Hettinger grew up along the Milwaukee Road's Pacific Extension after its founding in 1907, and a good share of the houses in town and on the surrounding farms still date from that early-20th-century settlement era. Those older two-story farmhouses and small-town homes often have narrow, steep interior staircases. They were built for a different time, and they get harder to climb as people age in place.
Adams County spreads across 988.7 sq mi of low rolling hills on the South Dakota border, with only about 2.2 people per square mile. When help is a long drive away, being able to stay safely in your own house matters. This page walks through how local homes and weather affect stair lift choices, and which programs may help with the cost.
Many of the early-20th-century houses around Hettinger have a single straight run of stairs between floors. A straight stair lift is usually the simplest fit for that layout, mounted on a rail that runs along the treads.
Width is the thing we check first in these older homes. A narrow staircase can still take a lift, but we measure carefully so the seat folds out of the way and others can use the stairs. If the staircase turns at a landing or has a bend partway up, a curved stair lift with a custom rail is the usual answer.
The county's housing also includes ranch-style homes, split-level homes, detached houses and walk-up apartments. Each one puts stairs in a different spot, so the right lift depends on where the bedroom, bathroom and laundry sit.
Split-level homes tend to have several short flights rather than one long one. Sometimes a short straight lift on the flight used most is enough; other times a curved rail can link levels. In a walk-up apartment, the building owner normally needs to approve any installation, so it helps to have that conversation early.
Hettinger sits at 2,740 feet with a semi-arid climate: cold winters, hot dry summers and big swings between seasons. Icy walkways and entry steps add real fall risk for older residents getting in and out of the house.
An outdoor stair lift built to handle the weather can carry someone up porch or deck steps. For a wheelchair user, a platform lift at the entrance may make more sense than a seat-style lift. We look at the steps, the slope of the yard and how snow is cleared before recommending one.
About 27.7% of residents are 65 or older, and the median age is around 50. That means many households are already thinking about stairs, either for themselves or for a parent who wants to stay on the farm or in town.
The Adams County Veterans Service Office at 609 2nd Avenue North, Suite 1, in Hettinger can be reached at (701) 567-7120 to talk through VA benefits before you decide on equipment.
With a small, rural tax base, there is little locally funded money for senior home modifications. State and federal programs such as SPED, Medicaid HCBS and VA grants are the main paths residents use.
None of the programs below confirms stair lift coverage in its source material, and the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. Call before you buy and ask directly whether a stair lift qualifies. The Aging Services Division in Bismarck is a good starting point at (701) 328-8910.
A federal grant for medically needed home modifications for veterans, up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime depending on the condition. It does not cover stair lifts; it pays for items like roll-in showers and permanent entrance ramps, applied for through the Fargo VA Health Care System's Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 for FY2026 for veterans with severe qualifying service-connected disabilities who own or plan to own the home. Its source names ramps and wider doorways but does not mention stair lifts.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 for FY2026 for veterans with a different set of severe service-connected disabilities. Stair lifts are not listed among covered modifications in its source.
A North Dakota HHS in-home service program for residents age 18+ with qualifying functional impairments, using a sliding-fee cost share and a $50,000 asset limit. Its source does not list stair lifts or covered services; Adams County residents should contact the Southwest Human Service Zone office to ask.
A Medicaid waiver that helps seniors 65+ and people with disabilities who meet nursing-facility level of care stay at home. Its source does not mention stair lifts; call the Aging and Disability Resource-LINK at (855) 462-5465 to confirm covered items.
State home-repair and rehabilitation loan options for North Dakota homeowners, with terms not stated on the page reviewed. Whether stair lifts qualify is not listed, so call NDHFA at (701) 328-8080.
A nonprofit Center for Independent Living serving people with disabilities of any age in southwest and south-central North Dakota, offering services rather than cash grants. Stair lift help is not listed; call (701) 222-3636 or the Dickinson office at (701) 483-4363 to ask about home-accessibility referrals.
Older adults
600 E Boulevard Ave, Dept 325, Bismarck, 58505
Veterans
609 2nd Avenue North, Suite 1, Hettinger, 58639
The HISA grant does not, since it excludes stair glides and porch lifts. The SAH and SHA grants do not list stair lifts either, so ask the Adams County Veterans Service Office at (701) 567-7120 what options apply to your situation.
For Adams County residents, the nearest full VA medical center is the Fargo VA Health Care System. HISA applications go through its Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service using VA Form 10-0103.
SPED serves North Dakota residents age 18+ who have qualifying functional impairments and live in a private family dwelling. Contact the Southwest Human Service Zone office to ask whether a stair lift could be included.
Call the Aging and Disability Resource-LINK at (855) 462-5465. They handle the HCBS pathway and can tell you which home items are currently covered.
Yes, outdoor stair lifts are built for porch and entry steps exposed to the weather. With cold winters and icy steps common here, we check the site and snow clearing before recommending an outdoor or platform lift.
Often it will. We measure the width and look for turns or landings, then recommend a straight lift for a single run or a curved lift if the stairs bend.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
