From the granite streets of Llano to the lake lots around Kingsland, Horseshoe Bay and Buchanan Dam, a lot of Llano County homes sit on hillsides. The Edwards Plateau does not offer many flat building sites, so entry steps, split levels and stairs down to a lower floor or the water are common.
That terrain shapes which stair lift will work in your house. This page walks through the home styles we see across the county's 6 towns, what each means for a lift, and the state, VA and local programs that may help with the cost.
Llano County sits among rolling hills and granite outcrops, with the Llano and Colorado Rivers feeding three lakes. Homes in Sunrise Beach Village, Buchanan Lake Village and the other lake communities are often built into a slope, with a main floor at one grade and a second entry or lower level at another.
On those lots the stairs are not always inside. A run of exterior steps from the driveway to the front door, or from a deck down to the yard, may call for an outdoor stair lift built to handle sun and rain. If the climb is short but a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift can be the better answer.
The town of Llano grew up around the 1893 County Courthouse and the 1895 jail, and much of the housing nearby comes from a time before accessibility codes. Kingsland has its own history too, including the Victorian-style Antlers Hotel, a railroad resort that opened in 1901.
Houses from those eras often have narrow, steep or turning staircases. A straight stair can usually take a straight rail, which is the simplest and quickest install. A staircase with a landing or a turn needs a curved rail made to fit that exact stair, so we measure carefully before quoting.
Ranch-style homes look like they should be stair free, but on a sloped lot many have a few steps at the entry or a short drop into a den or garage. Split-level homes have short flights between each level, and some owners need a lift on more than one of them.
Two-story single-family homes are where a standard indoor straight or curved lift fits best. In low-rise buildings, check with the building owner or association before planning an install in a shared stairwell.
About 36.2% of Llano County residents are 65 or older, and the 2020 census put the median age at 57.7. Roughly 74.1% of residents own their home, so most families can decide on a lift without asking a landlord.
If someone in your family served, it is worth calling the county veterans office before you buy, so you know which VA benefits apply and which do not.
No program in this area lists stair lifts by name as a covered item, and the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. That does not mean help is out of reach. The Amy Young Barrier Removal Program and STAR+PLUS home modification benefits cover home accessibility work, and the agencies running them decide case by case what qualifies.
A good first call is Older Adult Rural Services at (325) 399-9388 for adults 55 and older, or the Capital Area AAA (CAPCOG) at (512) 916-6062. Veterans can reach the Llano County Veterans Service Officer at 100 West Sandstone, 2nd Floor, in Llano at (325) 247-5056. The CLASS waiver is another statewide program you can ask those offices about.
A Texas HHSC Medicaid waiver offering minor home modifications up to a $7,500 lifetime limit, plus $300 per year for repairs, for enrolled members age 65+ or age 21+ with a qualifying disability. The source does not name stair lifts, so ask your Medicaid managed care organization whether one fits your Individualized Plan of Care.
A one-time state grant of up to $22,500 for households that include a person with a disability and earn at or below 80% of Area Median Family Income; homeowners and renters can apply. Listed work includes ramps, handrails and door widening, and stair lifts are not named, so call (512) 936-7799 to ask.
A lifetime VA grant of up to $6,800 for service-connected disabilities or $2,000 for eligible non-service-connected disabilities, for medically necessary structural changes. It does not cover stair lifts or stair glides; call (325) 247-5056 for help with other alterations.
Grants for veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities: SAH up to $126,526, SHA up to $25,350, and TRA up to $50,961 or $9,100 for adapting a family member's home. Stair lifts are not named among covered items; call (325) 247-5056 to check eligibility.
A nonprofit that builds wheelchair ramps free of charge for low-income older adults and people with disabilities in Llano County, with a referral from a healthcare provider, social worker, service organization or EMS. It does not install stair lifts; reach them at (214) 558-0339.
OARS offers assistance and referrals for adults 55 and older living in Blanco, Burnet or Llano County, including general equipment help. Stair lifts are not named, but it is a useful local starting point at (325) 399-9388.
A county office that helps veterans, dependents and survivors living in Llano County access federal, state and county benefits. It does not fund lifts directly; call (325) 247-5056.
Older adults
6800 Burleson Road, Bldg. 301, Suite 165, Austin, 78744
Veterans
100 West Sandstone, 2nd Floor, Llano, 78643
Not through the HISA grant, which specifically excludes stair glides and porch lifts. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either, so call the Llano County Veterans Service Officer at (325) 247-5056 to talk through your situation.
Yes, depending on the program. OARS serves adults 55 and older in Llano County, STAR+PLUS covers people age 21 and up with a qualifying disability, and the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program is based on disability and income rather than age.
Often, yes. Outdoor stair lifts are built for exterior steps like the ones common on Hill Country lots. For a short climb with a wheelchair user, a platform lift may work better, and we can look at both on a home visit.
The Amy Young Barrier Removal Program accepts both homeowners and renters, and HISA applies to an owned or rented primary residence. Get the landlord's approval before any lift is installed.
For adults 55 and older, Older Adult Rural Services at (325) 399-9388 is a local intake point. The Capital Area AAA (CAPCOG) at (512) 916-6062 handles aging services for the region, and veterans should call (325) 247-5056.
It depends on the person and the steps. A ramp suits a wheelchair user with a few entry steps and room to build, and the Texas Ramp Project builds them free with a referral. A stair lift makes more sense for a full flight indoors or for someone who can still walk short distances.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
