Conejos County stretches across about 1,291 square miles of the San Luis Valley, with homes spread out among Sanford, Manassa, Antonito, La Jara, Romeo and Capulin rather than packed into subdivisions. The valley floor sits around 7,700 feet, and the western half of the county climbs through foothills toward mountains near 13,000 feet.
Many houses here are older, and plenty were built long before anyone thought about aging in place. If a parent is struggling with the stairs in a split-level or an old multi-level farmhouse, this page walks through what kind of stair lift fits and where the money might come from.
Most homes in the county are single-family, detached houses. You will also find ranch-style homes, split-level homes and some townhouses. Each one points toward a different kind of lift.
A ranch-style home often has just a few steps at the entry or a single straight run to a basement. A straight stair lift handles an indoor run like that well, and it is usually the simplest job to install.
Split-level homes are trickier. Short flights between levels sometimes need more than one lift, or a curved rail if the stairs turn at a landing. Older multi-level farmhouses can have narrow or winding staircases, so we measure carefully before recommending a straight or curved model.
The Census counts every resident of Conejos County as living in a rural area, and only about 34% of the land is privately owned. The rest is national forest, BLM and state land, so homes tend to sit far apart and far from town services.
That distance makes the front or back steps just as important as the indoor stairs. An outdoor stair lift built for weather exposure, or a platform lift for someone using a wheelchair, can keep a person able to get in and out of the house without waiting on help.
About 74.7% of households here own their homes, which matters because owners can make permanent changes like bolting a rail to the stairs. Renters should talk with the property owner first.
If that includes your parent, the VA grants and the county veterans office listed below are worth a call before you pay out of pocket.
Household incomes in the county have historically been modest, so many families look to assistance programs instead of paying the full cost themselves. The strongest option on our list is the Health First Colorado home modification benefit, which covers home modifications for people who qualify for an eligible waiver.
The VA grants below fund home adaptations for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, though the sources do not name stair lifts specifically. The San Luis Valley AAA in Alamosa can help with information, counseling and connections to waiver case management.
Statewide, families can also look into the Assistive Technology Act Program of Colorado (AT Partners), VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) and the Colorado Senior Property Tax Exemption (Senior Homestead Exemption).
A state Medicaid waiver benefit that covers home modifications for safety and accessibility, which can include a stair lift, for people who meet Medicaid financial rules and need nursing facility level of care. It is handled locally through a Case Management Agency serving Conejos County; call (800) 221-3943.
A VA grant of up to $126,526 (FY2026) for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities who own or plan to own the home; the source does not mention stair lifts among covered adaptations. Call (800) 827-1000.
A VA grant of up to $25,350 (FY2026) for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities, and the home may be owned by the veteran or a family member; stair lifts are not listed in the source. Call (800) 827-1000.
For veterans who qualify for SAH or SHA and are temporarily living in a family member's home, paying up to $50,961 or $9,100 (FY2026) toward adaptations; stair lifts are not listed in the source. Call (800) 827-1000.
Provides items like grab bars, toilet safety bars and canes at no cost to adults 60+ and some disabled adults 18+ in the six-county region that includes Conejos; stair lifts are not listed in the source. Call (719) 589-4511 to ask about referrals or waiver case management.
Older adults
610 State Ave., Suite 200, Alamosa, 81101
Veterans
12987 County Road 6, PO Box 196, Conejos, 81129
The Health First Colorado home modification benefit covers home modifications for safety and accessibility. You must meet Medicaid financial criteria, including a 2026 single applicant income limit of $2,982 per month and a $2,000 asset limit, and need nursing facility level of care. Call (800) 221-3943 to start.
Yes. The Medicaid waiver benefit covers people age 18 to 64 with a physical disability, blindness or HIV-AIDS diagnosis. The San Luis Valley AAA also serves disabled adults 18+ who live with an eligible adult.
On July 1, 2025, many EBD Waiver services began moving into the new Community First Choice (CFC) program. Current EBD enrollees stay under their existing plans until their annual redetermination.
The Conejos County Veterans Service Office is at 12987 County Road 6 in Conejos, and the phone is (719) 376-6725. The VA itself can be reached at (800) 827-1000.
The San Luis Valley AAA is at 610 State Ave., Suite 200, in Alamosa. Call (719) 589-4511 to ask what support services are available.
It depends on how the levels connect. A split-level often has more than one short flight, so some homes need two lifts or a curved rail. We look at the layout in person before recommending anything.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
