It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Old Town Albuquerque gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Albuquerque, NM is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I have been with Always Best Care for almost 5 yrs. This is an amazing company.”
“Great place to work! Very friendly people and excellent work environment.”
“Always best care is an extremely fast-growing company and a wonderful place to work! The”
“Awesome place to work, friendly staff. Caregivers are the heart of the agency. Our clients”
“This is a fantastic company of compassionate and hard working people who genuinely care about”
“Always best care is an extremely fast-growing company and a wonderful place to work! The”
“The service that my mom has received has been a total blessing. The”
“Great company to work for. Love the staff”
“Darlene, Sara, Annalee, and Sam have been so awesome ! My live in Mother is”
“I have been working for Always Best Care for 4 1/2 years and that should”
“I love working for this company! They are one of the best when it comes”
“Working for an in home health care agency committed to providing the best care possible”
“Amazing place to work for. Highly recommend. Flexible schedule foe caregivers and amazing supportive staff.”
“I have been working for this company 7 years and in all my time with”
“I've been with Always Best Care, Vacaville, about a year and a half and I”
“Here's what I posted on Google and Facebook: Life would have been a lot harder”
“ABC is absolutely amazing! The staff is very caring and very friendly. always go above”
“Always Best Care is the best! Darlene and her team are exceptional and provide”
“Kathy McClure is a problem solver. She assisted us on Long Term Care Reimbursement and”
“I was very satisfied with the professional care Always Best care provided to my father.”
“Nate and Charlene are the best in their field. It has been a pleasure getting”
“Dave and his staff go above and beyond with their care. They all take special”
“I have been with Always Best Care for almost 5 yrs. This is an amazing company. We not only care about our clients but the company also takes care of their employees.”
“Great place to work! Very friendly people and excellent work environment.”
“Always best care is an extremely fast-growing company and a wonderful place to work! The CEO truly cares about each individual, welcomes creativity, and leads by example. The culture at Always best care is the best I've ever worked for and everyone is authentic and loves what they do. Training processes are great and really help people to feel comfortable in each position. The Supervisors are always willing to help and will take time out of their day to dedicate to helping you if needed.”
“Awesome place to work, friendly staff. Caregivers are the heart of the agency. Our clients really appreciate us.”
“This is a fantastic company of compassionate and hard working people who genuinely care about making a difference in people’s lives. They go above and beyond the call of duty to provide the best quality care to people in the community.”
“Always best care is an extremely fast-growing company and a wonderful place to work! The CEO truly cares about each individual, welcomes creativity, and leads by example. The culture at Always best care is the best I've ever worked for and everyone is authentic and loves what they do. Training processes are great and really help people to feel comfortable in each position. The Supervisors are always willing to help and will take time out of their day to dedicate to helping you if needed.”
“The service that my mom has received has been a total blessing. The team at Always Best Care Albuquerque has done an amazing job getting my mom the care and attention that she has needed ever since she was discharged from the hospital. My mom had been treated with kindness, care and respect. Highly recommend”
“Great company to work for. Love the staff”
“Darlene, Sara, Annalee, and Sam have been so awesome ! My live in Mother is 92 years old and if left alone, she would blowup the microwave oven, burn something on the stove top, or toaster oven, let the 3 dogs out 25 times, and feed them snacks they should not have. I work, and with the daily care from Always Best Care, I don't worry over my mother's antics while I'm not home. My wife and I are cyclists and tennis players, and we workout at the gym also. When we have days off from work, we can enjoy hours of endurance training knowing my Mom is receiving comfort, company and care. Thank you Always Best Care ! We love you.”
“I have been working for Always Best Care for 4 1/2 years and that should say it all, but I will elaborate. The company makes sure you are part of a team. The pay is good, and the hours are good. There is an open door policy to make sure the caregivers experience is enhanced by strong support. If your are looking to work with a team that has your best interest and that of client in mind then then don’t hesitate to consider Always Best Care.”
“I love working for this company! They are one of the best when it comes too making sure their staff has the support and essentials that are needed for work. Communication is amazing. I can honestly say this is byfar my favorite company I have worked for.”
“Working for an in home health care agency committed to providing the best care possible to clients in need, is extremely rewarding work.”
“Amazing place to work for. Highly recommend. Flexible schedule foe caregivers and amazing supportive staff.”
“I have been working for this company 7 years and in all my time with this company I have been blown away at how much they support the caregivers and there ability to hold the caregivers needs and concerns as high as there clients is why I have been an employee of this company for so long. The owner has truly created an environment that puts the focus of care for the client's and work continuity for the caregiver as her highest priority and this is why I have been truly blessed to be employed with this company.”
“I've been with Always Best Care, Vacaville, about a year and a half and I am very pleased with the service. Their Caregivers are very kind and competent helpers. I would recommend this service to anyone and I have recommend this service to several of my friends.”
“Here's what I posted on Google and Facebook: Life would have been a lot harder without Always Best Care in my life, I have COPD and I am on oxygen full time at level 4 so doing daily chores are out question without my caregiver Ricci Anthony who has been taking tremendous care of me for 3 years this August 2022 and I thank God everyday for him. Every time he arrives he immediately says Hi checks in with me to see how I am doing. As well as, every time he departs I thank him for all that he does for me and I tell him I love him Ricci replies in same likeness. Ricci and I are incredible friends, it’s closer to a dad and son relationship. We’re both strong Christian me. As for Chelsea who does Intake and is the Schedules for Always Best Care equally an amazing individual. Don’t let her young age fool you on the contrary she is a powerhouse. She’s highly a professional, she’s industrious, highly intelligent, she’s a great friend and you can always depend on her to be in support for you. Always Best Care is always best care.”
“ABC is absolutely amazing! The staff is very caring and very friendly. always go above and beyond. They have great communication between Clients and Staff.”
“Always Best Care is the best! Darlene and her team are exceptional and provide excellent service to their clients. I thoroughly enjoy working with them. Call them today for all your home care needs!”
“Kathy McClure is a problem solver. She assisted us on Long Term Care Reimbursement and took us thru the process smoothly.”
“I was very satisfied with the professional care Always Best care provided to my father. Our caregiver was fantastic to work with and always easy to reach when I had any questions. Always Best Care and their staff showed so much care and compassion towards my father, I always knew they were taking excellent care of them. I would highly recommend them to any family.”
“Nate and Charlene are the best in their field. It has been a pleasure getting to know you and your company.”
“Dave and his staff go above and beyond with their care. They all take special interest with their clients. Also a very helpful resource in future planning and current ideas. Trust your parents to these people - they will not let you down.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Loma del Norte Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Antiquity Restaurant or visit Albuquerque official new mexico scenic historical, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Albuquerque, NM, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Albuquerque, NM understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Albuquerque, NM 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
AFR contains 2 bosque fires near Tingley Beach 6:30 p.m.ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Albuquerque Fire Rescue units responded to two fires that sparked Thursday afternoon in the Rio Grande bosque near Tingley Beach.Both fires have been contained after burning five acres total. One fire burned on the east side of the river and the other on the west side.AFR Lt. Jason Fejer said crews first responded around 1:37 p.m. They found flame lengths between 10 and 15 feet. They attacked the fires at all angles, including from an APD...
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Albuquerque Fire Rescue units responded to two fires that sparked Thursday afternoon in the Rio Grande bosque near Tingley Beach.
Both fires have been contained after burning five acres total. One fire burned on the east side of the river and the other on the west side.
AFR Lt. Jason Fejer said crews first responded around 1:37 p.m. They found flame lengths between 10 and 15 feet. They attacked the fires at all angles, including from an APD airboat on the Rio Grande. By 3:04 p.m., they contained the fire. By 8:49 p.m., they brought it under control – and declared it out 13 minutes later.
They determined the fire was man-made “with multiple origin points identified.”
As questions rise about the number of fires in the bosque over the last few days, Fejer says that all of the starts are unrelated, and they do suspect they are being human set.
“So far, there’s nothing to tie all the fires together other than proximity and time and location. The fires definitely are suspicious in nature. We haven’t had any dry lightning or storms coming through. They do appear to be human set, so that’s what we’re working with now,” said Fejer.
AFR is also reminding residents that burning in the bosque is strictly prohibited. Also, due to the increase in bosque fires, the Level 1 patrol that has been in effect since May is now being upgraded to a Level 2 patrol Friday.
“What that entails is active, actively patrolling these areas from noon until 7:30 p.m. What we started this morning was moving that time of patrol up to 8 o’clock, so we added four hours to it. When we get to Level 2 which we will implement tomorrow, it’s that same time frame, we’re just adding more resources to those patrols, so there will be more units out here at once actively patrolling the area,” said Fejer.
If you see any fire activity, be sure to call 911. If you see any encampments or suspicious activity that is a non-emergency, you can call 311 to report it.
This is at least the fourth fire in and around the bosque this week.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Park Square Market, a brand new food hall in uptown Albuquerque, officially opened its doors to the public Wednesday.The same developers behind the popular Sawmill Market developed this new market.“This will be a neighborhood market. This will be a place for people who live in this area, both in the Uptown area and kind of the northeast heights,” said Adrian Perez, the president and COO of Heritage Companies.The Park Square Market is bringing around a dozen food and drink options to ...
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Park Square Market, a brand new food hall in uptown Albuquerque, officially opened its doors to the public Wednesday.
The same developers behind the popular Sawmill Market developed this new market.
“This will be a neighborhood market. This will be a place for people who live in this area, both in the Uptown area and kind of the northeast heights,” said Adrian Perez, the president and COO of Heritage Companies.
The Park Square Market is bringing around a dozen food and drink options to the bottom floors of the Park Square Towers. That includes new partners like Little Gem and Sawmill favorites like Lemon and Brine.
“Little Gem does healthy salads for lunch and dinner,” Perez said. “They [Lemon and Brine] do a whole myriad of different types of custom-made lemonades and pickles.”
A spacious patio connects the two separate food halls that makes up the market.
“Imagine when these trees get full and all the foliage gets nice and big, you’re going to have all this beautiful natural tree cover,” Perez said.
They’re not done yet with additions.
“We’re also going to be opening up a jazz bar here in the very near future, and I think that’ll be a great place to kind of revitalize the music scene in Uptown,” Perez said.
Developers with Heritage Companies say they’re excited to give Albuquerque a taste of big city life.
“Albuquerque is growing up in a lot of ways. I think we deserve what all great cities have, and that’s places for people to hang out, shop, relax, eat and enjoy a great beverage, in a place that’s safe, in a place that’s welcoming, in a place that’s comfortable and gives you the ability to kind of live, work and play,” Perez said.
The official grand opening kicked off Wednesday, June 11, at 11 a.m. The market’s regular hours will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —Protests are expected across New Mexico in response to deportation and other initiatives taken by the Trump Administration.The protests have been deemed the "No Kings Day" protests. A total of 18 protests are scheduled in areas across the state on Saturday, June 14.Your neighborhood: ...
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Protests are expected across New Mexico in response to deportation and other initiatives taken by the Trump Administration.
The protests have been deemed the "No Kings Day" protests. A total of 18 protests are scheduled in areas across the state on Saturday, June 14.
Your neighborhood: Local news from KOAT Action 7 News
Below is a list of the organized protests for those looking to participate or avoid the areas during their scheduled durations.
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Mariposa Basin Park
When: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: New Mexico State Capitol
When: 10 a.m. to noon
Where: Farmington Museum
When: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Ashley Pond
When: 10 a.m. to noon
When: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Civic Plaza Drive and Paseo Del Pueblo Norte
When: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Veterans Park
When: Noon to 2 p.m.
Where: Gallup Cultural Center
When: 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Where: Daniel Fernandez Recreation Center
When: Noon to 3 p.m.
Where: 100 East First Street
When: Noon to 1 p.m.
Where: Socorro Plaza
When: 10 a.m. to noon
Where: Triangle Park
When: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Country Club Drive and Sudderth
When: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Chaves County Courthouse
When: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Gough Park
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: 1459 White Sands Boulevard
When: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Where: North Main Street and West Picacho Avenue
When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: West Bender Boulevard and North Grimes Street
Stay updated on the latest news with the KOAT app. You can download it here.
A lot of folks know New Mexico for green chiles, the largest hot air balloon festival in the world, and the birthplace of the bomb. But it's also a global center of flamenco—the passionate dance, song and music of the Roma people of southern Spain.The epicenter is Albuquerque. New Mexico's largest city boasts a world-famous flamenco festival that's coming up later this month. The University of New Mexico is the only American university t...
A lot of folks know New Mexico for green chiles, the largest hot air balloon festival in the world, and the birthplace of the bomb. But it's also a global center of flamenco—the passionate dance, song and music of the Roma people of southern Spain.
The epicenter is Albuquerque. New Mexico's largest city boasts a world-famous flamenco festival that's coming up later this month. The University of New Mexico is the only American university that offers graduate and undergraduate Dance degrees with an emphasis in flamenco. The National Institute of Flamenco is home to a world-class repertory company, and a conservatory that teaches students as young as three, to young adults who want to be professional dancers.
The popularity of flamenco has exploded in the last four decades. You can find its distinctive percussive footwork from Tokyo to Israel to Toronto, throughout Latin America, and in Miami, New York, and San Francisco. But what's different about flamenco in Nuevo Mexico is that it's homegrown. New Mexico traces its deeply Hispanic identity to the arrival of Spanish settlers 400-plus years ago.
"Here in New Mexico it's got to sound like us," says Vicente Griego, a celebrated singer from northern New Mexico who specializes in cante jondo, the deep song of flamenco. "There's other people who want to do flamenco exactly the way it's been done in Spain. But what makes us really special here and what keeps us honest, is that we have our own history. We've had our own resistance, our own celebration, our own liberation."
Says Marisol Encinias, executive director of the National Institute of Flamenco: "I like to think that there's something in our DNA that ties us to the antecedents of flamenco from way back."
The renowned dancers, Maria Benitez and Vicente Romero, opened tablaos, or flamenco venues, in Santa Fe in the 1960s. At the same time, the Encinias family was establishing itself in Albuquerque. While there are regular flamenco performances in both cities today, Albuquerque is the hands-down flamenco capital.
Eva Encinias, Marisol's mother, learned dance from her mother, Clarita, and is considered the grande dame of flamenco in Albuquerque.
"Even though we present all of this very, very high-end flamenco, the rationale behind that is to inspire and cultivate young people," says Eva, sitting in the costume room of the National Institute of Flamenco that she founded 43 years ago. She's surrounded by racks of extravagantly ruffled dresses. "We all started as children and we know the impact that flamenco had on us as young people."
Outreach is a huge part of their mission. Between Eva and her children, Marisol and Joaquin, they've taught thousands of flamenco students at the Institute and at UNM.
To that end, the Institute sends teachers into public schools across the state.
"We're gonna clap along to the music, in 4/4 time, which means that we count 1-2-3-4," intones Sarah Ward, a Canadian who became enthralled with flamenco and now teaches. She's leading a class of fourth-graders at the Taos Integrated School of the Arts. Fifteen kids happily stomp their sneakers to the count.
"New Mexico is the best place to access flamenco outside of Spain," Ward says in an interview. "It has such a rich cultural heritage here. We have grown it in the earth here as well and so it's very much a part of the New Mexican experience."
One of her bright-eyed students is 10-year-old Cypress Musialowski.
"I feel an opportunity to let out anger," she says. "I really like stomping my feet. But I also feel like I can just flow and be me."
She adds, "I love it, because in class I can't just stomp my feet. I'll get in trouble."
Flamenco has been called performed aggression—the pounding wooden heels, the feral singing, the baroque guitarwork. The Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca defined duende, the spirit of flamenco, as "tragedy-inspired ecstasy…a poetic emotion which is uncontrolled."
And it's really hard to learn, says Marisol Encinias, who is also an assistant professor of flamenco dance at UNM.
"It's a really, really challenging artform," she says. "I had a guitarist friend who said you spend your whole life trying to be mediocre."
Evelyn Mendoza, the 27-year-old education manager at the Institute, says, "I mean, you sweat your heart, soul, tears, blood and everything into any dance form that you do."
While she has a bachelor's degree in contemporary dance from UNM, it was flamenco that captured her soul. "But flamenco is so different because it's fierce."
The fierceness, poetry and passion of flamenco will be celebrated June 20-28 at Festival Flamenco Alburquerque (the festival puts an extra R in Albuquerque to honor its original Spanish spelling), which is now in its 38th year. This year, fourteen of the world's best flamenco companies will perform on stages throughout Albuquerque for what is called the most celebrated flamenco festival outside of Spain.
"We're super blessed that they bring in these phenomenal artists from Spain," says Noelia Encinias, the 30-year-old granddaughter of Eva. Now a rising professional dancer, Eva says she's been dancing flamenco "since I was potty trained."
"Just being in Albuquerque you have such a vast knowledge base to pull from—the amazing artists from Spain, my peers, or watching kids taking beginning dance and remembering my basics."
She adds, "My cousin refers to it as the Disneyland of flamenco."
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Albuquerque’s very own hiking history maker is back home after hiking Mount Everest.“We’ve been supporting Duke for quite some time,” Iz Rael said.Duke Pigott has been hiking his entire life. Even his friend said while they’re proud of him, they’re not exactly surprised he climbed the tallest mountain in the world.“I had so many expectations, and it was everything I had hoped it would be, and even more, so many wonderful people. Scenery was, as you can i...
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Albuquerque’s very own hiking history maker is back home after hiking Mount Everest.
“We’ve been supporting Duke for quite some time,” Iz Rael said.
Duke Pigott has been hiking his entire life. Even his friend said while they’re proud of him, they’re not exactly surprised he climbed the tallest mountain in the world.
“I had so many expectations, and it was everything I had hoped it would be, and even more, so many wonderful people. Scenery was, as you can imagine, just blows your mind, and just had an incredible experience,” Pigott said.
The climb itself took 28 days. Pigott summited the mountain May 23. He said being an Albuquerque Mountain Rescue team member helped him prepare.
“Working with the rescue teams here, Albuquerque Mountain Rescue and Cibola Search and Rescue, and the things that we do on a regular basis prepare you for things like Everest,” he said.
That includes things like carrying not just equipment but people up and down our Sandia Mountains for rescues and simulating that weight for training.
But Pigott didn’t just climb Mount Everest, he’s also likely the first person to ever play a guitar at the top of the summit. Duke signed the guitar, and it’s now memorialized at the Hard Rock Cafe at Kathmandu, the town next to the mountain.
This climb also marked a different milestone.
“He’s done seven of seven,” Rael continued. “It’s a pretty amazing accomplishment. A couple months ago, he just got done with Carstensz Pyramid. So, we weren’t surprised at all. We knew it was coming.”
It’s called the Seven Summits—the highest mountain peaks on each of the seven continents.
Pigott just checked the last one off his list, becoming one of about 400 people to ever accomplish that feat.
“It’s a blessing. It’s really just an honor and a blessing. Still doesn’t seem real, and I know it’s gonna take a little time to sink in, but it was a great experience,” Pigott said.
If hiking the world’s largest mountains wasn’t enough, he’s also becoming a doctor in archaeology.
“He’s just finishing up his PhD in archaeology, and we’ve dug together for many years,” Dr. Steven Collins said.
Collins teaches at Veritas International University and taught Pigott for years.
“Not too many people have accomplished this, and not just Everest, but the Seven Summits,” Collins continued. “I’m so happy for Duke that he got this done. This is a milestone. This is a big deal, and it’s great to have him here in Albuquerque.”
Pigott told KOB 4 he’s not done climbing to the top. There are some mountains in the Swiss Alps he wants to tackle next.
He said it’s an honor to represent Albuquerque and New Mexico on this level. He also didn’t realize so many people would find out about his accomplishments.
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