Mills County centers on Goldthwaite, the county seat, where the 1913 Mills County Courthouse still anchors the town square. Past the historic downtown, the county opens into rolling countryside and working ranchland, with older farmhouses and ranch-style houses that date back to settlement in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Those older homes were not built with aging in place in mind. Below, we walk through how common Mills County house styles affect the choice of a stair lift, and which state, federal and local programs may help with the cost.
Most homes here are single-family, detached houses. That usually means one household, one staircase and a clear decision about where the lift rail goes.
Split-level homes are the trickier case. They often have short flights broken up by landings or turns, and a rail that follows a turn needs a curved stair lift built to the measurements of that staircase. Sometimes two straight lifts on separate flights is the simpler answer, and we look at both during a visit.
Older farmhouses can have narrow or steep stairs. A straight lift can still work, but we check stair width and the space at the top and bottom before recommending a model.
A ranch-style home may keep everything on one floor, yet the trouble often starts at the front or back door. Porch steps and entry stairs are common on rural properties, and they can be as hard to manage as an indoor flight.
Outdoor stair lifts are built for weather exposure and can cover entry steps. When a wheelchair is involved, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat, since the rider stays in the chair.
About 22.2% of Mills County residents are 65 or older, and 72.0% of households own their homes. For many of those owners, staying put means fixing the one part of the house that has become hard to use.
Note that one of them, HISA, does not cover stair glides, so read the details before applying.
No program on this page names stair lifts as a guaranteed benefit, so plan to confirm coverage before installation. The STAR+PLUS waiver lists minor home modifications, and USDA Section 504 grants can pay for accessibility work for qualifying owners 62 and older.
For seniors, the Area Agency on Aging is a good first call for benefits counseling and referrals. The Central Texas AAA office is at 2180 N. Main St., Belton, 76513, phone (254) 933-7075.
Veterans can start with Mills County Veteran Services at 1011 Fourth Street, Goldthwaite, 76844, phone (325) 451-7664. Other statewide programs to ask about include the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR) and the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Waiver.
A statewide Medicaid managed-care waiver for adults 21 and older who meet nursing-facility level of care, covering services that include adaptive aids and minor home modifications. Stair lifts are not named in the source, so confirm with your assigned managed care organization; call (877) 782-6440.
Very-low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas, including Mills County, can get repair loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest, and owners 62 and older may qualify for grants up to $10,000 for accessibility or safety work. Stair lifts are not named specifically, so check with the USDA Rural Development office serving Mills County.
A lifetime grant of $6,800 or $2,000, depending on the veteran's disability, for structural changes such as ramps and accessible bathrooms. It does not cover stair lifts, since the source excludes stair glides and porch lifts.
Grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026. The source does not mention stair lifts among covered adaptations, so ask the VA directly.
Serves people 60 and older and their caregivers in seven counties, including Mills, with benefits counseling, care coordination and referrals. It does not list a stair lift program, but it can point you to other resources; call (254) 770-2330.
A Center for Independent Living whose service region includes Mills County, serving Texans with disabilities, often on a sliding-scale fee. Stair lifts are not named in the source, so call (210) 281-1878 to ask.
Older adults
2180 N. Main St., Belton, 76513
Veterans
1011 Fourth Street, Goldthwaite, 76844
No. The HISA grant excludes removable equipment such as stair glides and porch lifts. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts either way, so a veteran should ask the VA or Mills County Veteran Services at (325) 451-7664.
USDA Section 504 grants require the applicant to be 62 or older, but the repair loan has no such age rule in the source. STAR+PLUS starts at age 21 for people who are Medicaid-eligible and meet nursing-facility level of care.
Often, yes. A curved lift can follow the turn at a landing, or two straight lifts can serve each flight. We decide after measuring the stairs.
Yes. Mills County and Goldthwaite are a qualifying rural area under USDA Rural Development, though income and asset limits still apply.
The Area Agency on Aging of Central Texas is a good starting point for people 60 and older and their caregivers. You can reach AAACT at (254) 770-2330 or the Central Texas AAA office in Belton at (254) 933-7075.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
