Hidalgo County stretches across 3,446 square miles of New Mexico's far southwest corner, down into the Bootheel where the state meets Arizona and Mexico. Most people live in or near Lordsburg, Glen Acres and Cotton City, in homes that are mostly single-story, site-built or manufactured houses typical of small Southwestern desert towns.
That matters when you are thinking about a stair lift. Many homes here have few steps or none inside, so the question is often about a porch, an entry, a split-level ranch-style home or a low-rise building. This page walks through what fits local homes, what the distance means for installation and service, and which programs may help with the cost.
The county has 2,190 housing units, and 71.1% of occupied homes are owner-occupied. Single-family homes, detached houses and ranch-style homes make up much of what we see. When there is an indoor staircase, it is usually a single, straight run rather than the multi-flight layouts found in city housing.
A straight stair lift is the simplest and most common fit for that kind of staircase. A curved lift only comes into play when the stairs turn or have a landing, which is less common here. For low-rise buildings with shared stairs, the owner or landlord has to be part of the conversation before anything is mounted.
Lordsburg sits at 4,269 feet with a semi-arid climate. Summers run very hot, with a record high of 114F, and most of the 11.32 inches of yearly rain falls in the July to October monsoon.
For a home where the hard part is getting from the yard up to the door, an outdoor lift or a platform lift may make more sense than an indoor unit. Any equipment outside has to handle strong sun and sudden monsoon storms, so we talk through placement, covers and materials during the home visit.
Lordsburg is 155 miles from Tucson and 120 miles from Las Cruces. Installers and service technicians travel a long way to reach homes in this county.
It helps to have stair measurements, photos and any funding paperwork ready before the first visit. Ask any installer how they handle service calls and repairs this far out, since a quick return trip is not always possible.
That veteran share is worth noting, because the VA housing grants are the clearest funding route for a stair lift on this page.
The median household income is $48,882, and 23.1% of residents live below the poverty line, compared with 12.5% nationally. Many families here will look to grants and waivers before paying out of pocket, so it is worth checking each program below.
For veterans, the VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) and Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grants can be used to change a permanent home, and a stair lift can fall within that on a case-by-case VA review. The VA HISA grant does not cover stair glides or porch lifts, so it is not the right route for a stair lift. The New Mexico Department of Veterans' Services in Silver City can be reached at (575) 313-5627.
The state and regional programs are harder to use right now. The Older Adult Home Modification Program and the Senior Home Repair Program were not accepting new applications as of 2024-02-01, and the HOME Rehabilitation Program lists a 5+ year waiting list for Hidalgo County. None of these name stair lifts in their source material.
Turquoise Care, the state Medicaid waiver for people who qualify for nursing facility care but want to stay home, does not list covered services in the source we have. Other statewide options to ask about include Environmental Modifications under Turquoise Care Community Benefit, Environmental Modifications under the Mi Via Self-Directed Waiver, and Access Loan New Mexico (NM Technology Assistance Program). The SW NM AAA (Region V) in Silver City, at (575) 388-1959, is a good first call for older adults.
A HUD-funded grant for minor home modifications for people 62 and older, including renters with landlord permission; stair lifts are not listed among its named examples. It was not accepting new applications as of 2024-02-01, so call (866) 699-4927 to check current status.
A home repair grant for New Mexico seniors run by the same regional housing office as OAHMP; the source does not mention stair lifts or mobility equipment. It was not accepting applications as of 2024-02-01; call (866) 699-4927 to ask about status.
A statewide Medicaid waiver for people who qualify for nursing facility care but want to live at home; the source does not itemize services, so stair lift coverage is not listed and should be confirmed with the member's MCO. Start through an ADRC Options Counselor at (800) 432-2080.
A 0% interest, deferred, forgivable rehab loan for owner-occupied homes at or below 80% of Area Median Income; accessibility work and stair lifts are not listed. Hidalgo County has a 5+ year waiting list and is not taking applications, but you can call (575) 546-4181 for referral information.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities to buy, build or change a permanent home, and a stair lift can be covered on a case-by-case VA review. A related TRA benefit of up to $50,961 applies when living temporarily in a family member's home.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 that can be used to change a permanent home, which can include a stair lift, for veterans with qualifying disabilities such as loss of use of both hands. A related TRA benefit of up to $9,100 applies when living in a family member's home.
A VA medical benefit with a lifetime cap of $6,800 or $2,000 depending on disability status, requiring VA Form 10-0103. It does not cover stair glides or porch lifts, so veterans seeking a stair lift should look at SAH or SHA instead.
Older adults
P.O. Box 2157, Silver City, 88062
Veterans
1000 W College Ave, Silver City, 88061
Usually, if the home has an indoor staircase. Most stairs in the county are single, straight runs, which is the simplest type to fit. A home visit confirms the measurements and whether a curved, outdoor or platform lift is a better match.
The SAH grant, up to $126,526, and the SHA grant, up to $25,350, can be used to change a permanent home, and a stair lift can qualify on a case-by-case VA review. The HISA grant excludes stair glides. Call the New Mexico Department of Veterans' Services at (575) 313-5627.
As of 2024-02-01 it was not accepting new applications because it had reached capacity. It serves people 62 and older, and stair lifts are not among its named examples. Call (866) 699-4927 to check current status.
The source does not list covered services, so coverage is not confirmed. Ask the member's MCO (BCBSNM, Presbyterian, Molina or Western Sky), and reach an ADRC Options Counselor at (800) 432-2080.
The Older Adult Home Modification Program accepts renters who have landlord permission and use the home as a primary residence, though it was not taking applications as of 2024-02-01. The HOME Rehabilitation Program only serves owner-occupied homes.
The SW NM AAA (Region V) in Silver City at (575) 388-1959 is a good starting point for aging services. Veterans can also call the New Mexico Department of Veterans' Services at (575) 313-5627.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
