Much of Matador, the Motley County seat, was built in the early 20th century. The restored 1914 Hotel Matador and the 1916 Traweek House, a two-story masonry building, are examples of that era. Homes from this period in small Panhandle towns tend to have raised entries, multi-step porches and interior stairs that were never planned for anyone who uses a cane or walker.
Few newer single-level homes have gone up to replace that older stock, in Matador or in Roaring Springs. For a family in either town, the question is usually not whether to move but how to make the stairs in the current house safe. This page walks through what the local homes and land mean for a stair lift, and which programs may help with the cost.
Motley County is small, with a population of 983 across its 2 towns. About 26.8% of residents are 65 or older, and 76.4% own their homes. That is a lot of people aging in houses they own and plan to stay in.
If someone in your family served, it is worth checking VA benefits early, though as the payment section explains, not every VA grant will pay for a stair lift.
Housing here is mostly single-family homes, detached houses, ranch-style homes and split-level homes. A ranch-style home may have no interior stairs at all, so the trouble spot is often the front or back entry instead.
Split-level homes are different. They usually have short flights between levels, and a person may need to reach more than one of them. Sometimes a straight lift on the most-used flight solves the daily problem. If the stairs turn at a landing, a curved lift built to that staircase is the usual answer.
In older two-story homes like those from Matador's early 20th-century era, interior stairs can be steep or narrow. We measure the width, the turn and the landings before recommending anything, because older stairs rarely match standard dimensions.
Motley County sits in the Rolling Plains, and the land is described as rough and broken, with elevations from 1,928 to 3,034 feet. Soils run from sand to red and black clay. Homes built on uneven ground often end up with multi-step porches and raised entries.
For those steps, an outdoor stair lift or a vertical platform lift may make more sense than a ramp, which can need a long run on a sloped lot. An outdoor unit has to handle weather, and the ground under any base or landing needs to be firm. We look at the footing during the home visit.
The county also sits roughly 80 miles northeast of Lubbock, the nearest metro area. That drive matters when planning service, so ask any installer how they handle repairs and maintenance at that distance.
The local economy is rooted in agriculture and ranching, and many older homeowners here look to assistance programs before paying out of pocket. Several programs serve Motley County, but none of them names stair lifts as a covered item in the sources we reviewed. Coverage is decided case by case, so the first call matters.
A good starting point is the South Plains AAA at (806) 762-8721, 1323 58th St., Lubbock, TX 79412. Veterans can also reach Workforce Solutions South Plains at (806) 765-5038, 2002 W. Loop 289 Suite 117, Lubbock, TX 79407.
Statewide, you can also ask about the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR) and the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Waiver. The programs listed below are the ones we have specific details on for this county.
A Texas Medicaid waiver for residents 65 and older, or 21 and older with a disability, who meet a nursing facility level of care; it covers ramps, grab bars and bathroom changes, but stair lifts are not listed, so confirm with the member's managed-care service coordinator. There may be an interest list.
In-kind minor home repair help for homeowners 60 and older in the 15-county South Plains area, which includes Motley County; stair lifts are not named, so treat it as a referral point. Call (806) 687-0940 or 888-418-6564.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% fixed interest over 20 years, and grants up to $10,000 lifetime for homeowners 62 and older who cannot repay a loan, for very-low-income rural homeowners; all of Motley County counts as rural. Accessibility features like ramps are eligible, but stair lifts are not listed and need case-by-case approval through USDA Rural Development.
A lifetime VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability rating, for medically necessary alterations to a veteran's home. Stair glides are explicitly excluded; call (800) 827-1000 for other uses.
Grants for veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities, with SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 lifetime (FY2026). Stair lifts are not listed by name; call (800) 827-1000 to ask.
A Lubbock-based nonprofit that serves Motley County residents with a disability of any age, with free referral, skills training, peer counseling and advocacy. No stair lift fund is listed; call (806) 795-5433 for referrals.
Older adults
1323 58th St., Lubbock, 79412
Veterans
2002 W. Loop 289 Suite 117, Lubbock, 79407
Not through the HISA grant, which explicitly excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not list stair lifts by name, so call the VA at (800) 827-1000 to ask about your situation.
The STAR+PLUS HCBS waiver covers Texas residents 21 and older with a disability who qualify, and LIFE, Inc. serves people with a disability of any age. The Area Agency on Aging program is for adults 60 and older.
Yes. The whole county qualifies as rural for the USDA Section 504 program. You still need to own and live in the home and meet the very-low-income limit of 50% of area median income.
An outdoor stair lift or a vertical platform lift are the common choices for raised entries and multi-step porches. Which one fits depends on the number of steps, the space and the ground near the door.
Start with the South Plains AAA at (806) 762-8721. They can point you toward the Care Coordination program and other local help before you commit to anything.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
