Powder River County sits in the far southeastern corner of Montana on the Wyoming border, about 3,297 square miles of grazing land and buttes with Broadus as its one town. Every resident lives in a rural area, and many homes sit on ranch and farm property well outside town.
That distance shapes how a stair lift gets chosen, installed and serviced here. Most installation and service work has to come from a provider traveling in from a larger town, so planning ahead and getting the measurements right on the first visit matters more than it would in a city.
The county's housing is mostly single-family homes and detached houses, with plenty of ranch-style and split-level homes. A ranch-style house often keeps daily living on one floor, but a basement stairway to laundry, storage or a bedroom can still be a daily hurdle.
Split-level homes bring a different problem: several short flights instead of one long one. Each short run can take a straight stair lift, but if a flight turns or has a landing, a curved rail may be the better fit. We look at every step between the rooms you actually use before recommending anything.
A straight stair lift fits a single flight with no turns and is usually the simplest to install. A curved lift follows turns and landings, and its rail is built to the exact shape of your stairs, which takes more time to measure and produce.
On ranch property, the hardest steps are sometimes outside: a porch, a deck or an entry from the yard. Outdoor lifts are built for weather exposure. If a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat.
With a population density of about 0.5 people per square mile, Powder River County is one of the most sparsely populated counties in Montana. Contractors, medical equipment providers and service technicians usually travel in, so visits take scheduling.
It helps to have clear photos of the stairway, the width of the stairs and the location of the nearest outlet ready before the first visit. Ask about routine maintenance and what happens if the lift needs a repair, since a return trip is a real consideration out here.
The county has a notably older population, with a median age of 50.8. Most homes are owner-occupied, which matters because owning the home makes it easier to install a permanent rail and qualifies a household for some repair programs.
For many families, the question is whether a parent can keep living on the ranch or in their Broadus home. A stair lift is one piece of that, alongside rides, meals and other support listed below.
No program in this county names stair lifts as a covered item, and the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. That does not close every door. Medicaid's Big Sky Waiver can fund home adaptations that are medically necessary, and a stair lift would need to be justified case by case through the Case Management Team.
USDA Section 504 repair loans and grants can be used to make a home accessible for a household member with a disability, and the whole county counts as rural. The CDBG Housing Stabilization Program has paused new applications, with new funds expected fall 2026. Start with Action for Eastern Montana at (406) 377-3564, which can point you to the right program.
A Medicaid waiver for Montanans age 65+ or physically disabled under 65 who need a nursing facility level of care; it covers medically necessary home modifications, but stair lifts are not listed and would need case-by-case approval, and a waitlist exists. Call (888) 706-1535.
The aging and disability resource center for Powder River County, based in Glendive, offering information, referral, options counseling and case management for adults 60+ and adults with disabilities; it does not list stair lift or home modification funding. Call (406) 377-3564.
The Broadus senior center provides meals, socialization and referrals for county residents 60 and older, with no stair lift or home modification funding listed. Call (406) 436-2635.
Offers loans up to $40,000 at 1% interest and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners 62+ who cannot repay a loan, and grants may be used to make a home accessible for a household member with a disability; stair lifts are not named specifically. Call (406) 585-2580.
Helps owner-occupied homes with critical health and safety problems for households under 80% of area median income, with Powder River County or the Town of Broadus applying on the homeowner's behalf; stair lifts are not named, and applications are paused with new funds expected fall 2026. Call (406) 841-2700.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for medically necessary changes like ramps and roll-in showers, but it does not cover stair lifts, porch lifts or stair glides. VFW Post 1595 in Broadus can be reached at (406) 436-2559.
Larger VA grants, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026, for veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities; stair lifts are not named either way. VFW Post 1595 can be reached at (406) 436-2559.
A center for independent living that serves Powder River County residents with disabilities through information, referral, housing navigation and independent living skills support; no stair lift funding is listed. Call (406) 259-5181.
Older adults
2030 N. Merrill Ave., Glendive, 59330
Veterans
1020 N Haynes Ave, Miles City, 59301
Yes, but expect the work to come from a provider traveling in from a larger town. Because of that, installs and service visits need to be scheduled ahead, and good measurements on the first trip save a second one.
The VA HISA grant does not; it specifically excludes stair glides and porch lifts. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either way. The Miles City Veteran Service Office at (406) 232-1203 can help a veteran sort out what applies.
Possibly, through the Big Sky Waiver's Environmental Accessibility Adaptations. Stair lifts are not named, so one would have to be justified as medically necessary and cost-effective through the Case Management Team. Adaptations of $5,000 or more need two competitive bids.
Action for Eastern Montana and the senior center focus on people 60 and older, though the ADRC also serves adults with disabilities. LIFTT serves county residents living with a disability, and the Big Sky Waiver covers physically disabled adults under 65.
Split-level homes have short flights between levels. A straight lift can handle a short, straight run, while a flight with a turn or landing usually needs a curved rail. We measure each flight before recommending one.
Action for Eastern Montana at (406) 377-3564 is a good starting point. They provide options counseling and can connect you with the Big Sky Waiver and other aging and disability services.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
