Devils Lake got its first Euro-American house in 1882 and became a city in 1887, so many homes around the county seat date from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Those houses tend to have multiple stories, steep interior staircases and narrow doorways. Out in Edmore and the farm country between, single-family homes are the norm.
Ramsey County sits in glacial pothole country, with rolling hills, lakes and ponds, and Devils Lake along its southwestern edge. Winters here are long and cold. This page explains how local homes and weather shape the right stair lift, and which programs may help with the cost.
Steep stairs in an older multi-story house are the most common reason families call us. A straight stair lift fits most single flights, and the rail mounts to the stair treads rather than the wall, so old plaster is not a problem.
Narrow stairways deserve a careful measurement. We check the width at the top and bottom, where the seat and footrest fold, so the lift does not block the path for everyone else in the house.
The county's housing includes split-level homes and townhouses as well as detached houses. A split-level often has short flights separated by landings, and a staircase with a landing or a turn usually needs a curved rail built to that exact shape.
Sometimes two straight lifts cost less than one curved lift on a split-level layout. We measure both options and lay them out side by side so you can compare. In low-rise apartments, check with the building owner before any installation.
Devils Lake averages 53.4 nights a year at or below 0 degrees Fahrenheit and 34.3 inches of snow. Icy entry steps are a real fall risk for anyone with balance trouble or arthritis.
An outdoor stair lift is built with weather-resistant parts and a cover, but it still needs the steps kept clear of snow and ice. For a wheelchair user, a vertical platform lift at the entry can be a better fit than a seat lift.
Only 43.7 percent of residents own their homes, which matters because many grants require the applicant to own the home being modified.
If you rent, talk with your landlord before ordering a lift. Many stair lifts can be removed later without major damage to the stairs.
Devils Lake's median household income is $43,220, and 21.8 percent of the city's residents live at or below the poverty line. Many seniors here cannot pay for a home modification out of pocket, so it is worth calling the programs listed below before you buy.
None of the sources we checked name stair lifts as a covered item, so ask each program directly. 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), ND Assistive, Assistive Technology Financial Loan (ATFL) Program, VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics), North Dakota Medicaid State Plan Personal Care and the North Dakota Homestead Property Tax Credit for Seniors and Disabled.
For aging services, the Aging Services Division in Bismarck is at (701) 328-8910. Veterans can visit the Ramsey County Veterans Service Office at 524 4th Avenue NE Unit 17, 1st Floor, Devils Lake, or call (701) 662-7048.
A federal VA grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026 cap) for veterans with a qualifying service-connected disability to buy, build or change a permanent home. The VA source gives ramps and wider doorways as examples but does not list stair lifts, so confirm with a VA Regional Loan Center.
A federal VA grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026 cap) for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands or certain severe burns, who own or plan to own the home. The source does not mention stair lifts, so ask the VA before counting on it.
USDA Rural Development offers very-low-income rural homeowners grants up to $10,000 (age 62 or older) and loans up to $40,000 at a fixed 1% for 20 years to repair, improve or modernize homes or remove health and safety hazards. Stair lifts are not named; call (800) 414-1226 to ask.
The state's front door for older adults and adults with physical disabilities looking for home and community-based long-term care, caregiver support and related help. The source does not say whether stair lifts are covered; call (855) 462-5465 (TTY 711).
The local Human Service Zone serving Ramsey County for Medicaid, SNAP, heating assistance and long-term-care program applications. It does not list stair lift coverage; reach it through the statewide Customer Support Center at (866) 614-6005.
A Medicaid program focused on behavioral health, with services like care coordination, respite and housing support. It does not cover stair lifts or home modifications; questions go to ND HHS at (701) 328-2310.
Older adults
600 E Boulevard Ave, Dept 325, Bismarck, 58505
Veterans
524 4th Avenue NE Unit 17, 1st Floor, Devils Lake, 58301
Often it will. Many Devils Lake homes were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s with steep, narrow stairs, and we measure the width, the pitch and the top and bottom landings before recommending a straight or curved lift.
Outdoor models are built for weather, but with 34.3 inches of average snowfall in Devils Lake the steps and rail still need to be kept clear. For wheelchair users, a platform lift at the entry may work better.
The USDA Section 504 program offers grants up to $10,000 to very-low-income homeowners age 62 or older in eligible rural areas. Its source does not name stair lifts, so call (800) 414-1226 and ask whether your project qualifies.
Start with the Ramsey County Veterans Service Office in Devils Lake at (701) 662-7048. They can help you look at the VA SAH and SHA grants and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics).
The 1915(i) program does not. Ask the Aging and Disability Resource-LINK at (855) 462-5465 about the North Dakota Medicaid HCBS Aged and Disabled Waiver, Environmental Modification and SPED instead.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
