Evanston grew up as a Union Pacific Railroad refueling town along the Bear River, and much of its downtown still dates to the 19th century. Nine places in the county are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Downtown Evanston Historic District, the Union Pacific Railroad Complex with its restored roundhouse, and the Uinta County Courthouse.
That older core, plus the small rural housing stock around Lyman, Mountain View and Bear River, means many older residents here live in multi-level houses instead of newer single-story builds. If a parent is starting to struggle with the stairs, this page walks through what kind of lift fits these homes and where to look for help paying for one.
Housing in Uinta County runs from single-family homes and ranch-style homes to split-level homes, townhouses and walk-up apartments. Each one sets up the stairs a little differently, and that drives the choice of lift.
A single straight flight, common in many single-family homes and townhouses, usually takes a straight stair lift. Split-level homes often have two or more short runs with a turn or landing between them, so the choice is a curved lift that follows the whole path or a separate straight lift on each run.
Ranch-style homes look easy because the main living space is on one floor. The trouble is often the basement stairs or the steps up to the front door. In a walk-up apartment, talk with the building owner before any install, since the stairs are usually a shared space.
Evanston sits at 6,749 feet along the Bear River, and the county averages 47.3 inches of snow a year, with January alone averaging 13.2 inches. Sub-zero winter days are routine, and the record low is -38F.
Icy porch and deck steps are where a lot of falls happen. An outdoor stair lift built for weather, or a vertical platform lift at a raised entry, can keep someone from carrying groceries up frozen steps. Covering the unit when it is parked and keeping the rail clear of snow help it run through the winter.
About 16.2 percent of residents are 65 or older, and 72.1 percent are homeowners. Owning the house makes a permanent install much simpler, since there is no landlord to ask.
The county covers 2,088 square miles at about 9.8 people per square mile, so services can be a long drive away and staying safe at home matters even more.
None of the local sources we rely on name stair lifts outright, so every program below should be confirmed by phone before you count on it. Veterans have the most options, through the VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant, the VA Special Home Adaptation (SHA) Grant and the VA Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) Grant.
For veterans, a good first call is the Veteran Service Officer - Lincoln & Uinta Counties in Kemmerer at (307) 877-3110. For anyone else, the Aging Division in Cheyenne at (307) 777-7986 and Wyoming Services for Independent Living (WSIL) - Rock Springs Office at (307) 362-4159 can point you in the right direction.
Statewide programs to ask about include the Wyoming Community Choices Waiver (CCW), the Wyoming Technology Access Program (WyTAP), VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics), the Wyoming Home Services Program (WyHS) and the Wyoming Property Tax Refund Program.
A federally designated Center for Independent Living that serves people with disabilities in southwest Wyoming, including Uinta County. Its listing does not mention stair lifts or home modifications, so call (307) 362-4159 to ask what it offers.
A VA grant of up to $126,526 (2026 cap) for permanent structural changes to the home of a veteran with certain severe service-connected disabilities; the source does not name stair lifts specifically. It can be used up to 6 times over a lifetime, and the VA line is (800) 827-1000.
Up to $25,350 (2026 cap) for adapting a home the veteran lives in or will live in, including a family member's, for qualifying service-connected disabilities; stair lifts are not named in the source. Call (800) 827-1000 to check eligibility.
For SAH- or SHA-eligible veterans temporarily living in a family member's home, paying up to $50,961 if SAH-eligible or up to $9,100 if SHA-eligible (2026 caps). The source does not list stair lifts, so confirm at (800) 827-1000.
Older adults
6101 Yellowstone Road, Suite 259B, Cheyenne, 82002
Veterans
925 Sage Ave. #106, Kemmerer, 83101
Usually, yes. Split-level homes often have short runs separated by a landing, so the options are one curved lift that follows the turn or a straight lift on each run. A measurement of the actual stairs decides which makes sense.
Outdoor lifts are built for weather, but winters here are hard, with about 47.3 inches of snow a year and regular sub-zero days. Keeping the unit covered when parked and the rail clear of snow helps it keep working.
Start with the Veteran Service Officer - Lincoln & Uinta Counties in Kemmerer at (307) 877-3110. They can help you sort out whether the SAH, SHA or TRA grants might apply, and the VA itself is at (800) 827-1000.
The VA Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) Grant is meant for SAH- or SHA-eligible veterans temporarily living in a family member's home. The SHA grant can also be used on a family member's home the veteran lives in. Stair lifts are not named in the source, so confirm with the VA.
Call the Aging Division at (307) 777-7986 or Wyoming Services for Independent Living (WSIL) - Rock Springs Office at (307) 362-4159. You can also ask about the Wyoming Community Choices Waiver (CCW) and the Wyoming Home Services Program (WyHS).
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
