Menard County has one town, Menard, the county seat, where the Menard County Courthouse anchors the square and Pioneer Rest Cemetery holds graves from the 19th century. Outside town, homes sit on rolling Edwards Plateau land along the San Saba River, spread across 902 square miles. Most of those houses were built a long time ago, and few were designed with accessibility in mind.
That shapes how families here handle stairs as a parent gets older. With Menard often the only nearby place with services, staying put and adapting the house is usually more practical than moving. This page covers which kinds of lifts fit local homes and which programs may help pay for one.
The local mix is single-family homes, detached houses, ranch-style homes and modular houses. In the older town core and on rural ranch properties, you are almost always retrofitting a house that already exists rather than picking a newer single-story build.
A straight indoor staircase is the simplest case, and a straight lift mounts to the stair treads, not the wall. Stairs that turn or have a landing need a curved rail built to that staircase. On ranch-style and modular houses, the steps that cause trouble are often outside, at the porch or entry, where an outdoor lift or a platform lift is the better fit.
The county sits between 1,700 and 2,400 feet on hilly ground covered in live oak, juniper and mesquite. Homes built on uneven lots can end up with raised entries and several outdoor steps even when the inside is one level.
An outdoor stair lift is built to handle weather on an exposed set of steps. If a wheelchair user needs to get in and out, a platform lift carries the chair itself. We measure both the inside stairs and the entry before suggesting anything, because the outside steps are sometimes the real problem.
About 36.9% of Menard County residents are 65 or older, and 71.8% own their homes. That combination is why so many local families ask about modifying the house instead of selling it.
If someone in the household served, check the VA programs listed below before paying out of pocket, though the rules on stair lifts differ from one VA benefit to the next.
The local economy is small and resource-based, so most help comes from state and federal programs rather than county funds. The two programs whose sources name stair lifts or accessibility changes directly are the Texas STAR+PLUS waiver and the TDHCA housing repair program.
For veterans, the HISA benefit excludes stair glides, while SAH and SHA grants do not list stair lifts either way. USDA Section 504 funds repairs and hazard removal for rural homeowners. Statewide, it is also worth asking about the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR) and the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Waiver.
The Area Agency on Aging of the Concho Valley serves Menard County and is a good first call to sort out which program fits. Their office line is (325) 223-5704, and the Concho Valley AAA office in San Angelo is at (325) 944-9666.
A Texas Medicaid waiver for residents 65 or older, or with a qualifying disability, who need long-term support; its minor home modification benefit can cover a stair lift, with income and asset limits and an interest list that can mean long waits. Call (877) 438-5658 or apply through YourTexasBenefits.com.
A VA benefit for enrolled patients with a medically necessary need, up to $6,800 for service-connected cases or $2,000 for other qualifying disabilities. It does not cover stair lifts, since stair glides are listed as excluded removable equipment.
Grants for veteran homeowners with qualifying service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026. The VA source mentions ramps and widened doorways but does not list stair lifts, so confirm with the VA through VA.gov.
Loans up to $40,000 and grants up to $10,000 (grants for owners 62 or older) to repair homes or remove health and safety hazards in eligible rural areas. Stair lifts are not listed specifically, and eligibility must be checked by address on the USDA map.
A statewide program for owner-occupied homes with household income below 80% of area median income, offering up to $45,000 in repairs that can include accessibility modifications. The local administering office for Menard County was not confirmed, so ask the Area Agency on Aging for a referral.
The regional aging agency for 13 counties including Menard County, offering benefits counseling, care coordination, caregiver support and referrals; it is not a stair lift fund itself. Call (325) 223-5704, or (325) 396-4642 for the Menard Community Center site at 301 W Travis St.
Older adults
2801 W. Loop 306, Suite A, San Angelo, 76904
Veterans
202 Henry O. Flipper St., San Angelo, 76903
Yes, for those who qualify. The STAR+PLUS waiver covers minor home modifications, and a stair lift can qualify when it supports safety and independence. Slots are limited and assigned by signup date, so get on the interest list early by calling (877) 438-5658.
STAR+PLUS also accepts Texas residents with a qualifying disability who need long-term services. The USDA 504 loan has no age floor, though its grants require the homeowner to be 62 or older.
No. HISA specifically excludes stair glides along with porch lifts and portable ramps. Veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities can ask about SAH or SHA grants, though those sources do not name stair lifts either.
Start with the Area Agency on Aging of the Concho Valley at (325) 223-5704. Locally, the Menard Community Center at 301 W Travis St can be reached at (325) 396-4642. They can help you work through STAR+PLUS, USDA 504 and other options.
Often the issue is the steps up to the porch or front door rather than an inside staircase. An outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can handle those entry steps, and we look at them during the home measurement.
Workforce Solutions Concho Valley is at 202 Henry O. Flipper St. in San Angelo, phone (325) 795-4245. VA housing grants can also be applied for online, by mail or in person through VA.gov.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
