Butte County sits on the Snake River Plain under Big Southern Butte, Middle Butte and East Butte, with Arco as the county seat and Moore up the Lost River Valley. Every resident here lives in an area the Census counts as rural, and the county's 1,161 people are spread across a lot of high desert.
Most homes are single-family and detached, with plenty of ranch-style and split-level houses among them. Those layouts matter when you are figuring out whether a stair lift will work, which kind you need, and how to cover the cost from out here.
A split-level house usually has short flights between levels, sometimes more than one. Each flight is measured on its own, and a straight flight with no turn can often take a straight rail, which is the simplest kind of stair lift to fit.
Ranch-style homes are mostly on one floor, but the stairs that still cause trouble tend to be the ones going down to a basement or up to the front door. If a flight turns or has a landing in the middle, a curved rail built to that staircase is the usual answer.
When the problem is the steps outside, an outdoor stair lift or a vertical platform lift may fit better than anything indoors. We look at the entry, the slope of the ground and where a wheelchair or walker has to go before suggesting one.
About 16.7% of Butte County residents are 65 or older, and roughly 74.7% are homeowners. In practice that means a lot of people who own the house they want to stay in and are starting to find one set of stairs harder than the rest of the home.
If that includes you or your parent, it is worth checking VA benefits early, because a couple of them have specific rules about stair lifts that are good to know before you plan.
Because the whole county is rural, an installer may be coming a distance to Arco or Moore. Getting accurate stair measurements on the first visit saves a second trip, especially for a curved rail that is made to fit one staircase.
It also helps to have paperwork lined up before the visit. Several of the programs below ask for a medical provider's note or proof of income, and some take time to approve.
No single program here promises to pay for a stair lift, so most families combine a few options. The program list below shows what each source says, including where stair lifts are not mentioned at all.
For older homeowners in Arco and the small towns, the USDA Section 504 program is worth a call because unincorporated Butte County and towns like Arco and Howe qualify as USDA-rural. The Area VI AAA in Idaho Falls at (208) 522-5391 can talk through aging services, and veterans can reach the Butte County VSO at 349 Rena Street in Arco, (541) 905-9283.
One caution for veterans: the VA HISA benefit specifically excludes stair glides, so do not count on it for the lift itself. The SAH and SHA grants do not mention stair lifts either way, so ask the VA directly.
A state Medicaid waiver for Idaho residents 65 or older or with a qualifying disability who meet Medicaid income and resource guidelines. It lists environmental accessibility adaptations as a covered service, but the source does not mention stair lifts specifically.
The regional aging agency offers homemaker, chore and respite services for Idahoans 60 or older, with priority based on income; stair lifts and home modifications are not mentioned on the page reviewed. Call (208) 522-5391 to confirm Butte County is served.
Very-low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas, including Arco and unincorporated Butte County, can get repair loans up to $20,000, and elderly very-low-income homeowners can get grants up to $7,500, or up to $27,500 combined when certain criteria are met. The source covers repairs and removing health and safety hazards but does not mention stair lifts by name.
A VA benefit for medically necessary home changes, with a $6,800 lifetime maximum for service-connected disabilities and $2,000 for other eligible disabilities. It does not cover stair lifts; the source explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts.
A grant of up to $126,526 for FY2026 for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home; the source mentions ramps and wider doorways but does not mention stair lifts. Call the VA at (800) 827-1000.
A grant of up to $25,350 for FY2026 for veterans or qualifying family members with disabilities such as loss of use of both hands; stair lifts are not mentioned in the source. Call the VA at (800) 827-1000.
This nonprofit serves Butte County and lends equipment like walkers, wheelchairs and shower chairs at no cost for up to 3 months; it is a loan program, not purchase funding, and stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (208) 529-8610.
A statewide University of Idaho program offering low-interest loans to buy assistive technology for people with disabilities and older Idahoans; the source does not name stair lifts. Call (800) 432-8324 to ask whether a stair lift qualifies.
Older adults
420 N. Holmes Ave., Idaho Falls, 83401
Veterans
349 Rena Street, Arco, 83213
Often, yes. Each flight in a split-level is measured separately, and a straight flight without a turn can usually take a straight rail. If you need to reach more than one level, we plan for each flight.
The HISA benefit does not; its rules explicitly exclude stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not mention stair lifts, so call the VA at (800) 827-1000 or the Butte County VSO at (541) 905-9283 to ask about your situation.
The Area VI AAA serves Idahoans 60 or older and can be reached at (208) 522-5391. Its in-home services include chore and respite help; ask them directly about stair lifts, since the page reviewed does not cover them.
Yes. The USDA Section 504 program treats Arco, Howe and unincorporated Butte County as rural. Grants up to $7,500 are for elderly very-low-income homeowners, generally 62 or older, who live in the home.
LIFE, Inc. serves Butte County and lends items like walkers, wheelchairs, transfer benches and grab bars for up to 3 months at no cost. Stair lifts are not on its list, but you can call (208) 529-8610.
The Area VI AAA is at 420 N. Holmes Ave., Idaho Falls, 83401. Their phone is (208) 522-5391.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
