Much of Crowell was rebuilt after the tornado of April 27, 1942, so many houses in the county seat date to the mid-20th century. Out in Margaret, Vivian, Foard City and Rayland, the homes are mostly single-family houses on rural lots across roughly 703-704 square miles of rolling plains between the Pease River and the Wichita River.
Those houses were generally not built with no-step access in mind. With a county median age of 49.1 and 24.1% of residents 65 or older, a lot of families here are working out how to keep a parent safe on the stairs they already have. This page covers what kind of lift fits local homes, what the weather means for outdoor units, and which programs are worth a phone call.
Most homes here are single-family, detached houses, many of them ranch-style or split-level. A ranch-style home often has its main living space on one floor, so the stairs that cause trouble tend to be the entry steps. That usually points to an outdoor lift or a platform lift rather than an indoor stair lift.
Split-level homes are different. They have short flights between levels, and some of those runs turn or have a landing. A straight flight takes a straight rail, which is the simpler install. A flight that turns needs a curved rail built to that staircase, which takes more measuring and more lead time.
Foard County sees average July highs around 98°F and January lows around 28°F, with close to 24 inches of rain a year. An outdoor lift on a porch or entry stair has to handle all of that, so it needs a weather-rated unit and a cover when it is not in use.
If the outdoor steps are the only barrier, it is worth comparing an outdoor stair lift with a platform lift or a ramp. A platform lift carries a wheelchair, while a stair lift needs the rider to transfer to a seat. The right answer depends on whether the person walks with help or uses a chair.
The county is remote from larger population centers, and the nearest city with fuller contractor and medical services is Wichita Falls. In practice, that means an installer is usually coming in from outside the county for the home visit and again for the install.
To keep trips down, have the staircase measurements, the rider's needs and any program paperwork ready before the first visit. If a curved rail is needed, expect one visit to measure and a second to install once the rail is made.
No program in this list names stair lifts as a covered item, and two of them say outright that they do not cover them. Several do cover home modifications or accessibility changes, so the honest approach is to call, describe the stairs, and ask whether a lift can be part of an approved plan.
A good first call is the North Texas AAA in Wichita Falls at (940) 322-5281, at 4309 Jacksboro Highway. It serves people 60 and older and their caregivers across the 11-county NORTEX region, which includes Foard County.
Offers information and referral, care coordination, benefits counseling and caregiver support for people 60 and older in the NORTEX region, including Foard County; it does not list a stair lift or home-modification fund. Call (940) 322-5281 to ask what in-home accessibility help is available now.
A Medicaid program for Texans 65 or older or with a qualifying disability who meet Nursing Facility Level of Care, with an income limit of $2,982 a month for a single applicant. It covers home modifications such as grab bars and wheelchair ramps, but stair lifts are not named; call (877) 438-5658.
Offers 1% fixed-interest loans up to $40,000 and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income rural homeowners, with grants limited to those 62 and older who cannot repay a loan. Accessibility changes are covered but stair lifts are not named; there is no direct line, though HUD counseling (1-800-569-4287) and the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can help.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability status, for medically necessary structural changes prescribed by a VA provider. It explicitly excludes stair glides, so it will not pay for a stair lift.
Grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026. Examples given are ramps and widened doorways; stair lifts are not named, so ask the Foard County Veterans Service Officer at (940) 684-1565.
A one-time grant of up to $22,500 from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for homeowners or renters with a household member who has a disability and income at or below 80% of AMFI. Listed work includes handrails, ramps and door widening, not stair lifts; call (512) 936-7799 to find the local subgrantee.
A volunteer nonprofit that builds wheelchair ramps free of charge and lists Wichita Falls and Texoma in its coverage. It does not provide stair lifts; call (214) 558-0339 to confirm it serves Foard County.
Older adults
4309 Jacksboro Highway, Wichita Falls, 76302
Veterans
P.O. Box 657, Crowell, 79227-0657
The HISA grant explicitly excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants cover home adaptations for severe service-connected disabilities but do not name stair lifts, so call the Foard County Veterans Service Officer at (940) 684-1565 to ask about a specific case.
The aging services through NORTEX start at 60, and USDA grants start at 62. STAR+PLUS accepts people with a qualifying disability, and the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program only requires a household member with a disability, with no age limit listed.
The Area Agency on Aging serves all of Foard County as one of the 11 NORTEX counties. The USDA repair program is for rural areas, and Foard County would generally qualify by area.
Yes, with a weather-rated outdoor unit. With summer highs near 98°F and winter lows near 28°F, a cover and outdoor-rated parts matter. For wheelchair users, a platform lift or ramp may fit better.
A flight that turns or has a landing needs a curved rail built to fit that staircase. A straight flight can use a straight rail, which is simpler to install.
Start with the North Texas AAA at (940) 322-5281 to learn what help exists, and call the Veterans Service Officer at (940) 684-1565 if the person served. Then call us to measure the stairs.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
