From Garrison and Underwood up near Lake Sakakawea to Wilton, Turtle Lake, Max, White Shield, Benedict and the county seat of Washburn, most people in McLean County live in detached houses spread across open farm country. The county averages about 2.8 housing units per square mile, so a lot of older residents are aging in place on farmsteads or in small-town homes a good drive from services.
That spread-out setting changes the stair question. Many of these homes have a basement or split-level staircase inside and steps up to the door outside, and both can stand between someone and staying home. This page walks through what kind of lift tends to fit local houses and which offices in and around McLean County can help with the cost.
The local housing stock is mostly single-family homes, detached houses, ranch-style homes and split-level homes, with only a small share of walk-up apartments. McLean County had 5,728 housing units at the 2020 census and an estimated 5,862 by 2024, nearly all of them low-rise.
In a ranch-style home the stairs in question usually lead to the basement, where laundry or a spare bedroom often sits. A single straight run is the simplest and most common stair lift job.
Split-level homes are different. They tend to have short flights with landings or turns, and a straight lift may not cover the whole trip. Depending on the layout, that can mean a curved rail or more than one straight lift, which we sort out by measuring in person.
Most residents here own detached homes with exterior stairs or entries, so the hardest climb is sometimes the one from the yard to the front door. For a few steps, an exterior ramp may make more sense. For a longer run of outdoor stairs, an outdoor-rated stair lift or a platform lift is worth looking at.
The land rolls, with lakes and ponds across the eastern part of the county and the Missouri River along the southwest. Homes near Turtle Lake, Lost Lake, Lake Nettie or the Sakakawea shoreline sometimes sit on sloped lots with walkout basements or long entry steps, which is where outdoor and curved options come up most often.
About 22.5% of McLean County residents are 65 or older, and 76.2% own their homes. Owning the house matters, because several of the loan and grant programs below require that the applicant own the home before they will help with modifications.
There is no VA facility listed in the county, but the McLean County Veterans Service Office at 712 5th Avenue in Washburn, inside the courthouse building, can help with VA housing grant applications.
The county's economy is largely devoted to agriculture, and many older residents would rather not pay the full cost of an accessibility upgrade out of pocket. None of the programs listed below name stair lifts in their published materials, so call first and ask directly whether a lift can be covered in your situation.
The North Dakota Assistive loan program is often the most practical route: up to $50,000 at a 2% fixed rate for homeowners with a disability who can repay. Veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities should also ask about the VA housing grants.
For home and community-based care options, the Aging and Disability Resource-LINK at (855) 462-5465 is the state's single point of entry. You can also ask them about Service Payments for the Elderly and Disabled (SPED / Ex-SPED) 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 federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities who own or plan to own the home; the VA names ramps and widened doorways, and stair lifts are not listed. The McLean County Veterans Service Office can help you apply.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities, such as loss of use of both hands. The VA source names ramps and doorway widening, and stair lifts are not listed.
For SAH- or SHA-eligible veterans living temporarily in a family member's home, with up to $50,961 or up to $9,100 depending on eligibility. It covers structural changes like ramps and doorways; stair lifts are not named.
A loan of up to $50,000 at a 2% fixed rate, subject to fund availability, for North Dakota residents with a disability who can repay; home modifications require owning the home. Listed modifications are walk-in showers and ramps, and stair lifts are not mentioned, so call (800) 895-4728 to ask.
A grant that does not need to be repaid, with awards typically not over $2,000, for people with a documented assistive-technology need who meet income guidelines and have no other coverage. Home modifications and stair lifts are not listed; call (800) 895-4728.
Provides safety devices such as grab bars, bed rails and threshold ramps to North Dakota residents aged 60 or over who do not live in a nursing facility, with limited, need-based funding. Stair lifts are not mentioned; call (800) 895-4728.
Offers information, referral and advocacy for people with disabilities, and its service area includes McLean County. Stair lift or home-modification help is not listed, so call (701) 222-3636 to ask about current offerings.
The state's single point of entry for home and community-based long-term care, including Medicaid HCBS, PACE (age 55+), Money Follows the Person and the Family Caregiver Support Program. Stair lifts are not listed; call (855) 462-5465.
Handles public assistance eligibility and home and community-based services for McLean, Mercer, Oliver and Sheridan counties. Stair lift coverage is not listed; call (701) 462-3581.
The county office for veterans and their families, and a practical first stop for the VA SAH, SHA and TRA grants. Stair lift coverage is not listed; call (701) 462-8806.
Older adults
600 E Boulevard Ave, Dept 325, Bismarck, 58505
Veterans
712 5th Avenue, Washburn, 58577
Often, yes, but split-level homes tend to have short flights with landings or turns. Depending on the layout, the answer may be a curved rail or more than one straight lift, which is why we measure the stairs in person.
It depends on the number of steps. For a few, an exterior ramp may be simpler. For a longer outdoor run, an outdoor-rated stair lift or a platform lift is worth considering.
The North Dakota Assistive Senior Safety Program serves residents aged 60 or over who do not live in a nursing facility. It lists items like grab bars and threshold ramps and does not mention stair lifts, so call (800) 895-4728 to ask.
The VA SAH, SHA and TRA grants name ramps and widened doorways, and stair lifts are not mentioned. The McLean County Veterans Service Office at (701) 462-8806 can review your eligibility and help with the application.
North Dakota Assistive offers loans up to $50,000 at a 2% fixed rate, subject to fund availability, for residents with a disability who can repay and own the home. Stair lifts are not named in their materials, so confirm at (800) 895-4728.
The Aging and Disability Resource-LINK at (855) 462-5465 is the state's single point of entry for home and community-based care. Locally, Dakota Central Human Service Zone at (701) 462-3581 serves McLean County.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
