San Luis, the Costilla County seat, was settled in 1851 and is the oldest continuously occupied town in Colorado. It sits at 7,989 feet near the Culebra Range, and much of its housing is older and modest, typical of the historic Hispanic land-grant settlements of the San Luis Valley. Fort Garland and Blanca round out the county's three towns.
This page walks through how homes across Costilla County tend to work with a stair lift, what long valley winters mean for outdoor steps, and which state, federal, veteran and regional programs are worth a phone call before you pay out of pocket.
Most homes here are single-family and detached houses, with ranch-style and split-level homes common in the mix. A split-level usually has short flights between levels, and a short, straight run is the simplest and least costly stair lift to fit. If the stairs turn or have a landing partway up, a curved rail built to that staircase is the usual answer.
Ranch-style homes are often one floor inside, so the trouble spot is the steps at the front or back door, or the stairs down to a basement. In those cases we look at an outdoor stair lift or a vertical platform lift instead of an indoor unit.
In San Luis, the 2024 median home value was $98,800, among the lowest in the state. Older, modest houses can have narrow or uneven stairs, so we measure in person before recommending anything.
Costilla County covers about 1,230 square miles on the floor of the San Luis Valley, with a cold, semi-arid climate and long winters. Ground rises toward the mountain foothills to the east. Icy entry steps are a real fall risk for older residents.
Outdoor stair lifts are built with weather covers and sealed parts for these conditions. For someone who uses a wheelchair or walker, a platform lift at the entrance may work better than a seat, since it carries the person and the mobility aid together.
The county has a population of 1,334, and 13.8% of residents are 65 or older. About 62.5% are homeowners, which matters because several funding programs require you to own and live in the home.
If someone in the household served, the Costilla County Veterans Service Office at 352 Main Street in San Luis, (719) 672-3372, can help check eligibility for VA home adaptation grants.
The 2020 census also counted a 34.2% vacancy rate, largely seasonal and vacation properties. If a parent splits time between homes, plan the lift for the house where they spend the winters.
Money is tight for many households here. The 2024 median household income was $36,861, and the poverty rate was about 21%, compared with a 12.5% national average. That makes low-cost loans and grants worth checking first.
None of the programs below explicitly name stair lifts in the sources we reviewed, but several fund home modifications for safety and accessibility. Ask each one directly if a stair lift or platform lift can be approved for your situation.
Statewide options to ask about also include the Health First Colorado EBD Waiver Home Modification Benefit, VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics), the Assistive Technology Act Program of Colorado (AT Partners) and the Colorado Senior Property Tax Exemption (Senior Homestead Exemption).
A state Medicaid waiver that lists home modifications for safety and accessibility as a benefit for people who need a nursing-facility level of care; stair lifts are not named in the source, so confirm with your Case Management Agency. Apply through Colorado PEAK or the county DHS office, or call (800) 221-3943.
Offers very-low-income rural homeowners 1% loans up to $40,000 and, for those 62 and older who cannot repay a loan, grants up to $10,000 to remove hazards and improve accessibility. Stair lifts are not explicitly named in the source.
A nonprofit loan of up to $35,500 at 0% to 2% fixed interest for income-qualified owner-occupants in Costilla County with a health or safety issue; stair lifts and accessibility work are not named as covered repairs in the source. Call (719) 587-9807.
A lifetime VA grant of up to $6,800 for service-connected disabilities or up to $2,000 for non-service-connected ones, with a VA physician's documented medical necessity. Stair lifts are not named as covered or excluded in the source, and removable accessibility equipment is excluded.
VA grants of up to $126,526 (SAH) or $25,350 (SHA) in FY2026 for veterans with specific severe, permanent service-connected disabilities to adapt a home they own. The source mentions ramps and wider doorways but does not name stair lifts.
The regional Area Agency on Aging serving adults 60 and older in the six-county valley, offering support services, SHIP counseling, nutrition and referrals; no direct stair lift or home modification grant is named in the source. Call (719) 589-4511.
Older adults
610 State Ave., Suite 200, Alamosa, 81101
Veterans
PO Box 100 | 352 Main Street, San Luis, 81152
The EBD Waiver covers adults ages 18 to 64 with a physical disability who need a nursing-facility level of care, and the San Luis Valley Housing Coalition REHAB loan is based on income and home ownership, not age. Veterans of any age can check with the Costilla County Veterans Service Office at (719) 672-3372.
The EBD Waiver lists home modifications for safety and accessibility as a benefit, but the source does not name stair lifts and no dollar cap is stated. Confirm with your Case Management Agency or call (800) 221-3943.
Yes, outdoor stair lifts are built for weather exposure, which matters with the long, cold winters here. If a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift at the entrance may be the better fit.
The San Luis Valley AAA is at 610 State Ave., Suite 200, Alamosa, CO 81101, phone (719) 589-4511. The Costilla County Senior Citizens Club is at 1101 Salazar, San Luis.
Yes. Section 504 help is for very-low-income homeowners who own and live in the home, and grants also require being 62 or older and unable to repay a repair loan. Rural Costilla County qualifies as an eligible area.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
