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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 Blanding, UT

Home Care Blanding, UT

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 Blanding Veterans Memorial 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 Blanding, UT is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Blanding, UT

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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

“MUST READ!! This is the best company to hire for your loved ones who need ongoing caregiver and companion services. Very thoughtful and experienced caregivers and admin staff who care deeply about the details and about customer satisfaction. Brent and Lea have been incredibly supportive and flexible, and caregivers Aarylyn, Sabrina, Lydia, and Hailie have been accommodating, patient, professional and safe. They regularly take my loved one on outings in the community to help her claim her independance and have become a vital part of her healthcare and happiness. LOVE THIS PLACE!!”

Jackie J.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a caregiver with ABC, and I am so happy with the company!! They are so flexible and understanding with my schedule:) such genuine people and the clients are amazing!! They truly embody the name of the company... Not just for the clients but also for their employees???? it makes for an amazing place to work ????”

Rebecca E.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider I have Always Best Care Serving Southern Utah for my husband. We got somebody coming in to help. The caregivers are good. They provide total a.m. care help like getting up and getting dressed. We have different ones and so they're trying to get us some steady people coming in. The scheduling is a little bit hard right now. The care has been good, though.”

Loretta
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider I have Always Best Care Serving Southern Utah for my husband. We got somebody coming in to help. The caregivers are good. They provide total a.m. care help like getting up and getting dressed. We have different ones and so they're trying to get us some steady people coming in. The scheduling is a little bit hard right now. The care has been good, though.”

Loretta
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TESTIMONIALS

“Absolutely the best company here in St George! The care goes above and beyond what any family could ever ask for when handling care. They only have the best of the best caregivers that love to help! Their training and communication is top notch. Love this company! I refer all my friends and family! Couldn’t be more proud of an exceptional company!”

Diamondzragrlzbf
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TESTIMONIALS

“i’ve been working for ABC for about 6 months now & love it! they’re super flexible & have true love & passion for helping others!”

lydia T.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I've been with ABC 3 years now. They have been gracious and kind whenever I have had to change my schedule or not be able to work a shift. They make me feel like family, and they strive to help the clients feel the same. We love our clients, caregivers and staff.”

TheXploringKay O.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Love working here! Brent and lea are so sweet and understanding towards everyone! They work very hard! Great pay and amazing communication!”

aaralyn G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“This is a great company to work for if you’re interested in a flexible schedule. Management is so supportive and will do what they can to make everyday at work a good day. They communicate effectively and quickly to ensure nothing is miscommunicated or misunderstood. Working here as been so rewarding and educational.”

Mckinlye G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care of Southern Ut is a great company. In November I will have worked with them for three years. I am a senior myself and absolutely love working with them. They always try to make sure the client and the caregiver have a good relationship with each other. They are family owned and genuinely care about both client and employees.”

Helen M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I work for Always Best Care and it's amazing they really do care for their clients and they'll go the extra mile to meet their needs ! Not only that but they care for employees i love the flexibility they give us.”

Aly T.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care has definitely been a blessing to our little familys life. As an employer of ABC they have been amazing with flexibility in chosing my schedule so that not only am I able to work but also be home with my kids when I need to be. They are amazing and put their employees first. I love being a member of ABC team.”

Falelua A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“1. Stay active. Exercise may be the last thing you want to do when your arthritis hurts, but many studies show that physical activity is one of the best ways to improve your quality of life. 2. Eat a balanced diet. Studies show that a variety of nutrients may help ease arthritis symptoms. 3. Lose weight. Being overweight puts undue strain on weight-bearing joints such as your knees, spine, hips, ankles, and feet. 5. Use hot or cold packs. By increasing blood flow, hot compresses can ease pain and stiffness. 6. Keep pain under control. Over-the-counter medications can help ease arthritis pain. 7. Talk to your doctor about supplements and complementary medicine. Many supplements have been tested for the treatment of arthritis. 8. Try splints, braces, and other aids. Devices that support painful joints, such as splints, braces, and canes can help ease your discomfort and prevent injury. 9. Seek support. Living with arthritis isn’t easy. Finding other people that you can talk to and share ideas with can help. Check out arthritis support groups online or in your area. 10. Stay positive. Your mental outlook can have a big impact on how you feel, and how well you function. #SelfCare #Osteoarthritis #Arthritis #Disability #GoodHealth #PainRelief #SeniorCommunity #Caregiver #Caregiving #WECANHELP #OlderAdult #SeniorCare #SeniorLiving #SeniorServices #SeniorHousing #AlwaysBestCare #Exercise #SelfManaging #Tips”

Always B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care has some of the friendliest staff. They are quick to learn & eager to assist. Great schedulers who are on top of managing the schedules & keeping their employees accountable. I sure appreciate all the help they give!”

AsAn
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care has some of the friendliest staff. They are quick to learn & eager to assist. Great schedulers who are on top of managing the schedules & keeping their employees accountable. I sure appreciate all the help they give!”

Audrey S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I can leave a long review if I wanted to . I can talk about always best cares credentials and talk about mine. But What’s the point of leaving a review if it sounds like everybody else’s. The bottom line is , that they are great at their jobs from the bottom to the top. They have a process and people in place . They keep accountability and are communicative . Ive represented many companies in the past and still do till this day contract with only the best.. If you feel you want to hear more about this company on a deeper level just lmk. Happy Healthy Safe”

Jay R.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I like working for ABC because it works well with my busy nursing school schedule! I also like how I get to work on my own, but there are options to work with other CNAs for the care of some of the clients. It’s the best of both worlds! I’ve been with Always best care since 2021 and have thoroughly enjoyed working with the clients I work with!”

Olivia S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Love always best care ❤️”

Breezy H.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Amazing business. Staff are helpful and kind.”

Margot K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care is always best!!! Highly recommended! Brent listens and hears what we need for my 94 year old mom and matches caregivers accordingly. Sometimes, the schedule changes and he works to fill the needs immediately and always with a great attitude! The caregivers are compassionate. Again, I highly recommend Always Best Care.”

shell S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They are seriously so amazing to work with and really care for their clients. I came to them with some pretty difficult challenges that I was not sure we could work with but they were able to make it happen and truly did more than I thought was even possible. I highly recommend them.”

Mandy M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Love working for this company”

Christina P.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Great to work with, caring, compassionate and willing to work with different situations! They take time to understand needs to accommodate the best way to help! They are trustworthy, dependable and a business you can count on!!????”

M S.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Blanding, UT?

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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 Blanding, UT

Types of Elderly Care in Blanding, UT

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 Blanding, UT
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 Blanding, UT
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 South 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 Blanding, UT
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 Homestead Steak House or visit Utah Historical Marker #248, 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 Blanding, UT

Benefits of Home Care in Blanding, UT

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 Blanding, UT, 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 Blanding, UT

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 UT'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 Blanding, UT

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 Blanding, UT 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 Blanding, UT

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 Blanding, UT

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:

  • Four Corners Regional Care Center
  • Blanding Senior Citizens Center
  • Rocky Mountain Home Care & Hospice - Blanding
  • White Mesa Ute Senior Citizens
  • Juniper Village Apartments
  • Four Corners Home Health Care
Home Care Blanding, UT

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 Blanding, UT

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 Blanding, UT 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 Blanding, UT

Latest News in Blanding, UT

Speller from rural Utah prepares for Scripps National Spelling Bee

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BLANDING, Utah — One of Utah’s brightest minds lives in the rural town of Blanding, home to 3,300 people.

14-year-old Luke Jeppesen is one of two contestants from Utah who recently qualified for the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

“It's so cool. I go around and people know me as ‘the speller,’” Jeppesen said. “It's kind of interesting. Some people say hi to me who I have never talked to before.”

But, there's much more to the teen than just spelling.

He has been playing piano for more than 10 years. He also has a passion for roller coasters even though the nearest coaster is located hundreds of miles away from his home.

“I love roller coasters a lot – thinking about them and designing them,” he said.

When he isn’t designing coasters on his computer or practicing piano, Jeppesen is going over his spelling bee study guide.

“They are very, very hard,” he said. “I looked at them from the start and I felt like I was going to die. It was so overwhelming at the start but [I am] getting it under control.”

Jeppesen is also an eighth-grade student at Albert R. Lyman Middle School.

“I give a lot of credit to him personally because it's a lot of work and dedication,” said principal Ryan Palmer.

The school serves a diverse population with many students who are Native American.

“It’s no secret the Navajo Nation was hit hard in the pandemic, and we suffered from learning losses,” Palmer said. “That does not define the students in the district. Our students can go on to do incredible things.”

Luke is hoping to continue his incredible journey at the Scripps National Spelling Bee and be the first Utahn to claim the championship.

That’s a lot of pressure for this teen to carry on his shoulders, but Jeppesen is finding ways to manage the excitement and anticipation.

“I feel like I am more social, so I don't get scared in front of people. I don't get stage fright,” he said.

And just like getting into a roller coaster, Luke is buckling up, getting ready to enjoy the journey at the Bee.

“I don't know if anyone is the biggest fan of spelling, but I found it's my natural talent,” he said. “I don't spell for fun; I spell because I have something I am competing for and I want to win.”

The Scripps National Spelling Bee begins on Tuesday, May 30. The championship round takes place on the evening of June 1.

Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Art & Science Join Forces in Sentinels Exhibit at USU Moab, Blanding

MOAB, Utah — Beginning in the last week of February through May 2023, Utah State University Moab and USU Blanding are hosting the exhibit Sentinels, an art and science project created by printmakers Todd Anderson and Bruce Crownover and social ecologist Gary Machlis.The collaborative exhibit demonstrates the migration of piñon pine and juniper trees as a result of increased dryness in the Ameri...

MOAB, Utah — Beginning in the last week of February through May 2023, Utah State University Moab and USU Blanding are hosting the exhibit Sentinels, an art and science project created by printmakers Todd Anderson and Bruce Crownover and social ecologist Gary Machlis.

The collaborative exhibit demonstrates the migration of piñon pine and juniper trees as a result of increased dryness in the American Southwest, as studied in Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments.

The idea for the exhibit started when Anderson found research papers detailing climate change and environment in the southwest, including Southeast Utah. Having spent the last dozen years working on artwork detailing the current climate crisis, Anderson saw this as another opportunity to bring awareness through art.

“I use a key question to guide my artwork: How can my artwork help with the climate crisis?” said Anderson. “I am trying to draw attention to some of these issues and show the facts to the general population. As an artist, I can show how beautiful and amazing these trees are and bring awareness to a widespread audience. I am trying my best to interpret and show the beauty of these trees and have that be a starting point for a larger conversation.”

Anderson previously worked with Crownover as both created a book about Glacier National Park and the shrinking glaciers there. Years later, Anderson invited Crownover to visit Southeast Utah, a place Crownover was already familiar with, having spent many summers near Grover, Utah, at a family ranch.

“For me, it was an invitation to go back to a place that I spent a lot of time as a kid,” Crownover said. “As a kid, I spent a lot of time roaming around Boulder Mountain and playing outside. I hadn’t been there since I was 16 years old. I am now in my 60s and I wanted to go back and see it. I was so immediately comforted by the place — it’s in my DNA. I felt very at home there and I was very keen on making some artistic record of what was happening to this place that I love.”

The two artists made sketches, paintings and took photographs of the landscape, trying to capture the piñon pine and juniper trees in as many ways as they could. They would return to their home studios to create wood prints of the landscapes.

Anderson then invited Machlis, his colleague at Clemson University, to join him in another visit to the area. Machlis, who specializes in research on conservation and sustainability, brought a scientific viewpoint to the artistic exhibit. Machlis began writing notes around the campfire and developed three different written “word paintings” of the area.

The first was a fictitious science article set in the 1970s. The second was a mock journal entry of the trip, written in the style of an 1880s travel journal. The final piece was an imagined newspaper editorial from the 1950s.

“It was a wonderful collaboration,” Machlis said. “I worked collaboratively with Todd to design the pieces to reflect these themes. These are extraordinary landscapes, ecosystems, and sacred places — and we wanted to share with the communities of Southeast Utah how we responded to the privilege of visiting.”

These word paintings, together with woodcut prints from Anderson and Crownover, were gathered together in a collection that was published as Sentinels: The Piñon Pine and Juniper Trees of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, Utah. The exhibit is four years in the making. The artists hope that their representations will be the beginning of a conversation about conservation.

“As an artist, I try to draw people to look at my work and then to reflect on why it is important,” Crownover said. “I try to show them this is a serious subject that is housed in a pretty picture.”

The Sentinels exhibit will be housed with different pieces at USU Moab and USU Blanding from late February through May 2023. Both campuses will host an exhibit opening reception with the artists that is open to the public, with a brief presentation by the artists. The opening reception at USU Blanding will be on March 1, while the open house at USU Moab will be on March 3.

“I hope people enjoy the exhibit,” Anderson said. “I am excited to come to Utah and meet the people at USU and meet students from different high schools in the area.”

Statewide Campuses 303stories Arts 199stories Climate 147stories

Plans for a new uranium mill in Utah announced

This story was originally published by the Land Desk and is republished here by permission.Canada-based Western Vanadium & Uranium...

This story was originally published by the Land Desk and is republished here by permission.

Canada-based Western Vanadium & Uraniumannounced in a news releasethat it plans to build a “state-of-the-art” uranium, vanadium and cobalt mill in Utah to process ore “mined both from mines owned by Western and ore produced by other miners.” The announcement does not specify where in Utah the company plans to build the facility, only that it took two years to select and acquire the site, which was chosen “based on the support of local municipal and county officials.” While George Glasier, the company’s CEO, wouldn’t return our calls asking about the specific location, he told the Salt Lake Tribune it is planned for just outside Green River, Utah, near the site of a now defunct nuclear power plant proposal. It’s another twist in the weird Western politics surrounding uranium mills.

If this mill is ultimately permitted and built, it would be only the second operating uranium processing plant in the nation (in addition to the White Mesa Mill near Blanding, Utah, owned by Energy Fuels). But that’s a big “if,” as Glasier is well aware.

Glasier was the President and CEO of Energy Fuels in the 2000s. At the time, another Canadian company, Denison, owned the White Mesa Mill. But they weren’t too keen on processing ore from Energy Fuels’ mines. So, Glasier and Energy Fuels proposed building their own mill, the Piñon Ridge, in the Paradox Valley in Montrose County, Colorado. Glasier spearheaded the mill planning and permitting process up until his resignation in 2010.

Colorado regulators permitted the mill in 2011. Environmental groups sued. And as the legal process played out, a bunch of shuffling was going on: Energy Fuels bought out Denison and the White Mesa Mill, meaning they no longer needed the proposed Piñon Ridge Mill. Glasier started the Piñon Ridge Mining company, which purchased the mill license and various mining properties from Energy Fuels. And Western Uranium and Vanadium purchased Glasier’s company — and the Piñon Ridge permit — and installed him as CEO. Finally, in 2018 — more than a decade after the process began — a judge ruled the Piñon Ridge permit had been issued in error and the staterescindedit. The proposal was dead. (Uranium prices were so low by then it’s doubtful the thing would have been built anyway.)

Glasier, however, didn’t give up on uranium, instead working to keep the long-idledSunday Mine Complexin the Big Gypsum Valley near Slickrock, Colorado, from being put into reclamation status. With uranium prices shooting back up, Glasier and Western Uranium say they are preparing the Sunday Complex to produce orebeginning as early as next month.

But ore isn’t worth much until it’s milled. Although the White Mesa Mill has plenty of capacity (they’ve mostly beenprocessing other companies’ waste) and the owners of theShootaring Millnear the Henry Mountains say they want to get it up and running, Glasier and company apparently think yet another mill is necessary. One unique feature it would have is the ability to recover cobalt, a key component of electric vehicle batteries.

Western Uranium’s news release says permitting for the proposed mill has already begun. Even if that’s true, it will take years for it to wend its way through the process. Perhaps Utah regulators will be more amenable to a radioactive material processing plant than Colorado was with Piñon Ridge. But this time there’s likely to be even fiercer opposition from Indigenous and environmental advocates. And, as Sarah Fields of Uranium Watch points out: They’re going to need water to mill uranium and it’s in short supply these days.

Jonathan Thompson is the editor ofThe Land Deskand a contributing editor at High Country News.He is the author of Sagebrush Empire: How a Remote Utah County Became the Battlefront of American Public Lands.

A Uranium Mill Near Blanding May Begin Processing Ore For Elements Used In iPhones And Military Weapons

Engineers at a uranium mill in San Juan County have figured out how to produce a concentrate of rare earth elements from North American ore. The company that owns the mill, Energy Fuels, announced their accomplishment Tuesday, after producing the substance at their facility outside of Blanding.“Rare earths are a ...

Engineers at a uranium mill in San Juan County have figured out how to produce a concentrate of rare earth elements from North American ore. The company that owns the mill, Energy Fuels, announced their accomplishment Tuesday, after producing the substance at their facility outside of Blanding.

“Rare earths are a big deal because they have a lot of high-tech uses,” said Energy Fuels marketing director Curtis Moore, “so the government is interested in bringing their production back to the U.S.”

Currently, the U.S. imports 80%of its rare earth metals from China. But Energy Fuels is one of a handful of companies working to change that. It announced its intention to process ore containing rare earth metals following a push from the Pentagon in April to spur domestic production.

Producing rare earth elements requires a long chain of actions, according to Moore. The raw material usually contains a mix of the metals, which must be milled into a concentrated substance and then separated out. At that point, they are processed into alloys, which are used in everything from iPhones to heat-seeking missiles.

He said Energy Fuels is perfectly positioned to process material containing the metals, since they can occur alongside uranium.

“This is really not that different in concept than what this facility has done for 40 years,” Moore said. “It’s basically recovering Uranium out of an ore.”

An official with the Utah Department of Environmental Quality said Energy Fuels alerted the state earlier this year of its plans to import Monazite sand from the state of Georgia in order to extract rare earth elements and Uranium from it.

Although the last mine in the U.S. producing rare earth metals closed in 2015, scientists recently discovered ore rich in the metals at certain locations in Georgia. But Moore would not say exactly which mine produced the Monazite sand used by Energy Fuels.

Since the mill is recovering Uranium from the ore, along with the rare earth metals, the Department said it is licensed to dispose of the final waste product in the tailing ponds at the White Mesa Mill.

That has some environmental groups concerned. The Grand Canyon Trust and HEAL Utah both said the White Mesa Mill has outlived its purpose, which was to mill domestic Uranium, and that keeping it open affects the nearby Ute Mesa Ute community of White Mesa.

“It perpetuates the other harm the mill causes,” said Aaron Paul with the Grand Canyon Trust. “When, 40 years on, it seems like a good time to get serious about reclamation.”

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe believes one of the mill’s tailings ponds is leaking, polluting a shallow aquifer beneath the community with chemicals. Energy Fuels acknowledges that toxins exist in the water below the mill, but claims some were there before the mill was constructed and the rest originate upstream.

Moore’s company has expanded its business model in recent years to process Uranium-containing material called “alternate feeds”. The mill is currently seeking permits to process waste material from a rare-earth producing facility in Estonia, as well as a construction site in Colorado.

“Really their business model is taking waste,” said Scott Williams with HEAL Utah. “Same is true with these rare earth metals.”

Moore said Energy Fuels will continue refining the rare earths concentration process over the next few months, before deciding whether to move forward with commercial production. He added the mill will remain focused on Uranium production, but processing ore for rare earth elements could be a complementary side business.

Tiny Navajo community in Utah moves closer than ever to getting water and power

Utah Legislature appropriates $500,000, with $200,000 coming from Utah Navajo Trust Fund and up to $1M from the LDS Church.| Updated: April 9, 2021, 8:43 a.m.Westwater, a small Navajo Nation-owned community in San Juan County, may finally be on track to getting running water and power after decades of false starts and disappointments.The southeastern Utah community is located a quarter mile from Blanding’s city limits, the county’s most populous town, where residents have enjoyed modern amenities for more t...

Utah Legislature appropriates $500,000, with $200,000 coming from Utah Navajo Trust Fund and up to $1M from the LDS Church.

| Updated: April 9, 2021, 8:43 a.m.

Westwater, a small Navajo Nation-owned community in San Juan County, may finally be on track to getting running water and power after decades of false starts and disappointments.

The southeastern Utah community is located a quarter mile from Blanding’s city limits, the county’s most populous town, where residents have enjoyed modern amenities for more than a century. But water and electric lines have never been extended to the 29 lots on 120 acres in Westwater, where 16 families live.

A breakthrough seemed imminent last year, when the Legislature approved $500,000 to address the issue, and a number of nonprofits and religious organizations pledged to help raise the remainder of the project cost, which is pegged at $2.7 million.

But the funding appropriation was approved just weeks before the coronavirus pandemic struck Utah, hitting San Juan County harder than any other part of the state and causing yet another delay for Westwater residents.

Though frustrating, the delay was not surprising for Evangeline Gray, a co-founder of the Westwater Diné Community group and a board member of the Indigenous-led nonprofit Utah Diné Bikéyah. Both groups have been advocating for the water and power project.

“We’re so used to not being taken as a priority as First Nation people,” she said, noting past efforts to address the problem through Indian Health Service funding fizzled in the early 2000s. There was a sense, she added, that it was “going to be the same old footpath that we’ve been following: no electricity, no running water.”

Residents of the community currently haul water from central sources and rely on small solar systems. Gray said inconsistent power and internet have made it particularly difficult for students to complete schoolwork during the pandemic.

But Gray has been feeling more optimistic in recent weeks after the Legislature again appropriated $500,000 for the project, in the wake of approval of $200,000 from the Utah Navajo Trust Fund, a state-run entity in charge of distributing oil and gas royalties collected from the Utah portion of Navajo Nation to Diné residents.

“This adds a little bit of hope that this will become reality,” she said.

Tony Dayish, executive director of the Utah Navajo Trust Fund, said there have been efforts to bring water and power to the homes since the Navajo Nation bought the land from the Bureau of Land Management in 1986 to help the families who were living there since the early 1900s, but the most recent push began in 2018.

The $200,000 approved by the trust fund was identified as a priority for the Blue Mountain Diné, the group representing members of the Navajo Nation living in and near Blanding, and the funds were approved last month by the trust fund’s Diné Advisory Committee and its board.

“It’s a priority for the Westwater folks,” Dayish said, “and it’s a priority for the Blue Mountain Diné community.”

Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding, pressed for state funding at an appropriations committee hearing last month, calling Westwater “dramatically underserved and in need.” Lyman noted that Westwater fell into a jurisdictional gray area as private “fee land” owned by the Navajo Nation, but not part of the federal reservation, and just outside of Blanding.

Lyman added The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has committed $1 million toward the Westwater project. Other partners listed on trust fund documents include the Navajo Revitalization Fund, the nonprofit DigDeep, the Department of Agriculture, and the Indian Health Service.

Hurdles remain. The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, which provides water and power to much of the Navajo Nation, is considering two proposals to hook up the electric lines: a connection in nearby Blanding or a four-mile line from outside city limits to the south, the latter of which would add considerable costs to the effort.

The project will proceed in phases, with the electric hookups likely occurring first. Gray is also calling on the county, which receives property taxes from the Navajo Nation, to improve roads in the community that get muddy after rains.

“Our young people need internet and electrical lights to study,” Gray said. “Maybe within 10 years, I’m hoping that we will finish homes for our people ... the roads will be paved, and we’ll have electricity and water.”

Zak Podmore is a Report for America corps member and writes about conflict and change in San Juan County for The Salt Lake Tribune. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by clicking here.

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