AA Learn more about in-home care options for your loved ones

Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Personal Care Consultation

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TESTIMONIALS

“I work for this team and it's a wonderful team , great communication and support for our clients, their family members and our caring team of staff .”

Antoinette G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Ken and Bonnie are wonderful people to help care for your loved ones. their staff was so caring to my mother and so nice to my family I highly recommend them to take care of your loved ones. I think there ought to be more than just five stars to give them”

Mark A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Ken and Bonnie were wonderful to work with. They were able to provide my mother with care and a very short notice. Their staff was some of the most caring people that I've ever met. Not only were they wonderful to my mother but also to my family. I would highly recommend using them.”

Mark A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Very professional and welcoming people so I would definitely recommend my friends and family to Always Best Care in Boerne.”

Laurie K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“The owner is so understanding and supportive of how I want my loved ones cared for. He and his staff actually listen to what I would like done for my parents. Very thoughtful, very professional and very caring. It’s such a relief to have help in caring for my loved ones”

Kristen B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“ALWAYS BEST CARE is certainly a warm & caring business owned & operated by Ken Thomas. I certainly would recommend them for you or your loved ones excellent care.”

Shirley S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Kenneth is kind, patient, experienced and knowledgeable. We are thankful to him for all his efforts and for going above and beyond.”

Chae S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“For those who are searching for qualified caregivers for their loved ones, contact Ken Thomas at Always Best Care Senior Services. Mr. Thomas provides an authentic and professional guiding hand when discussing available services for your precious senior family members. When it is time for a beloved senior to receive assistance, Mr. Thomas understands the importance of providing trustworthy and quality support.”

Melissa C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Ken leads his Always Best Care Senior Services Agency with compassion for his clients and their families. He is a local senior care expert and leader in his community. If you are need of assistance in navigating your local senior care options, then do not hesitate to give Ken a call!”

Kelly B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Kenneth is knowledgeable and trustworthy. I can’t recommend him enough. You’re in good hands with Kenneth.”

Chae S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I will be forever grateful for the love you showered upon us and my grandmother”

Jill &.
 In-Home Care Dripping Springs, TX

How does In-home Senior Care in Dripping Springs, TX work?

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's 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 ages, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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 Senior Care Dripping Springs, TX

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

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.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

Comfort
Comfort

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, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Dripping Springs, TX, 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.

Healthy Living
Healthy Living

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.

Independence
Independence

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 an assisted living community. 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.

Cost and Convenience
Cost and Convenience

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 to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be 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 in Dripping Springs, TX 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.

Empowers Seniors

Affordable Care Plans

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:

Veteran's Benefits
Veteran's Benefits

Aid and Attendance benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.

Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance

Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.

Private Insurance
Private Insurance

Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.


Respite Care Dripping Springs, TX

During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers

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 Dripping Springs,TX 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.

 Caregivers Dripping Springs, TX

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced 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:

An assessment of your senior loved one

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An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home

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Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs

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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.

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.

Latest News in Dripping Springs, TX

New Hill Country Field Station to support biological, environment research

The station will help landowners and policymakers understand how changes in climate, species and development affect the land, water and other natural resources.DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin announced on Monday it will build a new field station in Dripping Springs to expand its network to study biodiversity and sustainability.The university said the field station will be surrounded by hundreds of acres of conservation easeme...

The station will help landowners and policymakers understand how changes in climate, species and development affect the land, water and other natural resources.

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin announced on Monday it will build a new field station in Dripping Springs to expand its network to study biodiversity and sustainability.

The university said the field station will be surrounded by hundreds of acres of conservation easement, will feature tracts for research and will support new initiatives in public outreach.

The so-called Hill Country Station will be funded in part by a $50 million gift from the Winn Family Foundation, along with another $150 million in estimated institutional and additional philanthropic support.

The Hill Country Station will become part of UT’s Texas Field Station Network, which supports biological and environmental research, educational programs and public outreach. UT said the field station’s long-term monitoring will help landowners and policymakers better understand how changes in climate, species and development affect the land, water and other natural resources.

Credit: University of Texas

“UT’s top-ranked natural sciences and geosciences programs have deep roots in the study of our planet and its vital natural resources through leading research and discovery,” UT President Jay Hartzell said. “With the incredible generosity of Steve and Melinda Winn, our researchers have established a network of research sites where experts can capture data, understand and forecast trends, and work to preserve biodiversity and natural resources. Generations of Texans will benefit from UT’s new bold research pursuits and from insights available only through our unique constellation of living laboratories.”

Related Articles

When the Hill Country Field Station is complete, the network will have at least seven sites where researchers from the life sciences, geosciences, architecture and engineering can work on issues related to conservation, restoration and resource management. Those sites include the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis, White Family Outdoor Learning Center in Dripping Springs, Stengl Lost Pines Biological Station in Smithville and Brackenridge Field Laboratory (BFL) in Austin.

“Long-term access to protected spaces allows scientists to tackle the most pressing ecological and hydrological problems of our time and lets students experience learning about natural resources in ways they carry with them over a lifetime,” said David Vanden Bout, dean of the College of Natural Sciences.

UT to open research station in Dripping Springs

Dripping Springs will be the next location of a research and conservation site from The University of Texas.The Hill Country Field Station, recently announced by the university, will be located at Mirasol Springs, a development on the Pedernales River from Steve Winn, founder of RealPage and CEO of ...

Dripping Springs will be the next location of a research and conservation site from The University of Texas.

The Hill Country Field Station, recently announced by the university, will be located at Mirasol Springs, a development on the Pedernales River from Steve Winn, founder of RealPage and CEO of Mirasol Capital, companies focused on the real estate industry.

In addition to the field station, the property will consist of a hotel, cottages and homesites, according to Mirasol Springs’s website.

An exact address for the Hill Country Field Station has not yet been announced as the project is still in its early stages, said Christine Sinatra, director of communications for the UT College of Natural Sciences.

The 340-acre site was funded in part by the Winn Family Foundation, which donated over $50 million to the site, as well as by $150 million in additional university donations and funding. The Winn Family donation is the largest in the university’s history and will support a network of field stations across Texas, Sinatra said.

UT has six field stations, or areas across the state that are used for research across disciplines, educational outreach, environmental study and experiences for students.

“Biological field station research allows us to study changes over time in the unique ecosystems in Texas, as well as study species and their interactions with the environment,” said David Hillis, director of the biodiversity center at UT. “These investigations allow us to build knowledge that’s essential for conservation, restoration and management.”

Construction on the station is expected to begin within the year with the goal of opening in the first half of 2026, Sinatra said.

For more information, visit www.fieldstations.utexas.edu.

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Dripping Springs ISD to implement school marshal program amid shortage of officers

Dripping Springs ISD is opting into Texas’ school marshal program, in which an employee hired by the district will serve as an armed responder to a potential intruder.The overviewDuring a meeting of the board of trustees on Aug. 28, the board unanimously approved to include school marshals as part of a safety program.Following the passage of ...

Dripping Springs ISD is opting into Texas’ school marshal program, in which an employee hired by the district will serve as an armed responder to a potential intruder.

The overview

During a meeting of the board of trustees on Aug. 28, the board unanimously approved to include school marshals as part of a safety program.

Following the passage of House Bill 3 from the 88th legislative session, which requires armed security on all campuses, DSISD trustees voted to nearly double the amount of school resource officers, or SROs, in the district on May 22. This would have added three SROs to the four already in the district through an agreement with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office.

Instead, the county was unable to provide the additional officers due to challenges with staffing. Opting into the school marshal program allows the district to be in line with state law effective Sept. 1, said DSISD Director of Safety Sirenna Cumberland.

The budget, passed May 22, included a total of seven SRO’s on campuses under the district’s compensation plan. The plan was amended Aug. 28 to include the school marshal position.

The specifics

School marshals were introduced to Texas districts in 2013 in order to respond to emergency situations on campuses, according to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, or TCOLE.

School marshals are appointed by the board of trustees, are a current employee of the district, have concealed handgun licenses and undergo at least 80 hours of training to be considered as eligible by TCOLE.

“We have lots of retired law enforcement and we are hopeful that maybe there would be someone like that who would be interested in filling those positions,” said Cumberland.

A school marshal on a DSISD campus will:

The identity of the school marshal is not to be revealed on the record by DSISD or TCOLE. No teachers in the district will be armed as a result of this program, said Cumberland.

What they’re saying

During public comment on Aug. 28, only three community members spoke in regards to the item, and expressed the desire for the district to handle the hiring of any school marshal with student’s safety in mind and to replace the marshals with SROs as soon as available.

“Our community wants assurance that these school marshals will have highly trained qualifications beyond the minimums outlined by the state,” DSISD parent Monica Newton said.

The district would not immediately let go of a school marshal if an SRO can fill that position, said Cumberland.

“Our goal is to place an SRO at every campus,” Cumberland said. “We are going to continue to be patient with the sheriff’s office. That’s our goal.”

Board members expressed concerns with safety in schools in the district before voting to pass the program.

“Our mental health epidemic in our country has resulted in a place where we have to sit here and talk about who's going to have a gun in elementary school, protecting the kids. So let's just acknowledge that nobody is pleased that this is where we are,” said board member Rob McClelland. “We got to do everything we can at the local government level, which is where our responsibility is, to make sure we have the safest and most secure schools anywhere.”

Also of note

Other Hays County school districts that have opted into the school marshal program include San Marcos CISD, which was implemented in April of 2023 despite community dissent, as previously reported by Community Impact.

What’s next

The process to hire a school marshal will take about two months, said Cumberland.

The DSISD board of trustees will meet again on Sept. 25, and community members can sign up for public comment prior to the meeting.

For more information on the district, visit www.dsisdtx.us.

Education Reporter

Elle joined Community Impact as a reporter in November 2022 and covers Austin ISD, Eanes ISD and all things Dripping Springs. Elle graduated from St. Edward's University with a degree in communication and minors in journalism and Spanish. As a student, she served as editor-in-chief at Hilltop Views. Prior to CI, she interned at Austin Woman. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @byellebent.

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New independent bookstore fills a long-empty void in Dripping Springs

Update: A previous version of this story stated that Sunday Bookshop is the first bookstore in Dripping Springs. A CultureMap reader got in touch about a bookstore they remember decades ago in Dripping Springs. There is not much of a record of this particular business, but books have certainly been available on and off throughout the town's history. The article now states that it is the first boo...

Update: A previous version of this story stated that Sunday Bookshop is the first bookstore in Dripping Springs. A CultureMap reader got in touch about a bookstore they remember decades ago in Dripping Springs. There is not much of a record of this particular business, but books have certainly been available on and off throughout the town's history. The article now states that it is the first book store currently operating in Dripping Springs.

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A long-awaited, women-owned independent bookshop in a building with a surprising Austin background is opening its doors in the heart of Dripping Springs in June. It is the only bookstore that currently serves the Southwest Austin suburb.

Sunday Bookshop has been in the works since the beginning of 2023, with owner and Dripping Springs native Dixie Frechette behind the wheel to make a lifelong dream a reality. She decided to open a bookstore after closing her women’s clothing and home decor boutique Fresh Native in January, she told CultureMap.

“Why am I waiting for 'one day' to do that, when the opportunity is there right now?” she had asked herself. “It was a dream I’ve always wanted to do where the timing worked out to do it now, instead of waiting for whenever that ‘one day’ was.”

Besides the public library, the closest thing Dripping Springs has had to a bookstore in recent memory is the Hill Country Senior Citizens Thrift Shop on Highway 290. Otherwise, locals had to purchase books online, or drive into Bee Cave or South Austin to shop in person. Now, locals and visitors alike can find their next read from the comfort of their hometown while supporting a small business in a much-needed, untapped market.

The building that Sunday Bookshop occupies has a story of its own. The home is over a century old and had lived on Rainey Street in downtown Austin before ending up in the Gateway to the Hill Country.

"It was built in 1907 and then the previous owners brought it into Dripping and set it up for retail. That's when Fresh Native moved in there," she said. "It was never a bar or anything down there, it was just an old house that was on Rainey Street and then they moved it ... I think it’s pretty cool there’s a little bit of history with it.”

Considering the rapid development and gentrification of Rainey Street throughout the years, it's no surprise that the previous owners would want to preserve some of the home's history by relocating it outside of Austin. Now, Frechette is continuing its legacy.

Brightly colored titles can be seen throughout the historic building.Photo courtesy of Sunday Bookshop

Sunday Bookshop's opening day is Thursday, June 22, with a grand opening celebration on Saturday, June 24. The store will mostly be run by Frechette, offering a carefully hand-curated selection of “book club picks” across several genres. Titles on the shelves will range from romance to general fiction, to mystery, thriller, and more.

“‘Book club picks’ encapsulates it best,” she said. “That’s what I’m the most familiar with because that’s what I lean towards when I’m picking a book. So I wanted that sort of niche selection.”

Sunday Bookshop does more than just sell books; the shop also carries an array of home decor, gifts and gift wrap, games, crafts, and stationery. Frechette leaned on her previous experience running Fresh Native to help decide what to choose as the shop’s non-literary merchandise.

“I wanted everything in here to be giftable in some way, because I feel like that was missing in Dripping as well as a bookstore, so I thought I could do a little bit of both,” she said. “I wanted it to be a one-stop shop here. So if you’re looking for a gift for someone you can pick that up, pick up the wrapping paper, and you’re good to go.”

Sunday Bookshop is located at 28101 Ranch Road 12 in Dripping Springs. The shop's summer hours will be 10 am to 5 pm from Wednesday through Saturday, with plans to expand operating hours in the fall.

4 businesses now open, coming soon to Dripping Springs

From medical care to child care to automotive care, check out these four locally owned businesses now open or coming soon to the Dripping Springs area.Now openAlly MedicalAlly Medical ope...

From medical care to child care to automotive care, check out these four locally owned businesses now open or coming soon to the Dripping Springs area.

Now open

Ally Medical

Ally Medical opened an emergency room in downtown Dripping Springs at 333 Hwy. 290, Ste. 350, Dripping Springs. The location is led by Medical Director Dr. Travis Sims and operates 24/7. The emergency room held a ribbon-cutting with the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce to celebrate July 20. 737-843-0911. www.allymedical.com

Eyecare Studio

Eyecare Studio opened Aug. 1 at 333 Hwy. 290, Ste. 419, Dripping Springs. Eyecare Studio is an independent optometry practice from Dr. Priya Patel. The practice specializes in myopia control and ocular diseases. Additionally, the practice offers an optical boutique with eyewear and sunglasses. 512-375-4125. www.eyecarestudioatx.com.

Coming soon

Over Yonder

Over Yonder Nature School will be located at 5000 Bell Springs Drive, Dripping Springs, later this year. Over Yonder will serve families with children 6 weeks to 5 years old, offering the ability to allow students to explore outside. Rescue animals such as pigs and chickens will be available for children to interact with, and lunches and snacks will be provided by Hamilton Pool Vineyards and Farms. Over Yonder is owned by local couple Christen and Dustin Werley. 512-212-6895. www.overyondernatureschool.com

Christian Brothers Automotive

Christian Brothers Automotive will open an auto repair shop at 100 Canyonwood Drive, Dripping Springs, in early 2024. The location will be owned by locals Mark and Sweta David. Christian Brothers offers services including air conditioning repair, oil and filter changes, tire rotations, and courtesy inspections. www.cbac.com

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