Childress is the only town in Childress County, and its homes reflect that. The city was established in 1887 and incorporated in 1890, and around the brick streets of downtown and the 1939 Childress County Courthouse you find modest single-family houses rather than tall multi-story buildings.
That shapes the stair lift question here. Many homes are ranch-style or split-level, so the stairs that cause trouble are often a short run between levels or a set of porch steps outside. This page walks through what fits these houses and which programs may help with the cost.
A ranch-style home usually keeps living space on one floor, but the entry may still have steps up to the porch or door. For those, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can make the difference between getting in the house and staying stuck at the car.
Split-level homes are different. They often have short flights of stairs connecting each level, and a straight stair lift can handle a single straight run. If the stairs turn at a landing, a curved lift built to that staircase is the usual answer.
In the 2020 Census, 68.9% of the 2,824 housing units in the county were owner-occupied, and 65.2% of the 2,324 units in the city of Childress were. Owners can generally decide on installation themselves, while renters should talk with the landlord first.
Childress County sits in the Texas Panhandle on rolling prairie and rough riverbottoms, with the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River running through it. Homes out in the rural parts of the county may have uneven ground around the entry, which matters when we plan where an outdoor lift starts and stops.
Summer highs average around 99°F in July, and January lows average around 26°F. An outdoor stair lift needs a weather cover and parts rated for that range, so we look at exposure to sun and wind before recommending a model.
The county has lost population over the decades, from 16,044 in 1930 to 6,664 in the 2020 Census, which leaves many long-time owners in houses they plan to keep.
For a veteran in the household, it is worth checking VA benefits before paying out of pocket. Keep in mind that one of the VA grants listed below rules out stair glides, so read the details closely.
No program listed here names stair lifts as a covered item, so expect to make a case or ask directly. The STAR+PLUS waiver has a $7,500 lifetime cap for minor home modifications, and a stair lift would need case-by-case approval as medically necessary by the managed care organization.
The Area Agency on Aging of the Panhandle and the Panhandle Independent Living Center are good first calls, since they can point you to help and confirm what they cover. USDA Section 504 may fit very-low-income rural homeowners when the work removes a health or safety hazard.
Statewide, you can also ask about the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR) and the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Waiver. The Panhandle AAA office in Amarillo is at 415 SW 8th Ave., phone (806) 372-3381.
A Texas Medicaid waiver for aged (65+) or disabled members who need a nursing facility level of care, with a $7,500 lifetime cap for minor home modifications and $300 per year after that. Stair lifts are not listed, so coverage would need case-by-case medical-necessity approval through your STAR+PLUS managed care organization.
Serves residents of the 26-county Panhandle region, including Childress County, generally age 60 and over and their caregivers, and offers residential ramps and health maintenance supplies. Stair lifts are not listed; call (806) 331-2227 to ask.
Repair loans and grants for very-low-income rural homeowners to remove health or safety hazards, with grants limited to applicants 62 or older. Stair lifts are not listed; call (806) 468-8600 for current limits and to ask about your project.
A VA grant for medically needed structural home changes, up to $6,800 for service-connected veterans and $2,000 for others. It does not cover stair lifts, since stair glides are explicitly excluded.
Grants for veterans with specific serious service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA. Stair lifts are not listed as covered or excluded, so ask the VA about your case.
A non-profit that builds wheelchair ramps at no cost for low-income, mobility-impaired residents, with Childress listed in its Amarillo Region and a referral required. It does not install stair lifts; call (214) 558-0339.
A Center for Independent Living in Amarillo that assesses needs and may buy equipment for people with disabilities after approval. Stair lifts are not listed; call (806) 374-1400 to confirm Childress County coverage.
Older adults
415 SW 8th Ave., Amarillo, 79101
Veterans
3120 Eddy St, Amarillo, 79106
The STAR+PLUS waiver covers minor home modifications up to a $7,500 lifetime cap, but stair lifts are not on its list. Your managed care organization would have to approve one as medically necessary on a case-by-case basis.
No. HISA explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts. Veterans with certain serious service-connected disabilities can ask about the SAH or SHA grants, which do not mention stair lifts either way.
The Area Agency on Aging of the Panhandle serves Childress County residents generally age 60 and over and their caregivers. Call (806) 331-2227 to ask what they can provide.
No, it builds wheelchair ramps only. If your entry steps are the main problem, a free ramp through them may be worth considering, and you will need a referral from a healthcare provider, social worker, or agency.
It can if it is built for outdoor use. With July highs around 99°F and January lows around 26°F, we fit a weather cover and outdoor-rated parts.
USDA Section 504 grants are limited to very-low-income homeowners 62 or older who cannot get affordable credit, and the work must remove a health or safety hazard. Call (806) 468-8600 to check.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
