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 1867 Historic Church 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 Boerne, TX 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.
“We cannot say enough wonderful things about Caleb, Wendy & the team. Their in-home services”
“Amazing experience with the company. Love how it’s family owned and trustworthy. Highly recommend!”
“I can't say enough about how happy I am with the care that Best Care”
“Pat, Wendy, & their team are the BEST! I had a friend in need of”
“ABC was a tremendous help when my dad required additional care beyond Assisted Living. Wendy”
“They have good communication, and the aids have been very good.”
“Great facility for senior citizens, service you can count on”
“I Give My All When Caring For The Elder I Do It With A Passion”
“They were punctual and helpful. They did what they needed to be done, but I”
“They are very capable and love to care for my wife.”
“They are very capable and love to care for my wife.”
“ABC helped me place my relative in Memory Care. They are very knowledgeable about placement”
“Thank you all so much for the excellent care you gave Bill. I could not”
“Loved our caregiver. First time I felt comfortable enough to be able to leave the”
“I am a current client of this provider I signed up two agencies, one for weekdays”
“ABC helped me place my relative in Memory Care. They are very knowledgeable about placement”
“You have taken such good care of mom over the years. You made her very”
“ABC provided excellent service and I miss Always Best Care”
“From Barbara Randle - I wanted to let you know, first of all, how much”
“I have been working with Debbie Trone trying to find a Senior Living Home for”
“I was very pleased with them. I don't have any family here so when they”
“They are always there and consistent.”
“This place is absolutely amazing!!”
“We cannot say enough wonderful things about Caleb, Wendy & the team. Their in-home services have been a huge blessing to our family and a tremendous help to our loved one!!!”
“Amazing experience with the company. Love how it’s family owned and trustworthy. Highly recommend!”
“I can't say enough about how happy I am with the care that Best Care has done for my father and soon my mother. The person that answers the phone is the best and the compassion they show along with their flexibility to help is uncommon these days. Check this place out for your loved ones!”
“Pat, Wendy, & their team are the BEST! I had a friend in need of their services and they were timely, attentive, and incredibly caring. They went above and beyond to make sure the best care was provided. They have a heart to care for those in need and it shines through everything they do! I HIGLY recommend using Always Best Care Senior Services! Best in town!”
“ABC was a tremendous help when my dad required additional care beyond Assisted Living. Wendy came out within minutes to assess my dad’s needs. The ABC caregivers went above and beyond, including staying with my dad when he had to be hospitalized. I’ve referred ABC to several families, all of which have shared our positive experience. Thank you, Pat and Wendy, for providing a service that makes a difficult time in the life of our loved ones so much easier to accept. Keep up the good work! Forever grateful!”
“They have good communication, and the aids have been very good.”
“Great facility for senior citizens, service you can count on”
“I Give My All When Caring For The Elder I Do It With A Passion From My Heart A Gift From God!! I Will Truly Miss You Mrs. Mary!!!”
“They were punctual and helpful. They did what they needed to be done, but I just have a husband who is a loner. They understood his condition and helped him to the bathroom. I wanted a male and they gave me a male.”
“They are very capable and love to care for my wife.”
“They are very capable and love to care for my wife.”
“ABC helped me place my relative in Memory Care. They are very knowledgeable about placement in San Antonio. They gave us 4 communities within our price range and actually got better prices than we received. We live out of town. They made our lives more relaxed since our Aunt has moved in and is not a wander risk. Thanks Debbie and staff.”
“Thank you all so much for the excellent care you gave Bill. I could not have made it without the help of your company. Thank you also for the gorgeous bouquet of roses, tulips and hydrangeas. I appreciate it so much.”
“Loved our caregiver. First time I felt comfortable enough to be able to leave the home and do stuff I needed to do. She was great.”
“I am a current client of this provider I signed up two agencies, one for weekdays and one for weekends. I dropped the weekend agency who is listed on this site because of lateness of caregivers and one caregiver left her shift and did not return. I have had very good service with Always Best Care. Caregivers arrive on time. IF ABC has a new caregiver start a shift , office staff does a meet and greet with client to introduce new caregiver and make sure its a good fit. Director Debbie did an excellant job explaining services plus she and the owner are Certified Dementia Practioner's. Patient has diagnosed dementia. Caregiver's do very well with interactions with family.”
“ABC helped me place my relative in Memory Care. They are very knowledgeable about placement in San Antonio. They gave us 4 communities within our price range and actually got better prices than we received. We live out of town. They made our lives more relaxed since our Aunt has moved in and is not a wander risk. Thanks Debbie and staff.”
“You have taken such good care of mom over the years. You made her very happy. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. It gives us some peace knowing she wanted to be with my dad on his birthday, the next day, and she was :)”
“ABC provided excellent service and I miss Always Best Care”
“From Barbara Randle - I wanted to let you know, first of all, how much we have appreciated the wonderful care, compassion, and love that you and all of your stsff have shown to me over the past month. We can never thank you all enough for your patience as we worked out a schedule, and for your dedication to truly best care. We are ever grateful to all of you. Please share our thanks with the lovely and tender hearted ladies who helped me after surgery.”
“I have been working with Debbie Trone trying to find a Senior Living Home for my 89 year old sister. Debbie has been exceptional in helping us navigate thru every detail of what we need to do to get her settled in. We know it will come together an want to thank her for assisting us.”
“I was very pleased with them. I don't have any family here so when they took me to the doctor, they would come in with me to see the doctor and communicate with my family.”
“They are always there and consistent.”
“This place is absolutely amazing!!”
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 River Road 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 The Creek Restaurant or visit Kuhlmann-King Historical Complex, 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 Boerne, 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.
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 Boerne, 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.
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 Boerne, 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.
A buzzy Texas Hill Country town with a growing cachet of multimillion-dollar shopping centers, new restaurants and plans for a tourist-magnet gas station just secured a major ranking as one of the nation's most desirable suburbs for 2025.In a recent study by moveBuddah, a technology company that analyzes moving trends, Boerne ranked as the fourth most popular suburban hotspot in the country for inbound moves to a city near a major metropolitan area. The San Antonio outskirt was ranked among 81 other suburbs in the vicinity of major me...
A buzzy Texas Hill Country town with a growing cachet of multimillion-dollar shopping centers, new restaurants and plans for a tourist-magnet gas station just secured a major ranking as one of the nation's most desirable suburbs for 2025.
In a recent study by moveBuddah, a technology company that analyzes moving trends, Boerne ranked as the fourth most popular suburban hotspot in the country for inbound moves to a city near a major metropolitan area. The San Antonio outskirt was ranked among 81 other suburbs in the vicinity of major metros that offer top-tier schools, bigger homes and lifestyle appeal.
To determine the ranking, researchers combed through Zillow Home Value Index data and moveBuddah’s moving calculator from August 1, 2024, to September 11, 2025. The moving trend analytics website first gathered information from the nation’s 100 largest major cities, or metro areas, in terms of population. Then it selected the suburbs with the highest inbound-to-outbound move ratio. The cities with the highest inbound-to-outbound ratios have the highest amount of interest from people wanting to move into town as well as the lowest number of residents looking to escape the city limits.
Only cities within a roughly 31 mile radius of the metro were considered for the study.
Though ranked fourth overall, the scenic Hill Country community was one of only two Texas cities that made the list, with being Wylie, Texas near Dallas.
Boerne’s charm and history helped it rein in the fourth spot, according to the moveBuddah report.
The city is known for its singular sense of small-town community, appreciation for the natural beauty of its surrounding environment, and fierce dedication to preserving its historic appeal.
"While not every top suburb is quaint or historic, in general, the most desirable suburbs nationwide are those with their own unique personalities and strong lifestyle appeal, regardless of their commute times," the report said.
The study also found that real estate in some of the most desirable suburbs costs more than the typical American home. In the top 25 suburbs analyzed, homes cost up to 57% higher than the national average. Home prices in Boerne are on the rise of late, and according to August 2025 data from the San Antonio Board of Realtors, median home cost just surpassed $600,000. However, housing costs are 21% below the national average, according to Payscale.
“America’s most popular suburbs are proving that big moves don’t always mean big cities. Sometimes they mean big charm, with moderate prices, with some proximity to mid-sized metros,” said the report.
A family-owned sandwich shop and gourmet delicatessen is celebrating its grand re-opening after moving off of Boerne’s Main Street to a new, spacious location, where now offers a new breakfast menu and indoor-dining service.The Boerne Epicure Gourmet Delicatessen, the latest venture from the Boerne Epicure Gourmet Market, a local favorite for upscale-casual eats, has long been a staple for the Hill Country community, and the new breakfast menu is already hitting the spot.The menu includes options like a toasted butter cro...
A family-owned sandwich shop and gourmet delicatessen is celebrating its grand re-opening after moving off of Boerne’s Main Street to a new, spacious location, where now offers a new breakfast menu and indoor-dining service.
The Boerne Epicure Gourmet Delicatessen, the latest venture from the Boerne Epicure Gourmet Market, a local favorite for upscale-casual eats, has long been a staple for the Hill Country community, and the new breakfast menu is already hitting the spot.
The menu includes options like a toasted butter croissant sandwich with eggs, bacon and cheese; overnight oats; avocado toast; and the already-popular fluffy biscuit topped with smokey sausage and chipotle gravy.
Previously located in the adjoining market location on Main Street, the new restaurant’s general manager, Vina Llarena, told MySA that the new spot is an exciting new venture for the family-based ownership group behind a number of Boerne’s popular Main Street stores, including Bechant’s and Bechant’s Men, which sells home decor, custom stationery, clothing, jewelry, and more in the booming Hill Country town.
Llarena says that the family has been in business since 2003, when they purchased the 150-year-old Camp Verde General Store, a sister location with a rich history to the new Epicure venture, located near Center Point, Texas, about 31 miles northeast of Boerne.
“We’re very happy to have moved to this beautiful, beautiful location,” Llarena told MySA.
Like Camp Verde, it’s the type of community location where people spend hours at a time eating and enjoying the Hill Country lifestyle.
“Yesterday, when we opened, we had some customers coming in at 8 in the morning and [leaving] at noon," she said.
The Camp Verde General Store got its start in 1857, when it opened to serve food and offer goods and services to soldiers stationed nearby at Fort Verde .
According to the store’s online history page on its website, the store remained in business years after the United States Army disbanded Fort Verde, becoming a center for community activity as a large wave of pioneers and ranchers began moving into the region. Over time, it became the go-to spot where early settlers were invited to “sit a spell,” per online information, and it now lives on as a modernized sandwich spot and hidden gem in the Texas Hill Country.
Like Camp Verde, the Boerne Epicure Delicatessen is well known for its “historically” tasty sandwiches. Llarena says a customer favorite is the Viva Texas sandwich, a pepper-smoked turkey sando with smoked gouda cheese, mixed greens, tomato, red onion, and chipotle mayo on sourdough bread.
The market will remain at its current location on Main Street, but the expanded deli is now located at 111 Staffel Street, just a little over a block away from Main Street.
Mia Valdez graduated from the University of Houston in 2018. She previously worked at KIII-TV 3News in Corpus Christi as a digital content producer and social media manager, and worked locally in San Antonio as an assignment desk editor and segment producer for Spectrum News from 2019 to 2022.
A 19-month-old Boerne boy needed surgery after swallowing magnets that tore holes in his stomach. Doctors warn parents: these tiny toys can be deadly.BOERNE, Texas — A Boerne toddler is recovering after emergency surgery to remove high-powered magnets from his stomach and intestines, and doctors say quick action likely saved his life.Nineteen-month-old August Pollman was rushed to Christus Children’s Hospital in San Antonio after doctors discovered he had swallowed five small, colorful magnets — the type often...
A 19-month-old Boerne boy needed surgery after swallowing magnets that tore holes in his stomach. Doctors warn parents: these tiny toys can be deadly.
BOERNE, Texas — A Boerne toddler is recovering after emergency surgery to remove high-powered magnets from his stomach and intestines, and doctors say quick action likely saved his life.
Nineteen-month-old August Pollman was rushed to Christus Children’s Hospital in San Antonio after doctors discovered he had swallowed five small, colorful magnets — the type often marketed as stress-relief or sensory toys.
“They’re strong little magnets. They look like little candies,” said his mother, Mishka Pollman. “They look kind of like blueberries but a lot smaller.”
At first, Mishka thought August might just be dehydrated, so she gave him more water. But the toddler’s stomach pain continued, and by the next day, he was grabbing his stomach again.
“Two Mondays ago, he started holding onto his stomach and just saying ‘ow,’” she said. "I got a wipey and started investigating his stool and I found crafting beads, plastic ones you make bracelets from."
She took him to Dr. Taylor Westgarth in Boerne, where an X-ray revealed the magnets.
“They’re like, ‘Hey, bad news. He must have eaten them on different days. Three were already down the intestine, then he had two in his stomach. The ones from his intestine started to magnetize to each other,’” she said.
From there, around 1 a.m., she rushed August to Christus Children’s Hospital.
The magnets had created holes in both his colon and his stomach. August was taken into surgery immediately. By 4 a.m., doctors had successfully removed the magnets and repaired the damage.
Hours after the sedation wore off, Mishka says August's energetic personality appeared to be back to normal. He remained in the hospital for three days while doctors treated him for an infection. When he was discharged, he was prescribed Tylenol and Motrin for pain management.
“He had his post-op today. Everything is healed great. Kids’ bodies are resilient,” Mishka said.
Doctors warn August’s case could have had a very different outcome.
“It is an emergency, it’s a GI [gastrointestinal] emergency,” said Sheila Morin, lead endoscopy nurse at Christus Children’s Hospital, where she has worked for 22 years. “When a child swallows more than one, they can find themselves somewhere along the GI tract. That child can have life-devastating effects from losing lots of the gut...It could be fatal as well.”
Morin explained that magnets can pinch tissue together, potentially triggering necrosis — or tissue death. “Necrosis basically means an area where that tissue is not getting oxygen or blood flow,” she said.
Magnets also increase the risk of infection, and symptoms of ingestion can include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Morin’s advice to parents: “Get rid of them.”
She added that urgent care clinics often don’t have the specialized teams needed for these emergencies. “Go to a true children’s hospital as soon as possible,” she said. "Timing is everything."
The Pollman family says they were always careful about button batteries but never thought magnets could pose a similar risk. Mishka, who is active in local moms’ groups in Boerne, is now sharing her story widely.
“I just don’t want any parent to have to go through what I went through that night,” she said.
Magnets are often advertised as toys, sensory tools or craft supplies, making them easy to miss in households with children. In August’s case, his older sister had brought the magnets home while crafting.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been tracking magnet-related injuries for more than a decade. From 2010 through 2021, an estimated 26,600 magnet ingestions were treated in U.S. emergency rooms, with at least seven reported deaths worldwide.
In 2022, the CPSC approved a new federal safety standard requiring magnets to either be too large to swallow or weak enough to reduce the risk of internal injury.
Still, the magnets remain on the market, and doctors say ingestion cases are common.
“This is why you have an on-call team on standby ready for these emergencies,” Morin said. “You can just turn away one second and they’re doing something else. This is not something to blame a parent for not watching. What we don’t know can hurt us.”
Friends and neighbors prepared meals and cared for Mishka’s other children while she and her husband were with August in the hospital.
“The entire community got together and really helped us out,” she said. “Even after we were released from the hospital so we wouldn’t have to focus on dinner.”
But most of all, Mishka hopes sharing August’s story will prevent another family from experiencing the same frightening situation.
She now lives in a magnet-free home.
“They look like little candies,” she said. “Things that look harmless can be hazardous. I don’t want anybody else to have to go through that.”
Check out some of the trending stories in the San Antonio metro area from Community Impact’s coverage the week of Aug. 11-15.Texas Roadhouse opening soon in New BraunfelsA nationwide steakhouse chain is planning to open a highly anticipated location soon in New Braunfels.Latest updateTexas Roadhouse officials told Community Impact that they are planning to open mid-November at 3206 I-35.Read the full story by Reporter Andrew Creelman.M...
Check out some of the trending stories in the San Antonio metro area from Community Impact’s coverage the week of Aug. 11-15.
Texas Roadhouse opening soon in New Braunfels
A nationwide steakhouse chain is planning to open a highly anticipated location soon in New Braunfels.
Latest update
Texas Roadhouse officials told Community Impact that they are planning to open mid-November at 3206 I-35.
Read the full story by Reporter Andrew Creelman.
Mrs. Crust & Co. now serving baked goods in New Braunfels
A new home-based baking serving is now serving the New Braunfels area.
The details
Mrs. Crust & Co. launched on July 21, Owner Madison Briscoe told Community Impact.
She’ll be serving a wide selection of sourdough breads like boule, sandwich, focaccia and bagels from her home-based kitchen.
Learn more.
Year-over-year median homes prices increase in New Braunfels, data shows
The most recent data compiled by the Four Rivers Association of Realtors showed that the number of homes sold decreased in both ZIP codes.
The average prices of homes listed for sale in the two New Braunfels ZIP codes over the past six months were in the $357K-$597K range.
Read the full story by Editor Amira Van Leeuwen.
Comal ISD approves design services contract for new elementary school
The Comal ISD board of trustees approved an agreement with LPA, Inc. for architectural services relating to the design and delivery for Elementary School #22 in the Meyer Ranch development on June 26.
What's new
The new 110,000 square-foot school will serve approximately 800 students. Construction would begin in January 2026 and slated to be completed by June 2027, according to a board memo.
Read more about it.
Wine bar rebrands in Cibolo
A wine and cocktail bar has rebranded in Cibolo.
The details
Sip Social Wine & Cocktail Bar, previously known as the Sip Wine Garden, changed its name in July, bar staff told Community Impact.
Learn more.
Wandering Oak Coffee & Trading Co. now brewing in Boerne
A new coffee company is roasting beans and serving the local Hill Country community.
What you need to know
Known as Wandering Oak Coffee & Trading Co., owner and roaster Chad Mason said he began rolling out his grounds across the area at the beginning of June.
Read the full story by Reporter Andrew Creelman.
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A showdown is set to take place between Boerne residents and city leaders over a controversial Buc-ee's development in the Texas Hill Country.Neighbors from the Menger Springs residential community — located about a mile and a half from the future travel center on Interstate 10 — will attend the Tuesday, August 12, city council meeting to call for increased transparency on the long-delayed Buc-ee's that is in its very early stages of its development.The residents say that Buc-ee's is not adhering to city ordinances,...
A showdown is set to take place between Boerne residents and city leaders over a controversial Buc-ee's development in the Texas Hill Country.
Neighbors from the Menger Springs residential community — located about a mile and a half from the future travel center on Interstate 10 — will attend the Tuesday, August 12, city council meeting to call for increased transparency on the long-delayed Buc-ee's that is in its very early stages of its development.
The residents say that Buc-ee's is not adhering to city ordinances, which other businesses in the city must follow, but they did not provide specific examples.
Denise Bruchmiller, a Boerne resident who helped organize the opposition to the travel center, called for a new traffic study at an August 4 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. She wants to know how the mega-travel center will impact local neighborhoods and a nearby senior center.
The Buc-ee's deal was first inked in 2016. Now, in 2025, Bruchmiller argues that the fast-growing city of today is not the same city that signed that deal.
Bruchmiller told MySA that she and her neighbors are calling on the city for more clarity on how the initial Buc-ee's agreement has changed after nearly a decade of delays.
"This project encompasses a lot of years and leadership, so recollections can be varied, but our desire is for the truth, which should exist in the official records," she said.
Bruchmiller said she has requested records from the city and is concerned a 100-foot-tall sign would increase light pollution.
The City of Boerne says that there are no plans for a 100-foot-tall sign, though. Chris Shadrock, who serves as the city's communications director, shared that Buc-ee’s has two approved sign permits given the go-ahead in 2018. One 75-foot sign was approved for the main part of the travel center, and a second 40-foot sign was approved for an adjacent site.
"Buc-ee’s has confirmed to the city that they will utilize the approved 75-foot sign but do not plan to install the additional 40-foot sign," Shadrock shared.
"I know that Buc-ee's is coming; you know, they signed a contract, but there's a lot that's unsettled about the site itself, and, you know, a number of unanswered questions. We're trying to get those things answered," she said.
Neighbors became upset in late June when neighbors discovered a public hearing was scheduled for a rezoning request to change an additional 3.9-acre tract of land into an accessory parking lot.
In July, the public hearing had been withdrawn and rescheduled for the fall.
"We're not against development," Bruchmiller said. "We just want sensible development. We want the city ordinances to be abided by, and you know it's not clear if all of that is happening."
The city also explained to MySA that the Buc-ee's development is vested under 2019 city regulations, based on the date of the travel center's preliminary plat application. That "vesting" is regulated by the state of Texas. That means that the majority of the Buc-ee's project follows older codes that cannot be changed.
"The new proposed parking area on the recently purchased TxDOT right-of-way acreage will be subject to current development regulations," Shadrock said.
The parking lot parcel, which actually spans 5.155 acres of land was originally thought to be under Boerne's old rules, but when the city adopted its Unified Development Code in 2021, the property wasn't immediately assigned a new classification.
"This was an error..." Shadrock said. "As a result, legally the City is required to give it a comparable zoning classification to that which originally existed..."
The city says it found that the appropriate zoning for the proposed parking lot land is Community Commercial, and that determination will be presented to the Planning & Zoning Commission on September 8 and to the City Council on September 23 for formal ratification.
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