From the older streets around Baylor University in Waco to newer subdivisions in Hewitt, Woodway and Robinson, McLennan County has a wide mix of homes. Some date to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and others are mid-century or modern suburban builds. Each kind of house puts its stairs in a different place, and that shapes which stair lift will work.
About 76.0% of county residents lived in urban areas at the 2020 census, mostly in and around Waco. The other 24.0% live in rural places such as Riesel, Crawford, Gholson and Hallsburg, where installers and home-modification contractors may have farther to drive. This page walks through what local homes usually need and where to look for help paying.
A straight staircase with no landing is the simplest fit. The rail runs along one flight, and it is often the quickest kind of job to measure and install. Many two-story single-family homes and townhouses in the county have stairs like this.
Historic homes in and around Waco can be a different story. Older staircases often turn at a landing or wind around a corner, and that usually calls for a curved rail built to the exact shape of the stairs. Plan on a careful measurement first.
Split-level homes have short runs of steps between floors. Each run may need its own lift, or a single curved rail if the stairs connect. Ranch-style homes often have no indoor stairs at all, so the trouble spot is usually the front or back entry steps.
Waco sits on the Brazos River at about 522 feet, and the land near the river corridor has some rise and fall. A home on a slope can end up with a long run of entry steps or a raised porch. Those spots are where an outdoor stair lift or a vertical platform lift comes into play.
Outdoor lifts are built to handle weather, and a platform lift can carry a wheelchair user up to a porch or doorway. For a home with only a few entry steps, a ramp may be the better answer. In towns like Mart, Moody or Leroy, ask early about scheduling, since rural jobs can take longer to plan.
McLennan County has a population of 222,151, and 14.5% of residents are 65 or older. About 56.6% of households own their homes, which matters because most stair lifts are installed in owned homes and several funding programs require ownership.
If a parent served, it is worth checking VA benefits before paying out of pocket, though the rules on stair lifts are strict, as explained below.
Cost is a real concern for many senior homeowners here. Start with the Heart of Texas Area Agency on Aging, which arranges home repairs and modifications for low-income homeowners 60 and older. Stair lifts are not named on its program page, so ask the coordinator directly.
Veterans should know that the VA HISA grant explicitly does not cover stair glides. The larger VA housing grants (SAH, SHA and TRA) fund home adaptations but do not name stair lifts, so coverage would need to be confirmed with the VA. The county Veteran Services office at 2010 LaSalle in Waco can be reached at (254) 297-7171.
Waco Habitat for Humanity runs a Critical Home Repair Program, which was not taking applications at last check because of funding, and a Ramps & Rails Program that builds ramps. Statewide options worth asking about include the STAR+PLUS Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver, the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR), the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Waiver, and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics).
A case manager arranges contracted repairs and modifications that improve accessibility and safety for low-income homeowners 60 or older in McLennan and five nearby counties. Stair lifts are not listed on the program page, so confirm coverage case by case at (254) 292-1800.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 for service-connected disabilities, or $2,000 in qualifying non-service-connected cases, for medically necessary fixed alterations like entry ramps and bathroom changes. The VA explicitly excludes stair glides, so it does not cover stair lifts.
Up to $126,526 (FY2026 maximum) for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities to buy, build or adapt a home they own or plan to own. The VA source does not list stair lifts by name.
Up to $25,350 (FY2026 maximum) to adapt a home owned by the veteran or a family member, for qualifying service-connected disabilities less severe than SAH conditions. Stair lifts are not listed in the source.
Helps SAH- or SHA-eligible veterans adapt a family member's home where they are living temporarily, up to $50,961 or $9,100 depending on eligibility (FY2026). Stair lifts are not listed in the source.
Health, safety and accessibility repairs for McLennan County homeowners who meet income and asset limits, including those over 55 or disabled; stair lifts are not mentioned, and the program was not taking applications at last check due to funding. Call (254) 756-7575 to ask about status.
Builds custom wheelchair ramps for elderly and disabled residents in McLennan County, which gets around entry steps rather than installing a lift. Stair lifts are not mentioned; call (254) 756-7575.
Older adults
320 Franklin Ave., Waco, 76701
Veterans
2010 LaSalle, Waco, 76706
No. The VA's HISA page explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts as removable equipment. The SAH, SHA and TRA grants do not name stair lifts either way, so ask the VA or Veteran Services at (254) 297-7171 about your case.
Its program page lists home repairs and modifications that improve accessibility but does not name stair lifts. A Senior Care Coordinator decides case by case, so call (254) 292-1800. The main Heart of Texas AAA office at 320 Franklin Ave. in Waco is at (254) 756-6631.
The Area Agency on Aging program starts at 60. Waco Habitat for Humanity's Critical Home Repair Program accepts homeowners over 55 or with a disability who meet its income limits, but it was not taking applications at last check.
Usually, yes. Older Waco homes often have stairs that turn at a landing, which typically means a curved rail made to fit. An in-home measurement shows what the staircase allows.
An outdoor stair lift or a vertical platform lift can handle entry steps. A ramp is another route, and Waco Habitat for Humanity's Ramps & Rails Program builds custom ramps for elderly and disabled residents in McLennan County.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
