Waseca County is three towns, Waseca, Janesville and New Richland, set among low rolling hills, farm fields and roughly 20 named lakes like Buffalo Lake, Silver Lake, Clear Lake and Loon Lake. Many families here live in single-family homes and split-level homes that have served them for decades, and a lot of those homes have stairs that get harder to climb every year.
In the county seat, much of the building stock dates to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Older multi-story houses, split-levels with short flights, and the rural homes spread across the townships each call for a different kind of stair lift. This page walks through what fits where and which programs can help with the cost.
Waseca's downtown, the Waseca Commercial Historic District, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 10, 2020. Individually listed homes in the county date from 1868 to about 1900, including the 1868 Philo C. Bailey House, the circa-1895 William R. Wolf House and the 1897 John W. Aughenbaugh House.
Homes from that era often have one tall, narrow interior staircase, sometimes with a landing or a turn. A straight stair lift works when the run is one unbroken flight. If the stairs turn at a landing or wind near the top, a curved rail is built to match that exact staircase.
A stair lift mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so plaster and original trim usually stay untouched. We measure the width, the turns and the space at the top and bottom before recommending anything.
Split-level homes are common here, and they usually have two or three short flights instead of one long one. Each short flight can take its own straight lift, or one curved rail can connect them if the layout allows.
Townhouses tend to have a single straight staircase between floors, which is often the simplest install. In walk-up apartments, the owner or landlord has to approve the work first, so get that conversation started early.
Many houses also have a few steps up from the driveway or garage. An outdoor lift built for weather, or a platform lift for someone who uses a wheelchair, can handle that entry.
Waseca County covers about 433 square miles, almost all of it prairie soil given over to farming. Homes sit in small towns and out in rural townships, so the drive to the county seat of Waseca can be long for both older residents and contractors.
That distance is a good reason to plan ahead rather than wait for a fall. About 17.4% of county residents are 65 or older, and staying on the main floor is not always possible when bedrooms or laundry are upstairs or down. A lift that works reliably matters more when help is not close by.
Two Minnesota Medicaid waivers list home accessibility changes as covered services: the Elderly Waiver for people 65 and older, and the CADI Waiver for adults 18 and older who are under 65 at enrollment. Both require Medical Assistance eligibility and a nursing-facility level of care.
For homeowners who do not qualify for a waiver, the Minnesota Valley Action Council offers deferred loans up to $37,500 and Fix-Up Loans from $2,000 to $75,000, both listing accessibility improvements as an eligible use. The USDA Section 504 program offers loans up to $40,000 at 1% interest and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners 62 and older in eligible rural areas.
Waseca County Veteran Services at 307 N State St in Waseca, (507) 835-0680, can explain which VA benefits apply. The program list below has the details and phone numbers for each option.
A state Medicaid waiver for people 65 or older who qualify for Medical Assistance and need nursing-home level care but choose to live at home; it covers changes to make homes and equipment accessible, including stair lifts. Call the Senior LinkAge Line at (800) 333-2433.
A state Medicaid waiver for adults 18 and older and under 65 at enrollment with a disability who need nursing-facility level care; home modifications including installation of lifts are covered. Call (866) 267-7655.
The regional aging agency offering information and referral, Medicare counseling and caregiver support; the source does not list stair lifts or a home modification program. Call (507) 387-1256 to ask about current home modification referrals.
Deferred loans up to $37,500 and repayable Fix-Up Loans from $2,000 to $75,000 for owner-occupants, with accessibility improvements listed as an eligible use; stair lifts are not named specifically. Call (507) 345-2436.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners 62 and older with income at or below 50% of the county Area Median Income; the source covers repairs and health and safety hazards but does not list stair lifts. Call (763) 689-3354.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for medically necessary structural changes such as entrances and bathrooms; stair lifts are not listed as a covered item. Call (800) 827-1000.
VA grants for veterans and service members with a permanent, severe service-connected disability to build, remodel or adapt a home; the source does not list stair lifts, and amounts change yearly. Call (800) 827-1000.
A nonprofit serving people of any age with any disability in Region 9, including Waseca County, with assistive technology and ramp help; stair lifts are not listed specifically. Call (888) 676-6498.
Older adults
10 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 3, Mankato, 56001
Veterans
307 N State St, Waseca, 56093
Usually, yes. Many homes in Waseca were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and their stairs can be narrow or turn at a landing. A straight lift fits a single flight, and a curved rail is made to match stairs with turns.
The Elderly Waiver and the CADI Waiver both list home accessibility changes as covered. You need Medical Assistance eligibility and an assessment showing nursing-facility level of care. The Senior LinkAge Line at (800) 333-2433 can start the process.
The CADI Waiver serves adults 18 and older who are under 65 at enrollment and have a disability. SMILES Center for Independent Living also serves people of any age with a disability in Waseca County.
The VA HISA and SAH/SHA grants fund structural changes to a home, and their sources do not list stair lifts. Start with Waseca County Veteran Services at (507) 835-0680 to see which benefits fit your situation.
Minnesota River AAA is at 10 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 3, in Mankato. You can reach that office at (507) 389-8879.
The USDA Section 504 program is for homes in eligible rural areas and offers loans up to $40,000 at 1% interest. MVAC loans also list accessibility improvements and require that you own and live in the home.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
