Between Lakota, McVille and Michigan City, much of Nelson County's housing is older farmhouses and small-town single-family homes built well before modern accessibility codes. Many have a full flight of stairs to the front door, between floors, or both. That layout works fine for decades, until climbing it becomes the hardest part of the day.
A stair lift lets someone keep using the whole house instead of moving down to one floor or out of the home. This page walks through which kind of lift suits the homes and weather here, and which local and federal offices can help you look into paying for one.
Single-family homes, detached houses and ranch-style homes are common across the county. A straight staircase is the simplest case: the rail runs on the stair treads, not the wall, so plaster walls in an older house usually are not a problem.
Farmhouse stairs often turn, narrow at a landing, or have a step at the top or bottom. Those need a curved lift with a rail built to that staircase. We measure on site before quoting anything, because older homes rarely match a standard layout.
Split-level homes put several short runs of stairs between levels instead of one long flight. Depending on which levels a person uses daily, that can mean one lift for the most-used run or more than one lift.
For a short rise where a seated lift is awkward, or where a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift can be the better fit. We look at how the person actually moves through the house before suggesting either option.
Nelson County sits on rolling hills dotted with lakes and ponds, and the winters are long. For many homes, the hardest stairs are the exterior steps up to the entrance, especially when they are icy.
An outdoor stair lift is built with weather-resistant parts and a cover for the seat. For a porch or deck entrance used with a walker or wheelchair, an outdoor platform lift is another route. Either way, the goal is getting in and out of the house safely all year.
The county skews older. About 26.8% of residents are 65 or over, and the median age is 50.1 years. Many of those households want to stay in the home they already know rather than move to town or into care.
If that includes your parent or spouse, the VA programs below are worth asking about, along with the Nelson County Veterans Service Office in Lakota.
No single program here is confirmed to pay for a stair lift outright. The sources for the programs listed below do not mention stair lifts by name, so the best move is to call and ask specifically about stair lifts or home modifications.
For Medicaid and aging services, start with the Eastern Plains Human Service Zone office in Lakota and ask about HCBS environmental-modification benefits. ND Care Choice can explain long-term-care options. Veterans should contact the Nelson County Veterans Service Office at (701) 247-2531.
Statewide, you can also ask about Service Payments for the Elderly and Disabled (SPED / Ex-SPED), the ND Assistive Technology Financial Loan (ATFL) Program, VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics), North Dakota Medicaid State Plan Personal Care and the North Dakota Homestead Property Tax Credit for Seniors and Disabled. The Aging Services Division in Bismarck is at (701) 328-8910.
A federal grant for veterans and service members with qualifying service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for a permanent home or up to $50,961 for a temporary residence in FY2026. The VA lists ramps and doorway widening as covered adaptations; stair lifts are not named, so ask the Nelson County Veterans Service Office at (701) 247-2531.
A federal grant for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities, up to $25,350 for a permanent home or up to $9,100 for a temporary residence in FY2026, and the home may be owned by the veteran or a family member. The VA page describes structural adaptations in general and does not name stair lifts.
The local intake office in Lakota for ND Medicaid, aging services and related programs, serving Nelson and Griggs county residents. Stair lifts and home modifications are not mentioned in its listing, so call (701) 247-2945 or 1-866-614-6005 and ask about HCBS environmental-modification benefits.
A statewide referral and options-counseling service for older adults and people with disabilities looking into long-term-care and home and community-based services. Stair lifts are not listed in its description; call (855) 462-5465 (TTY 711) to ask what may apply.
Older adults
600 E Boulevard Ave, Dept 325, Bismarck, 58505
Veterans
Courthouse 210 B Avenue West Suite 202, Lakota, 58344
The VA SAH and SHA grant pages name ramps and doorway widening but do not mention stair lifts. Eligible veterans should ask the Nelson County Veterans Service Office at (701) 247-2531 and also ask about VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics).
The Eastern Plains Human Service Zone has its Nelson County office in Lakota. Call (701) 247-2945 and ask specifically about HCBS environmental-modification benefits.
Yes, there are places to ask. ND Care Choice at (855) 462-5465 and the Aging Services Division at (701) 328-8910 can explain options such as SPED / Ex-SPED and the ND Assistive Technology Financial Loan (ATFL) Program.
Outdoor stair lifts are built for weather exposure and come with a seat cover. For an entrance used with a wheelchair, an outdoor platform lift may suit better, and we can look at both during a home visit.
Usually, yes. Turning or uneven stairs call for a curved lift with a rail made to fit that exact staircase, which is why we measure in person first.
Split-level homes have several short flights, so we look at which levels are used every day. That may mean one lift, more than one, or a platform lift for a short rise.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
