Clay County runs along the Red River on Minnesota's western border, with Moorhead, Dilworth and Glyndon near the flat valley floor and Hawley, Ulen and Hitterdal out toward the rolling, lake-dotted country to the east. Across those 8 towns you find split-level homes, ranch-style homes with basement stairs, townhouses and walk-up apartments, and each one puts its stairs in a different spot.
This page walks through what those homes mean for a stair lift, how the Clay County winter affects outdoor options, and which county, state and federal programs may help with the cost. If you are helping a parent in Barnesville or Sabin, or planning for your own home in Moorhead, start with the stairs you use every day.
Ranch-style homes usually keep the bedrooms on one floor, so the stairs that matter are the ones down to the basement laundry or family room. Those are often a single straight flight, which is the simplest and quickest kind of stair lift to fit.
Split-level homes are different. You may have two or three short flights with a landing or a turn between them. Sometimes one curved rail can follow the whole path, and sometimes two straight lifts make more sense, so we measure every step before recommending either.
Townhouses tend to have narrow, steep stairways between floors. A lift with a folding seat and footrest keeps the stairs usable for everyone else in the house.
The 2020 census counted 26,844 housing units in Clay County, and 66.3% of them were owner-occupied. Moorhead's own home improvement loan is limited to homes at least 15 years old, which tells you how many established houses sit within city limits.
Older homes can have tighter stairwells, uneven treads or a railing in the way. None of that usually rules out a lift, but it shapes which rail and seat will fit. In walk-up apartments, renters will need the landlord's approval before any rail is mounted.
The average January low here is around 0 degrees F, and the county once hit a record low of -48 degrees F in January 1887. Icy entry steps are a real hazard for anyone with weak knees or balance problems, and that is one reason many families focus on making the inside of the house safe first.
If the trouble is the front or back steps, an outdoor lift or a platform lift may be worth a look. Homes in the hillier eastern part of the county, around Hawley and Ulen, are more likely to have entry steps that climb a slope. We talk through snow, ice and where the unit can sit before suggesting an exterior model.
That is a younger county than many in rural Minnesota, but it still means a lot of households are thinking about staying in the homes they own.
Stair lifts are not only for seniors. People recovering from surgery or living with a disability at any age use them, and several programs below are built for those situations.
There is no single program that simply buys a stair lift. The most direct route for many people is a MnCHOICES assessment through Clay County Disability and Aging Support Services, which opens the door to waivers such as the Elderly Waiver and CADI. Ask specifically whether a stair lift can be part of the care plan.
Freedom Resource Center lists home modifications among its transition services, and veterans should start with the Clay County Veterans Service Office. Statewide options to ask about include the Alternative Care (AC) Program and the Minnesota Housing Fix Up Loan (Accessibility Loan).
For general aging questions, the Northwest AAA (Inter-County Community Council) in Oklee can be reached at (218) 281-8288.
The county entry point for the Elderly Waiver (65+) and the CADI, CAC, BI and DD waivers, all of which start with a MnCHOICES assessment. The source does not list stair lifts or home modifications, so confirm covered services by calling (218) 299-5200.
Free services for people with disabilities in Clay County who are leaving an institution, at risk of placement, or youth leaving high school, and the program explicitly lists home modifications for safety and accessibility. Call (800) 450-0459.
No-cost ramps, installed based on availability, for people expecting to need one for up to 90 days, such as after surgery or a hospital stay. The source does not mention stair lifts; call (800) 450-0459.
Federal grants for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) for FY2026, for building, buying or remodeling a home for accessibility. Stair lifts are not named on the source; the Clay County Veterans Service Office at (218) 299-5041 can help you apply.
A VA grant with a lifetime max of $6,800 or $2,000 depending on disability status, for medically needed home improvements. It does not cover stair glides or porch lifts, which the VA lists as removable equipment.
A benefits counseling office in Moorhead that helps Clay County veterans and families apply for federal and state programs, including VA housing grants. It does not fund stair lifts directly; call (218) 299-5041.
A 0% interest deferred loan up to $20,000 for owner-occupied homes in Moorhead at least 15 years old, with income limits from $64,750 for one person to $122,100 for eight. Listed repairs are electrical, plumbing, heating, energy and structural, with no mention of stair lifts, so ask at (218) 299-5375.
A free statewide information and referral service for Minnesotans with disabilities, which notes waiver funds can likely cover assistive technology and explains the Minnesota STAR Program (1-888-234-1267). It does not name stair lifts; call (866) 333-2466.
Older adults
111 South Civic Center Drive, Oklee, 56742
Veterans
715 11th St. N, Suite 103, Moorhead, 56560
Yes, possibly. The CADI, CAC, BI and DD waivers serve younger adults with qualifying disabilities through Clay County Disability and Aging Support Services at (218) 299-5200, and Freedom Resource Center's transition services at (800) 450-0459 list home modifications.
No. The VA excludes stair glides and porch lifts from HISA. Veterans with severe service-connected disabilities can ask the Clay County Veterans Service Office at (218) 299-5041 about the SAH and SHA grants instead.
The program page lists electrical, plumbing, heating, energy and structural repairs and does not mention stair lifts. Call the city at (218) 299-5375 to ask before you plan around it.
Not always. Sometimes one curved rail follows the whole route, and sometimes two straight lifts fit better. It depends on the landings and turns, which is why we measure first.
Freedom Resource Center's Temporary Ramps Program provides no-cost ramps, based on availability, for people who expect to need one for up to 90 days. Call (800) 450-0459.
It can, but with January lows around 0 degrees F, snow and ice have to be part of the plan. Many families make the indoor stairs safe first, then decide on entry steps.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
