Wibaux grew up as a railroad and ranching hub, and many houses in town and out on the surrounding ranch communities still date to the early-to-mid 20th century. Those older farmhouses and modest town lots often have original stairways that are narrower than what newer construction allows.
The county sits on open rolling prairie in far eastern Montana, right on the North Dakota border, with Interstate 94 and Montana Highway 7 passing through. Because the area is remote, residents often travel to Glendive or Miles City for specialized services. This page explains how local homes affect stair lift choices and where to look for help paying for one.
The 2020 census counted 518 housing units in Wibaux County, and a large share were built when the town was growing around the railroad and ranching. Original stairways in these houses tend to be narrow, and that is the first thing we measure.
A straight staircase, even a narrow one, can usually take a straight rail lift mounted on the treads rather than the wall. If the stairs turn at a landing or wrap around a corner, a curved rail built to the exact shape of your stairs is the usual answer. We check width, the turn, and where the top and bottom landings give room to get on and off.
Ranch-style homes often have the main living space on one floor, so the stairs that matter are the ones to a basement or the steps up from the yard to the door. Split-level homes have several short runs between floors, and each run may need its own lift or a different approach.
For porch and entry steps, an outdoor lift with weather-rated parts is one option. Where a wheelchair user needs to change levels, a platform lift may fit better than a seat lift. Single-family homes, detached houses and low-rise buildings all come up here, and the right fit depends on the specific stairs, not the style label.
About 29.6% of Wibaux County residents are 65 or older, so many families here are already thinking about stairs and safety. In the 2020 census, 74.6% of housing units were owner-occupied, which matters because owners can generally approve installation themselves.
If someone in your household served, the VA programs listed below are worth checking, though not all of them pay for stair lifts.
Local income and property values make cost a real concern for many households. Median household income is about $67,462, the poverty rate is near 15.8%, and median property value is about $98,600.
Start with Area I Agency on Aging through Action for Eastern Montana at 2030 N. Merrill Ave. in Glendive, phone (406) 377-3564. They can walk you through options and point you toward the Big Sky Waiver and other funding. The Montana Assistive Technology Loan program lists home modifications among the items it finances.
Statewide programs also include the Reverse Annuity Mortgage (RAM), Community First Choice Services (CFCS), and the Property Tax Assistance Program (PTAP) & Elderly Homeowner/Renter Credit. Veterans can contact the Montana Veteran Affairs Division in Great Falls at (406) 452-2265.
A Medicaid home and community-based waiver for Montanans 65+ or under 65 with a qualifying physical disability who need nursing facility level of care; it lists Environmental Adaptations as a covered service, but stair lifts are not named, and enrollment slots are limited with a waitlist. Wibaux County residents apply through the Area I ADRC in Glendive, and the state line is (406) 444-4077.
Helps people who have lived in a nursing home or similar facility for at least 60 consecutive days move back home under a Medicaid waiver, and it lists Home Modifications as a supplemental service; stair lifts are not named on the source. Call (406) 444-4077.
The designated aging and disability resource center for Wibaux County, offering information, referral, options counseling and long-term care planning rather than cash grants; its page does not mention stair lifts or home modifications. Call (406) 377-3564.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary home alterations, but it explicitly excludes stair glides, so it does not pay for stair lifts. A VA Medical Center may provide a stair glide through Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service if medically necessary; call (406) 447-7577.
Grants of up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) for FY2026 for veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities; stair lifts are not named among the examples. Call (800) 827-1000.
The Center for Independent Living serving Wibaux County, offering referral, advocacy, peer support and skills training for people with disabilities; its service list does not include a home-modification or equipment program. Call (406) 948-8500.
Offers 0% APR loans up to $1,500 and 3.5% fixed APR loans above that to Montanans with disabilities or family members borrowing for them, and it lists home modifications as qualifying; stair lifts are not named specifically. Call (406) 454-5709.
Older adults
2030 N. Merrill Ave., Glendive, 59330
Veterans
104 2nd St S, Ste 200, Great Falls, 59401
Often, yes. A straight rail mounts to the treads and can work on narrow stairs, while stairs that turn usually need a curved rail. Measuring the width and landings is the first step.
No. The VA excludes stair glides from HISA. A VA Medical Center may provide one through Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service if it is medically necessary, so ask at (406) 447-7577.
It lists Environmental Adaptations as a covered service, but stair lifts are not named, so coverage is possible but not confirmed. It requires nursing facility level of care and has a waitlist.
Area I Agency on Aging through Action for Eastern Montana in Glendive, at (406) 377-3564. They handle options counseling and can point you to the Big Sky Waiver and other funding.
The Big Sky Waiver includes people under 65 with a qualifying physical disability, and the MATL loan is open to any Montanan with a disability. LIFTT also serves people with disabilities in Wibaux County.
The Montana Assistive Technology Loan program offers 0% APR up to $1,500 and 3.5% fixed APR above that, and it lists home modifications as qualifying. Call (406) 454-5709 to ask about a stair lift.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
