From Canby and Clarkfield to Wood Lake, Hanley Falls and Echo, most homes in Yellow Medicine County sit on open farm country. The county is 100.0% rural under the 2020 Census, and its 4,513 housing units are mostly older single-family houses spread out over 763 square miles of rolling hills.
That kind of housing often means stairs: a basement laundry, a second-floor bedroom in a farmhouse, or the short flights of a split-level. A stair lift can keep those rooms in use without a move to town. This page covers which lift types fit local homes and where to look for help with the cost.
The local housing stock includes farmhouses, split-level homes, ranch-style homes and other detached single-family houses. Each one puts stairs in a different place, so the right lift depends on the layout more than the age of the house.
A straight staircase with no landing turns is the simplest case and usually takes a straight stair lift. Multi-level farmhouses often have a turn, a landing or a narrow flight, which calls for a curved lift built to that staircase. Split-levels can have more than one short flight, so we look at which levels you actually need to reach before suggesting anything.
Ranch-style homes are mostly on one floor, but many still have stairs down to a basement. A lift there can make laundry, storage or a lower-level bedroom usable again.
The county's terrain is rolling hills cut by drainages, sloping east toward the Minnesota River on the eastern border, with the Yellow Medicine River running through the eastern section. Houses built on that kind of ground often end up with steps up to the front or back door.
An outdoor stair lift is made for those entry steps and is built to be used outside. When a wheelchair has to come along, a vertical platform lift is the other option for getting from the yard to the door. We measure the steps and the space at the top and bottom before recommending either one.
At the 2020 Census, 21.3% of county residents were 65 or older, and the median age was 42.9. The population fell 8.7% from 2010, which means fewer people nearby to help with daily tasks.
Most households own their homes, with 80.7% of housing units owner-occupied. Homeowners can usually install a lift without asking a landlord, and the house stays the place they already know.
For residents 65 and older who need a nursing facility level of care, the Minnesota Elderly Waiver (EW) lists home modifications as a benefit. The Senior LinkAge Line at (800) 333-2433 is the statewide place to start, and the Southwest Minnesota AAA in Slayton can be reached at (507) 532-3260.
Veterans with a qualifying service-connected disability can look at the VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant and the VA Special Home Adaptation (SHA) Grant.
Other statewide options worth asking about include the Alternative Care (AC) Program, the Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) Waiver, the Minnesota Housing Fix Up Loan (Accessibility Loan), the Minnesota Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program (RLP) and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics). Details for the main programs are listed below.
A state Medicaid waiver run by the Minnesota Dept. of Human Services for residents 65 and older who need a nursing facility level of care, and it covers home modifications including stair lifts. Apply through county Long-Term Care Consultation or the Senior LinkAge Line at (800) 333-2433; waitlists are possible.
A federal VA grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities to buy, build or modify a home, or up to $50,961 through Temporary Residence Adaptation for a family member's home. The source lists ramps and wider doorways as examples but does not mention stair lifts.
A federal VA grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) for permanent home adaptations, or up to $9,100 through Temporary Residence Adaptation, for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities. The source names ramps and wider doorways as examples and does not mention stair lifts.
Older adults
2401 Broadway Ave., Suite 4, Slayton, 56172
Veterans
180 8th Ave, Granite Falls, 56241
Yes. Staircases with a landing or a turn take a curved stair lift built to fit that specific staircase. We measure the stairs in person to see what will work.
For a single applicant, the 2026 income limit is $2,982 per month and the asset limit is $3,000. The home equity limit is $752,000, and the applicant must be 65 or older and need a nursing facility level of care.
Start with the Senior LinkAge Line at (800) 333-2433, the statewide entry point for aging services that covers Yellow Medicine County. The Southwest Minnesota AAA in Slayton is at (507) 532-3260.
The SAH and SHA grant sources describe home modifications such as ramps and wider doorways but do not name stair lifts. Yellow Medicine County Veterans Services at (320) 313-3037 can tell you what your situation qualifies for.
Both grants can be used up to 6 times over a lifetime. The dollar amounts adjust each year for construction costs.
Yes. An outdoor stair lift is made for entry steps, and a vertical platform lift is an option if a wheelchair needs to get up to the door.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
