Hale County covers 979 square miles of flat Llano Estacado ground, with Plainview as the county seat and Abernathy, Seth Ward, Hale Center and Petersburg rounding out its five towns. The land is level, but plenty of houses here still have stairs inside, from split-level homes to townhouses and walk-up apartments.
This page walks through how the homes in Hale County tend to fit different stair lifts and which programs may help with the bill. It is written for the older homeowner and for the son or daughter trying to figure out the next step for a parent.
Most homes in the county are single-family homes and detached houses, with some townhouses, walk-up apartments and split-level homes mixed in. A single straight flight is the simplest case, and a straight stair lift rail mounts to the stair treads rather than the wall.
Split-level homes are different. The short flights and landings often mean a curved rail, or two separate straight lifts, depending on how the stairs turn. We measure each flight before recommending either one.
Building-permit records for Plainview show a spike in new single-family homes in 2005, with 81 permits at an average cost of $112,000. The years around it were much quieter, with 13 permits in 2004 and 10 in 2006, and activity has declined since.
That means much of the county's housing predates modern universal-design and accessibility standards. Older stairwells can be narrower or steeper, so we check stair width, the landing at the top and bottom, and where the power outlet sits before anything is ordered.
Both groups have specific programs that can help with home accessibility, covered below.
Roughly 57.5% of residents own their homes. Ownership matters, because several programs, including the VA housing grants and the Area Agency on Aging's minor repair help, are tied to owning the home.
Texas Medicaid's STAR+PLUS waiver lists home modifications as a covered service for people who qualify. 2-1-1 Texas can point you to home modification and barrier removal grants and loans currently serving Plainview and the rest of the county.
Veterans can start with the Hale County Veterans Office at 500 Broadway in Plainview, (806) 291-5301. For aging services, the South Plains AAA office is at 1323 58th St., Lubbock, 79412, phone (806) 762-8721.
Other statewide programs worth asking about include 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 for people 65+, or 21+ with a qualifying disability, who need a nursing facility level of care; home modifications are a covered service, delivered in-kind rather than as cash. Call (877) 438-5658 or apply through Your Texas Benefits.
Federal grants for veterans with certain serious service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and up to $25,350 for SHA; the source does not mention stair lifts specifically. The Hale County Veterans Office at (806) 291-5301 can help you start.
Offers minor residential repair for homeowners through its caregiver and care coordination programs, with screening open to people 60+ or anyone eligible for Medicare; stair lifts are not mentioned in the source. Call (806) 687-0940.
A center for independent living offering information and referral, skills training, peer support, advocacy and assistive technology; stair lifts and home modifications are not mentioned. Call (806) 795-5433 to confirm whether Hale County is in its service area.
A statewide referral line that lists home modification consultation, home barrier removal grants and home barrier removal loans among its categories. Call (877) 541-7905 to find providers currently serving Hale County.
Older adults
1323 58th St., Lubbock, 79412
Veterans
500 Broadway, Plainview, 79072
Usually, yes. Split-level homes have short flights with landings, so the answer may be a curved rail or more than one straight lift. We measure each flight to decide.
The STAR+PLUS waiver covers home modifications for people who meet its rules, including a nursing facility level of care, an income limit of $2,982 a month for a single applicant and a $2,000 asset limit. Stair lifts are not named specifically, so call (877) 438-5658 to ask about your situation.
STAR+PLUS covers adults 21+ with a qualifying disability, and the Area Agency on Aging screens anyone eligible for Medicare regardless of age. 2-1-1 Texas at (877) 541-7905 can also refer you to barrier removal programs.
Call the Hale County Veterans Office at (806) 291-5301, located at 500 Broadway in Plainview. They can help with VA housing grants and other VA benefits.
It can. Much of the county's housing predates modern accessibility standards, so stairwells may be narrow or steep. A home visit lets us check the width, landings and power before recommending a lift.
Some programs, like the VA grants and the Area Agency on Aging's minor residential repair, are tied to owning the home. A renter can still call 2-1-1 Texas to ask which referral programs apply.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
