Daggett County covers 697 square miles in Utah's northeastern corner, with the Uinta Mountains to the southwest and the Green River running through the east-central part of the county. Manila is the only real town center, and over 90% of the land is under federal ownership. That keeps the county remote, and it means help with home changes usually has to come from outside the area.
Most homes here are single-family houses, ranch-style homes, split-level homes and manufactured homes. Each of those layouts handles a stair lift differently. This page walks through what fits, what to measure, and which aging and veteran programs to call before you pay out of pocket.
A split-level home usually has short flights between floors. Each flight can often take its own straight rail, which tends to be simpler than one long curved run. If the person needs to reach more than one level, we look at which flights they actually use every day.
Ranch-style homes and many manufactured homes keep daily living on one floor. The stairs that matter are often a basement flight or the steps up to the front door. For entry steps, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift may be the better answer.
Detached houses with a landing or a turn in the staircase need a curved rail. That rail is built to the exact shape of the stairs, so it takes more measuring before anything is ordered.
Daggett County has very limited commercial infrastructure, and the county's remoteness means few nearby contractors or specialized home-modification installers. Plan for a regional installer to travel in. Grouping the measuring visit and the install into as few trips as possible saves time for everyone.
Elevation in the county reaches up to 12,276 feet. If you are considering an outdoor lift on a porch or entry stairs, ask about models rated for outdoor use and covers for the seat and controls.
Daggett County had 392 households as of the 2020 census, and most of them are owner-occupied. Owning the home matters, because you can install a permanent rail without asking a landlord. It also matters for the VA housing grants, which require the veteran to own or plan to own the home, with an exception covered by the TRA grant.
The 2020 census put the county's median age at 47.6 years. Many families here are thinking about how a parent or spouse will keep using the house as stairs get harder.
Start with the Uintah Basin AAA in Roosevelt at (435) 722-4518. It is the designated Area Agency on Aging for Daggett County and the entry point for the state Alternatives program. A case manager can tell you what in-home supports, possibly including home modifications, a person qualifies for.
None of the program sources below name stair lifts directly, so ask the question plainly when you call. Veterans with service-connected disabilities should also look at the VA housing grants and can reach the Utah Department of Veterans & Military Affairs at (801) 326-2372.
Statewide, you can also ask about the New Choices Waiver, the Utah Aging Waiver, the Utah Assistive Technology Foundation (UATF) Loan, and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics).
A Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services program that provides in-home services to low-income aging adults so they can stay in their own homes; the source does not mention stair lifts or specific home modifications. Daggett County residents apply through the Uintah Basin AAA, and the state office is at (801) 538-3910.
The Area Agency on Aging for Daggett, Duchesne and Uintah counties, serving seniors generally age 60+ with senior centers (including Manila), meals, Medicare counseling, caregiver support and case management. The source does not mention stair lift or home-modification funding; call (435) 722-4518.
A VA grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans or service members with certain service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home, usable up to 6 times over a lifetime. The source names ramps and widened doorways but does not mention stair lifts.
A VA grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities such as loss of both hands, severe burns or certain breathing injuries. The source does not mention stair lifts.
For SAH- or SHA-eligible veterans living temporarily in a home they do not own, such as a family member's home, with up to $50,961 for SAH-eligible and up to $9,100 for SHA-eligible veterans. The source does not mention stair lifts.
Older adults
330 East 100 South, Roosevelt, 84066
Veterans
550 Foothill Drive, Suite 105, Salt Lake City, 84113
Yes. The Uintah Basin Association of Governments operates senior centers, including one in Manila. Its Area Agency on Aging can be reached at (435) 722-4518.
Call the Uintah Basin AAA at (435) 722-4518, located at 330 East 100 South in Roosevelt. It handles case management for the state Alternatives program for Daggett County residents.
The Uintah Basin AAA generally serves seniors age 60+. The state Alternatives program is for low-income aging adults who need in-home services, so ask the AAA how eligibility applies to your situation.
The VA sources for the SAH, SHA and TRA grants do not name stair lifts as a covered item. Ask the VA or the Utah Department of Veterans & Military Affairs at (801) 326-2372 whether a stair lift could be part of an approved adaptation.
Not always. Split-level homes often have short, straight flights, and each one can sometimes take its own straight rail. A measuring visit will show which flights need a lift.
Possibly. The VA Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) Grant is for SAH- or SHA-eligible veterans temporarily living in a home they do not own, such as a family member's home.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
