Val Verde County covers 3,233 square miles of the southern Edwards Plateau, with the Rio Grande along its southern edge and the Amistad Reservoir to the northwest. Del Rio, the county seat, is the only significant population center. Nearby communities include Val Verde Park, Laughlin AFB, Cienegas Terrace and Lake View.
Homes here range from older neighborhoods near the historic San Felipe Springs settlement to newer single-story ranch-style houses. Even a one-story house can have steps at the porch or garage door, and split-level homes and walk-up apartments bring their own stair problems. This page covers which kind of lift fits which home and where to ask about help paying for one.
A straight stair lift is the simplest fit. It works on a single run of stairs with no turns or landings, which is common in many single-family homes and townhouses. It usually takes the least time to measure and install.
Curved lifts are built for staircases that turn, wrap around a landing or change direction. Each rail is made to fit one staircase, so we measure the stairs before giving any quote. Split-level homes often have short flights between floors, and each flight needs its own look.
Ranch-style homes are mostly on one floor, but the trouble spot is often the entry steps. An outdoor stair lift or a platform lift can handle porch or garage steps. Outdoor units are built to stand up to sun and weather.
The county averages about 15 people per square mile, and Del Rio holds most of the population. Families outside town often face long drives to reach installers, medical equipment suppliers or home modification contractors, many of whom are based in Del Rio or San Antonio.
If you live far out, ask up front how service calls and repairs will work. Plan the measuring visit and installation together when possible so fewer trips are needed.
About 13.9% of Val Verde County's 41,728 residents are 65 or older, and 68.1% of households own their home. Owners can make permanent changes such as mounting a rail. Renters will need the landlord's okay first.
Veterans should check VA benefits before paying out of pocket, but read the program details below closely, because not every VA grant covers stair lifts.
Be clear on one point first. The VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides, so it will not pay for a stair lift. Other VA grants and Texas programs do not name stair lifts either way, so you have to ask each one directly.
A good first call is the Middle Rio Grande AAA at (830) 876-3533, at 307 W. Nopal St. in Carrizo Springs. It serves Val Verde County seniors and can point you to local resources. Veterans can reach Val Verde County Veterans Services at (830) 774-7548, 508 E. 11th Street in Del Rio.
Statewide, you can also ask about the STAR+PLUS Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver and the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Waiver. Each program is summarized below.
A lifetime VA grant for medically necessary structural changes, up to $6,800 for service-connected disabilities or $2,000 for other eligible disabilities. Stair lifts are not covered because the VA lists stair glides as excluded equipment; call (800) 827-1000 with questions about other changes.
VA grants for veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities to buy, build or adapt a home they own, with SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 for FY2026. The source does not mention stair lifts, so ask the VA at (800) 827-1000 whether one would qualify.
Low-interest repair loans up to $40,000 and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas, with grants limited to people 62 and older who cannot repay a loan. Stair lifts are not listed, so eligibility would be case by case; call (800) 414-1226.
A Texas grant of up to $22,500 for accessibility changes for owners or renters with a disability whose household income is at or below 80% of the area median. Stair lifts are not named, and the program is not offered everywhere, so check whether a provider serves Val Verde County.
A Medicaid service that provides personal attendant and related supports for eligible Texans living at home. Stair lifts and home modifications are not listed in the source.
Information, referral, case management and benefits counseling for Texans 60 and older, adults with disabilities and caregivers. It has no stair lift fund listed but can refer you to home modification resources; call (800) 252-9240 or the Middle Rio Grande AAA at (830) 876-3533.
Older adults
307 W. Nopal St., Carrizo Springs, 78834
Veterans
508 E. 11th Street, Del Rio, 78840
No. The VA lists stair glides as excluded removable equipment under HISA. Ask about SAH or SHA grants instead, though those do not name stair lifts either, by calling (800) 827-1000 or Val Verde County Veterans Services at (830) 774-7548.
Val Verde County Veterans Services is at 508 E. 11th Street in Del Rio, phone (830) 774-7548. VA facility support for Del Rio veterans is typically coordinated through the South Texas VA Health Care System in San Antonio.
Possibly for the entry. Many one-story homes have steps at the porch or garage, and an outdoor stair lift or platform lift can handle those.
Yes, the Middle Rio Grande AAA serves Texans 60 and older in Val Verde County with referrals and benefits counseling. Call (830) 876-3533 or the statewide line at (800) 252-9240.
Renters need landlord permission before any lift is installed. The Amy Young Barrier Removal Program accepts renters with a disability who meet the income limit, but it does not name stair lifts and may not serve every county.
Yes, but plan for travel time. Del Rio is the county's only significant population center, and most installers and suppliers are based there or in San Antonio, so ask how repairs and service calls will be handled.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
