From Marble Falls and Granite Shoals to Bertram and Double Horn, Burnet County is built on the limestone hills, canyons and granite outcrops of the Edwards Plateau. Lots slope, driveways climb, and many houses step down a hillside instead of sitting flat. That terrain is why so many homes here have stairs inside, outside, or both.
The county covers 1,021 square miles, and 67.3% of residents live in rural areas. When the nearest single-story rental or assisted-living option is a long drive away, keeping a parent in the house they already own often makes more sense. A stair lift is one of the more direct ways to do that.
Split-level and multi-story designs are common here because they fit sloped lots. A split-level usually has short runs of stairs between floors, and each run may need its own lift or a curved rail that follows a turn.
Ranch-style homes and detached houses often have one main floor but steps at the porch, garage or back door where the grade drops away. Those spots can call for an outdoor lift rather than an indoor one.
Townhouses tend to have one straight staircase, which is usually the simplest install. Walk-up apartments depend on building rules, so we check with the owner or manager before measuring.
A straight lift runs on a rail along a single flight with no landings or turns. A curved lift uses a rail made to fit a staircase that bends, has a mid-landing, or wraps around a corner.
Outdoor lifts are built for exposed steps like a hillside entry or deck stairs. A platform lift carries a wheelchair user and is the option to look at when transferring onto a seat is no longer safe.
At a home visit we look at the stairs, the slope outside and how the person moves day to day. Then we can say which type fits, or whether a different fix makes more sense.
About 21.0% of residents are 65 or older, and 68.3% own their homes. Marble Falls grew as a tourism and retirement location starting in the 1970s, so many households here are already thinking about how to stay in a multi-level house.
If that includes your family, the VA programs below and the local Veteran Services office in Marble Falls are worth a call before you buy anything.
None of the programs listed here names stair lifts as a covered item, and the VA HISA benefit specifically excludes stair glides. Several do cover home modifications in general, so the honest answer is to ask each one directly whether a stair lift qualifies in your case.
A good first call is the Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area, which serves Burnet County and can point you to local providers. You can also reach the Capital Area AAA (CAPCOG) office at (512) 916-6062, 6800 Burleson Road, Bldg. 301, Suite 165, Austin 78744.
Veterans can visit Veteran Services at 1016 Broadway, Marble Falls 78654, or call (830) 265-8403. Statewide, it is also worth asking about the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR) and the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Waiver.
A statewide Medicaid waiver for Texans 65 and older, or adults 21 and older with a disability, who need nursing-facility level care but want services at home; it covers home modifications like grab bars and ramps, but stair lifts are not listed by name. Call (877) 438-5658, and expect a waiting list since slots are limited.
An information, referral and care-coordination hub for older adults in a 10-county area that includes Burnet County, not a direct equipment fund, and stair lifts are not listed. Call (512) 916-6053 for help finding home-modification resources.
A CDBG-funded program offering accessibility modifications for low-income homeowners with disabilities in Burnet County; stair lifts are not listed. Contact CAPCOG to confirm current status, limits and whether a stair lift qualifies.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed over 20 years, and grants up to $10,000 for very low income homeowners 62 and older who cannot repay a loan, in USDA-eligible rural areas; accessibility changes are covered but stair lifts are not named. Eligibility is checked by address.
A VA benefit of up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime for medically necessary home accessibility changes for enrolled VA patients. It does not cover stair lifts, since the VA explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts.
Grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA, usable up to 6 times over a lifetime. They cover changes like ramps and wider doorways, but stair lifts are not named.
A nonprofit that builds wheelchair ramps for low-income, elderly and disabled Texans and lists Burnet County in its service area; stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (214) 558-0339.
A center for independent living that serves people with disabilities in Burnet County on a purchased-services basis; stair lift help is not listed. Call (512) 832-6349 to ask about current home-modification assistance.
Older adults
6800 Burleson Road, Bldg. 301, Suite 165, Austin, 78744
Veterans
1016 Broadway, Marble Falls, 78654
Not through HISA, which explicitly excludes stair glides. SAH and SHA grants cover home adaptations for qualifying veterans but do not name stair lifts, so ask the VA or Veteran Services in Marble Falls at (830) 265-8403.
STAR+PLUS HCBS is open to adults 21 and older with a disability who need nursing-facility level care and meet income and asset limits. ARCIL also serves people with disabilities in Burnet County.
It can. USDA Section 504 loans and grants are for homeowners in USDA-eligible rural areas, and much of Burnet County is rural, but eligibility is checked by address.
Per the source used, monthly income cannot exceed $2,982 per person, assets are limited to $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a married couple both applying, and home equity is protected up to $752,000.
The Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area at (512) 916-6053 is a good starting point for referrals. You can also call us to look at your stairs and talk through options.
Often, yes. Each flight may need its own straight lift, or a curved rail may connect them, depending on the layout we see 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.
