McIntosh County sits in south-central North Dakota along the South Dakota border, where rolling hills, lakes and ponds stretch between Wishek and Ashley, the county seat. Across 994.6 square miles, homes are spread out and the nearest contractor or equipment installer can be a long drive away.
Many of the houses here are older farmhouses and small-town homes that were built with stairs and never updated for accessibility. This page walks through how those homes tend to work with a stair lift and which local, state and federal programs may help with the cost.
Most housing in the county is single-family homes and detached houses, along with ranch-style homes, split-level homes and some low-rise buildings. A straight staircase from a main floor to a basement or upstairs bedroom is usually the simplest and least costly lift to fit.
Split-level homes are different. They often have short flights with a landing or turn, which can mean a curved lift or two separate straight lifts. We measure every step and landing before recommending either.
The county's housing stock is older, and built-in accessibility features are rare. Narrow stairways, uneven treads and older railings are common in farmhouses, so the first visit focuses on whether the staircase can safely carry a rail.
Front steps and porches can be just as hard as indoor stairs. An outdoor-rated lift or a platform lift may suit entries where a ramp would be too long for the yard. In a place with rolling hills, some homes sit above the driveway, which makes that entry question worth asking early.
McIntosh County has about 1558 residents, and 35.2% are 65 or older. About 75.9% are homeowners, so most people deciding on a stair lift are making a change to a house they own.
If that includes you or your parent, the county veteran service office in Wishek is a good first call before buying anything, since some VA grants have strict rules about what they pay for.
Because towns are widely spaced, it helps to have measurements, photos of the stairs and any program paperwork ready before an installer comes out. That can cut down on repeat trips.
Ask about service too. A lift that needs a battery or a part should not leave someone stranded upstairs while waiting on a technician from far away.
The median home value in the county is $85,082, and many older households have limited cash or equity for home changes. That makes outside programs worth checking before paying on your own.
None of the programs below names stair lifts as a covered item, and the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. Some may still help with home modifications case by case, so call and ask directly. USDA Section 504 is open across all of McIntosh County because the whole county counts as rural.
This state benefit modifies a home to support independent functioning, with examples like ramps, grab bars and widened doorways; stair lifts are not named, so approval would be case by case. Call (855) 462-5465.
Provides meals, outreach, newsletters and transportation for county seniors; its page does not mention stair lift or home-modification funding. Call (800) 472-0031.
The county office in Ashley and Linton handles LIHEAP, SNAP, TANF, CCAP and Health Care Assistance; no stair lift fund is described. Call (701) 288-5170.
A lifetime grant of $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary structural home changes for veterans; it explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts. Call (701) 452-2885 for help applying for other uses.
Helps veterans with certain permanent, total service-connected disabilities build, remodel or buy an adapted home, up to $63,780 per grant as listed by VA; stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (800) 827-1000.
Funds adapting a home for veterans with certain qualifying service-connected disabilities, up to $12,756 per grant as listed by VA; stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (800) 827-1000.
Offers 1% repair loans up to $50,000 and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners age 62+; all of McIntosh County qualifies as rural, though stair lifts are not named. Call (701) 530-2037.
Serves people with disabilities in McIntosh County and nine other counties, including a temporary ramps service; no stair lift funding is described. Call (800) 450-0459.
Doug Olson helps veterans and dependents apply for VA benefits at no cost, from the Wishek office and at the Ashley Courthouse on the 2nd Friday from 9am to noon. Call (701) 452-2885.
Older adults
600 E Boulevard Ave, Dept 325, Bismarck, 58505
Veterans
109 10th St S, Wishek, 58495
The HISA grant explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts. The SAH and SHA grants do not mention stair lifts, so ask the McIntosh County Veterans Service Office at (701) 452-2885 whether they could apply in your case.
USDA Section 504 offers grants up to $10,000 for homeowners age 62+ who cannot repay a loan and have very low income. Stair lifts are not named, so call (701) 530-2037 to ask.
The Environmental Modification Service lists items like ramps, grab bars and modified bathrooms but does not name stair lifts. You must already qualify for SPED, Ex-SPED or the HCBS Waiver; call (855) 462-5465.
The veterans service office is at 109 10th St S in Wishek, and Doug Olson is at the Ashley Courthouse on the 2nd Friday of the month from 9am to noon.
Often yes. Short flights with landings may need a curved lift or two straight lifts, which we decide after measuring each run.
The McIntosh County Council on Aging at (800) 472-0031 offers meals and transportation, and the state Aging Services Division in Bismarck is at (701) 328-8910.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
