Elmore County runs from Snowyside Peak at 10,651 feet down to under 2,500 feet along the Snake River. Most people live in the lower country around Mountain Home, Mountain Home AFB, Glenns Ferry and Hammett, where the homes are mostly single-family ranch and multi-level houses built during the county's big growth years.
Many of those houses were not built with step-free access in mind. If a parent is starting to struggle with the stairs to a bedroom, a basement or the front door, this page walks through what kind of stair lift fits the homes here and which local and state programs may help with the cost.
The county had 12,049 housing units in 2020, and most are single-family homes. Population nearly doubled from 16,719 in 1960 to 29,130 by 2000, so a lot of the houses in Mountain Home and Glenns Ferry date from those decades. That is the housing an older homeowner is most likely to be living in now.
A ranch house with one straight run of stairs to a basement is usually the simplest job. A straight stair lift mounts to the treads, not the wall, and follows the stairs in a single line from bottom to top.
Split-level homes are common here, and they bring short flights with landings or turns between levels. A straight rail cannot follow a turn, so these stairs usually call for a curved stair lift built to the shape of your staircase.
Sometimes two separate straight lifts on two short flights work better than one curved rail. We measure the stairs at the home visit and talk through both choices before anything is ordered.
Manufactured homes are part of the local housing mix, and the hard part there is often the steps from the yard up to the door, not an inside staircase. An outdoor stair lift is built to handle weather and can serve those entry steps.
When someone uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift may make more sense than a chair-style lift. The right answer depends on the person and the entry, so it is worth looking at both.
Elmore County covers 3,101 square miles and takes in parts of the Boise and Sawtooth National Forests. The areas toward Atlanta and Pine/Featherville are remote and can be hard to reach in some seasons.
If your home is out that way, plan the installation for a time of year when the roads are open. Ask about service visits ahead of time, too, since getting a technician there can take longer than in town.
Veteran households should start with the Elmore County Veterans Service Officer at 515 East 2nd South in Mountain Home, (208) 587-2130, to ask about the VA grants below and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics).
About 13.2% of county residents are 65 or older. For them, the Area III AAA in Boise at (208) 332-1835, Idaho Medicaid, the Idaho Assistive Technology Project loan program and the Idaho Property Tax Reduction (Circuit Breaker) are the places to ask. None of the sources we checked name stair lifts outright, so confirm coverage with each program before you count on it.
A federal grant for veterans and service members with certain service-connected disabilities, up to $25,350 for a permanent home or up to $9,100 for a Temporary Residence Adaptation in FY2026. The VA lists ramps and widened doorways as examples and does not mention stair lifts, so call (877) 827-3702 to ask.
A federal grant for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities who own or plan to own the home, up to $126,526 for a permanent home or up to $50,961 for a Temporary Residence Adaptation in FY2026. Stair lifts are not named in the VA's description; call (877) 827-3702 for details.
Serves older adults and family caregivers in a 10-county southwest Idaho area that includes Elmore County, with in-home help like homemaker services, respite and home delivered meals. Home modifications and stair lifts are not mentioned; call (208) 898-7060.
A state Medicaid waiver for people who need an institutional level of care but want to stay at home, handled for Elmore County by Idaho Dept. of Health & Welfare Region 4. The source does not mention stair lifts or accessibility changes, so check current services by calling (877) 456-1233.
Offers low-interest loans to Idaho residents with disabilities of any age who need to buy assistive technology, plus device try-outs through regional lending libraries. Stair lifts are not named as an eligible device, so call (800) 432-8324 to ask whether one qualifies.
Helps income-eligible Elmore County households lower energy costs, from an office at 585 N 3rd E St., Mountain Home. Its scope is weatherization and stair lifts are not mentioned; call (208) 587-8407 with questions.
Older adults
3637 S. Orchard, Suite A, Boise, 83705
Veterans
515 East 2nd South, Mountain Home, 83647
Usually, yes. Split-level homes often have short flights with landings or turns, which call for a curved lift or sometimes two straight lifts. A home visit measurement tells you which fits.
Those areas are remote and seasonally hard to reach, which can complicate installation and service. Plan for a time of year when the roads are open and ask about service visits up front.
The VA SHA and SAH grants fund home changes for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, but the VA's descriptions do not name stair lifts. Call (877) 827-3702 or the Elmore County Veterans Service Officer at (208) 587-2130 to ask about your situation.
The Idaho Assistive Technology Project offers low-interest loans for assistive technology to Idaho residents with disabilities of any age. Stair lifts are not listed by name, so confirm with them at (800) 432-8324.
The Area 3 Senior Services Agency serves Elmore County with in-home services at (208) 898-7060, and the Area III AAA office in Boise is at (208) 332-1835. Idaho Medicaid's A&D waiver is another option for people who qualify.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
