In 1870, railroad directors picked the future townsite of St. James as the midpoint of the St. Paul and Sioux City line, and much of Watonwan County still reflects that railroad era. From St. James to Madelia, Butterfield and Lewisville, many houses date to the late 1800s and early 1900s, and two-story farmhouses sit across the agricultural townships.
Those older homes were not built with a bedroom and bathroom on the main floor. When the stairs get hard, the choice often comes down to moving or making the stairs usable again. This page walks through how local homes affect the type of stair lift you need and which programs may help pay for it.
The county's older housing stock frequently lacks single-floor living or built-in accessibility features. In a two-story farmhouse, the bedrooms are usually upstairs, so the staircase decides whether someone can stay in the home.
A straight staircase with no turns is usually the simplest fit for a straight stair lift. Older houses often have a landing or a turn partway up, and those need a curved lift with a rail built to match that specific staircase. We measure the stairs in person before recommending either.
Split-level homes are common here too, and they bring short runs of stairs between levels. One short flight can be enough to keep a person from reaching the kitchen or the laundry, so a lift on just that run can make a real difference.
Ranch-style homes often keep daily living on one floor, but the basement and the front or back entry steps still matter. For entry steps, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift may be the better match, especially if a wheelchair is involved.
Watonwan County covers 439.73 square miles of low, rolling hills, lakes and ponds, with the Watonwan River flowing east through the north. Many residents live on scattered farmsteads some distance from clinics, pharmacies and contractors who install accessibility equipment.
That distance is a reason to plan ahead instead of waiting for a fall. Getting the home assessment and any funding paperwork started early gives you time to compare options without pressure.
About 18.1% of county residents are 65 or older, and 72.9% are homeowners. Owning the home matters, because most repair loans and grants listed below require the applicant to own and live in the house.
The Watonwan County Veterans Service Office in St. James is a good first call for a veteran, though one key VA grant does not pay for stair lifts.
None of the local program sources we reviewed name stair lifts as a covered item, so ask each one directly before you count on it. Several do fund accessibility work in general, which is worth raising when you call.
The Medicaid waivers run through Watonwan County Human Services at (507) 375-3294. Home repair loans are available from the USDA, Minnesota Valley Action Council and the county's own Affordable Housing Aid Loan Program. Statewide, you can also ask about the Alternative Care (AC) Program and the Minnesota Housing Fix Up Loan (Accessibility Loan).
A Medicaid waiver for people 65 or older on Medical Assistance who need a nursing-facility level of care, with Environmental Accessibility Adaptations approved per individual support plan; the source does not mention stair lifts. Call Watonwan County Human Services at (507) 375-3294.
A Medicaid waiver for people under 65 on Medical Assistance who are certified disabled and need a nursing-facility level of care; the source does not mention stair lifts or home modifications. Call Watonwan County Human Services at (507) 375-3294.
A state training bulletin for lead agencies, case managers and construction companies doing home modification projects for waiver participants, not a consumer benefit. It does not mention stair lifts.
A free information and referral service for older adults and caregivers, with a resource center at 108 8th Street South in St. James; the source does not mention stair lifts or home modifications. Call (507) 387-1256.
Repair loans up to $20,000 at 1% interest and grants up to $7,500 for homeowners 62 and older, for low-income owners in eligible rural areas; the factsheet does not itemize stair lifts.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for medically needed home alterations, but it explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts, so it does not cover stair lifts. Call the Watonwan County Veterans Service Office at (507) 375-1254.
Grants for veterans with severe qualifying service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026; the source does not name stair lifts. Call (507) 375-1254 for help applying.
Free benefits counseling and application help for county veterans and their dependents, located at 108 8th Street South, Suite 3 in St. James; the source does not mention stair lifts. Call (507) 375-1254.
Deferred, zero-interest loans up to $37,500 for income-eligible owner-occupants, forgiven if you stay through the term, and funds can address accessibility needs for a resident with a disability; stair lifts are not named. Call (507) 345-2436.
Serves Watonwan County with custom ramp builds and assistive technology for people with disabilities; stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (888) 676-6498.
A fully forgivable loan of up to $10,000 for owner-occupants at or below 115% of Area Median Income, with 'Accessibility Improvements' listed as an eligible use though stair lifts are not named. Call (507) 375-1289.
Older adults
10 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 3, Mankato, 56001
Veterans
108 8th Street South, Suite 3, St. James, 56081
Not through the HISA grant, which explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either way, so ask the Watonwan County Veterans Service Office at (507) 375-1254 about your situation.
The CADI Waiver is for people under 65 on Medical Assistance who are certified disabled and need a nursing-facility level of care. Its source does not list stair lifts, so ask Watonwan County Human Services at (507) 375-3294.
The Watonwan County Affordable Housing Aid Loan Program lists 'Accessibility Improvements' as an eligible use, up to $10,000, but does not name stair lifts. Funds go first-come, first-served, so call (507) 375-1289 early.
Yes. A staircase with a turn or landing usually needs a curved stair lift with a custom rail, while a straight run can use a straight lift. We measure in person to tell you which fits.
If the person is 65 or older and on Medical Assistance, start with Watonwan County Human Services at (507) 375-3294 about the Elderly Waiver. For home repair loans, MVAC at (507) 345-2436 serves Watonwan County.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
