From Rochester's downtown skyways to farmhouses outside Eyota and Dover, Olmsted County is a place built around getting from one level to another. Rochester ties most downtown buildings together with skyways and underground walkways so people can stay out of the winter weather. At home, though, the stairs are still there, and that is where a stair lift comes in.
The county's seven towns are Rochester, Stewartville, Byron, Eyota, Oronoco, Dover and Marion. Their housing mix includes single-family homes, split-level homes, townhouses, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings. Each one puts stairs in a different spot, so this page walks through what fits where and which local offices can help with the cost.
Split-level homes usually have short flights between several floors. One straight lift may handle the run you use most, such as the half flight up to the bedrooms. Reaching every level often means a second lift or a curved rail.
Townhouses tend to have a single long, straight staircase, which is the simplest and quickest kind to fit. Walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings share stairs with neighbors, so the owner or building manager has to approve any installation before we measure.
Olmsted County covers about 653.5 square miles of low rolling hills, cut by drainage gullies along the Zumbro, Whitewater and Root rivers. Homes on sloped lots often have steps up to the front door or down to a walkout, even when the inside is easy to get around.
An outdoor lift built for weather can cover those entry steps. Because winters here are severe, we look at where snow piles up and how the rail will be cleared before recommending one. For someone who uses a wheelchair, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat.
Olmsted County has 139,828 residents, and 15.7% are 65 or older. About 67.5% of households own their home, which matters because most repair loans and grants require the person to own the house and live in it.
If that includes your parent, the Olmsted County Veteran Services Office at 2100 Campus Drive SE, Suite 200, Rochester, is a good first call at (507) 328-6355.
None of the programs below name stair lifts in their published rules, and the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. That does not always end the conversation. Several cover accessibility work in general, so ask the program directly whether a lift can count.
Statewide, it is also worth asking about the Alternative Care (AC) Program, the Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) Waiver, the Minnesota Housing Fix Up Loan (Accessibility Loan) and the Minnesota Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program (RLP). The Southeastern Minnesota AAA at (507) 288-6944 can help sort out which ones apply.
A Medicaid waiver for people 65 and older on Medical Assistance who are assessed through MnCHOICES as needing nursing-home level care but choose to stay at home. The sources we have do not list stair lifts, so confirm coverage with your case manager.
Up to $5,000 at 0% interest, forgiven over 7 years, for income-qualified homeowners anywhere in the county except the city of Stewartville; named projects include ramps, doorway changes and handrails, and stair lifts are not listed. Call (507) 328-7124 to ask.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% over 20 years and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners 62 and older in USDA-eligible rural areas; accessibility work such as ramps is covered, but stair lifts are not named. Use the state contact map on rd.usda.gov to confirm your address qualifies.
A lifetime benefit of $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability rating, for medically needed home changes. It does not cover stair glides, porch lifts or portable ramps.
Serves people with disabilities in Rochester and southeast Minnesota with modular ramps, ramp rental, low-rise steps and grab bars; stair lifts are not listed. Call (507) 285-3917.
A referral and coordination service for people 60 and older, with no income guidelines and a pay-what-you-can sliding scale. It does not list a stair lift grant itself, but staff at (507) 288-6944 can point you to options.
Older adults
2720 Superior Dr. NW, Suite 300, Rochester, 55901
Veterans
2100 Campus Drive SE, Suite 200, Rochester, 55904
Not through the HISA grant, which lists stair glides as excluded equipment. The Olmsted County Veteran Services Office at (507) 328-6355 can review other VA benefits.
No. The OCHRA Accessibility Loan Program covers homes in Olmsted County except the city of Stewartville. SEMAAA at (507) 288-6944 can suggest other options.
SEMAAA services start at age 60, but SEMCIL serves people with disabilities of any age in the region. Call SEMCIL at (507) 285-3917.
Often, yes, if you need every level. Many families start with one straight lift on the flight used most, then add another later.
Yes, an outdoor stair lift can run along exterior steps, and a platform lift is an option for wheelchair users. We check snow buildup and drainage when we measure.
Possibly, if the address is in a USDA-eligible rural area and the owner is very low income. Grants require age 62 or older; check your address through the contact map on rd.usda.gov.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
