Mitchell County stretches across 916 square miles of flat-to-rolling West Texas ground, with Interstate 20 running through it and Colorado City serving as the county seat. The other towns, Lake Colorado City, Loraine and Westbrook, are small and spread out, so getting help at home often matters more here than in a big city.
Much of the housing went up in the early-to-mid 20th century, when the county grew around farming and oil production. Most of those houses are single-story ranch and frame homes, but the older two-story homes from that era still have stairs that can become hard to climb for someone who wants to stay put.
A two-story frame house from the oil-era years usually has one straight run of stairs between floors. That layout is the simplest case for a straight stair lift, which mounts to the stair treads rather than the wall.
Split-level homes are different. They tend to have several short flights, and a lift may need to follow a turn or cover more than one section, which points toward a curved rail. We measure each flight before recommending one or the other.
A ranch-style home may have no indoor stairs at all, but the front or back entry often does. For exterior steps, an outdoor stair lift or a vertical platform lift can be an option, depending on the height and the space at the top and bottom.
Walk-up apartments and townhouses bring their own questions, since shared or rented stairways may need the owner's approval before anything is installed. It is worth asking the property owner early.
About 17.0% of Mitchell County residents are 65 or older, and 76.0% of households own their homes. Owning the home makes a permanent lift easier to arrange and opens the door to repair programs that require the applicant to live in a house they own.
That is a reason to check VA benefits early, while also knowing which VA grants do not pay for stair lifts.
The county has about 9.9 people per square mile, and Colorado City is the only real population center. Specialized medical and social services are often a long drive away.
Because of that, it helps to gather everything at once: stair measurements, the user's mobility needs, and any program paperwork. One well-planned visit saves trips for families living out near Lake Colorado City or Westbrook.
Cost is a real barrier for many seniors here, and Colorado City has historically had lower household income than the county overall. Private pay is not the only route, though.
The USDA Section 504 program explicitly lists stairlifts for multi-story homes, and Mitchell County qualifies as a rural area. Other programs, including the local Area Agency on Aging repair program and STAR+PLUS, decide case by case. The VA HISA grant excludes stair glides. Details for each are listed below.
Repairs or modifications essential for the health and safety of adults 60+ in the 19-county region that includes Mitchell County; stair lifts are not named, so scope is decided case by case. Call (325) 672-8544.
Federal Rural Development grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners 62+ and loans up to $40,000 at 1% interest, with stairlifts for multi-story homes explicitly listed as covered. Mitchell County qualifies as a USDA rural area.
A VA grant for home access changes such as permanent ramps and roll-in showers, with lifetime caps of $6,800 or $2,000. It does not cover stair lifts; the VA explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts.
Up to $126,526 in FY2026 for veterans with certain severe service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home. The source names ramps and doorway widening and does not mention stair lifts.
Up to $25,350 in FY2026 for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities such as loss of use of both hands. Stair lifts are not listed among the examples, which are ramps and doorway widening.
A Medicaid waiver for seniors 65+ or adults with disabilities who qualify for nursing-facility level of care, with home modifications typically capped at about $7,500 lifetime. Stair lifts are not named, so ask your STAR+PLUS service coordinator.
Older adults
1025 EN 10th St., Abilene, 79601
Veterans
4500 South Lancaster Road, Dallas, 75216-7167
The Area Agency on Aging repair program serves adults 60 and older, and the USDA grant requires age 62+. The USDA Section 504 loan has no such age rule in the facts we have, and STAR+PLUS covers adults with disabilities as well as seniors 65+.
Yes. The program requires a USDA-eligible rural area with a population under 35,000, and Mitchell County and Colorado City qualify. Income limits and asset limits of $15,000, or $20,000 if 62+, also apply.
The HISA grant will not, since it excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not mention stair lifts, so ask directly. The Texas Veterans Commission Dallas Office can be reached at (214) 857-0444.
The West Central Texas AAA is at 1025 EN 10th St., Abilene 79601. The phone number is (325) 672-8544.
Often, yes. Outdoor stair lifts and vertical platform lifts are both used for exterior steps, and the right choice depends on the height of the steps and the room at each end.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
