Hall County sits on the Texas Panhandle plains, with Memphis as the county seat and Turkey to the south among some of the state's largest ranches. Much of the housing here is older, single-story frame construction, along with ranch-style, split-level and other detached single-family homes.
In a lot of these houses, the trouble spot is not a tall interior staircase. More often it is the step-up to the porch or entry, or the stairs to a basement or converted attic. This page walks through what that means for choosing a lift and where Hall County families can look for help paying for one.
Memphis grew as a railroad and farm supply town, with a brick-and-stone courthouse, brick schools by the 1920s, and the Morning Side residential addition east of the tracks founded in 1922. Homes in Memphis, Turkey, Estelline and Lakeview tend to be older single-story frame houses typical of small West Texas towns.
For a one-story house, the climb that matters is usually outside. Porch and entry steps can call for an outdoor lift built to handle the weather, or a platform lift if a wheelchair is involved. A short, straight run of stairs down to a basement is often a good fit for a straight stair lift.
Split-level homes are a different case. Several short flights with landings may need a curved lift, or a separate straight lift on each flight. An in-home measurement settles which option makes sense.
About 23.2% of Hall County residents are 65 or older, and 74.7% own their homes. Owning the house usually means you can install a lift without asking a landlord, and staying in a familiar home is what many older owners here want.
If that includes your parent, the VA programs below are worth a look, though one of them specifically excludes stair glides.
The county covers 904 square miles, and Memphis is a remote town. Installers, occupational therapists and accessibility contractors usually travel in from the Amarillo area or another distant Panhandle hub.
That distance is a reason to plan before a hospital discharge forces the issue. Have the stairs measured early, and line up any doctor's letter or program paperwork at the same time so the install can be done in one trip.
Hall County's economy rests on farming and ranching, and the median household income is $48,459, so an out-of-pocket purchase is a real strain for many families. The STAR+PLUS source notes typical market prices of $2,900 to $8,000 for a straight lift and up to $25,000 for a curved one.
Of the programs listed below, STAR+PLUS is the one whose source says it can pay toward a stair lift. The others either exclude stair lifts, do not mention them, or cover related items like ramps. For local guidance, the Panhandle AAA in Amarillo is at (806) 372-3381, and the Veterans Service Office in Clarendon is at (806) 205-1015.
This Texas Medicaid waiver can pay toward a stair lift through its minor home modifications benefit for people 65+ or adults with disabilities who meet financial and nursing-facility level-of-care rules, usually with a doctor's letter; there is an interest list, so expect a wait. Call (877) 438-5658.
This VA lifetime grant pays for fixed changes like entrance ramps and bathroom or kitchen accessibility, up to $6,800 or $2,000 depending on the disability. Stair glides and porch lifts are explicitly excluded, so it does not cover a stair lift.
These VA grants help veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities buy, build or adapt a home, with SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 for FY2026. The source does not list stair lifts by name, so coverage is not confirmed.
This federal program offers low-interest repair loans to very-low-income rural homeowners, and grants for those 62 and older who cannot repay a loan. Stair lifts are not mentioned, and rural-area eligibility should be checked directly with USDA Rural Development.
A one-time grant of up to $22,500 per household for accessibility changes such as ramps, handrails and door widening, for households with a person with a disability and income at or below 80% of AMFI. Stair lifts are not named, so ask about them at (512) 936-7799.
Short-term in-home support for adults 60+ in the Panhandle who are recovering from a recent hospital stay, including residential ramps and health maintenance supplies. Stair lifts are not mentioned; call (806) 331-2227.
A nonprofit that builds wheelchair ramps, not stair lifts, for people with a documented mobility issue and financial hardship, and it lists Hall County in its Amarillo Region. Referrals come from a healthcare provider, social worker or community organization; the phone is (214) 558-0339.
Older adults
415 SW 8th Ave., Amarillo, 79101
Veterans
300 Sully St, Clarendon, 79226
It can, through the STAR+PLUS HCBS waiver's minor home modifications benefit, when the lift supports safety and helps the person stay home instead of entering a nursing facility. A doctor's letter of medical necessity is generally required, and enrollment goes through an interest list. Call (877) 438-5658.
No. The VA lists stair glides and porch lifts among the items HISA excludes. The Veterans Service Office in Clarendon at (806) 205-1015 can talk through other VA options, such as the SAH and SHA grants, though those sources do not name stair lifts.
Many Hall County homes are single-story, and the need is often a porch or entry step-up or stairs to a basement or attic conversion. An outdoor lift or platform lift may handle the entry, while a straight lift can work for basement stairs.
The PRPC Area Agency on Aging's Home Care Options program offers short-term in-home support for adults 60+ recovering from a recent hospitalization, including residential ramps. Call (806) 331-2227, or the Panhandle AAA at (806) 372-3381.
Memphis is remote, so installers and therapists usually travel in from the Amarillo area or another Panhandle hub. Scheduling the measurement and paperwork together helps keep it to as few trips as possible.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
