Kiowa County spreads across about 1,786 square miles of grassland and prairie on Colorado's eastern plains, right up against the Kansas line. Eads is the county seat and the only town on our list here, with smaller communities like Haswell and Sheridan Lake scattered across the open country.
Homes out here are mostly single-family houses: ranch-style homes, split-level homes, detached houses and a few low-rise buildings. Along Maine Street in Eads, many historic houses and buildings are still in use. Each of these layouts puts stairs in different places, and that shapes which kind of stair lift makes sense.
A single straight flight is the simplest job. A straight stair lift rides a rail bolted to the stair treads, not the wall, so it usually fits an older house without major changes.
Split-level homes are different. Short runs of steps between levels can mean more than one lift, or a platform lift where a wheelchair is involved. If a staircase turns or has a landing, a curved rail built to that exact staircase is the answer.
In a ranch-style home the problem is often outside. The steps from the yard or porch to the front door can be handled with an outdoor lift built to stand up to weather, or with a platform lift for someone who uses a wheelchair.
Historic houses in Eads were not built with lifts in mind. Stairs can be narrow, steep or uneven, and that is something we measure in person before recommending anything.
Narrow stairs do not rule out a lift. They change which rail and seat will work, and whether a folding seat and footrest leave enough room for others to walk past.
The 2020 Census counted 22.8% of Kiowa County residents at age 65 or older, with a median age of 44. Most housing units, 72.8%, are owner-occupied, so many people here are deciding whether to adapt a house they already own rather than move.
Every resident of the county lives in a rural area. The nearest contractor and medical networks are far off on the Front Range, so ask any installer up front how service visits and repairs will be handled at your distance.
Household income here is modest, with a 2024 median of $58,618 and an 11.8% poverty rate, so many families look to public and nonprofit help first. The program with the clearest path is the Health First Colorado EBD waiver, which lists home modifications for safety and accessibility as a covered benefit.
USDA Section 504 loans and grants are built for rural homeowners like those in Kiowa County, though the source does not name stair lifts. The Lower Arkansas Valley AAA in La Junta at (719) 383-4880 can point older adults toward mobility assistance. Statewide, the Assistive Technology Act Program of Colorado (AT Partners) and the Colorado Senior Property Tax Exemption (Senior Homestead Exemption) are also worth asking about.
Veterans should know that the VA HISA grant does not cover stair glides. The Kiowa County Veterans Service Office on HWY 287 in Eads, (719) 438-5421, can help sort out which VA benefits apply.
A Medicaid waiver that covers approved home modifications for safety and accessibility, which can include a stair lift; confirm with your county Case Management Agency that a lift fits the category. Eligibility includes age 65 and up, or adults 18-64 who are physically disabled or blind, with a 2026 income limit up to $2,982 a month; call (800) 221-3943.
Serves adults 60 and older and their caregivers in Baca, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero and Prowers counties with referrals and services that include mobility assistance programs. Stair lifts are not named in its listing; call (719) 383-3166.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income rural homeowners, with grants limited to those 62 or older and used to remove health and safety hazards. Stair lifts are not named as an eligible use; call the Las Animas office at (719) 456-0120.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary changes to a veteran's primary residence, owned or rented. Stair glides are specifically excluded from HISA funding.
Grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, with SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 in FY2026. Stair lifts are not named among the examples given, so ask the Kiowa County Veterans Service Office at (719) 438-5421.
A free loan program for wheelchairs, walkers, canes, shower chairs and crutches for people with disabilities in a 17-county area that includes Kiowa County. Stair lifts are not listed among loanable items; call (719) 546-1271.
Older adults
13 West 3rd Street, Suite 110, La Junta, 81050
Veterans
13344 HWY 287, Eads, 81036
The Health First Colorado EBD waiver covers home modifications for safety and accessibility once someone is enrolled. The source does not name stair lifts directly, so check with your county Case Management Agency, or call (800) 221-3943.
The Lower Arkansas Valley AAA serves people 60 and older. The EBD waiver, though, also covers adults 18-64 who are physically disabled or blind, and the Center Toward Self Reliance serves people with disabilities of any listed age in Kiowa County.
Not through the HISA grant, which excludes stair glides. SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either, so call the Kiowa County Veterans Service Office in Eads at (719) 438-5421 to review your options.
The Section 504 program offers loans up to $40,000 and, for homeowners 62 or older, grants up to $10,000, combined up to $50,000. The entire county counts as rural, but stair lifts are not named as an eligible use, so ask the Las Animas office at (719) 456-0120.
Yes. An outdoor stair lift is built for weather exposure, and a platform lift is an option when the person uses a wheelchair.
The VA HISA grant covers a veteran's primary residence whether owned or rented, though it does not fund stair glides. The USDA program and the VA SAH grant require home ownership.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
