A lot of Kootenai County homes sit on a slope. Around Coeur d'Alene, Hayden and Harrison, houses climb the hillsides above Lake Coeur d'Alene, with entries on more than one level, exterior steps and daylight basements. In Post Falls, Rathdrum, Spirit Lake and Athol you also find split-level homes, townhouses and newer two-story builds.
Each of those layouts puts the stairs in a different spot, and each one changes what kind of stair lift will work. This page walks through what we see across the county's 13 towns, from Dalton Gardens to Worley. It also lists the local, state and VA programs worth calling before you pay out of pocket.
Kootenai County covers 1,316 square miles of the Idaho Panhandle, from Lake Coeur d'Alene and the southern end of Lake Pend Oreille up into the Coeur d'Alene National Forest and Kaniksu National Forest. Much of the most sought-after residential land is on lakefront hillsides and forested slopes.
Homes built into a grade often have a staircase that turns at a landing, or a set of exterior stairs between the driveway and the front door. A straight rail cannot follow a turn, so those staircases usually need a curved rail built to the exact shape of the stairs.
Outdoor steps down to a lower entry or a daylight basement call for an outdoor-rated unit. Where a wheelchair user needs to get up a short rise, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat. We measure on site before recommending any of these.
The county's housing ranges from older, established neighborhoods in Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and Hayden to large amounts of new construction. Older multi-story homes often have steep, narrow staircases. Those can still take a straight stair lift in many cases, but width and the clearance at the top and bottom need to be checked first.
Split-level homes are their own case. Short flights of a few steps each are common, and a family may need a lift on more than one of them. Townhouses tend to have a single straight flight, which is usually the simplest install.
Newer two-story homes built for the lake-view market often have open stairways with a turn or a wide landing. These are good candidates for a curved rail. In walk-up apartments, the stairway is often shared, so talk with the building owner before planning anything.
About 18.2% of Kootenai County residents are 65 or older, and many came from out of state for the lake, outdoor recreation and a slower pace of life.
About 66.8% of households own their homes. Owning matters because several programs below, including the VA adaptation grants and ElderHelp of North Idaho, are limited to homeowners. Adult children helping from out of town, including from Spokane about 30 miles west, can start with the phone numbers on this page.
No program on this list names stair lifts as a covered item, and the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. That does not mean help is off the table. Several programs fund lifts, accessibility improvements or home modifications in general terms, and it is worth asking each one directly whether a stair lift qualifies.
A good first call is the Area Agency on Aging of North Idaho at (208) 667-3179, which handles referrals and is the doorway to the state's chore services. Veterans can reach Veterans Services in Post Falls at (208) 446-1090. If no grant fits, the Idaho Assistive Technology Project offers low-interest loans for home modifications.
Location matters too. The City of Coeur d'Alene program only serves addresses inside the city, while the USDA Section 504 program is for rural parts of the county outside Coeur d'Alene's urbanized core.
For people 65 and older or with a disability who meet nursing-facility level of care, this waiver's Environmental Accessibility Adaptations cover the installation of ramps and lifts, but the rule does not name stair lifts specifically. Call (877) 456-1233 to ask about eligibility and whether a stair lift would count.
This VA grant pays up to $6,800 or $2,000 over a lifetime, depending on disability status, for medically needed home alterations. It does not cover stair lifts: stair glides and porch lifts are listed as non-covered items.
Veterans with severe service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home can get up to $126,526 for FY2026 to buy, build or change a home for accessibility. Stair lifts are not named as a covered item, so ask the VA directly.
Offers up to $25,350 for FY2026 to adapt a home owned by a veteran or qualifying family member with certain service-connected disabilities. The source does not mention stair lifts.
Low-interest loans up to $60,000 at roughly 5% APR for Idahoans with a disability or their family members, for home modifications and assistive technology; stair lifts are not named specifically. Call (800) 432-8324.
Provides information, referrals and support for adults generally 60 and older and vulnerable adults 18 and older in Kootenai and four neighboring counties; it does not list a stair lift benefit. Call (208) 667-3179.
Chore services for older Idahoans include installing grab bars and wheelchair ramps, but stair lifts are not mentioned. Kootenai County residents go through the Area Agency on Aging of North Idaho, and the Commission can be reached at (208) 334-3833.
Low-to-moderate income homeowners inside Coeur d'Alene city limits can get up to $5,000 for emergency repairs or accessibility improvements. Stair lifts are not specifically named as eligible.
Volunteers help low-income senior homeowners in Kootenai County with services such as building ramps, installing handrails and firewood delivery; stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (208) 661-8870.
Lends aluminum modular ramps short term to people with paralysis or other mobility impairments, served through the Post Falls office. Stair lifts are not part of the program; call (208) 457-3891.
Very-low-income homeowners in rural parts of the county can borrow up to $40,000 at 1% fixed, and those 62 and older may qualify for grants up to $10,000 for accessibility fixes like ramps. Stair lifts are not specifically named; call (208) 762-4939.
Older adults
2120 Lakewood Drive, Suite B, Coeur d'Alene, 83814
Veterans
120 E Railroad Avenue, Post Falls, 83854
Maybe. The Idaho Medicaid Aged and Disabled (A&D) HCBS Waiver covers the installation of ramps and lifts, but it does not name stair lifts, so coverage is not confirmed. The applicant must meet nursing-facility level of care and income and asset limits. Call (877) 456-1233 to ask.
The HISA grant will not, because stair glides are listed as non-covered. The SAH and SHA grants fund larger home adaptations for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities, though stair lifts are not named. Veterans Services in Post Falls at (208) 446-1090 can help you sort out which applies.
Often, yes. Exterior stairs need an outdoor-rated unit, and stairs that turn need a curved rail made to fit. We look at the slope, the steps and the landing space before recommending an option, which may include a platform lift for a wheelchair user.
The USDA Section 504 program serves very-low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas outside Coeur d'Alene's urbanized core, with grants up to $10,000 for those 62 and older. Call (208) 762-4939. The City of Coeur d'Alene EMRAP program only covers addresses inside the city.
Yes, in some cases. The Area Agency on Aging of North Idaho also serves vulnerable adults 18 and older, and the IATP loan program is open to any Idaho resident with a disability or their family member. The Medicaid A&D Waiver covers people with disabilities who meet its level-of-care rules.
The Idaho Assistive Technology Project offers loans up to $60,000 at roughly 5% APR for home modifications, with terms that vary by lender. Applicants need to show they can repay. Call (800) 432-8324.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
