Many houses in Jamestown, Medina and Kensal were built the way small North Dakota towns built them: a single-family home with a basement and interior stairs to grade. That layout works fine for decades, then one day the laundry, the spare bedroom or the back door sits on the wrong side of a staircase.
Stutsman County is the second-largest county in North Dakota by area, with low rolling hills, lakes and ponds, and the James River running through its east-central part. This page explains which kind of stair lift fits the homes found here and which state, county and VA programs may help cover the cost.
Ranch-style homes often look stair-free from the street, but many have a basement staircase that holds the furnace room, laundry or a family room. A straight staircase like that is usually the simplest and least costly lift to fit.
Split-level homes are different. They tend to have short runs between several floors, and sometimes a landing that turns. A turn in the stairs usually calls for a curved rail, which is custom built to the staircase.
In walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings, the stairs are often shared. Before anything is installed there, the building owner needs to agree to it, so that conversation comes first.
About 20.3% of Stutsman County residents are 65 or older. Many of them want to stay in the house they own rather than move, and 55.9% of residents are homeowners.
The county's housing stock includes a large share of older single-family homes. Older stairs can be narrow or steep, so we measure width, rise and the landings at the top and bottom before recommending a model.
The county covers 2,298 square miles and is largely farmland, so homes outside Jamestown can be a long drive from the county seat. Plan a little extra lead time for a home visit and installation if you live out past Medina or Kensal.
Some homes have exterior steps up to a porch or down to a walkout basement. An outdoor stair lift is built for weather exposure, and a platform lift can be an option for someone who uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat.
The program most clearly tied to stair lifts is the ND Assistive Technology Financial Loan Program. It funds home modifications for people who own their home, and it lends up to $50,000 at a 2% fixed interest rate, subject to change based on fund availability.
Veterans should talk with the Stutsman County Veterans Service Office in Jamestown at (701) 252-9043 about the VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant and the VA Special Home Adaptation (SHA) Grant. Statewide, VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) is another avenue to ask about.
For Medicaid and long-term-care services, applications go through the Buffalo Bridges Human Service Zone office in Jamestown. North Dakota also has Service Payments for the Elderly and Disabled (SPED / Ex-SPED) and the North Dakota Homestead Property Tax Credit for Seniors and Disabled, and the Aging Services Division at (701) 328-8910 can explain how statewide options apply to you.
A statewide low-interest loan of up to $50,000 at a 2% fixed rate for North Dakota residents with a disability; it funds home modifications when you own the home, and stair lifts fall within that scope. Call (800) 895-4728.
A nonprofit grant for assistive technology, with awards expected not to exceed $2,000 and paid directly to vendors; the source does not mention stair lifts or home modifications. Call (800) 895-4728 to ask.
An Older Americans Act-funded program for North Dakota residents age 60 or older that provides items like grab bars, shower chairs and threshold ramps; stair lifts are not listed as covered or excluded. Call (800) 895-4728.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities to buy, build or modify a home; stair lifts are not named. The Stutsman County Veterans Service Office at (701) 252-9043 can help with questions.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands; stair lifts are not named. Contact the Stutsman County Veterans Service Office at (701) 252-9043.
The local office at 116 1st St. E., Jamestown, where residents apply for ND Medicaid and related services; it is an application point, not a direct funder, and stair lift coverage is not listed. Call (701) 952-6850.
Older adults
600 E Boulevard Ave, Dept 325, Bismarck, 58505
Veterans
205 6th Street SE, Suite 1, Jamestown, 58401
The program's source page lists grab bars, shower chairs, toilet safety frames, bed rails, threshold ramps and similar items. Stair lifts do not appear on either the covered or the excluded list, so call (800) 895-4728 to ask before counting on it.
The Senior Safety Program requires age 60 or older, but the ND Assistive Technology Financial Loan Program is based on disability, not age. A family member or representative can apply on the user's behalf, and the applicant must show they can repay the loan.
Yes. The loan program funds home modifications only when the home is owned. Renters in walk-up apartments or low-rise buildings would need to look at other options and get the building owner's approval for any installation.
Start with the Stutsman County Veterans Service Office at 205 6th Street SE, Suite 1, Jamestown, phone (701) 252-9043. They can explain the SAH and SHA grants, which have specific service-connected disability requirements.
Apply through the Buffalo Bridges Human Service Zone office at 116 1st St. E., Jamestown, ND 58401, or call (701) 952-6850. They can tell you whether a home modification benefit applies to your eligibility category.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
