Most houses in Dumas went up during the mid-20th-century oil, gas and post-WWII industrial boom, not in the original 1890s townsite. That means a lot of Moore County families live in single-family homes, detached houses and split-level homes built in that era, with stairs that were never planned around getting older.
We install stair lifts across Moore County's three towns: Dumas, Cactus and Sunray. This page walks through what local homes and land mean for choosing a lift, and which programs may help with the cost.
Housing here mostly dates to the boom years that followed the 1926 discovery of oil and natural gas. You see fewer tall, multi-story 19th-century buildings and more single-family homes, detached houses, townhouses and split-level homes.
A single straight flight is the simplest job, and a straight rail is usually the most direct choice. Split-level homes often have short runs between levels, so we look at each run on its own before recommending anything.
If a staircase turns at a landing or curves, a curved rail built to fit that staircase is the usual answer. Walk-up apartments raise a separate question about who controls the stairway, so it helps to talk with the building owner before a visit.
Moore County covers 909 square miles of level High Plains prairie, with elevations from 2,900 to 3,700 feet. There are no significant hills to deal with, so for most people aging at home, the obstacle is the stairs inside the house.
Outside steps still matter. Summers are hot, with an average July high of 93°F, and the average January low is 20°F. If someone struggles with porch or entry steps, we can talk through an outdoor lift or a platform lift built for that kind of exposure.
About 10.7% of Moore County's 20,196 residents are 65 or older, and 61.7% of households own their homes. Many seniors here are long-term homeowners in a small, rural, working-class county where age-restricted and assisted-living housing is limited.
That makes changing the house more practical than moving for a lot of families.
No program on our list names stair lifts directly as a covered item, and the VA HISA benefit specifically excludes stair glides. Several programs do fund home modifications or accessibility work, so a phone call to confirm the current scope is the right first step.
For people 60 and older, start with the Area Agency on Aging of the Panhandle. Medicaid recipients can ask about STAR+PLUS, and lower-income households with a disabled member can look at the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program. Veterans can call Moore County Veterans Services at (806) 935-2408, at 715 S Dumas Avenue, Room 207, in Dumas.
Rural homeowners may also qualify for USDA Section 504 repair loans and grants, but eligibility is checked address by address. Each program is summarized below.
Minor home repairs and modifications for adults 60 and older in the 26-county Panhandle service area, which includes Moore County; stair lifts are not listed among the modification types. Call (806) 331-2227, or the Panhandle AAA office in Amarillo at (806) 372-3381, to ask whether a stair lift can be funded.
A statewide Medicaid waiver for Texans 21 and older who need nursing-facility level of care but live in the community; it covers minor home modifications and adaptive aids, though stair lifts are not named. Call (877) 782-6440.
A VA benefit for enrolled patients with a medically necessary home accessibility need, up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime depending on disability status. It explicitly excludes stair glides, so it does not cover a stair lift.
Up to $126,526 for FY2026 for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home; stair lifts are not named among covered adaptations. Moore County Veterans Services at (806) 935-2408 can help with next steps.
Up to $25,350 for FY2026 for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss or loss of use of both hands, severe burns or certain breathing injuries; stair lifts are not named. Ask Moore County Veterans Services at (806) 935-2408 about eligibility.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% over 20 years, and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners 62 and older, for very-low-income owners in eligible rural areas; funds can make a home accessible, but stair lifts are not named. Eligibility must be verified for your specific address with the local USDA Rural Development field office.
Grants up to $22,500 for households that include a person with a disability and earn no more than 80% of the Area Median Family Income; both owners and tenants may qualify. Listed work includes handrails, ramps and door widening, but stair lifts are not named; call (512) 936-7799.
An Amarillo-based independent living resource for people with disabilities that offers advocacy and referrals; it states it does not provide financial assistance with housing, and stair lifts are not mentioned. Call (800) 585-6768.
Older adults
415 SW 8th Ave., Amarillo, 79101
Veterans
715 S Dumas Avenue, Room 207, Dumas, 79029
The HISA benefit explicitly excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants fund home adaptations for specific severe service-connected disabilities, but they do not name stair lifts, so call Moore County Veterans Services at (806) 935-2408 to ask.
The Area Agency on Aging program serves people 60 and older. STAR+PLUS starts at age 21 for Medicaid-eligible Texans, and the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program is based on disability and income rather than age.
Often, yes. Split-level homes usually have more than one short run of stairs, so we measure each one and look at whether a straight or curved rail fits before recommending a setup.
Not for every program. The Amy Young Barrier Removal Program accepts both homeowners and tenants, while USDA Section 504 requires a homeowner-occupant and the VA SAH and SHA grants require ownership of the home.
The Panhandle AAA office is at 415 SW 8th Ave., Amarillo, 79101, and can be reached at (806) 372-3381. For the minor home repairs and modifications service, you can also call (806) 331-2227.
Yes. Section 504 eligibility depends on whether your specific property sits in a USDA-eligible rural area, so confirm it with the local USDA Rural Development field office before counting on that money.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
