Sherburne County covers 451 square miles of low rolling hills, woods, lakes and ponds between Elk River, Big Lake, Zimmerman, Becker and Clear Lake. About half the county lives in town and half lives out on rural or semi-rural land, so the homes we see range from townhouses near Elk River to split-level and detached houses on bigger lots.
Most of those homes are owned by the people living in them. Of the county's 35,909 housing units, 82.9% were owner-occupied. That matters for a stair lift, because an owner can decide on the install, pick a loan program and keep the lift for as long as it is needed.
A single-family or detached house with one straight run of stairs to the bedrooms or basement is the simplest job. A straight rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, and the stairs stay usable for everyone else.
Split-level homes are different. They often have two or three short flights with a landing or turn between floors. Depending on the layout, that can mean a curved rail that follows the turn, or a separate straight lift on each short flight.
Townhouses tend to stack living space over two or three floors, so the stairs get used many times a day. Walk-up apartments can take a lift too, but a renter needs the owner's written approval before anything is attached to the stairs.
The land here slopes south and east from a high point of 1,110 feet near St. Cloud, and a lot of houses sit on uneven ground near lakes and ponds. That often means deck steps, porch steps or a walk-out basement entry outside the house.
Harsh winters raise the fall risk on those exterior stairs. An outdoor stair lift is built to handle weather, and for a wheelchair user a vertical platform lift at the porch or garage entry may make more sense than a seat.
Since 50.9% of residents live in rural areas, some properties are a longer drive for contractors and installers. It helps to plan the visit early and have us measure every set of stairs, inside and out, on the same trip.
About 10.8% of Sherburne County residents are 65 or older. In Elk River, the county seat, that share is 13.8%, so many families there are already thinking about how a parent will reach a second floor or a basement laundry room.
Sherburne County Veteran Services in Elk River, at 13880 Business Center Drive NW Suite 100, can help sort out which VA benefits apply. Call (763) 765-3100.
Median household income in the county was $105,466 in 2024, and many families here combine their own money with a waiver, VA benefit or state housing loan. The programs below are the ones that apply to county residents.
Two Medicaid waivers, the Elderly Waiver for people 65 and older and the CADI Waiver for people under 65 with a disability, list stair lifts under their home modification services. Both are applied for through county Health & Human Services intake.
If you do not qualify for a waiver, Minnesota Housing's Fix Up Loan has an accessibility option with no income limit, and the Rehabilitation Loan Program helps very low-income owners. Minnesota also has an Alternative Care (AC) Program, and the Central Minnesota Council on Aging in St. Cloud can help you figure out where to start.
A Medicaid waiver for Minnesota residents 65 and older who need nursing-facility level care; stair lifts are listed under its home modification services, and 2026 limits are $2,982 a month in income and $3,000 in assets for a single applicant. Apply through county intake at (763) 765-4000, though that number could not be confirmed against the county's own page, so check it when you call.
A Medicaid waiver for Minnesota residents under 65 with a disability who need nursing-facility level care; stair lifts are listed among its home modification services. Access is through county Health & Human Services intake at (763) 765-4000.
The area agency on aging for a 14-county region that includes Sherburne County, serving older adults and their families. Its materials do not mention stair lifts or home modifications; call (320) 253-9349.
A center for independent living based in Sauk Rapids whose accessibility projects may include lifts, grab bars, ramps and door widening, though stair lifts are not named specifically. Its coverage of Sherburne County could not be confirmed, so call (320) 529-9000 to ask.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for structural home changes, depending on the veteran's disability. It does not cover stair lifts, since stair glides are on its exclusion list; call (320) 252-1670.
A VA grant of up to $126,526 for FY2026 for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home. Stair lifts are not mentioned in the program's listing; call (320) 252-1670.
A VA grant of up to $25,350 for FY2026 for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities such as loss of use of both hands. Stair lifts are not named among covered adaptations; call (320) 252-1670.
Loans up to $20,000 at 1% and grants up to $7,500 for very-low-income homeowners in USDA-eligible rural areas, with grants limited to owners 62 or older removing a health or safety hazard. Stair lifts are not named specifically, and only some parts of the county may count as rural.
A fixed-rate loan of $2,000 to $75,000 over 1 to 20 years through a participating Minnesota Housing lender, with no income limit for the accessibility option. Accessibility improvements are an eligible use, though stair lifts are not itemized.
A deferred loan of up to $37,500 for very low-income Minnesota homeowners with assets of $25,000 or less, forgiven if the owner stays in the home. Its accessibility component addresses needs of a resident with a disability, though stair lifts are not itemized.
Older adults
600 25th Ave. South, Suite 108, St. Cloud, 56301
Veterans
13880 Business Center Drive NW Suite 100, Elk River, 55330
It can through a waiver. The Elderly Waiver and the CADI Waiver both list stair lifts among their home modification services, and the amount depends on the person's individual service plan. Enrollment slots are limited, and you apply through county Health & Human Services intake.
Yes. The CADI Waiver is for Minnesota residents under 65 with a disability who need nursing-facility level care and are on Medical Assistance. The Minnesota Housing Fix Up Loan's accessibility option also has no age requirement and no income limit.
No. HISA excludes stair glides along with porch lifts and portable ramps. Sherburne County Veteran Services at (763) 765-3100 can talk through whether the SAH or SHA grants fit a veteran's situation.
Usually, yes. Split-level homes often have short flights with a landing between them, which may call for a curved rail or a straight lift on each flight. We measure each flight to see which setup fits.
Outdoor stair lifts are made for exterior steps and Minnesota weather. For someone who uses a wheelchair, a vertical platform lift at the entry may be the better choice.
The Central Minnesota Council on Aging serves Sherburne County from its St. Cloud office at 600 25th Ave. South, Suite 108. Call (320) 253-9349.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
