Wheelchair ramps in Belton and Temple
Temple's hospitals and the region's main VA medical center are here, and so are many older homes with raised porches. Here's what Belton and Temple families should know about getting a ramp.
Request a free estimateOr call (254) 276-5132
Belton & Temple at a glance
- Temple is Central Texas's medical hub
- Home to the region's main VA hospital
- Belton is the Bell County seat
- Many older homes with raised porches
Use the ramp calculator to size your entrance.
Ramps in Belton and Temple
Temple is the medical center of Central Texas. It's home to the Olin E. Teague Veterans' Medical Center, the main hospital of the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, and to one of the region's largest private hospital systems. Belton, just to the southwest, is the Bell County seat and home to the Area Agency on Aging of Central Texas.
That concentration of care means many ramp requests here start at a hospital discharge: a patient ready to go home, and a front entrance they can't safely get through. When time is short, a rental ramp can be installed quickly while a permanent solution is planned.
Older homes and raised porches
Both towns have many older neighborhoods, and older houses in Central Texas were often built on pier-and-beam foundations with raised front porches. That can mean a higher rise than a modern slab home, sometimes 30 inches or more.
- Higher entrances need longer ramps. At the common 1:12 slope, a 30 inch rise needs about 30 feet of ramp plus landings. Measure carefully before planning.
- Check the other doors. A back or side porch is sometimes lower and closer to the driveway.
- Consider a lift. Where a ramp would run past about 30 feet or won't fit the lot, a porch lift can be the better option.
- Mind the porch structure. An older porch should be checked for soundness before a ramp attaches to it, especially a wood ramp tied into the framing.
Veterans: the VA is right here
For veterans in Belton and Temple, the VA's HISA benefit is especially convenient. The Olin E. Teague Veterans' Medical Center at 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive in Temple provides prosthetics services, the department that handles home modification benefits like HISA, and its main number is (254) 778-4811.
Start with your VA primary care provider, who writes the prescription the application needs, then get an itemized quote from an installer. HISA covers permanent ramps but not portable ramps or porch lifts. Read the full HISA guide.
Other local help
The Area Agency on Aging of Central Texas, based in Belton, offers free Medicare counseling for Bell County and can point older adults toward local assistance programs. See what Medicare covers and what ramps typically cost before you call.
Belton and Temple ramp questions
Do you serve both Belton and Temple?
Yes. We connect homeowners in Belton, Temple, and nearby communities such as Salado and Morgan's Point Resort with local ramp installers.
Can a ramp be installed quickly for a hospital discharge?
Often, yes. Rental aluminum ramps can usually be installed within days, and the install itself typically takes a few hours. Mention the discharge date when you call.
Where do veterans in Temple apply for HISA?
Through the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System at the Olin E. Teague Veterans' Medical Center in Temple. Start with your VA primary care provider.
My house has a tall porch. Is a ramp still possible?
Usually, though it may be long. A 30 inch rise needs about 30 feet of ramp plus landings. If that won't fit, an L-shaped or switchback ramp, or a porch lift, may work better.
Request a free ramp estimate
Tell us a little about the entrance and who the ramp is for. A local installer will call you to set up a time to measure. There is no cost for the estimate and no obligation.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (254) 276-5132.
If you plan to use a VA HISA grant, check the box. The installer will know to write the quote in a form you can include with your VA paperwork.