Much of the housing in Anson, the county seat, and the other long-established towns of Jones County dates from the era between 1900 and 1930, or earlier. Many of those houses follow 2-story farmhouse or ranch-town layouts, and most were built without zero-step entries or a primary bedroom on the first floor.
That leaves a lot of longtime owners in Hamlin, Anson, Hawley and Lueders with a staircase between them and the bedroom they have slept in for decades. This page covers which kind of stair lift fits the homes we see here, and which programs Jones County residents can call about paying for one.
A 2-story farmhouse from the early 20th century usually has one main staircase, and it is often narrower and steeper than what is built today. When that staircase runs straight from bottom to top, a straight stair lift is usually the simplest and least costly fit.
Older stairs sometimes turn at a landing or include a winder step near the top. In that case we look at a curved rail, which is built to follow the exact shape of your staircase. We measure every home in person before recommending anything, because two farmhouses from the same decade can have very different stairs.
Ranch-style homes are mostly on one floor, but many still have a few steps at the entry, down to a den or into a basement. Split-level homes have short flights between each level, and a lift for those needs careful planning around the landings.
Townhouses and walk-up apartments bring their own questions, such as shared stairwells or rules from the property owner. If you rent, talk with the owner before planning any installation. For steps outside the house, an outdoor-rated lift or a platform lift may be the better choice, especially for someone who uses a wheelchair.
Jones County covers 937 square miles of rolling plains along the Clear Fork of the Brazos River, and the 2020 Census counted its population as 100% rural. Healthcare options inside the county are limited, and single-story or assisted-living housing is not always close by.
About 76.5% of residents own their homes, and 19.1% are 65 or older. For many of those owners, adding a stair lift to the house they already have is far more practical than selling and moving. It keeps them near family, neighbors and the town they know.
Be clear on one point first: the Texas STAR+PLUS Minor Home Modification benefit does not include stair lifts. Its approved list covers things like ramps, grab bars, handrails and door widening, and elevators are explicitly excluded.
Other programs below do not say yes or no about stair lifts, so the only way to know is to call and ask. Good first calls are the West Central Texas AAA at (325) 672-8544 for residents 60 and older, and the Jones County Veterans Service Officer in Anson at (325) 823-3812 for veterans. Homeowners 62 and older with very low income can also ask USDA Rural Development about Section 504 repair grants.
You may also hear about other statewide programs, including the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR), the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Waiver, and VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics). The ADRC of West Central Texas can help you sort out which ones to look into.
A Medicaid managed-care benefit with a $7,500 lifetime limit per member for minor home modifications, plus up to $300 per year for repairs once that cap is used. Stair lifts are not on the approved list, though ramps, grab bars and handrails are; call (877) 782-6440.
A statewide Medicaid waiver for people 21 or older who meet nursing facility level of care, with income up to 300% of the SSI monthly limit and countable assets capped at $2,000. It covers adaptive aids, medical equipment and minor home modifications, but the source does not mention stair lifts; call (877) 782-6440.
Serves Jones County residents 60 or older and their family caregivers with repairs or modifications essential for health and safety, depending on funding and screening. Stair lifts are not mentioned in the source; call (325) 793-8417.
An information, referral and application-assistance hub for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers and veterans in a 19-county area that includes Jones County. It does not fund equipment directly and the source does not mention stair lifts; call (855) 937-2372.
Federal grants for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities, with FY2026 caps of up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA, usable up to 6 times over a lifetime. The source lists work like ramps and widened doorways but does not mention stair lifts; call (800) 827-1000.
Offers 1% fixed-interest repair loans up to $40,000 and grants up to $10,000 for very low income homeowners, with grant applicants required to be at least 62. Grants can make a home accessible for a household member with a disability, though stair lifts are not named, and each address must be confirmed as USDA-eligible.
Older adults
1025 EN 10th St., Abilene, 79601
Veterans
1100 W. Court Plaza, Anson, 79501
No. The STAR+PLUS Minor Home Modification benefit covers items such as ramps, grab bars, handrails and door widening, but stair lifts are not on its approved list and elevators are explicitly excluded.
Yes. The Area Agency on Aging of West Central Texas offers Residential Repair and Chore Maintenance services to Jones County residents 60 and older, depending on funding and screening. Call (325) 793-8417, or reach the West Central Texas AAA office in Abilene at (325) 672-8544.
Start with the Jones County Veterans Service Officer at 1100 W. Court Plaza in Anson, (325) 823-3812. They can help with VA housing grants such as SAH and SHA, which do not name stair lifts in their published examples, so ask directly.
Usually, yes. A straight staircase takes a straight rail, while stairs that turn at a landing need a curved rail made to fit. We measure the stairs in person before recommending either one.
Jones County is entirely rural, so it is very likely to be in a USDA-eligible area, but each address still has to be checked with the USDA property eligibility tool. Grant applicants must be at least 62 and meet the very low income limits.
The ADRC of West Central Texas at (855) 937-2372 offers information, referral and application help for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers and veterans in Jones County.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
