Park County covers 6,967 square miles of mountain and forest in northwestern Wyoming, and most people live in or near three towns: Cody, Powell and Meeteetse. Cody is the county seat and the commercial hub. Much of the land around it belongs to the Shoshone National Forest and Yellowstone National Park.
The homes here are mostly single-family houses that their owners plan to stay in. About 20.9% of residents are 65 or older, so a lot of families are asking the same question: can Mom or Dad keep using the stairs at home? This page walks through how local houses affect the choice of stair lift and where to look for help paying for one.
The county had 14,523 housing units as of 2020, and the stock is mostly single-family homes, detached houses, split-level homes and ranch-style homes. In a market like this, fitting a lift into the house you already own is usually the main path to aging in place, rather than moving to new accessible construction.
A straight staircase in a two-story detached house is the simplest case. The rail runs one flight, and the install is often done in a day.
Split-level homes are different. They have short runs of stairs between levels, so we look at where the person actually needs to go and measure each flight. Some homes need a curved rail that follows a turn or landing, which is built to fit that specific staircase.
A ranch-style home keeps daily living on one floor, which helps. The trouble spots tend to be stairs down to a basement laundry or steps up to the front or back door.
For interior basement stairs, a straight lift is often enough. For steps outside the house, an outdoor stair lift built for exposure to the elements, or a vertical platform lift for someone who uses a wheelchair, may be the better fit. We sort that out during the home visit by looking at the steps, the doorway and how the person moves.
Outside Cody, Powell and Meeteetse, homes can sit a long way from the nearest neighbor, with rivers like the Shoshone, Greybull and Clark's Fork cutting through the country. That distance matters when someone lives alone and a fall on the stairs could go unnoticed.
It also matters for planning. When we schedule an assessment for a rural property, we try to measure everything in one trip so the order is right the first time.
The county also has a share of vacant homes, 12.7% in 2020, which likely includes seasonal places near Yellowstone. If a parent splits time between two houses, tell us early so we can plan for both.
Medicare does not appear in the programs below, so most families combine savings with whatever outside help they qualify for. The programs listed further down are the ones to check first.
Three state programs use explicit home modification language: the National Family Caregiver Support Program, the Wyoming Home Services Program and the WATR Home Modification Loan Program. The first two offer between $300 and $400 toward home modifications, which can cover part of a project. The WATR loans run from $500 to $25,000 for Wyoming residents with disabilities of any age and income.
The VA grants below do not name stair lifts in their published materials, so call the Veteran Service Officers in Cody at (307) 250-3890 before counting on one. The statewide Aging Division in Cheyenne can be reached at (307) 777-7986.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities who own or plan to own the home. The VA's page mentions ramps and wider doorways but does not list stair lifts, so ask at VA.gov or 1-800-827-1000.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities, and the home may belong to the veteran or a family member. Stair lifts are not listed in the VA's description, so confirm before planning on it.
For veterans who already qualify for SAH or SHA and are living temporarily in a family member's home, with caps of $50,961 or $9,100 (FY2026). The source does not mention stair lifts.
A VA grant for medically necessary accessibility improvements, with tiers for service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities. Stair lifts are not listed in the source, and current caps should be confirmed with VA Prosthetics at 877-827-3702.
Rural repair loans and grants for homeowners who live in the house, have income below 50% of area median and cannot get affordable credit elsewhere; grants are for those 62 or older who cannot repay a loan. The source does not mention stair lifts, so confirm current terms with the Wyoming USDA Rural Development office.
Medicaid waiver services for low-income older adults or people with chronic conditions who are at risk of moving into a facility. The source does not mention stair lifts, so confirm the current waiver scope with Wyoming Medicaid.
Support for adult caregivers of someone 60 or older or someone with Alzheimer's or related dementia, including between $300 and $400 in home modifications for eligible participants. Call (800) 677-1116.
Home-based services for adults 18 and older at risk of premature institutionalization, with between $300 and $400 in home modification services. The Park County contact is (307) 856-6880.
Bank-partnered loans between $500 and $25,000 for home modifications, open to Wyoming residents with disabilities of any age and income. Call (307) 766-6187.
Serves adults 60 and older in the Powell area with meals, transportation, health screenings and VA counseling, but not home modifications. Reach the center at (307) 754-4223.
A local point of contact for older adults in Meeteetse; its listing does not say whether it offers home modification help. Call (307) 868-2622 to ask.
Older adults
6101 Yellowstone Road, Suite 259B, Cheyenne, 82002
Veterans
1026 Blackburn Street, Suite 1, Cody, 82414
Often, yes. Split-level homes have short flights between levels, so we measure each one and look at which levels the person needs to reach. Some layouts take a straight rail, and others need a curved rail built for the turn.
The National Family Caregiver Support Program through the Wyoming Aging Division serves adult caregivers of someone 60 or older and offers between $300 and $400 in home modifications for eligible participants. Call (800) 677-1116.
The VA's SAH, SHA, TRA and HISA grant descriptions do not name stair lifts. Talk with the Veteran Service Officers in Cody at (307) 250-3890 or the VA benefits line at 1-800-827-1000 before counting on one.
The WATR Home Modification Loan Program offers loans from $500 to $25,000 for home modifications to Wyoming residents with disabilities, with no age or income limit. Call (307) 766-6187.
No. The center lists transportation, meals, health screenings, tax and LIEAP help, and VA counseling, but not home modifications. It can still be a useful contact at (307) 754-4223.
Yes, outdoor stair lifts and vertical platform lifts are both options for entry steps. Which one fits depends on the steps, the doorway and whether the person uses a wheelchair, which we check at the home visit.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
