Mercer County stretches across about 1,112.6 square miles of rolling farm country, sloping north and east toward Lake Sakakawea. Most households live in or around four towns: Beulah, Hazen, Stanton and Golden Valley. The homes here run from single-family houses in town to farmhouses out on the land, plus mobile homes and low-rise buildings.
That mix matters when someone starts having trouble with the stairs. A basement stairway in Beulah, a steep farmhouse staircase outside Golden Valley and the front steps of a mobile home in Stanton each call for a different kind of lift. This page walks through what fits where and which offices can help you figure out how to pay for it.
Single-family homes in Hazen and Beulah often have one straight run of stairs to a basement or second floor. A straight stair lift is usually the simplest fit for those. It mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so most homes need no major remodeling.
Farmhouses can be a different story. Older stairways may turn at a landing or have narrow, steep steps. Those often need a curved lift with a rail built to the exact shape of the staircase, so we measure carefully before quoting anything.
Mobile homes and low-rise buildings tend to have steps outside rather than inside. For a short climb to the door, an outdoor stair lift or a vertical platform lift may make more sense than a ramp, especially where yard space is tight.
The land here rises and falls on its way to Lake Sakakawea, and the county's highest point reaches 2,451 feet along its southern edge. On sloping lots, homes often end up with more exterior steps on one side than the other. A walkout basement or a raised entry is common.
Outdoor lifts are built to handle the elements, but placement still matters. We look at which side of the house gets the most snow and wind and whether a covered entry is an option. Sometimes moving the lift to a different door saves trouble every winter.
As of the 2020 Census, Mercer County had 4,657 housing units, and 82.8% of them were owner-occupied. When you own the home, you can install a stair lift without asking a landlord for permission.
The same census counted 20.1% of county residents at age 65 or older. Many of those folks want to stay in the house they know. A stair lift is often one piece of that plan, along with grab bars and better lighting on the stairs.
There is no single program that clearly pays for stair lifts here, so the first call matters. The Aging and Disability Resource-LINK at (855) 462-5465 is the statewide starting point. It offers free options counseling and can refer you to home modification help that fits your situation.
For Medicaid and other state benefit applications, the local office is the Dakota Central Human Service Zone in Washburn, reachable at (701) 462-3581. You can also reach the Aging Services Division in Bismarck at (701) 328-8910.
Statewide programs worth asking about include the North Dakota Medicaid HCBS Aged and Disabled Waiver, Environmental Modification, Service Payments for the Elderly and Disabled (SPED / Ex-SPED), the ND Assistive, Assistive Technology Financial Loan (ATFL) Program and the North Dakota Homestead Property Tax Credit for Seniors and Disabled. Ask the referral line which ones you may qualify for.
Veterans can start with the Mercer County Veterans Service Office at (701) 456-7654, which is located in Dickinson, and ask about VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) along with the grants listed below.
A free statewide information and referral service for older adults, adults with disabilities and caregivers of any income level, including referrals for home modification. Its source page does not list stair lifts as a covered item; call (855) 462-5465.
The local human services office for Mercer, McLean, Oliver and Sheridan counties, handling applications for Medicaid and other state benefits from 712 5th Ave. in Washburn. Its page does not mention stair lifts or home modification funding; call (701) 462-3581, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm CT.
A Medicaid program for enrollees with a qualifying diagnosis and household income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. Its covered services do not include home modifications, ramps or stair lifts, so it cannot pay for one; the phone is (701) 328-2310.
A grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities to buy, build or modify a home, with ramps and wider doorways given as examples. The VA page does not name stair lifts; call (800) 827-1000.
A grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying disabilities to purchase, construct or adapt a home, or up to $9,100 to adapt a family member's home they are temporarily living in. Stair lifts are not named on the VA page; call (800) 827-1000.
A monthly cash payment added to a VA pension for veterans who need help with daily activities or are substantially confined to the home. It is not a home modification grant, and the VA page does not mention stair lifts; call (800) 827-1000.
Older adults
600 E Boulevard Ave, Dept 325, Bismarck, 58505
Veterans
51 3rd Street East, Dickinson, 58601
Yes, in most cases. A staircase with a turn usually needs a curved lift with a custom rail. We measure the stairs on site before recommending one.
The North Dakota Medicaid 1915(i) Home and Community-Based Services State Plan does not cover stair lifts. Ask the Aging and Disability Resource-LINK at (855) 462-5465 about the North Dakota Medicaid HCBS Aged and Disabled Waiver, Environmental Modification and other options.
The Dakota Central Human Service Zone office at 712 5th Ave. in Washburn serves Mercer County. Its phone is (701) 462-3581, and hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm CT.
Start with the Mercer County Veterans Service Office at (701) 456-7654. They can help you look at the VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant, the VA Special Home Adaptation (SHA) Grant and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics).
Only if you rent. Most Mercer County homes are owner-occupied, and owners can make the change on their own.
Often, yes. An outdoor stair lift or a vertical platform lift can handle entry steps where there isn't room for a long ramp.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
