Dalhart grew up where the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad crossed the Fort Worth and Denver Railway, and its name blends the first letters of Dallam and Hartley Counties. It became the county seat in 1903. Along with Texline near the New Mexico line, it holds most of the homes in this far northwestern corner of the Texas Panhandle.
Houses here run from single-family homes in town to ranch-style homes and manufactured homes out on the High Plains. Each of those layouts puts stairs in a different place, so the right stair lift depends on where the steps are and how they turn. This page walks through what we look at in Dallam County homes and where to ask for help with the cost.
A ranch-style home usually keeps the main living space on one floor. When there are stairs, they often lead to a basement or up to the front door, and a straight run like that can usually take a straight stair lift, which is the simplest type to fit.
Stairs that turn a corner or wrap around a landing need a curved lift with a rail built to that staircase. Single-family homes in Dalhart with older or split layouts sometimes fall in this group. We measure every turn before recommending one.
Manufactured homes raise a different question. The steps are almost always outside at the entry, so the choice is usually between an outdoor stair lift and a vertical platform lift. If the person uses a wheelchair and needs to stay in it, a platform lift is the one to consider.
In low-rise buildings with shared stairways, the owner or building manager has to approve any lift on common stairs. Ask about that before anything else.
Dallam County temperatures run from roughly 19°F in January to 92°F in July. An outdoor lift has to handle both ends of that range, so we look at models rated for outdoor use and ask whether the steps get full sun or catch winter wind.
The county covers about 1,505 square miles of rolling grassland and was one of the hardest-hit areas of the 1930s Dust Bowl. Dry, windy conditions mean a cover for the seat and controls is worth having on any lift that sits outside.
Rain is light here, averaging 17.38 inches a year, but entry steps still need a solid, level footing for the rail or platform. We check the steps and the ground around them during the home visit.
About 13.3% of the county's 8412 residents are 65 or older. That is a smaller share than in many places, but it still means plenty of families in Dalhart and Texline are working out how a parent can stay in the house they know.
Roughly 71.9% of residents own their homes. Owners can usually install a lift without asking anyone, while renters need the landlord's written approval first.
If that includes someone in your family, the VA programs listed below are worth checking before you pay out of pocket.
Most help in this area comes through programs that pay for home modifications in general and do not name stair lifts directly. That does not rule a lift out, but it usually means asking, with a doctor's note explaining why the stairs are a safety problem.
A good first call is the Panhandle AAA at (806) 372-3381, at 415 SW 8th Ave. in Amarillo. They serve people 60 and over and can point you toward the programs below. Veterans can also reach Workforce Solutions Panhandle at (806) 372-5521.
Statewide options to ask about include the STAR+PLUS Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver, the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR), the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Waiver, and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics).
A Texas Medicaid waiver benefit with a $7,500 lifetime cap per member for minor home modifications, plus $300/year for repairs once that cap is reached, for aged (65+) or disabled Medicaid recipients who need a nursing facility level of care. Stair lifts are not listed, so approval would depend on medical-necessity paperwork and the STAR+PLUS managed care organization.
Short-term, in-home support for people generally 60 and over in the 26-county Panhandle region, including Dallam County, who are recovering from a hospital stay or health crisis; listed resources include residential ramps and health maintenance supplies, and stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (806) 331-2227.
Federal repair loans and grants for very-low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas to remove health or safety hazards, with grants limited to applicants 62 or older; stair lifts are not listed. Call the USDA Rural Development Amarillo Area Office, which serves Dallam County, at (806) 468-8600.
A VA grant for medically needed structural changes, with a $6,800 lifetime maximum for service-connected veterans and $2,000 for others. HISA does not cover stair lifts, though VA Prosthetics can prescribe one when medically necessary.
Grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA (FY2026), used for adaptations like ramps and wider doorways; stair lifts are not listed. Call (877) 222-8387.
A non-profit Center for Independent Living serving people with disabilities in the Panhandle, with needs assessed case by case at intake; stair lifts are not listed. Call (806) 374-1400 to confirm they currently serve Dalhart and Dallam County.
Builds wheelchair ramps at no cost for low-income, mobility-impaired residents, and Dallam is among the counties served; it does not cover stair lifts. A referral from a healthcare provider, social worker or agency is required, and the number is (214) 558-0339.
Older adults
415 SW 8th Ave., Amarillo, 79101
Veterans
3120 EDDY ST, Amarillo, 79106
The STAR+PLUS HCBS Waiver covers minor home modifications up to a $7,500 lifetime cap, but stair lifts are not named as covered or excluded. You would need medical-necessity documentation and approval from your STAR+PLUS managed care organization.
The HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. VA Prosthetics can prescribe a stair lift when it is medically necessary, and Aid and Attendance pension money can also go toward the cost, so start with the veteran's VA care team.
Yes, the Area Agency on Aging of the Panhandle serves people 60 and over across 26 counties, including Dallam County. Call the Panhandle AAA at (806) 372-3381 or the Home Care Options line at (806) 331-2227.
Often, yes. An outdoor stair lift works for someone who can sit and transfer, and a vertical platform lift suits a wheelchair user. With temperatures from roughly 19°F to 92°F, a weather-rated model with a cover makes sense.
Grants under Section 504 are for very-low-income homeowners 62 or older who live in their home in an eligible rural area and cannot get affordable credit elsewhere. The work must fix a health or safety hazard, and you can call the Amarillo Area Office at (806) 468-8600.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
