From Little Falls and Pierz to Upsala, Swanville and Flensburg, much of Morrison County's housing is traditional farmhouses and older two-story homes. Many of them have stairs between the entry and the main living level, so even a short trip to the kitchen can mean climbing a flight.
The county spreads across about 1,125 square miles of low rolling hills in central Minnesota, with roughly 30 people per square mile. Homes sit far apart in outlying townships, and public transportation is limited. For people who want to keep living where they are, making the stairs safe is often the first job.
An older two-story home with one straight flight between floors is usually the simplest case. A straight stair lift runs on a rail fastened to the stair treads, not the wall, so plaster walls in an old farmhouse stay untouched.
Split-level homes are different. They have short runs of stairs between several levels, and each run may need its own lift, or a curved rail that turns at a landing. We look at every flight during a home visit before recommending one or the other.
Townhouses and walk-up apartments can work too. If you rent, the owner has to approve anything fastened to the stairs, so it helps to ask before you schedule a measurement.
Terrain here slopes toward the Mississippi River in the west-central part of the county and the Platte River through the middle, and plenty of homes sit on a grade. That often means steps up to the front or back door before you ever reach the inside stairs.
An outdoor stair lift is built for weather, with covers and sealed parts, and runs along those entry steps. Where a wheelchair user needs to get from the yard to the door, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat lift. Minnesota winters matter here, so we plan for snow clearing around the rail.
In a county where homes are spread out and the nearest help may be a long drive away, a fall on the stairs can leave someone alone for a long time.
Adult children often start this conversation from out of town. Measuring the stairs and the landing at top and bottom, and noting whether the flight is straight or turns, gives everyone a clear picture before any decision.
Two Minnesota Medicaid waivers name stair lifts as a covered home modification: the Elderly Waiver for people 65 and older, and the CADI Waiver for people under 65 with a disability. Both run through Morrison County Health & Human Services at (320) 632-7800.
Several other programs fund home repairs or accessibility work but do not name stair lifts, so call and ask before counting on them. Veterans should know that the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides, and the Veterans Service Office in Little Falls at (320) 632-0290 can explain what other VA options might apply.
The full list of programs, with phone numbers, is below.
A state Medicaid waiver for people 65 and older who qualify for Medical Assistance and need nursing-facility level care but live at home; it covers stair lifts as an environmental modification. Call (800) 333-2433, or apply locally through Morrison County Health & Human Services at 320-632-7800.
A state Medicaid waiver for Medical Assistance eligible people under 65 with a disability who choose to stay in the community; stair lifts are listed as a covered modification. Call (320) 632-7800.
An information, referral and planning agency for adults 60 and older and caregivers in a 14-county region that includes Morrison County; its materials do not mention stair lifts. Call (320) 253-9349.
Deferred home-repair loans for owner-occupied homes, including $1,000-$15,000 at 0% interest for accessibility needs, though stair lifts are not named and Morrison County coverage is not confirmed. Call (218) 828-3705 to ask whether your address qualifies.
No-cost weatherization and safety work such as furnace repair, insulation and air sealing for income-qualifying households in Crow Wing, Morrison and Todd Counties; stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (320) 632-3691.
1% repair loans up to $40,000 and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners 62 and older in eligible rural areas; ramps and grab bars are listed, but stair lifts are not named. Call (320) 632-3181.
A lifetime VA benefit of $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary home changes, but stair glides are specifically excluded. Call (320) 632-0290 for help with other VA options.
VA grants of up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities; the VA does not list stair lifts by name. Call (320) 632-0290.
The county office in Little Falls helps veterans and families file for VA benefits, including HISA, SAH and SHA housing grants; it does not run a stair lift program itself. Call (320) 632-0290.
A nonprofit offering skills training, advocacy, referral and peer support for people with disabilities in central Minnesota; no stair lift or equipment fund is listed. Call (320) 529-9000 to confirm what is available locally.
Provides critical home repairs and modifications so seniors can stay in their homes; stair lifts are not named, so ask about current scope. Call (320) 616-2084.
Older adults
600 25th Ave. South, Suite 108, St. Cloud, 56301
Veterans
213 - 1st Avenue SE, Little Falls, 56345
Yes, possibly. The CADI Waiver serves Medical Assistance eligible people under 65 with a disability and lists stair lifts as a covered modification. Call Morrison County Health & Human Services at (320) 632-7800.
The HISA grant does not; it excludes stair glides by name. SAH and SHA grants do not list stair lifts either, so talk with the Veterans Service Office at 213 - 1st Avenue SE in Little Falls, (320) 632-0290, before applying.
Often, yes. Outdoor stair lifts are built for weather, and a platform lift is an option where a wheelchair needs to reach the door. A home visit tells us which fits your steps and the slope of your yard.
It depends on how the short flights connect. Separate straight runs may each need a lift, while a run that turns at a landing may call for a curved rail.
For adults 60 and older, the Central Minnesota Council on Aging at (320) 253-9349 handles information and referral for Morrison County. For the Elderly Waiver or CADI Waiver, go straight to Morrison County Health & Human Services at (320) 632-7800.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
