Burke County runs along the Saskatchewan border, with most homes clustered in Bowbells, the county seat, and Powers Lake, plus farmsteads spread across the land between them. At about 2.0 people per square mile, a trip to a doctor or a contractor can mean a long drive. That distance is a big reason families here look at changing the house instead of leaving it.
Much of the housing in the county is older and owner-occupied, built well before anyone thought about accessibility standards. Farm and oil country homes are often multi-story or sit on raised entries. This page walks through what that means for a stair lift and which offices can help you sort out payment.
The local mix includes single-family homes, ranch-style homes and split-level homes. A single straight flight is the simplest case: a straight rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so older plaster and framing are rarely a problem.
Split-level homes are different. They tend to have several short runs between levels, and each run may need its own lift or a curved rail that follows the turns. We measure every flight and landing before recommending one or the other.
Stairways with a turn, a landing in the middle or a narrow top step usually call for a curved lift. Those rails are built to fit one staircase, so expect a site visit and measurements first.
Many rural and farmstead homes in the county were built with raised entries. If the hardest steps are the ones from the yard to the door, an outdoor stair lift or a vertical platform lift may solve more than an indoor unit would.
Outdoor models are built to handle weather, but placement still matters. We look at which entry gets used most, where snow piles up and whether a platform would also work for a wheelchair or walker.
Because the county is sparse and services are spread out, the practical value of staying in a familiar home goes up. A stair lift can let someone keep using the upstairs bedroom or the basement laundry instead of moving closer to a larger city.
Distance also matters after the install. Ask about battery backup, how the unit behaves in a power outage and what routine checks a family member can do between service visits.
About 19.2% of Burke County residents are 65 or older, and 70.9% are homeowners. Owning the home makes a stair lift much easier, since you do not need a landlord's sign-off to mount a rail.
If that includes someone in your family, the county veterans office in Bowbells is a good early call, since some VA grants involve home adaptations.
None of the programs listed below name stair lifts in their published materials, so coverage is decided case by case. Several do fund home changes such as ramps, widened doorways, grab bars or bathroom work, which makes them worth asking about.
A good first call is the Aging and Disability Resource-LINK at (855) 462-5465, or the North Star Human Service Zone office at (701) 377-2313 for local intake. Veterans can reach the Burke County Veterans Service Office at (701) 377-2820, 103 Main St NE, Bowbells.
Statewide, you can also ask about Service Payments for the Elderly and Disabled (SPED / Ex-SPED), North Dakota Medicaid State Plan Personal Care, VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) and the North Dakota Homestead Property Tax Credit for Seniors and Disabled. The state Aging Services Division in Bismarck is at (701) 328-8910.
A state Medicaid waiver for seniors and adults with disabilities who need a nursing facility level of care; it funds home modifications like ramps, widened doorways and bathroom or kitchen changes, but stair lifts are not listed. Call (855) 462-5465 to ask.
Waivers for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities or traumatic brain injury that help pay for approved home changes with prior approval; stair lifts are not named in the source. Call (800) 755-2604.
A statewide information and referral service for adults 60 and older and adults with disabilities, not a funder; it does not list stair lifts but can point you to programs. Call (855) 462-5465.
The local intake office for Burke, Williams, Divide and Renville counties for Medicaid, HCBS and aging services; stair lift coverage is not listed. Call (701) 377-2313.
USDA Rural Development grants up to $10,000 lifetime and loans up to $40,000 at 1% for owner-occupants with income at or below 50% of Area Median Income; listed repairs include ramps and grab bars, while stair lifts are not listed. Call (701) 530-2037.
VA grants for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, with SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 (FY2026); stair lifts are not named. The Burke County Veterans Service Office at (701) 377-2820 can help with an application.
A nonprofit center for independent living offering information, referral, advocacy and skills training for people with disabilities in Burke and nearby counties; it does not fund stair lifts directly. Call (701) 839-4724.
Older adults
600 E Boulevard Ave, Dept 325, Bismarck, 58505
Veterans
103 Main St NE, Bowbells, 58721
The Aged and Disabled Waiver funds home modifications such as ramps, widened doorways and bathroom or kitchen changes, but the state materials do not name stair lifts. Call (855) 462-5465 to ask whether your situation qualifies.
The North Star Human Service Zone handles Medicaid, HCBS and aging services intake for Burke County. Their number is (701) 377-2313.
Yes, possibly. The Aging and Disability Resource-LINK serves adults with disabilities as well as people 60 and older, and Independence, Inc. at (701) 839-4724 serves people with disabilities in Burke County.
The liquid asset cap for the Section 504 program is $15,000, or $20,000 if you are 62 or older. You must own and live in the home in an eligible rural area.
No. Split-level homes often need a lift on each short run or a curved rail that follows the turns, and we measure every flight before recommending an option.
The Burke County Veterans Service Office is at 103 Main St NE in Bowbells and can be reached at (701) 377-2820. They can explain the VA housing grants and whether a stair lift might be considered.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
