Perryton has been the Ochiltree County seat since it was laid out on the North Texas and Santa Fe Railway line in 1919. The old town of Ochiltree, about fifteen miles south, moved to Perryton wholesale and was gone by 1920. Much of the county's housing grew up around that one town, and the 1928 Ochiltree County Courthouse still stands as its best-known historic building.
With little new construction in recent years, many homes here follow mid-20th-century designs. Those often mean entry steps at the front door and layouts split across more than one level. This page walks through what that means for a stair lift and where local families can look for help paying for one.
Most housing in the county is single-family homes and detached houses, with some townhouses and low-rise buildings. In a two-story house with one straight flight, a straight stair lift is usually the simplest and most affordable fit. The rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so the house itself is not torn up.
Multi-level layouts are a different story. If the stairs turn at a landing or wrap around a corner, the rail has to be custom bent to that staircase, which is what a curved stair lift is. Townhouses often have narrow stairs, so we measure width and the space at the top and bottom before recommending anything.
Ochiltree County is level High Plains prairie cut by Wolf Creek, at 2,600 to 3,100 feet. Average January lows run about 18°F and July highs about 93°F. An outdoor stair lift for front or back entry steps has to handle both the cold and the summer sun.
Outdoor models use weather-resistant parts and a cover for the seat. For a single short run of entry steps, a ramp or a vertical platform lift can sometimes be the better choice, especially for someone who uses a wheelchair. We look at the steps, the yard and the person before suggesting one over another.
The county covers about 907 square miles, and population density is roughly 11 people per square mile. For families on farms and ranches outside Perryton, travel times to installers and home-modification contractors are longer than in a city.
It helps to plan ahead. Have stair measurements, photos of the staircase and any doctor's notes ready before the first visit, and ask about service and repair visits up front, not after something breaks.
About 10.9% of Ochiltree County residents are 65 or older, and 68.9% of households own their homes. Homeowners can install a lift without needing a landlord's permission, and owning the home is a requirement for some of the programs below.
One VA grant specifically excludes stair lifts, though, so it is worth knowing which program fits before applying.
Many families pay out of pocket, but there are programs worth calling first. STAR+PLUS HCBS through Texas Medicaid lists home modifications and adaptive equipment as covered services. USDA Section 504 repair loans and grants serve very-low-income rural homeowners, and the Panhandle Area Agency on Aging can act as a local starting point for referrals.
For veterans, the VA HISA grant does not cover stair glides, but the larger SAH and SHA grants for severe service-connected disabilities may be worth asking about. Other statewide programs to ask about include the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR) and the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Waiver. The Panhandle AAA office in Amarillo is at (806) 372-3381, and the Texas Veterans Commission Health Care Advocate for the Amarillo Region is at (806) 670-3958.
A Texas Medicaid waiver for residents 65+ or 21+ with a qualifying disability who meet a nursing facility level of care and income and asset limits; home modifications and adaptive equipment are covered services, which can include a stair lift. Call HHSC Long-Term Care at (800) 252-7031 to join the interest list, since waits can run months to years.
Short-term in-home support for older adults recovering from a recent hospitalization or health crisis, with resources that include residential ramps; stair lifts are not mentioned by the source. Call (806) 331-2227 to confirm eligibility and Ochiltree County coverage.
Low-interest loans up to $20,000 and grants up to $7,500, combined up to $27,500, for very-low-income rural homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. The source does not mention stair lifts by name, so ask USDA Rural Development whether your project qualifies.
A lifetime VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary home alterations, applied for with VA Form 10-0103. Stair glides are explicitly excluded, so this grant will not pay for a stair lift.
VA grants for veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities to buy, build or adapt a home, with SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 for FY2026. Stair lifts are not mentioned by the source; call (800) 827-1000 to ask.
An Amarillo-based Center for Independent Living offering information and referral, peer support, housing assistance and independent living services for people with disabilities. Stair lift funding is not mentioned by the source; call (806) 374-1400 to confirm service for Ochiltree County.
Older adults
415 SW 8th Ave., Amarillo, 79101
Veterans
Thomas E. Creek VAMC 6010 Amarillo Boulevard, West Rm 1204A, Amarillo, 79106
No. The HISA grant explicitly excludes stair glides, along with porch lifts and portable ramps. Veterans with severe service-connected disabilities can ask about SAH or SHA grants at (800) 827-1000, and the Texas Veterans Commission advocate in Amarillo is at (806) 670-3958.
STAR+PLUS HCBS is open to Texas residents 21 and older with a qualifying disability, as well as those 65 and older, if they meet the level of care and financial limits. Call (800) 252-7031 to get on the interest list.
Enrollment starts with an interest list, and waits can run months to years depending on region. If the need is urgent, it makes sense to sign up right away and look at other options in the meantime.
Section 504 offers loans up to $20,000 and grants up to $7,500 to very-low-income rural homeowners for health and safety repairs. The source does not name stair lifts, so confirm with USDA Rural Development before counting on it.
Outdoor models are built for exposure, which matters with January lows around 18°F and July highs around 93°F. For a short run of entry steps, a ramp or platform lift may also be worth comparing.
The Panhandle AAA in Amarillo, at (806) 372-3381, is a good first call for referrals. Its Home Care Options Program can be reached at (806) 331-2227.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
