Brenham's downtown historic district covers 38 acres and holds Classical Revival, Italianate and other buildings dating from 1861 onward. Many of those older homes and buildings have more than one story, and that is a common reason people in Washington County ask about a stair lift instead of moving.
Outside town, the county stretches across about 622 square miles of rolling hill country, with Burton and plenty of farmland between the towns. This page covers which kind of lift tends to fit the homes here and which local and state programs may help with the cost.
Most houses here are single-family homes, with townhouses, low-rise buildings, split-level homes and ranch-style homes mixed in. Each one asks something different of a stair lift.
A single straight flight in a two-story house or townhouse is usually the simplest job. The rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so plaster and original trim in an older Brenham home generally stay as they are.
Stairways with a landing, a turn or a curve need a curved rail built to that staircase. Split-level homes are their own case: several short runs between levels can mean more than one lift, so it helps to decide first which levels the person truly needs to reach.
A ranch-style home may have no indoor stairs at all, yet the porch or entry steps can still be the hardest part of the day. An outdoor stair lift built for weather is one answer for those steps.
For someone who uses a wheelchair, a platform lift or a ramp usually makes more sense than a seat lift. The Texas Ramp Project, listed below, builds free wheelchair ramps and has already built one in Washington County.
The county is split almost evenly between urban and rural, at 48.6% urban and 51.4% rural in the 2020 Census. Brenham sits on US-290 about 72 miles northwest of Houston, so rural homes here are still within reach for installation and service visits.
The 2020 Census put the median age in Washington County at 42.4, with 22.6% of residents age 65 or older. In a county where many families have farmed the same land for generations, staying in the house often matters more than finding a smaller one.
About 57.0% of residents own their homes, and owning is what lets you install a permanent lift without asking a landlord.
Of the programs listed below, the STAR+PLUS HCBS Waiver is the only one whose source says plainly that it can cover a stair lift. It is a Texas Medicaid waiver with a statewide interest list, so joining that list early matters.
The VA HISA grant does not cover stair glides, but it can pay for permanent changes such as ramps and widened doorways that often go along with a lift. Veterans can start with the Washington County Veterans Service Officer at the Courthouse Annex, 105 W. Main Street, Suite 102, in Brenham, (979) 277-6228.
For someone age 60 or older, the Brazos Valley Area Agency on Aging is a sensible first call to sort out options. Its office is at 3991 E. 29th St. in Bryan, (979) 595-2800. Statewide programs to ask about include the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR) and the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Waiver.
A Texas Medicaid waiver for adults 65+ or with a qualifying disability who meet nursing-facility level of care, and it can cover a stair lift case by case through the member's managed care organization. There is a statewide interest list, so call (877) 438-5658 to get started.
USDA Rural Development offers very-low-income rural homeowners loans up to $40,000 at 1% and, for those 62+, grants up to $10,000, combinable up to $50,000. The source mentions accessibility changes but does not name stair lifts; use USDA's online office locator to find your office.
A VA benefit of up to $6,800 or up to $2,000 lifetime, depending on the condition, for permanent home-access changes such as ramps and doorway widening. It does not cover stair glides.
VA grants for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities, with FY2026 maximums of $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA. They are built for major home adaptations, and the source does not mention stair lifts.
Serves people 60+ in Washington County and six neighboring counties with information, referral and in-home services. The source does not name a stair lift or home-modification grant; call (979) 595-2801.
A nonprofit that builds wheelchair ramps at no cost with volunteer labor, and it is active in Washington County. It builds ramps only, not stair lifts; call (214) 558-0339.
Serves people with disabilities in Washington County with assistive technology, an equipment loan and recycling program, and housing-access help. The source does not name stair lifts specifically; call (979) 776-5505.
Older adults
3991 E. 29th St., Bryan, 77802
Veterans
Washington County Courthouse Annex, 105 W. Main Street, Suite 102, Brenham, 77833
It can through the STAR+PLUS HCBS Waiver, which approves home modifications, including stair lifts, case by case. There is a statewide interest list for waiver slots, and waits vary by region. Call (877) 438-5658.
No. The HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. It can pay for permanent changes like ramps, roll-in showers and wider doorways. The Washington County Veterans Service Officer in Brenham, (979) 277-6228, can help with VA applications.
Yes. The Brazos Valley Area Agency on Aging serves Washington County residents 60 and older. Its source does not list a stair lift grant, but it handles information, referral and in-home services. Call (979) 595-2801.
Usually, yes. Older multi-story homes in Brenham's historic district are a common reason people here look at stair lifts. Straight flights take a standard rail, while stairs with turns or landings need a curved rail built to fit.
The USDA Section 504 program offers repair loans to very-low-income rural homeowners and grants to those 62 and older. The source covers accessibility changes but does not name stair lifts, so ask USDA directly through its online office locator.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
