Caribou County has three towns, Soda Springs, Grace and Bancroft, spread across about 1,764 square miles of southeastern Idaho mountain country. Soda Springs, the county seat, sits at 5,811 feet, and the county averages only 1.8 housing units per square mile. Neighbors are far apart, and so is outside help when someone has trouble with the stairs.
Most people here own their homes, and many of those homes are older than the state average. The houses tend to be single-family homes, ranch-style homes and split-level homes rather than newer accessible construction. That makes a stair lift one of the more practical ways to stay in a house you already own.
A straight stair lift fits a single, uninterrupted flight. Many detached houses and single-family homes in Soda Springs have that layout, and a straight rail is usually the simplest install.
Split-level homes are different. They often have short flights between levels, and a landing or turn can call for a curved rail or more than one straight lift. We measure every run before recommending anything.
Ranch-style homes keep most living space on one floor, but they can still have steps at the entry or down to a lower level. For someone who uses a wheelchair, a platform lift may make more sense than a seated stair lift.
Caribou County has a continental climate with long, cold, snowy winters, and much of the county sits at high elevation, up to 9,963 feet at Meade Peak. Icy porch and entry steps are a real fall risk for older adults.
An outdoor stair lift is built for weather and can carry a person up the front or back steps instead of across ice. In a county that is 100% rural, where help may be a long drive away, keeping the entry safe matters as much as the indoor stairs.
The 2020 Census counted 17.8% of Caribou County residents at age 65 or older. Homeownership runs at 78.7%, so most older residents are making changes to houses they own rather than moving.
Veterans with a service-connected disability may have access to housing grants that other homeowners do not, so it is worth checking before paying out of pocket.
The 2024 median household income here was $59,843, and the 2024 median house value in Soda Springs was $257,432, well below Idaho's statewide average of $446,400. Cost of living is below the national norm, with an index of 85.1, but a lift is still a real expense for many households.
None of the programs below name stair lifts outright, so each one needs a phone call to confirm. Idaho Medicaid covers environmental accessibility adaptations for eligible adults, USDA Section 504 offers rural repair loans and grants, and VA housing grants help qualifying veterans.
Statewide options to ask about include the Idaho Assistive Technology Project loan program, VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) and the Idaho Property Tax Reduction (Circuit Breaker), which can free up money in the household budget. The Area V AAA in Pocatello can be reached at (208) 233-4032, and the Caribou County Service Officer in Soda Springs is at (208) 547-3737.
This is the state-designated Area Agency on Aging for southeastern Idaho, including Caribou County, offering information, referral and case management. Its website does not list a stair lift or home-modification program, so call (208) 233-4535 to ask what in-home supports are funded now.
This Medicaid waiver serves Idaho residents age 65+ or with a qualifying disability who meet income and resource limits, and it covers environmental accessibility adaptations. Stair lifts are not named, so confirm coverage with a Medicaid case manager by calling (888) 528-5861.
Very-low-income rural homeowners can get loans up to $40,000 at 1% interest over 20 years, and those age 62 or older can get grants up to $10,000 to remove health and safety hazards. Stair lifts are not named on the program page, so call the Rural Development office at (208) 378-5600 to confirm.
Veterans with a qualifying service-connected disability can receive up to $126,526 (SAH), $25,350 (SHA) or TRA funds for home adaptations, usable up to 6 times. Stair lifts are not listed among covered adaptations, so confirm with a VA housing grant specialist or the Caribou County Service Officer at (208) 547-3737.
Older adults
214 E. Center, Pocatello, 83201
Veterans
151 Cascade Quey, Soda Springs, 83276-1236
The Aged & Disabled HCBS waiver covers environmental accessibility adaptations, but the state does not name stair lifts specifically. Coverage is decided case by case, so call (888) 528-5861 and ask to talk it through with a Medicaid case manager.
Yes, USDA Section 504 grants of up to $10,000 are open to homeowners age 62 or older with very low income, for removing health and safety hazards. Caribou County is rural, so homes here qualify on location. Call (208) 378-5600 to check whether a stair lift counts.
Outdoor stair lifts are made for weather and can replace a walk up icy entry steps. Given the long, snowy winters at 5,811 feet, many households start with the entry before the indoor stairs.
Usually, but split-level homes often have short flights and landings. That can mean a curved rail or two straight lifts, which is why we measure every flight first.
The Caribou County Service Officer at 151 Cascade Quey in Soda Springs, (208) 547-3737, can help with VA SAH, SHA and TRA grant questions. There is no VA facility listed in the county, so this office is the local starting point.
Start with SICOG Area Agency on Aging at (208) 233-4535, which serves Caribou County and connects people to the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) network. They can point you to the programs that fit your income and health situation.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
