Dillon grew up in the 1880s as a railroad town, and its historic core still shows it. The Dillon Public Library, built as a Carnegie library in 1901, is still in service, and many of the century-old homes around downtown have two or more floors with the bedrooms upstairs.
Out past Dillon and down toward Lima, the picture changes. Much of the county is newer single-story rural and ranch construction spread over a lot of ground. That split matters when a family starts asking whether a stair lift makes sense, and this page walks through it.
Most stair lift work here centers on the older two-story housing in Dillon's historic neighborhoods. In these houses the only full bathroom is often on the second floor, so the staircase decides whether someone can keep living there comfortably.
Older staircases can be narrow, steep or turn at a landing. A straight staircase usually takes a straight rail, which is the simplest install. A stair with a landing turn or a curve needs a curved rail built to fit that exact staircase.
Split-level homes are a different case. They often have short flights between levels, and each flight may need its own look. Ranch-style homes rarely need an indoor lift, but the steps from the driveway or porch can still be a problem.
Dillon sits at about 5,102 feet in the Beaverhead Valley, ringed by the Beaverhead, Pioneer and Ruby Mountains. January's daily mean is 23.9°F, and the county recorded a low of -42°F on January 13, 2024.
Snowfall is modest, around 11.2 inches a year, but long icy winters make outdoor steps and ramps risky. For a porch or entry with several steps, an outdoor-rated stair lift or a vertical platform lift can be an option. Either one has to hold up to cold and ice, so it is worth asking about weather covers and how the unit handles freezing mornings.
The county's 65 and older share was about 24.8% as of 2024, above Montana's 21.1% and the U.S. figure of 18%.
Ownership matters because several funding programs require that you own and live in the home. The county's large land area also means aging services are based in Butte, so plan on some phone calls before an in-person visit.
The Montana Big Sky Waiver (Medicaid HCBS) is the program here that lists home modifications as a covered service, and stair lifts fall within that category. It is limited to people who need a nursing facility level of care and meet tight income and asset limits.
The usual first call is Southwest Montana Aging and Disability Services at (406) 782-5555. They handle intake and options counseling for the waiver and can point you to other help. Veterans can also reach the Montana Veteran Service Office – Butte Field Office at (406) 533-0910.
Statewide options worth asking about include the Montana Assistive Technology Loan (MATL), the Reverse Annuity Mortgage (RAM), Community First Choice Services (CFCS) and the Property Tax Assistance Program (PTAP) & Elderly Homeowner/Renter Credit. Details for the main programs are listed below.
Montana's home and community-based waiver for adults who would otherwise need nursing-home level care, with home modifications listed as a covered service and stair lifts falling within that category. Call (888) 706-1535, and expect a Level of Care assessment through the local Area Agency on Aging first.
The Butte-based aging and disability resource center serving Beaverhead County adults 60+ and adults with disabilities; it does not list a stair lift benefit but is the intake point for the Big Sky Waiver. Call (406) 782-5555.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% for 20 years, and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners age 62+ who cannot repay a loan; Dillon and rural Beaverhead County qualify as rural areas. The source does not mention stair lifts, so ask your local USDA Rural Development field office.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary permanent alterations such as ramps, but it does not pay for stair lifts or other removable equipment. Call (800) 827-1000.
Larger VA grants for homeowners with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA; the source does not mention stair lifts. Call (800) 827-1000.
A Center for Independent Living serving people with disabilities in Beaverhead County, offering information, referral, peer mentoring and advocacy; stair lift funding is not listed. Call (406) 782-4834.
Older adults
125 Basin Creek Rd., Butte, 59701
Veterans
600 Gilman Avenue, Butte, 59701
Older two-story homes in Dillon's historic neighborhoods are where most stair lifts in the county are installed. Straight staircases take a straight rail, and stairs with turns or landings need a curved rail fitted to the staircase.
The Montana Big Sky Waiver (Medicaid HCBS) covers home modifications, and stair lifts fall in that category. You must need a nursing facility level of care, and the 2026 limits for a single applicant are $994 a month in income and $2,000 in assets.
Southwest Montana Aging and Disability Services serves adults with disabilities age 18 and up as well as adults 60+. Ability Montana's Butte branch also serves people with disabilities in Beaverhead County.
The HISA grant does not pay for stair glides or other removable equipment. The SAH and SHA grants do not mention stair lifts, so call (800) 827-1000 or the Butte field office at (406) 533-0910 to ask about your situation.
Call Southwest Montana Aging and Disability Services in Butte at (406) 782-5555. They serve all of Beaverhead County and can set up intake for the Big Sky Waiver and other services.
Winters here are long and icy, with a record low of -42°F. Outdoor-rated stair lifts and platform lifts are built for exposure, so ask about weather covers and cold-weather operation before choosing one.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
