Aransas County sits on a low-lying coastal peninsula in the Coastal Bend of South Texas. Of its 528 square miles, 276 are water, and its four towns, Rockport, Lamar, Fulton and Holiday Beach, share the land that's left. Rockport is the county seat and the largest city.
Many houses here were repaired or rebuilt after Hurricane Harvey made its second landfall directly at Rockport on August 26, 2017. That history matters when we look at a staircase. Older or storm-affected stairs, entries and framing all shape what kind of stair lift will work and how it gets mounted.
Harvey hit with sustained winds of 130 mph at first landfall, and across Texas an estimated 300,000 structures were damaged or destroyed. In Aransas County, rebuilding and repair work is still part of the picture for a lot of homes.
Before quoting a lift, we check the stair treads, the stringers and the wall or floor where the rail will anchor. A stair that was patched after the storm may need a small repair first. It is better to find that during the home visit than after the rail goes in.
The county's housing includes single-family homes, detached houses, multi-story homes, split-level homes and townhouses. A single straight run of stairs, common in many townhouses and two-story houses, usually takes a straight stair lift, which is the simplest to fit.
Split-level homes and multi-story homes often have landings, turns or short flights between levels. Those call for a curved rail built to the exact shape of the stairs, or sometimes two separate straight lifts. Steps up to a front door or porch can be handled with an outdoor lift made for weather, and a platform lift is an option when someone uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat.
About 31.3 percent of Aransas County residents are 65 or older, and the median age is 52.5. Around 73.2 percent of households own their home, so many people are in a position to make changes that let them stay put.
The county also has a large seasonal and vacation-home population. If the house is a second home, keep in mind that some local repair programs only help with a primary residence.
Most programs that serve Aransas County do not name stair lifts in their published rules. That does not always mean no, but it does mean you should ask directly before counting on the money. The program list below spells out what each source says.
For veterans, one point is settled: the VA HISA grant excludes stair glides. The Aransas County Veterans Service Office at 308 N Live Oak St in Rockport, (361) 790-0154, can help you look at other VA options. Statewide, it is also worth asking about the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR) and the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Waiver.
For general guidance, the Coastal Bend AAA at 2910 Leopard St., Corpus Christi, TX 78408, (361) 883-5743, can point you to services in the region.
A Texas Medicaid managed-care benefit for residents 21 and up with a disability or 65 and up who need nursing-facility level of care, with income up to $2,982 a month and assets of $2,000 single or $3,000 married. Home modifications such as grab bars and ramps are covered, but stair lifts are not named, so confirm with your STAR+PLUS health plan; call (877) 438-5658.
Federal loans up to $20,000 at 1% over 20 years, and grants up to $7,500 for homeowners 62 and older, with a combined cap of $27,500, for very-low-income owner-occupants. Stair lifts are not listed as a use, so check with the local USDA Rural Development office and confirm your address is eligible.
A lifetime VA grant of up to $6,800 for service-connected disabilities, or $2,000 for other eligible disabilities, for medically needed home alterations. Stair glides are specifically excluded, so it will not pay for a stair lift; call (361) 806-5600 with questions.
VA grants for veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA, for adapting a home with changes like ramps or wider doorways. Stair lifts are not named; call (361) 790-0154 to ask.
Serves adults 60 and older, caregivers and Medicare beneficiaries across the Coastal Bend, including Aransas County, with benefits counseling, care coordination, meals and transportation. No stair lift or home-modification funding is listed, but it is a good place to ask for referrals at (361) 883-5743.
A nonprofit center for people with disabilities that also runs a short-term rental voucher program. It does not list stair lift or home-modification funding; call (361) 883-8461 to ask about other help.
A local home-repair program for owners who have lived in Aransas County at least one year, live in the home as their primary residence and cannot afford the repair themselves. Stair lifts are not named, so call (361) 450-0131 to ask whether stair repairs or a lift could qualify.
The county senior center offers meals, Meals on Wheels, R.E.A.L. Transit transportation and exercise and social programs. It does not fund home modifications or stair lifts, but staff can be a starting point for referrals at (361) 729-5352.
Older adults
2910 Leopard St., Corpus Christi, 78408
Veterans
308 N Live Oak St, Rockport, 78382
The HISA grant does not, since it excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either way, so call the Aransas County Veterans Service Office in Rockport at (361) 790-0154 to ask about your situation.
Yes. Homes with landings or turns usually need a curved rail made to fit those stairs, and sometimes two straight lifts work instead. We measure during the home visit to decide.
Not usually, but we check the treads, framing and anchor points closely. If a repaired stair needs work before a rail can be mounted safely, we will tell you up front.
The Area Agency on Aging of the Coastal Bend serves adults 60 and older. STAR+PLUS can cover residents 21 and up who have a disability and meet its other rules, and the Coastal Bend Center for Independent Living serves people with disabilities of any age.
Most local help is aimed at the home you live in. Aransas County Habitat for Humanity requires the home to be your primary residence, and the USDA Section 504 program is for owners who live in the home.
The Aransas County Council on Aging in Rockport at (361) 729-5352 or the Coastal Bend AAA at (361) 883-5743 can help you sort through services. For the lift itself, schedule a home visit with us so we can look at your stairs.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
