Curry County sits on the flat High Plains of the Llano Estacado, right on New Mexico's eastern line with Texas. Across its 1,408 square miles you'll find Clovis, the county seat, along with Cannon AFB, Texico and Melrose. Most building lots here are level, and a lot of the housing is single-story. So when a family calls us, the stairs in question are often fewer than people expect, but they still matter.
A split-level home in Clovis, a townhouse with bedrooms upstairs, or a walk-up apartment can turn into a daily obstacle once knees or balance start to give out. This page walks through which kinds of stair lifts tend to fit Curry County homes, and which local and state programs may help cover the cost.
Clovis grew up around a Southwest and Spanish Mission building tradition, the same style you can see in the 1931 Hotel Clovis and the historic downtown with the State Theater. Like much of eastern New Mexico, the town leans toward single-story homes rather than the tall rowhouses of denser eastern cities. Plenty of households here never need a lift at all.
The homes that do need one are usually split-level homes, townhouses, some detached houses with a second floor, and walk-up apartments. Split-level homes often have short flights of a few steps between levels. Those short, straight runs are usually the simplest and least involved installs we do.
A straight stair lift runs on a rail fixed to the stair treads, not the wall, and fits most single straight flights. If a staircase turns at a landing or has more than one flight, a curved lift with a custom rail is the usual answer. We measure first so you know which one your stairs call for.
Because the land in Curry County is so flat, steep outdoor hillside steps are uncommon. Entry steps up to a porch or side door can still be a problem, and an outdoor-rated lift is built to handle sun and weather. For someone who uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift may make more sense than a chair.
Curry County has about 42,423 residents, and 12.5% are 65 or older. In Clovis alone the 2020 Census counted 38,567 people, with 13.2% age 65 or older. It's a younger, working community built around Cannon Air Force Base, the BNSF Railway yard and dairy processing, but a real share of homeowners are aging in place.
That veteran share is worth noting because Cannon AFB, home of the 27th Special Operations Wing, brings military families into the county. Veterans who own their homes may have grant options that other homeowners don't.
There is no single program that simply pays for stair lifts here, so it helps to know where to start. Housing New Mexico (MFA) runs a rehabilitation program that explicitly covers accessibility modifications for low-to-moderate income homeowners. The other programs below do not mention stair lifts on their source pages, so ask directly before counting on them.
For local help, the Eastern Plains AAA (Region IV) office is at 417 Schepps Blvd., Suite 201, Clovis, 88101, phone (575) 763-9168. Veterans can visit the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services – Southeast Region Veterans Service Office at 904 W. 6th Street in Clovis, or call (575) 825-9602. Access Loan New Mexico (NM Technology Assistance Program) is another statewide name to ask about.
Federal grants for veterans and service members with a qualifying service-connected disability: SAH up to $126,526, SHA up to $25,350, and TRA up to $50,961 or $9,100 (FY2026). The source lists ramps and widened doorways but does not mention stair lifts, so ask the Southeast Region Veterans Service Office in Clovis at (575) 825-9602 how it applies to your home.
Curry County is one of eleven counties in PSA 3, which offers personal care, chore services, transportation, case management and other in-home support for older adults. Stair lifts and home modifications are not listed among its services, but it is a good place to ask for referrals at (505) 716-5249.
Serves people who qualify for nursing-facility-level care but want to stay at home, with benefits set in an individual care plan. Stair lifts and home modifications are not mentioned on the source page, so call the NM Aging and Disability Resource Center at (800) 432-2080 and ask an Options Counselor.
Funds home repairs and accessibility modifications for low-to-moderate income homeowners through regional service providers. Call (505) 843-6880 to confirm which provider currently serves Curry County.
Older adults
417 Schepps Blvd., Suite 201, Clovis, 88101
Veterans
904 W. 6th Street, Clovis, 88101
Maybe not. Many Curry County homes are single-story on level lots. Lifts usually come up for split-level homes, townhouses, two-story detached houses, walk-up apartments or entry steps that have become hard to manage.
Often not. Split-level homes tend to have short straight flights between levels, which usually take a straight lift. If the stairs turn at a landing, a curved rail is needed, and we confirm that when we measure.
The SAH, SHA and TRA grants cover home adaptations for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, but the source page names ramps and widened doorways, not stair lifts. Call the Southeast Region Veterans Service Office in Clovis at (575) 825-9602 to ask.
Yes. The Housing New Mexico (MFA) Home Rehabilitation and Weatherization Program covers accessibility modifications for low-to-moderate income homeowners. Call (505) 843-6880 to find the regional provider for Curry County.
The Eastern Plains AAA (Region IV) office at 417 Schepps Blvd., Suite 201 in Clovis can be reached at (575) 763-9168. The Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging for PSA 3 is at (505) 716-5249.
Turquoise Care serves people who qualify for nursing-facility care but want to live at home. Its source page does not list home modifications, so call the Aging and Disability Resource Center at (800) 432-2080 and ask whether they are covered under your plan.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
