Stark County's homes tell two stories. Some date to the early 20th century, when Dickinson was growing as the county seat and families built in town and out on the farms. Others went up during the 2010s Bakken oil boom, when the county's population climbed from 24,199 in 2010 to 33,646 in 2020, a 39% jump.
From Dickinson to Richardton, Belfield, South Heart and Gladstone, both kinds of houses tend to have the same problem for someone getting older: the bedroom, bathroom or laundry is up or down a flight of stairs. This page walks through how the local homes and weather shape the choice of a stair lift, and which programs may help pay for one.
The county's 15,381 housing units (2020) include single-family homes, split-level homes, ranch-style homes, townhouses and low-rise apartments. Each layout points toward a different kind of lift.
A straight staircase, common in older two-story houses and many townhouses, usually takes a straight stair lift. These are the simplest to fit and are mounted to the stair treads, not the wall.
Split-level homes often have short flights broken by a landing or a turn. When the stairs change direction, a curved lift with a custom-bent rail is usually needed so the rider does not have to transfer between two chairs.
Ranch-style homes look like one-floor living, but many have a basement stair to laundry or a family room. A lift there can keep that space usable instead of off limits.
Dickinson averages January lows around 6°F, has recorded -47°F, and gets about 34.3 inches of snow a year. Ice on porch and entry steps can be as much of a hazard as the stairs inside.
For a short run of outdoor steps, an outdoor-rated stair lift is one option. Where a wheelchair or walker has to come along, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat. We look at the entry, the snow load and where the lift would park before recommending either.
Those are the households most likely to start asking about lifts, often with an adult child making the calls.
Roughly 60.4% of residents own their homes. Owners can install a lift with their own approval, while renters in townhouses or low-rise apartments will need the landlord's permission first. One state program below can apply to rental properties, which helps in that conversation.
No program in our records names stair lifts as a covered item, and one VA grant specifically excludes them. Several do fund home modifications for accessibility, so it is worth asking each one directly whether a lift qualifies in your case.
If you may use Medicaid, get a written cost estimate before any work starts: the North Dakota waiver requires Medicaid to approve the estimate first, and modifications over $500 need a professional assessment. Homes outside Dickinson's city limits may fall in a USDA rural area, which opens up repair loans and grants.
Statewide, you can also ask the Aging Services Division at (701) 328-8910 about Service Payments for the Elderly and Disabled (SPED / Ex-SPED), the ND Assistive Assistive Technology Financial Loan (ATFL) Program, and the North Dakota Homestead Property Tax Credit for Seniors and Disabled. Veterans can start with the Stark County Veterans Service Office at 51 3rd Street East, Dickinson, (701) 456-7654.
A state Medicaid waiver for people 65+ or with a qualifying disability who need nursing facility level of care; it funds home modifications such as ramps and grab bars, but stair lifts are not listed. Call (800) 755-2604 and get Medicaid approval of a written estimate before work begins.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners 62+ in USDA-eligible rural areas, for health, safety or accessibility repairs; stair lifts are not named. Much of Stark County outside Dickinson's city limits may qualify, so check your address first.
A lifetime grant of $6,800 or $2,000 for medically needed home changes for eligible veterans. It specifically excludes stair glides, so it will not pay for a stair lift.
Grants of up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) for permanent homes for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities, usable up to 6 times. The source cites ramps and widened doorways and does not mention stair lifts.
A grant of up to $7,000 for households at or below 50% of county median income with a member who has a physical disability, with a 20% match required; covered work includes ramps and grab bars, and stair lifts are not named. Call (701) 328-8080; it applies to single-family and rental homes.
A Dickinson-based organization providing services for the aged. Its services and any home modification help are not confirmed, so treat it as a lead to ask about.
Offers information and referral, advocacy, peer support and skills training for people with disabilities from 26 1st Street East, Suite 103, Dickinson; it does not list equipment funding. Call (701) 483-4363 for help finding resources.
Runs weatherization, food, Head Start and veterans services for low-income households from 202 E. Villard St, Dickinson; no stair lift grant is listed. Call (701) 227-0131 to ask about home-repair referrals.
Older adults
600 E Boulevard Ave, Dept 325, Bismarck, 58505
Veterans
51 3rd Street East, Dickinson, 58601
The HISA grant does not; it excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not mention stair lifts either way, so veterans with severe service-connected disabilities should ask. The Stark County Veterans Service Office is at (701) 456-7654.
Possibly. USDA Section 504 repair loans and grants serve very-low-income owners in eligible rural areas, and much of the county outside Dickinson's city limits may qualify. Grants up to $10,000 are for homeowners 62 and older who cannot repay a loan. Stair lifts are not named, so confirm with USDA.
The Aged and Disabled waiver covers home modifications that help with daily living, but its materials do not name stair lifts. Anything over $500 needs a professional assessment, and Medicaid must approve a written estimate first. Call (800) 755-2604.
Yes, outdoor-rated stair lifts and platform lifts are built for exterior steps. With January lows near 6°F and about 34.3 inches of snow a year in Dickinson, we plan placement around snow and ice before installing.
A staircase that turns or has a landing usually needs a curved lift with a rail made for that stair. Straight runs can use a straight lift, which is simpler to fit.
The ND Housing Finance Agency Rehab Accessibility Program covers rental properties as well as single-family homes, for income-eligible households with a physical disability. Call (701) 328-8080, and get your landlord's approval before any installation.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
