averages 24.2 inches per year, and summer highs reach roughly 90°F on about 23 days a year. An outdoor unit needs to be rated for both, with a cover for the seat and controls.
Annual precipitation is only 10.8 inches, so rain is less of a concern than snow, sun and temperature swings at roughly 3,740 ft elevation.
About 15.8% of county residents are 65 or older, and the county's median age of 35.8 in the 2020 census is younger than the national median. Many of the people calling us are adult children helping a parent stay in the family home.
Around 66.1% of residents are homeowners, which matters because a permanent rail is easiest to install in a home you own. In walk-up apartments, a landlord's permission comes first.
If that includes someone in your family, the VA grants below and the Twin Falls County Veteran Service Office are worth a call before you buy.
No program listed here names stair lifts as a covered item, and one, the VA HISA grant, specifically excludes stair glides. That does not mean the door is closed. Some programs cover home adaptations based on an individual assessment.
For veterans, start with the Twin Falls County Veteran Service Office at (208) 734-9091, 650 Addison Avenue West, Suite #1077, Twin Falls. They can explain the SAH and SHA grants and whether a disability qualifies.
For older adults and people with disabilities, the Area IV AAA at (208) 736-2122, 650 Addison Ave. West, Suite 100, Twin Falls, can point you toward Idaho Medicaid waiver services and other local help. Idaho 211 CareLine at (800) 926-2588 is another free place to ask.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities to buy, build or change a permanent home; the source gives ramps and widening doorways as examples and does not mention stair lifts. A related Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) grant of up to $50,961 can adapt a family member's home where the veteran is living temporarily.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans with loss or loss of use of both hands, severe burns, or certain breathing injuries; stair lifts are not mentioned in the source. A related TRA grant of up to $9,100 can adapt a family member's home.
A lifetime benefit of $6,800 for service-connected disabilities or $2,000 for non-service-connected conditions rated at least 50% disabled, covering medically necessary items like bathroom changes and ramps. It explicitly excludes stair glides, so it does not pay for a stair lift.
A state Medicaid waiver for Idaho residents 65 or older or with a qualifying disability who meet income limits; it lists environmental accessibility adaptations and specialized medical equipment, but stair lifts are not named and coverage depends on an individual needs assessment. Call (877) 456-1233.
A nonprofit at 1182 Eastland Dr N, Suite C, Twin Falls, whose Wheel Fix It workshop and store offers wheelchair and scooter repair plus temporary ramps and wheelchairs; stair lifts are not listed as a service. Call (208) 336-3335.
A free statewide information and referral line that connects seniors and caregivers with local resources, including Area Agency on Aging services; it does not fund home modifications itself. Call (800) 926-2588.
Older adults
650 Addison Ave. West, Suite 100, Twin Falls, 83301
Veterans
650 Addison Avenue West, Suite #1077, Twin Falls, 83301
The VA HISA grant will not; its rules exclude stair glides along with porch lifts and portable ramps. Medicare is not covered in the information we have, so ask the Area IV AAA at (208) 736-2122 about other options.
Usually, yes. Split-level homes often have short flights or landings, which typically need a curved rail fitted to the staircase instead of a straight one.
An outdoor stair lift or platform lift can serve entry steps. With winter snowfall averaging 24.2 inches and summer days near 90°F, the unit should be built for outdoor use and kept covered.
Idaho Medicaid's Elderly/Disabled Waiver Services are open to residents 65 and older who meet income and resource limits. Environmental accessibility adaptations are on its list, but a stair lift depends on your individual assessment. Call (877) 456-1233.
The Twin Falls County Veteran Service Office at 650 Addison Avenue West, Suite #1077, Twin Falls, phone (208) 734-9091. They can help with SAH and SHA grant applications.
Possibly. The Temporary Residence Adaptation grant can adapt a family member's home, up to $50,961 for SAH-eligible veterans or $9,100 for SHA-eligible veterans.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
