Kane County covers 4,109 square miles of southern Utah, with about 1.9 people per square mile spread across Kanab, Orderville, Big Water, Glendale and Alton. Between Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Lake Powell and Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, a lot of the county is open land, and getting to services often means a long drive.
That distance matters when stairs start to become a problem at home. Moving closer to town or into a facility is a big step out here, so many families look at making the house they already own work longer. This page walks through how the local homes fit different stair lifts and which programs may help pay.
Most housing in Kane County is single-family homes and detached houses, with manufactured homes, split-level homes and ranch-style homes mixed in. Kanab, the county seat, still has a small pioneer-era core from its founding in 1870 by 10 Mormon families, plus mid-20th-century buildings from its 'Little Hollywood' years, like the historic Parry Lodge motel.
As of the 2020 census, Kanab had about 2,209 housing units with a 17.8% vacancy rate, which reflects a good share of seasonal and vacation homes. Each of these home styles points toward a different kind of lift, so the layout of your stairs is where we start.
A split-level home usually has short flights between levels. If a flight runs straight from bottom to top, a straight stair lift is the simplest fit. Where stairs turn at a landing, a curved lift with a custom-bent rail follows the turns.
Manufactured homes and many detached houses have steps up to the front or back door rather than inside. An outdoor stair lift is built to handle weather on those exterior steps. When someone uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift that carries the chair may be the better choice.
Older houses in Kanab's original settlement core can have narrow or uneven stairways. We measure the width, the turns and the landings before suggesting anything, because those details decide what will fit.
About 19.9% of Kane County residents are 65 or older, and 80.7% of households own their home. For an owner, adding a lift is a change to your own property, and it can be removed later if needs change.
With services far apart, being able to stay on the main floor and still reach the bedroom or laundry can keep daily life simple. For adult children living elsewhere, it is one practical way to make a parent's house safer without a move.
No program in our information names stair lifts directly, but several list home adaptations as a covered service. The Utah Medicaid Aging Waiver includes Environmental Accessibility Adaptations for people 65 and older who qualify, and in Kane County it runs through the Five County Area Agency on Aging at (435) 673-3548.
The VA Specially Adapted Housing and Special Home Adaptation grants cover accessibility work for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities. The Utah Department of Veterans & Military Affairs - Southern Utah Region can be reached at (801) 326-2372.
Other statewide options worth asking about include the New Choices Waiver, the Utah Assistive Technology Foundation (UATF) Loan, and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics). The program list below explains what each local option covers and who to call.
A state Medicaid waiver for people 65 and older who need nursing-facility level of care and meet Medicaid financial rules; it lists Environmental Accessibility Adaptations but does not name stair lifts, so coverage depends on a case manager's assessment. Call (801) 538-3910, or reach it locally through the Five County Area Agency on Aging.
A Medicaid waiver for people with an intellectual disability or related condition that began before age 18 or 22, with no upper age limit and a waiting list; it lists Environmental Adaptations but does not mention stair lifts. Call (801) 538-4200.
A waiver for adults 18 and older with loss of use of 2 or more limbs who need at least 14 hours a week of personal assistance; its services do not include home modifications, so it would not fund a stair lift. Call (801) 538-4200.
Case management for older adults in Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington counties that connects people to the Medicaid Aging Waiver, the State Alternative Program, Veteran's Self-Directed care and the National Caregiver Support Program; stair lifts are not listed, but a case manager is the route to any modification funding. Call (435) 673-3548 ext. 108.
A VA grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026 cap) for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home; examples of covered work include ramps and doorway widening, and stair lifts are not named. No phone number is listed for this grant.
A VA grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026 cap) for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands, severe burns or a serious breathing injury; the source does not name stair lifts. No phone number is listed for this grant.
County senior services for older residents in Kanab and the Long Valley area around Orderville and Glendale; no stair lift or home-modification grant is published, but staff are a good first call for referrals. Call (435) 644-4320.
Older adults
1070 West 1600 South, Bldg. B, St. George, 84770
Veterans
550 Foothill Drive Suite 105, Salt Lake City, 84113
It may, through the Utah Medicaid Aging Waiver, which lists Environmental Accessibility Adaptations for people 65 and older who need nursing-facility level of care and qualify financially. Stair lifts are not named, so approval depends on the individual assessment. Start with the Five County Area Agency on Aging at (435) 673-3548.
The Medicaid Aging Waiver starts at 65. Adults with a developmental disability that began before age 18 or 22 may qualify for the Community Supports Waiver (DSPD), which lists Environmental Adaptations. The Physical Disabilities Waiver for people 18 and older does not cover home modifications.
The Five County AAA is at 1070 West 1600 South, Bldg. B, St. George, 84770, phone (435) 673-3548. Closer to home, the Kane County Senior Citizens Department can be reached at (435) 644-4320.
Exterior entry steps usually call for an outdoor stair lift built for the weather. If the person uses a wheelchair and cannot move to a seat, a platform lift is often the better fit.
Yes, if they qualify. The VA Specially Adapted Housing grant goes up to $126,526 and the Special Home Adaptation grant up to $25,350 (FY2026 caps), though neither names stair lifts. The Utah Department of Veterans & Military Affairs - Southern Utah Region is at (801) 326-2372.
Not always. Split-level homes often have short flights, and a straight flight takes a straight lift. A curved lift is only needed when the stairs turn at a landing.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
