Blue Earth County runs from the river-valley streets of Mankato, where the Minnesota and Blue Earth Rivers meet, out to farm towns like Lake Crystal, Mapleton, Amboy, Good Thunder and Vernon Center. The 12 towns in the county hold a wide mix of homes, from townhouses and walk-up apartments near the core to older multi-story farmhouse-style homes in the outlying townships.
That mix matters when you are thinking about a stair lift. A straight staircase in a Mankato townhouse is a very different job from a turning staircase in an old farmhouse near Madison Lake or St. Clair. This page walks through what fits which kind of home and which programs may help pay for it.
Most homes here fall into a few groups: single-family homes, detached houses, townhouses, row houses and walk-up apartments. Townhouses and row houses often have one straight run of stairs between floors. A straight rail is usually the simplest and quickest lift to install.
Older farmhouse-style homes in the rural parts of the county are more likely to have landings, turns or narrow stairs. Those usually call for a curved rail built to the staircase. We measure the stairs first so you know which type your home needs before anything is ordered.
In walk-up apartments, the stairs are often shared. If you rent, talk with the owner before planning any lift, since the rail attaches to the stairway.
Mankato sits in a river valley, and homes on sloped lots often have steps from the driveway or porch up to the door. Out in the prairie and farm country, the main trouble spot is more often the entry steps or a basement stair.
Outdoor stair lifts and platform lifts can handle entry steps, but winter here is hard on equipment. Mankato's average January low is about 5 to 6 degrees, and the record low is about -34 degrees. An outdoor unit needs to be built for cold, kept covered, and kept clear of snow and ice.
About 13.0% of Blue Earth County residents are 65 or older, and about 55.6% of households own their home. Owning matters, because several of the loan and grant programs below require that you own and live in the house.
If that includes you or your parent, call Blue Earth County Veterans Services at (507) 304-4246 before you buy, so you know which VA benefits apply.
The strongest options here are the two Minnesota Medicaid waivers. Both the Elderly Waiver and the CADI Waiver list stair lifts as covered home modifications for people who qualify. Applications go through Blue Earth County Human Services.
For homeowners who do not qualify for a waiver, MVAC offers a deferred loan for home repairs and accessibility work, though stair lifts are not named in its materials. Veterans should know that the VA HISA grant does not pay for stair glides, while the larger VA housing grants do not mention stair lifts either way.
If you are not sure where to begin, the Minnesota River AAA at (507) 389-8879 can point you to the right office. The program list below gives the details and phone numbers.
A Medicaid waiver for people 65 and older on Medical Assistance who need a nursing-facility level of care; its home modification benefit lists a stairway chair lift. Call (800) 333-2433 or apply through Blue Earth County Human Services.
A Medicaid waiver for people with disabilities under 65 who are on Medical Assistance, and stair lifts are listed as a covered modification. Call (507) 304-4222 to ask about an assessment.
An information and referral agency for older adults and caregivers in the region, offering insurance counseling, caregiver support and volunteer drivers; its materials do not mention stair lifts or home modification funding. Call (507) 387-1256.
A deferred loan of up to $37,500 with no monthly payments or interest for owner-occupants who meet income limits and have assets of $25,000 or less; stair lifts are not named among the covered improvements. Call (507) 345-2436.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 over a lifetime for medically necessary home changes, and it specifically does not pay for stair glides or porch lifts. Call (800) 827-1000.
VA grants for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA; stair lifts are not mentioned in the program description. Call (800) 827-1000 or ask a county Veterans Service Officer for help applying.
A Mankato-based center for independent living that offers assistive technology, ramps and CDCS planning to people with disabilities or age-related mobility needs; stair lifts are not listed. Call (507) 345-7139.
Older adults
10 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 3, Mankato, 56001
Veterans
410 S. Fifth St., Office B503, Mankato, 56001
It can through a waiver. The Elderly Waiver and the CADI Waiver both list stair lifts as covered home modifications for people who qualify. Start with Blue Earth County Human Services or call (800) 333-2433.
Yes, the CADI Waiver serves people under 65 who are certified disabled, are on Medical Assistance and need a nursing-facility level of care. Call (507) 304-4222 to ask about an assessment.
The HISA grant does not; it lists stair glides among the items it will not pay for. The SAH and SHA grants do not mention stair lifts, so ask Blue Earth County Veterans Services at (507) 304-4246 about your case.
It can if it is built for outdoor use and kept covered and clear of snow and ice. January lows around Mankato average about 5 to 6 degrees, so cold-weather design matters.
Usually, yes. Stairs with turns or landings need a curved rail made to fit the staircase, which we measure in your home before ordering.
MVAC offers a deferred loan of up to $37,500 for owner-occupants who meet income and asset limits. Stair lifts are not named in its materials, so call (507) 345-2436 to ask if your project fits.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
