Most homes in Terry County sit in and around Brownfield, the county seat, with the rest spread through Wellman, Meadow and unincorporated places like Needmore and Tokio. Out on the Llano Estacado, a single-story house is the usual pattern. That does not mean every home is free of steps.
Older houses in town and the multi-level farmhouses built during early-to-mid-20th-century West Texas settlement can still have entry steps or a full staircase. About 30.1% of residents live in rural, dispersed farm and ranch housing, so a lot of these homes are a long way from the nearest installer. This page walks through what that means for a stair lift and where to look for help paying for one.
The housing here is mostly single-family homes, detached houses, ranch-style homes and split-level homes. A ranch-style house often has no interior stairs at all, and the trouble spot is the handful of steps at the front or back door. For those, an outdoor lift or a platform lift is usually the better fit than an indoor chair.
Split-level homes are different. They tend to have short, straight runs of stairs between levels, and a straight stair lift handles those well. Some homes have more than one short run, which can mean more than one lift.
Multi-level farmhouses can have narrow or turning staircases. If the stairs change direction or have a landing partway up, a curved lift built to that staircase is usually needed. The only way to know is to measure the actual stairs.
Terry County covers 891 square miles, and the 2020 census counted 13.3 people per square mile. Roughly 69.9% of residents live in urban areas, chiefly Brownfield, but many families are out on farms and ranches.
Installers, contractors and medical providers are mostly based in Brownfield or Lubbock, about 40 miles northeast. If your home is out in the county, plan for a site visit and the install on separate trips, and ask how service calls work before you buy. Flat terrain helps with outdoor entry lifts, since there is usually room for a platform at the door.
About 15.3% of Terry County residents are 65 or older, and 65.1% of households own their homes. Owning the home makes it simpler to install a lift, since you do not need a landlord's permission.
Veterans Services in Brownfield, at 500 W Main St, can be reached at (806) 637-7230 and is a good first stop for questions about VA benefits. Be aware that the VA's HISA grant does not cover stair glides, so a veteran usually needs to look at other options for the lift itself.
Affordability is a real concern in a rural farming county, and several programs may help. Medicaid waiver programs, STAR+PLUS HCBS and CLASS, include minor home modification benefits with lifetime dollar limits. STAR+PLUS is the usual route for older adults; CLASS mainly serves people with a disability diagnosed before age 22.
The Amy Young Barrier Removal Program offers one-time grants of up to $20,000 for people with disabilities whose household income is at or below 80% of the area median family income. Homeowners and tenants can both apply, as long as it is their primary residence.
For people 60 and older, the South Plains AAA at 1323 58th St. in Lubbock coordinates minor residential repair and other help. Call (806) 762-8721 for the office or (806) 687-0940 for the care coordination and caregiver programs listed below.
A Medicaid managed-care waiver benefit for people 65 and older, or 21 and older with a qualifying disability, who meet Medicaid financial and nursing-facility level-of-care criteria. It covers stair lifts as a minor home modification, with a $7,500 lifetime limit plus $300 per yearly Individualized Plan of Care for repair and maintenance.
A Medicaid waiver for Texans with a related condition or intellectual/developmental disability diagnosed before age 22; it covers stair lifts as a minor home modification up to a $10,000 lifetime maximum plus $300 per yearly Individualized Plan of Care. There is a statewide interest list, so expect a wait.
One-time grants of up to $20,000 for accessibility modifications, including stair lifts, for homeowners or tenants with a disability of any age. Household income must be at or below 80% of the area median family income, and the home must be the primary residence.
A VA lifetime grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability rating, for medically necessary structural changes. It does not cover stair lifts, which the VA treats as removable equipment; call (800) 827-1000 with questions.
VA grants for veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities to buy, build or adapt a home, including SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 for FY2026. The source does not list stair lifts, so ask the VA at (800) 827-1000 whether your project qualifies.
Coordinates minor residential repair, durable medical equipment and emergency response systems for adults 60 and older in the South Plains region, which includes Terry County. Stair lifts are not listed by name; call (806) 687-0940 to ask.
Helps caregivers 18 and older who support a family member 60 or older, with services that include minor residential repair for homeowners and respite. Stair lifts are not listed by name; call (806) 687-0940.
A nonprofit center in Lubbock offering information and referral, independent living skills training, peer support, advocacy and assistive technology services for people with a disability of any age. Stair lifts and home modifications are not listed; call (806) 795-5433 for referrals.
Older adults
1323 58th St., Lubbock, 79412
Veterans
500 W Main St, Brownfield, 79316
Maybe not inside. Ranch-style homes often have their only steps at the entry, and an outdoor or platform lift at the door may solve the problem. A split-level or older multi-story house is where an indoor stair lift usually comes in.
Yes, but plan for travel. Installers and contractors are mostly based in Brownfield or Lubbock, about 40 miles northeast, so ask up front how site visits and service calls are scheduled for rural homes.
Not through the HISA grant, which excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not list stair lifts either, so call the VA at (800) 827-1000 or Veterans Services in Brownfield at (806) 637-7230 to talk through your situation.
The Amy Young Barrier Removal Program serves people with a disability of any age who meet the income limit, with grants up to $20,000. STAR+PLUS also covers adults 21 and older with a qualifying disability who meet Medicaid criteria.
The South Plains AAA at (806) 762-8721 serves Terry County residents 60 and older. Its Family Caregiver Support Program, at (806) 687-0940, works with caregivers 18 and older supporting a family member 60 or older.
Not for every program. The Amy Young Barrier Removal Program accepts tenants as well as homeowners, as long as the home is the primary residence and the household meets the income limit.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
