Donley County stretches across 933 square miles of open Texas Panhandle plains, with three towns: Clarendon, Howardwick and Hedley. Clarendon, the county seat, sits about 60 miles east of Amarillo along US-287, and nearly everyone else lives out in the rural stretches between Interstate 40 and State Highways 70 and 273.
Much of the housing here is long-held and was built well before modern accessibility codes. For an older homeowner who wants to stay put, or an adult child helping a parent do that, the question is usually simple: can the stairs in this particular house be made safe again, and who can help pay for it?
Donley County had 1,942 housing units in recent Census estimates, and most of what people live in are single-family homes, detached houses, ranch-style homes and split-level homes. Each of those shapes the kind of lift that fits.
A straight staircase in an older single-family or detached house is the most common and simplest install. The rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so plaster walls in an older home are usually not a problem.
Split-level homes are different. They often have short flights between levels, sometimes with a turn or a landing, and that can call for a curved rail or more than one lift. We measure each flight before recommending anything.
A ranch-style home may have no indoor stairs at all, yet the porch or entry steps can still be the hardest part of the day. In those cases an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift at the entrance is often the better answer.
Outdoor units are built to handle weather on the open plains. If a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift is usually the right fit, since a stair lift seat requires the rider to transfer.
About 24.4% of county residents are 65 or older, and in Clarendon 22.0% were 65 or older per the 2020 Census. With 72.4% of households owning their homes, many people here are making changes to a house they plan to keep.
About 0.1% of Donley County residents lived in urban areas as of the 2020 Census. Most dealers and specialists are in the Amarillo market, so a home visit can mean a long drive in either direction.
That is a good reason to have every staircase measured on one trip, including porch steps, so the right lift is ordered the first time and installed without a second round of waiting.
The county's median household income is $58,750, and for many senior households a stair lift paid out of pocket is a real stretch. No program listed here confirms it will pay for a stair lift outright, so it helps to know which doors to knock on first.
The Area Agency on Aging of the Panhandle is the best starting point for referrals. Veterans can reach the Donley County Veterans Service Officer at (806) 205-1015, at 300 Sully Street, Donley County Courthouse, Clarendon 79226.
Statewide, you can also ask about the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR) and the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Waiver. The details of each program we have confirmed are listed below.
Texas Medicaid's managed long-term care waiver for people 65+ or with a qualifying disability who need nursing facility level of care and meet income limits of $2,982/month single or $5,964/month for a couple. Stair lift coverage is not listed in the source and must be confirmed with the managed-care organization; call (877) 541-7905.
Serves older adults and caregivers in a 26-county area that includes Donley County, with benefits counseling, care coordination, caregiver support, meals and an ombudsman. Stair lifts are not listed, though residential ramps are mentioned; call (806) 372-3381 or toll-free (800) 642-6008.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability status, for medically necessary structural changes to a veteran's home. The VA explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts, so it does not cover stair lifts; call (800) 827-1000.
Grants for veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA, to buy, build or adapt a home. Stair lifts are not listed in the source reviewed; call (800) 827-1000.
Older adults
415 SW 8th Ave., Amarillo, 79101
Veterans
300 Sully Street, Donley County Courthouse, Clarendon, 79226
The STAR+PLUS waiver does not list stair lifts as a covered service in the source we reviewed. Coverage would need to be confirmed case by case with the member's managed-care organization at (877) 541-7905.
No. The VA lists stair glides and porch lifts as excluded equipment under HISA. Talk with the Donley County Veterans Service Officer at (806) 205-1015 about other options.
Not usually. It may mean a curved rail or a separate lift for each flight, which is why we measure every set of stairs in person.
An outdoor stair lift or a platform lift at the entry is typically the answer for porch and entry steps. A platform lift is the choice if a wheelchair is used.
Call the Panhandle AAA at (806) 372-3381; its office is at 415 SW 8th Ave., Amarillo 79101. It serves Donley County and can point you to local help.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
