Churchill County covers about 5,024 square miles of the Lahontan Valley, roughly 60 miles east of Reno. Most homes sit in and around Fallon, with ranch-style houses on larger acreage parcels farther out. The county also has roughly 2,663 manufactured home units.
That spread matters. A trip to a clinic or pharmacy from a farm property outside town can take a while, so a safe way up and down the stairs at home carries real weight. This page covers which lift fits which kind of house here and which programs may help with the cost.
Single-family detached homes make up most of the housing in Fallon, and the county's housing stock runs older and more modest overall. Many of these houses have one straight run of stairs, which suits a straight stair lift. That is usually the simplest install.
Townhouses, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings show up here too. A staircase with a landing, a turn or a curve needs a curved lift built to that exact staircase. In a walk-up or low-rise building, talk to the owner or manager before planning anything on shared stairs.
Outside Fallon, ranch and farm properties can have more than one level, plus steps at porches or entries. Manufactured homes often have entry steps as well. For steps outside the house, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift may fit better than an indoor model.
The climate is cold and semi-arid, with hot summers and cold winters at an elevation near 3,965 feet. Any lift that lives outdoors here has to handle both. We look at sun exposure, where it will sit, and the power supply during the home visit.
About 15.5% of Churchill County's 10,621 residents are 65 or older. Several of the programs below begin at age 65, and one USDA grant begins at 62.
Veterans can start with the Nevada Department of Veterans Services Fallon Office at 485 W. B Street, Suite 103, Fallon, 89406, phone (775) 321-4880. Churchill County has no VA facility of its own listed.
None of the programs below names stair lifts in its source material, so plan on calling and asking directly. Some cover home modifications in general terms, such as accessibility needs or removing health and safety hazards. Others list only in-home services like personal care and chore help.
For seniors, Rural Nevada Aging Services at 3416 Goni Rd., Suite D-132, Carson City, 89706, phone (775) 687-4210, handles COPE and the Frail Elderly waiver. Low-income homeowners should look at the USDA Section 504 program and the RNDC rehabilitation program. Veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities have the SAH and SHA grants to ask about.
A state Medicaid waiver for Nevada residents of any age with a documented physical disability who meet nursing facility level of care. It lists Environmental Accessibility Adaptations as a covered service but does not name stair lifts, so coverage has to be confirmed case by case with DHCFP or ADSD.
A state program for people 65 or older who are at risk of nursing home placement and meet financial limits. It covers services such as personal care, homemaker and chore help, and home modifications are not among them; call (775) 687-4210.
A state Medicaid waiver for people 65 or older at risk of nursing home placement who meet financial limits. Its eight listed services do not include home modifications or stair lifts; call (775) 687-4210.
Very-low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas, including Churchill County, can get loans up to $40,000 at 1% for 20 years, and those 62 and older can get grants up to $10,000 to remove health and safety hazards. Stair lifts are not named; call (775) 423-5124.
A regional nonprofit repair program for low-income homeowners that lists Churchill County as eligible and includes Handicap Accessibility Needs as a repair category, funded as a 3-year forgivable lien. Stair lifts are not named; call (866) 404-5204.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for medically necessary changes like ramps and roll-in showers. The VA source specifically excludes stair glides and porch lifts; call VA Sierra Nevada at (775) 786-7200 about other modifications.
Up to $126,526 in FY2026 for veterans who own or will own the home and have certain severe service-connected disabilities. Stair lifts are not named and adaptations are reviewed case by case; call (877) 827-3702.
Up to $25,350 in FY2026 for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands or certain severe burns. Stair lifts are not named and need VA design review; call (877) 827-3702.
A nonprofit serving people with disabilities in Churchill County, with most programs low-cost or free, and a Fallon office at 1919 Grimes Street Suite B, (775) 423-4900. Stair lift help is not listed, so ask what home modification support is offered; main office (775) 353-3599.
Older adults
3416 Goni Rd., Suite D-132, Carson City, 89706
Veterans
485 W. B Street, Suite 103, Fallon, 89406
No. The VA source for HISA names stair glides and porch lifts as excluded items. Veterans with severe service-connected disabilities can ask about the SAH or SHA grants at (877) 827-3702, where adaptations are reviewed case by case.
The PD Waiver has no age minimum for people with a qualifying physical disability, and it lists Environmental Accessibility Adaptations. The RNDC program and NNCIL are not age-based either. USDA Section 504 grants start at 62.
The Nevada Department of Veterans Services Fallon Office is at 485 W. B Street, Suite 103, Fallon, phone (775) 321-4880. For VA health care questions, the VA Sierra Nevada main line is (775) 786-7200.
Often, yes. Outdoor stair lifts and platform lifts are made for entry and porch steps. With hot summers and cold winters here, we check placement and exposure before recommending one.
Neither lists home modifications or stair lifts among its services. Both can still help with in-home care, and you can reach Rural Nevada Aging Services at (775) 687-4210.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
