Stearns County was settled heavily during the 1850s-era German Catholic immigration wave, and you can still see it in the brick and stone buildings in its towns and the older frame farmhouses out in the rural townships. From St. Cloud and Sartell to Melrose, Albany, Cold Spring and Sauk Centre, a lot of these homes were built with one staircase as the only way to the bedrooms upstairs.
That staircase gets harder to manage over time, and a 47.9-inch average snowfall doesn't help. This page walks through how the county's homes and winters affect the kind of stair lift that fits, and which Minnesota and federal programs may help cover the cost.
The county is about 62.0% urban and 38.0% rural per the 2020 census. In St. Cloud and its nearby suburbs, many homes are early-to-mid-20th-century multi-story houses. Out in the townships around places like Freeport, Holdingford and New Munich, older farmhouse-era construction is common.
Both styles usually rely on stairs alone to reach the upper floor, and most were never built with ramps or other accessibility features. A single straight run is the simplest case, and a straight stair lift mounts to the treads rather than the wall. Older homes often have a landing, a turn at the top or narrow winding steps, and those need a curved rail built to that specific staircase.
Townhouses and duplexes, also common here, can have split or multi-level layouts. We measure every flight before recommending anything, because the shape of the stairs decides the equipment more than the age of the house does.
St. Cloud averages a January low near 2.9 deg F and has recorded a low of -43 deg F. Ice and snow raise the fall risk on outdoor steps and walkways, which is one reason many families start with an indoor lift and then look at safer access to the entry.
Where the entry steps are the main problem, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift may be worth discussing. The right choice depends on the number of steps, the space available and whether a wheelchair is involved.
The county spans 1,390 square miles of rolling hills, prairie, woodland and 166 lakes. For homes far from the St. Cloud area, travel distance can affect scheduling and cost, so it helps to plan the measurement visit early.
Of the county's 138,476 residents, 15.0% are 65 or older and 58.2% own their homes. Owning the home matters, since most of the loan programs below are for homeowner-occupants.
If that includes your family, the Stearns County Veterans Service at 3301 County Road 138 in Waite Park, (320) 656-6176, can help sort out which VA benefits apply.
The clearest route is Minnesota's Medicaid waivers. The Elderly Waiver (age 65+) and the CADI Waiver (under 65 with a disability) both list stair lifts among the environmental modifications they fund, based on the person's individualized plan. Both start with a long-term-care needs assessment through Stearns County Human Services or the Senior LinkAge Line.
For homeowners who don't qualify for a waiver, Minnesota Housing's Fix Up Loan and Rehabilitation Loan programs cover accessibility improvements, though stair lifts are not named on the source pages. In rural parts of the county, USDA Section 504 repair loans and grants may also be an option.
Veterans should know that the VA HISA grant explicitly excludes stair glides. The Central Minnesota Council on Aging, (320) 253-9349, is a good first call to sort out the options for your situation.
A Medicaid waiver for Minnesota residents 65+ on Medical Assistance who need nursing-facility level of care; its environmental modification services explicitly include stair lifts and grab bars. Call (800) 333-2433 or contact Stearns County Human Services to request an assessment.
A Medicaid waiver for Minnesota residents under 65 with a disability who need nursing-facility level of care, and its environmental modifications explicitly list stair lifts. Apply through Stearns County Human Services Long-Term Care Consultation intake or call (800) 333-2433.
Gives the 2026 Elderly Waiver limits: $2,982/month income, $3,000 in assets and $752,000 in home equity for a single applicant; this source does not name stair lifts, and waiver slots are limited. Call (800) 333-2433.
The area agency on aging for a 14-county region that includes Stearns County, acting as a referral and case-management resource; it does not list a stair lift or home modification grant. Call (320) 253-9349.
A Sauk Rapids nonprofit that helps people with disabilities and older adults with home modification projects, which may include lifts, grab bars and ramps, though stair lifts are not named specifically. Call (320) 281-2014 to confirm scope and whether they serve your address.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for medically necessary structural changes, but it explicitly excludes stair glides, so it will not pay for a stair lift.
VA grants for veterans with qualifying severe disabilities, with FY2026 caps of up to $126,526 (SAH), $25,350 (SHA) and $50,961 or $9,100 (TRA); the source mentions ramps and widened doorways but does not name stair lifts.
Fixed-rate loans from $2,000 to $75,000 with terms up to 20 years for Minnesota homeowner-occupants; accessibility improvements are an eligible use and that component has no income cap, though stair lifts are not named. Call (651) 296-7608.
Deferred, forgivable loans up to $37,500 for very low-income homeowners with assets of $25,000 or less, with the ELP component addressing accessibility needs for a resident with a disability; stair lifts are not named. Call (651) 296-7608.
A Waite Park community action agency serving income-qualified Stearns County residents, mainly through weatherization; it does not list a stair lift or home modification grant. Call (320) 251-1612 to ask about referrals.
Repair loans up to $20,000 at 1% and grants up to $7,500 for very-low-income rural homeowners, with grants limited to those 62+ removing a health or safety hazard; stair lifts are not named, and St. Cloud is likely outside the rural-eligible area while outlying townships may qualify.
Older adults
600 25th Ave. South, Suite 108, St. Cloud, 56301
Veterans
3301 County Road 138, Waite Park, 56387
Yes. The Minnesota Elderly Waiver lists stair lifts and grab bars among its environmental modification services. The person must be 65+, on Medical Assistance and need nursing-facility level of care, and coverage follows their individualized plan.
The CADI Waiver serves Minnesota residents under 65 with a disability who need nursing-facility level of care and are on Medical Assistance. It also lists stair lifts among covered modifications. Intake goes through Stearns County Human Services.
For a single applicant, the limits are $2,982 a month in income, $3,000 in assets and $752,000 in home equity. It is not an entitlement, so it depends on available waiver slots.
No. HISA explicitly excludes stair glides. Veterans can call the Stearns County Veterans Service in Waite Park at (320) 656-6176 to ask about other VA benefits.
Possibly. Section 504 loans and grants are for very-low-income homeowners in USDA-eligible rural areas, and outlying Stearns County townships may qualify while St. Cloud likely does not. You would need to check your specific address with USDA.
The Accessibility Improvements component of the Minnesota Housing Fix Up Loan has no income cap, though it requires a minimum credit score and a participating lender. Loans run from $2,000 to $75,000. Call (651) 296-7608.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
