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Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

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

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Home Care In Mountain Home, TX

Home Care Mountain Home, TX

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 Mountain Home Plaza 2000 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 Mountain Home, TX is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Mountain Home, TX

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 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.

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TESTIMONIALS

“My experience with these amazing home care professionals is as close to perfect as it gets! I have a dear friend that is in hospice and needed a little extra home care. Ken, the owner, was fast to respond to my call and started home care right away. I can't say enough good things about my experience with Always Best Care Senior Services' staff and owner.”

Edward C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I invested $500 with Mrs Sandra and made $6500 within 6 days, Investment pay faster. Every rich man you see today invested, it's not just their hardworks that makes them who they are today. So don't let someone else opinion stop you from investing on binary option trading. Start building your future and the future of your generations today Contact her now on.”

Tsholofelo M.
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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

“I am a past client of this provider 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

“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

“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 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

“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

“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

“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

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

Jill &.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Mountain Home, TX?

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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.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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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.

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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.

 Senior Care Mountain Home, TX

Types of Elderly Care in Mountain Home, TX

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal 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:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Mountain Home, TX
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

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:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Mountain Home, TX
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

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 Hickory Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Mountain Home, TX
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

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 Fujiyama Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi or visit Jacob Wolf House, 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.

 In-Home Care Mountain Home, TX

Benefits of Home Care in Mountain Home, TX

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:

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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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 - 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.

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

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 Mountain Home, 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.

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.

 Elderly Care Mountain Home, TX

Affordable 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:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your TX's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
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.
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.
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.
 Senior Care Mountain Home, TX

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 Mountain Home, 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.

Assisted Living Referral Services

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.


Respite Care Mountain Home, TX

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:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Mountain Home, TX

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:

  • Southern Meadows
  • Sycamore House Independent Living
  • Sycamore Springs Senior Living
  • RiverLodge Assisted Living
  • Superior Senior Care
  • Care Manor
Home Care Mountain Home, TX

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.

 In-Home Care Mountain Home, 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 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

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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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.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Mountain Home, TX 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.

 Elderly Care Mountain Home, TX

Latest News in Mountain Home, TX

CMT Premiere: Tanya Tucker Emotionally Explores What Happens To Cowboys "When The Rodeo Is Over" In New Video

Wrapped in a blanket and standing at the highest point on Y.O. Ranch in Mountain Home, TX, at sunset, Tanya Tucker sings: "Never thought it'd be his last ride|' Til the last time he got thrown|When your heart can't take the losing|And your knees can't take the b...

Wrapped in a blanket and standing at the highest point on Y.O. Ranch in Mountain Home, TX, at sunset, Tanya Tucker sings: "Never thought it'd be his last ride|' Til the last time he got thrown|When your heart can't take the losing|And your knees can't take the blows|When the rodeo is over, where does the cowboy go?"

"When the Rodeo is Over (Where Does the Cowboy Go?)" is from Tucker's latest album, "Sweet Western Sound," the follow-up to her 2019 Grammy-winning "While I'm Livin'" that thrust Tucker back into the spotlight and introduced her to another generation of country music fans. Shooter Jennings and Brandi Carlile produced both albums. While the song "Bring My Flowers Now," which inspired the 2019 album title "While I'm Livin'," is about celebrating people while they're alive to enjoy it, "When the Rodeo is Over (Where Does the Cowboy Go?)" explores what happens to cowboys when the rodeo stops appreciating them.

Billy Don Burns and Craig Dillingham wrote the song, and Tucker's friend and longtime collaborator Joanne Gardner came out of retirement at her request to direct the video, which debuts today on CMT. Gardner directed many videos for Tucker in the '90s, including "It's a Little Too Late," "Some Kind of Trouble," "Hangin' In," "Soon" and "Two Sparrows in a Hurricane."

"I wanted to just cry. In fact, I probably did," Tucker said of how she felt when she watched the video for the first time. The video follows the song's lyrics while incorporating rodeo scenes as memories and spotlighting the camaraderie that often comes with the lifestyle and circuit.

"It just gave me chills," Tucker continued. "I thought, 'Well, I'm so close to it. Is anybody else gonna feel this way?' But every person that I showed it to felt the same way. I'm just elated. I really am so grateful."

It was Gardner's idea to wrap Tucker in a blanket and stand her on the hilltop for the performance portion of the deeply emotional video. The "When the Rodeo is Over (Where Does the Cowboy Go?)" video humanizes the loss, confusion and abandonment cowboys feel when they give their life to the sport and their bodies force them to step away before their hearts are ready to quit.

The clip is dedicated to the late professional rodeo cowboy Larry Mahan who won six all-around world championships and two bull riding world championships. The video also celebrates the lives and careers of rodeo legends. It features several prominent cowboys from the community, including champion saddle rider Bobby "Hooter" Brown—a member of the Rodeo Hall of Fame and Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. Writers Dillingham and Burns are also in the video.

Dillingham is Tucker's boyfriend, and when Jennings found the song and Carlile sent it to her and said she wanted to start with it, no one knew that Dillingham wrote it. When Tucker asked Dillingham to listen to the new song she had been pitched and share his thoughts, he returned to the room about 30 seconds later and told her he had written it 20 years before.

"I was just like, 'Whoa,'" Tucker said. "What a way to start a record. It's just a mind-blowing experience. Craig had never played it for me. It was just wild that it would be a song that he wrote. So that was amazing right there. We went in and recorded it, and when we got down to the final mix, I said, 'Wow, gotta do a video on this.'"

The song spoke to Tucker because the rodeo has been a huge part of her life since she was a teenager. But, she worried that people who weren't as deeply rooted with the lifestyle wouldn't connect with the song.

"I had so many people tell me that's not even what it's about," Tucker said. "Its circumference covers everybody because everybody has that feeling, especially when their work is done. They're getting older. What do they do? Where do they go? Five or six people told me the same story. This was what I like to call 'a God thing.' When I can't figure out how everything came together, I just figure it's a God thing. And that's what this whole video was."

'Literally one of a kind': Guadalupe Mountains National Park is Texas' best kept secret

Guadalupe Mountains National Park probably isn’t on your bucket list.With fewer than 220,000 visitors last year, it’s among Ame...

Guadalupe Mountains National Park probably isn’t on your bucket list.

With fewer than 220,000 visitors last year, it’s among America’s least-visited national parks, but it’s not for lack of sights.

The West Texas gem is home to the highest point in the state, Guadalupe Peak, and an array of striking scenery across its more than 86,000 acres.

“It is literally one of a kind,” said the park’s acting superintendent and Visitor Services manager Theresa Moore.

Here’s why and what you should know about Guadalupe Mountains, the latest national park in USA TODAY’s yearlong series.

Why are the Guadalupe Mountains special?

“So many reasons,” Moore said. “It is a fossilized sponge reef that’s over 260 million years old. So that is incredibly unique ... And if you look at it, we have the Chihuahuan Desert. Go up 3,000 feet and you’re in the middle of a ponderosa pine forest. The biodiversity of the park is amazing and breathtaking.”

Which Native Americans lived in the Guadalupe Mountains?

The following tribes have historic ties to Guadalupe Mountains, according to Moore:

How many days do you need for the Guadalupe Mountains?

Moore suggests spending two to three days in the park, noting a roundtrip hike to Guadalupe Peak would take a day on its own.

“If you would like to explore more than just the top of Texas, we are Texas' largest and oldest designated wilderness,” she said.

Two of three days also give travelers a chance to visit the park’s cultural sites.

“We have the ruins of the Butterfield stage(coach) route at the Pine Springs and Pinery. We have the Frijole History Ranch Museum,” she said. “Then if you hike up into McKittrick Canyon to the Pratt Cabin and onto the Hunter Line Shack, it’s only about seven miles round trip, but you're going to stop and enjoy the scenery a lot.”

Entrance passes cost $10 and are good for seven days at the park.

What shouldn’t visitors miss at Guadalupe Mountains?

Moore recommends visiting the Frijole Ranch area and hiking to Manzanita Spring.

“This is water that is flowing water in the desert. Water,” she repeated for emphasis. “In addition to that, if you hike from Frijole, behind the ranch house and do the Smith Spring Trail, that takes you into our designated Wilderness. So in a little 2.3-mile loop trail, you not only get to experience the historical cultural side of the park, but you get to walk into the wilderness and it's a flowing spring. It's this little oasis.”

She added that it’s a great place for birdwatching and one of the more accessible areas in the park.

Moore also suggests seeing Dog Canyon and the Salt Basin Dunes.

Every body outdoors:How national parks can make nature more accessible for disabled travelers

Can you do Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains in one day?

Technically travelers can visit both national parks in one day. Carlsbad Caverns is only 30 minutes away by car, just over the border in New Mexico.

However, to truly experience both parks, more time is required.

What is the best time of year to visit Guadalupe Mountains?

Any time of year is good for a visit, according to Moore.

“In the spring, it's beautiful. The desert is in bloom,” she said. “In the summer, it's hot, but it's still amazing and stunning.”

“If you want to be amazed, come to the park in the fall. We have fall foliage. If you hike McKittrick Canyon, there are maple trees and oak trees, and you get the reds and the yellows and the oranges,” she added. “Then in the winter, if you're a weather geek … our weather is a lot of fun. We have some pretty strong winds that come through the pass there.”

She urges travelers to check the weather whenever they visit, but especially in the winter.

What is the closest city to Guadalupe Mountains National Park?

The closest major city is El Paso, Texas, which is about one hour and 45 minutes away by car. El Paso International Airport is the nearest major airport.

What should visitors know about Guadalupe Mountains National Park?

Moore reminded visitors to come to the park with plenty of gas for their cars and food and water for themselves.

“There is no gas,” she said. “Our park store does sell some little snacks, we do have water refill stations, but be prepared.”

She said phone service can be random, though there is Wi-Fi in the visitor’s center. Moore also noted cell phones sometimes pick up service from towers in Central Time, though the park is in Mountain Time, so it can be confusing.

Visitors who want to spend the night in the wilderness will need a permit, which they can reserve in advance at Recreation.gov or try for in person with a walk-up. They will need to something they may not expect.

“You must show the ranger one human waste bag per person, per night that you will be in the wilderness,” she said before adding with a laugh. “We're sitting on a 260-plus million-year-old fossilized sponge reef. You can't dig a hole.”

Forget Pools. Tony Parker’s Sprawling $20 Million Texas Estate Comes With Its Own Waterpark.

Plenty of homes have pools; few can claim an entire waterpark. If the latter sounds more your speed, then good news, as a home in Texas with waterfalls and slides worthy of a Great Wolf Lodge resort has just listed for $19.5 million.The home, which belongs to Spurs legend Tony Parker, is located just north of San Antonio in the gated community of Anaqua Springs Ranch. The property sits on a 53-acre site and includes a six-bedroom main home...

Plenty of homes have pools; few can claim an entire waterpark. If the latter sounds more your speed, then good news, as a home in Texas with waterfalls and slides worthy of a Great Wolf Lodge resort has just listed for $19.5 million.

The home, which belongs to Spurs legend Tony Parker, is located just north of San Antonio in the gated community of Anaqua Springs Ranch. The property sits on a 53-acre site and includes a six-bedroom main home, plus a four-bedroom guest home for visiting friends and family. The larger residence is the real architectural standout, though, as it has a double-height living room with floor-to-ceiling windows that give the communal space an open, airy feeling.

The primary suite feels like its own private residence, with a sitting room, a bathroom with marble accents and a custom walk-in closet. It’s an ideal piece of real estate for wine lovers, too, as there’s a temperature-controlled cellar that can hold a whopping 1,500 bottles, plus dedicated storage for larger magnums.

Other amenities include a home cinema with red seats that give it a classic, old Hollywood feel and two home offices for WFH. Those who’d rather not renew their gym membership can just hang here and get their reps in, too, as there’s a nearly 6,000-square-foot fitness center.

The home’s best—and most interesting—amenities are the ones outside its four walls. The water park itself features everything from lazy rivers and slides to waterfalls and grottos. Bridges and paths run throughout it, and there’s even a diving platform for those brave enough to take the plunge.

If that’s not enough, there are also plenty of outdoor entertaining areas, including a covered loggia, as well as a greenhouse, fruit orchard and a tortoise enclosure (the latter seems a bit niche, but great if that’s your thing).

All to say that if a run-of-the-mill outdoor lap pool isn’t cutting it for you anymore—and you’re on the hunt for a bigger space to store some vino—then it may be worth scoping this property. Check out more images below:

Chief Master Sergeant Cedric. I Foster

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Chief Master Sergeant Cedric I. Foster is the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. Chief Foster provides enlisted leadership to a wing comprised of more than 4,300 military and civilian members serving in 15 squadrons, and A- Staff functions supporting the F-15E Strike Eagle mission. It hosts the 726th Air Control Squadron – one of only three active-duty Air Force control reporting centers in the U.S. &nda...

Chief Master Sergeant Cedric I. Foster is the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. Chief Foster provides enlisted leadership to a wing comprised of more than 4,300 military and civilian members serving in 15 squadrons, and A- Staff functions supporting the F-15E Strike Eagle mission. It hosts the 726th Air Control Squadron – one of only three active-duty Air Force control reporting centers in the U.S. – and the Idaho Air National Guard 266th Range Squadron. The wing operates, maintains, and develops the Mountain Home Range Complex comprised of 9,016 square miles of associated airspace and 122,000 acres of land space used for two air-to-ground training ranges, five no-drop target complexes, and 30 multi-size electronic combat sites. The command also includes the 390th Electronic Combat Squadron, which flies U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Chief Foster is charged to develop combat-ready Airmen, take care of Gunfighters, and protect and enhance our resources. He is the functional manager for fourteen First Sergeants, ensuring proper training and utilization in leading the Gunfighter Team.

Chief Foster grew up in Pace, Mississippi and entered the Air Force in March 1999, starting his career as an Electrical Systems Apprentice. He has served in a variety of positions in and out of the Civil Engineer functional community and has deployed in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, ODYSSEY DAWN, INHERENT RESOLVE and Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. His previous assignments include service in Qatar, Louisiana, Japan, Texas, South Korea, New Jersey and Arizona. Prior to his current assignment, Chief Foster served as the 355th Mission Support Group Superintendent at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.

EDUCATION 1998 Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications, Mississippi Valley State University 2003 Airman Leadership School, Kadena AB, Japan 2003 Associate of Applied Science, Mechanical and Electrical, Community College of the Air Force. 2006 Associate Applied Science, Instructor of Technology/Military Science, Community College of the Air Force. 2007 Certificate of Master Instructor, Community College of the Air Force. 2008 Certificate of Occupational Instructor, Community College of the Air Force. 2008 Community College of the Air Force Instructor – Level II. 2009 Principles of Instructional System Development (ISD), Sheppard AFB, TX. 2009 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX. 2011 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education (Correspondence), Joint Forces Staff College. 2013 Master of Divinity in Church Ministries (MDiv), Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA. 2013 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force. 2013 United States Marine Corps Watch Officer/Chief Certification Course, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. 2013 United States Marine Corps Senior Noncommissioned Officer Advanced Academy, Camp Hansen, Oki Japan. 2016 Air Force Institute of Technology Civil Engineer Superintendent Course, Wright Patterson AFB, OH. 2016 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II (Correspondence), Joint Forces Staff College. 2018 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Scott AFB, IL. 2018 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Maxwell-Gunter Annex, AL. 2019 Air Force Personnel Center Commander and Superintendent Course, Randolph AFB, TX.

ASSIGNMENTS 1. March 1999 – May 1999, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX. 2. March 1999 – November 2000, Student, Electrical Systems Apprentice, Sheppard AFB, TX. 3. November 2000 – June 2001, Electrical Systems Apprentice, 2d Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale AFB, TX. 4. July 2001 – February 2003, Electrical Systems Journeyman, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan. 5. February 2003 – August 2005, Electrical Systems Craftsman, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan. 6. August 2005 – August 2007, Electrical Systems Instructor, 366th Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, TX. 7. August 2007 – August 2009, Electrical Systems Master Instructor, 366th Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, TX. 8. August 2009 – August 2010, NCOIC Exterior Electrical Systems,51st Civil Engineer Squadron, Osan AB, South Korea. 9. September 2010 – July 2012, NCOIC Interior Electrical Systems, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan. 10. July 2012 – October 2013, Exercises Superintendent, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan. 11. October 2013 – October 2016, Career Assistance Advisor, 18th Force Support Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan. 12. October 2016 – September 2017, Operations Flight Superintendent, 87th Civil Engineer Squadron, JB-MDL, NJ. 13. September 2017 – June 2019, Superintendent, 87th Civil Engineer Squadron, JB-MDL, NJ. 14. June 2019 – March 2020, Superintendent, 355th Civil Engineer Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. 15. March 2020 – June 2022, Superintendent, 355th Mission Support Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. 16. June 2022 – Present, Combat Command Chief, 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home AFB, ID.

MAJOR AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters Air Force Achievement Medal with one bronze oak leaf clusters Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver oak leaf cluster and valor device Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 1999 Honor Graduate, Electrical Apprentice Course 2000 Senior Airmen Below-The-Zone 2003 18th Wing Distinguished Graduate, Airmen Leadership School 2003 18th Wing Leadership Award, Airmen Leadership School 2007 366th Training Squadron Volunteer of the Year 2007 366th Training Squadron Noncommissioned Officer Instructor of the Year 2013 United States Marine Corps Gung Ho Leadership Award 2014 PACAF Professional Development Program of the Year 2014 18th Wing Japan-American Air Force Goodwill Association Award 2015 18th Force Support Squadron Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year 2016 PACAF Professional Development Program of the Year

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Airman First Class March 24, 1999

Senior Airman January 24, 2001

Staff Sergeant January 01, 2003

Technical Sergeant May 01, 2007

Master Sergeant June 01, 2011

Senior Master Sergeant December 01, 2015 Chief Master Sergeant October 01, 2018

(Current as of June 2022)

Mountain Home atop big aquifer

West Kerr CurrentMountain Home is sitting atop the center of a large, previously undiscovered aquifer, Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District research has shown.“It’s a very significant aquifer,” said Feather Wilson, a hydrogeologist. “I mean very significant. It’s probably one of the best aquifers in the Hill Country.”Wilson is president of Strata Geological Services, Inc. and has a four-year contract with the dist...

West Kerr CurrentMountain Home is sitting atop the center of a large, previously undiscovered aquifer, Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District research has shown.“It’s a very significant aquifer,” said Feather Wilson, a hydrogeologist. “I mean very significant. It’s probably one of the best aquifers in the Hill Country.”Wilson is president of Strata Geological Services, Inc. and has a four-year contract with the district as a consultant to develop a Groundwater Availability Model. The aquifer hadn’t been discovered, he said, because most water well drillers only penetrate the uppermost 50 feet, and rarely more than 100 feet.“They stop because there’s a lot of water right there, and they really don’t want to go through it,” Wilson said.Called Hensel Beach Sands, the aquifer begins about 400 feet beneath the surface, Wilson said, and was discovered when HGCD in April, 2004 completed a monitor well — the No. 4 Headwaters Monitor Well — on Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s Heart of the Hills Fisheries Science Center property in Mountain Home.Wilson said information about the Hensel Sands wasn’t put together before because drillers never drilled through it.“One of the reasons they didn’t is because all the drillers in this county have air rigs,” Wilson said. “They don’t have mud rigs. If you use an air rig and you drill through it, and you pull out of the hole ... you start pulling the pipe out, it starts caving in on you. “It’s real loose, real coarse-grained material and to complete a well properly through the whole section, you’d have to use a mud rig, and there’s nobody up here who’s got a mud rig.”Wilson explained that a mud rig holds the sand back when drilling by forming a wall of mud that cakes up and stops sand from caving in the hole.He said he has been trying to find some other method of drilling into it with an air rig, but hasn’t been successful. Using a mud rig entails additional expense because it must be brought in from another part of the state.Wilson said Mountain Home appears to be in the middle of the Hensel Beach Sands, which goes all the way across the northern side of the county.“This is a very, very important discovery for fresh water in the county and it’s unexploited,” Wilson said. “It hasn’t really been drilled into. If you could drill into the whole 400 feet of section and complete that section and you drill a big enough hole with mud, you could probably get 1,000 gallons a minute with very little draw down.”The discovery could impact future development, he said.Water wells in the county must be permitted by the Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District. HGCD was authorized by the Legislature in 1991 and ratified by county voters to protect and prevent waste of groundwater resources.Presently, water is allocated for wells that produce over 25,000 gallons per day on an acreage basis. Headwaters allows 50,000 gallons to be extracted from the Middle Trinity and 65,000 to be lifted from the Lower Trinity on an annualized basis for each acre owned — the more land a person owns, the more groundwater he or she is allowed to draw. The district began developing a Groundwater Availability Model this year to provide science on which to base its decisions. The model developed by Wilson uses data from existing wells, monitoring wells, stream flow monitoring, well pump tests and computer programs.Wilson said Headwaters is the only groundwater district in the state developing such a model, which will determine the county’s resources for better management.“New geologic discoveries of aquifers and aquifer properties are rapidly appearing,” he said.Persons in parts of the county with greater resources could be allowed more groundwater as a result of new information being gathered.Wilson noted district is only in the early stages of developing the model.“There are discoveries yet to be made,” he said.

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