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

It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always

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Home Care In Boulder, UT

Home Care Boulder, 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 Arnett-Fullen House 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 Boulder, UT is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Boulder, 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

“Lea and her staff are amazing. They have taken care of my dad’s needs without hesitation. Because I live in a different city than my father, the line of communication was always quick. Thank you for all you did for him and me.”

Sherry F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Leah was so accommodating to our needs. Theresa, the nurse, is amazing. I would recommend them 100%. They treat the patients as if they were family. So glad we found them!”

Ivana R.
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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!”

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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.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Boulder, 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 Boulder, UT

Types of Elderly Care in Boulder, 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 Boulder, 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 Boulder, 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 Eben G. Fine 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 Boulder, 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 Frasca Food and Wine or visit Boulder Historic Jaycees Depot, 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 Boulder, UT

Benefits of Home Care in Boulder, 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 Boulder, 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 Boulder, 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 Boulder, 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 Boulder, 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 Boulder, 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 Boulder, 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:

  • MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Boulder
  • Sunrise of Boulder
  • Brookdale Meridian Boulder
  • Brookdale North Boulder
  • Brookdale Boulder Creek
  • Frasier Retirement Community
Home Care Boulder, 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 Boulder, 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 Boulder, 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 Boulder, UT

Latest News in Boulder, UT

Why the University of Colorado Boulder Bolted from the Pac-12 to the Big 12

It was a day of celebration in Boulder.On June 11, 2010, after weeks of intense speculation, the University of Colorado was formally unveiled as the newest member of what was then known as the Pac-10 Conference. In the high-stakes and cutthroat game of conference realignment, the Buffs had managed to find a new and ostensibly more profitable home than the Big 12 Conference, a league for which they were a founding member and had spent the previous 14 years.The Perfect Gift For Everyone On Your List!Give One Year of 5280...

It was a day of celebration in Boulder.

On June 11, 2010, after weeks of intense speculation, the University of Colorado was formally unveiled as the newest member of what was then known as the Pac-10 Conference. In the high-stakes and cutthroat game of conference realignment, the Buffs had managed to find a new and ostensibly more profitable home than the Big 12 Conference, a league for which they were a founding member and had spent the previous 14 years.

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As the announcement was made, members of the university leadership, from chancellor Phil DiStefano to then-athletic director Mike Bohn, stood and smiled for photo-ops from the high risers at Folsom Field, with the Flatirons standing tall in the background. Larry Scott, the Pac-10’s second-year commissioner, spoke of the Buffs’ arrival in lofty terms, saying, “History will recognize and reward the bold first step we’ve made together.”

The general sentiment was unmistakable—this was a marriage destined to flourish. “Quite simply, the Pac-10 is a great fit for us,” DiStefano said that day.

Thirteen years later, and with DiStefano still at the helm, that’s apparently no longer the case.

On Thursday afternoon at a “special board meeting,” Colorado’s Board of Regents voted unanimously to approve a move back to the Big 12 after a dozen years in the Pac-12, finalizing a return to a conference it happily abandoned in the not-so-distant past.

“After careful thought and consideration, it was determined that a switch in conference would give CU Boulder the stability, resources, and exposure necessary for long-term future success in a college athletics environment that is constantly evolving,” DiStefano and athletic director Rick George said in a joint statement Thursday. “The Big 12’s national reach across three time zones as well as our shared creative vision for the future we feel makes it an excellent fit for CU Boulder, our students, faculty, and alumni. These decisions are never easy, and we’ve valued our 12 years as proud members of the Pac-12 Conference. We look forward to achieving new goals while embarking on this exciting next era as members of the Big 12 Conference.”

Colorado has now done what once seemed farcical, but why the Buffs reversed course isn’t much of a mystery: This past fall, the Big 12 signed a six-year, $2.28 billion media rights deal with ESPN and Fox. The agreement offered the conference and its members some peace of mind after league centerpieces University of Texas and University of Oklahoma announced they were departing for the Southeastern Conference. Perhaps more important, it gave the Big 12 a critical strategic advantage over a competitor. The Big 12’s TV contract was set to expire in 2025, one year after the Pac-12’s, and by securing an agreement when it did, it sent the Pac-12 scrambling for a deal in a marketplace in which many of the major networks had largely full college football inventories.

Deadlines that Pac-12 administrators had publicly floated—the end of June and the league’s football media day in late July—came and went. Potential broadcast partners—Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, the CW—grew more unconventional and far less appealing than ESPN or a major network. Given the overwhelmingly disproportionate role media rights deals play in the money a school receives annually from its conference, the lack of a contract became more than an annoyance for the Pac-12 and its members. By the time USC and UCLA announced impending moves to the Big Ten, it was an existential threat.

Even beyond the TV deal, the Big 12 has a sense of stability the Pac-12 doesn’t. What was once thought to be one of the conference’s greatest flaws—that without Texas and Oklahoma, it’s a collection of also-ran athletic programs in geographic outposts like Lubbock, Texas; Stillwater, Oklahoma; Ames, Iowa; and Manhattan, Kansas—turned out to be a key to its survival. While the Pac-12 had to constantly worry about schools like Oregon and Washington fleeing for another major conference, the Big 12 had no such concerns. And with the additions of Houston, Cincinnati, Central Florida, and BYU, all of whom officially joined the league earlier this month, it strengthened its membership while the Pac-12 failed to expand after USC and UCLA split.

But the impetus for Colorado’s decision goes beyond the perpetual chess match big-time college sports has turned itself into.

The Buffs will be returning to a league in which they were far more successful on the football field than they were in the Pac-12 (though that could be attributed just as much to misguided coaching hires and other self-inflicted wounds as conference affiliation). They’ll be within 900 miles of eight of the school’s new conference mates, compared to just two in the Pac-12. With four Texas schools in the league, they’ll get a stronger recruiting foothold in a state that has historically provided the program with some of its most talented and productive players on its best teams.

And although it would be foolish to make such a long-term institutional decision based on a football coach who seems more likely to be at Colorado for a good time rather than a long time, Deion Sanders will now have the opportunity to work his magic in Texas, where he played professionally, lived for a number of years, and coached high school football. With Texas and (especially) Oklahoma gone, the path to the upper echelon of Big 12 football is more navigable than it was with two of the sport’s behemoths lording over its counterparts.

In men’s basketball, the Buffs will be joining what has been the sport’s best and deepest conference for the better part of a decade, with two of the past three national champions—and that’s before adding the likes of Houston and Cincinnati, both of which have top-tier hoops programs.

If the past two decades have taught us anything, though, it’s that it would be silly to believe Colorado’s conference move will be the last in a seemingly never-ending game of musical chairs. It’s implausible to think Oregon and Washington, both of which have successful football programs and large fan bases, will sit idly by as the Pac-12 sheds members and fails to find a network willing to air its games. Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah had, along with Colorado, been linked to the Big 12—along with rumored targets as far-flung as Connecticut—as potential new additions for months. With the Buffs now gone, will those other schools follow suit? If they do, it’s possible the Pac-12, a conference that has been around in some form since 1915, could vanish.

But as seismic as this decision may feel at the moment, it almost certainly won’t be the final temblor. The Big 12 has been perilously close to extinction several times this century only to persevere, including two years ago when the Pac-12 looked into poaching much of the Big 12’s remaining base after Texas and Oklahoma declared their exits. Who’s to say it won’t plunge to those depths again? The Buffs left the Big 12 for the Pac-10 a decade and a half ago for a bigger payday, only to turn around and do the same thing in the opposite direction this week. Perhaps Colorado is destined to be a nomad in this new college sports landscape, changing leagues every 15 or 20 years as circumstances shift and more stable, lucrative opportunities arise. Indeed, given what has transpired in major college athletics for the past quarter-century, there’s truly no scenario that’s too outlandish to be dismissed.

University of Colorado signs local recruit from Boulder and a transfer from Texas

BOULDER — The University of Colorado soccer program continued adding to its roster for the upcoming fall season with the additions of Ava Priest and Lola Stanley.Priest joins the Buffaloes from down the road at Boulder High School, while Stanley transfers in from the University of Texas.“Ava and Lola are tremendous additions to our 2023 squad,” head coach ...

BOULDER — The University of Colorado soccer program continued adding to its roster for the upcoming fall season with the additions of Ava Priest and Lola Stanley.

Priest joins the Buffaloes from down the road at Boulder High School, while Stanley transfers in from the University of Texas.

“Ava and Lola are tremendous additions to our 2023 squad,” head coach Danny Sanchez commented. “Ava has the versatility to play almost anywhere on the field. She has great pace and technical ability. We feel she can have an immediate impact on our program. Lola has gained fantastic experience being a part of the program at Texas. Like Ava, she is very quick and versatile. She comes to CU with something to prove and we love that mentality.”

Priest, a 5-5 defender, graduated a year early from Boulder H.S., to join the Buffs in 2023. She played 3.5 years of club soccer for Colorado Rush, winning the 2022 Girls’ Academy Champions League. Priest was the team’s 2022 Defensive Player of the Year and was a part of the 2021 and 2022 USYNT Regional ID centers. She also trained in Spain with Mislata, SPF and Deportivo, winning the Valencia Cup with Mislata. Priest was a three-time letter winner in track & field at Boulder H.S., and owns the third-best time in school history in the 300-meter hurdles and the fifth-best time in the 100-meter hurdles.

Stanley, a native of Frisco, Texas, joined the Longhorns in 2021 as a four-star recruit that was listed at No. 131 overall in the Top Drawer Soccer IMG Academy’s top 150. The 5-4 midfielder played club for Solar Soccer and graduated from Frisco High School. Stanley captained her team to a national championship in the 2018-19 season and snagged multiple Development Academy and ECNL Weekly Standout honors.

She was a member of the U16/U17 U.S. Soccer DA National Championship team in 2018-19 and was invited to play in the Adidas ESP event at the Portland Timbers in 2017. Stanley has been a part of a 2016-17 ECNL National Championship finalist, a 2016 USYSA National Champion and was part of the 2016 USYSA National Championship Best XI. She played one year for Frisco H.S. as a freshman in 2017-18 but helped her team to the district playoffs while being named Second Team All-Region and the District 9-5A Newcomer of the Year.

Stanley played six games for Texas in the 2021 season, logging two shots and 101 minutes. She will have three years of eligibility left.

The two additions bring the number of new faces for 2023 to 13 with eight incoming freshmen and five transfers.

How to get ready for game day

The CU Buffs football team will take on the Arizona Wildcats for Senior Day this weekend at Folsom Field. Whether you’re on campus for the game, attending a watch party or cheering from home, here are some tips to get ready for game day.Check out events before the game Visit Pearl Street on Friday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. to join this CU pep rally before the game. The Pearl Street Stampede is a fall traditi...

The CU Buffs football team will take on the Arizona Wildcats for Senior Day this weekend at Folsom Field. Whether you’re on campus for the game, attending a watch party or cheering from home, here are some tips to get ready for game day.

Check out events before the game

Visit Pearl Street on Friday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. to join this CU pep rally before the game. The Pearl Street Stampede is a fall tradition, featuring the Golden Buffalo Marching Band and members of the CU Buffs football team. The stampede will begin in front of the courthouse and move west, stopping on each block of the Pearl Street Mall to perform.

Pearl Street Stampede events are free and open to everyone. They occur throughout the season on the evening before home games.

Show your Buff pride at the Student Gameday Huddle before the game on Saturday, Nov. 11 on the Quad between Brackett, Cockerell, Crossman, and Aden Halls.

The Student Gameday Huddle is a new tailgate tradition where students can come cheer on the Buffs before CU’s home games. There will be free food, giveaways, games, music and a chance to walk on to Folsom Field if you are chosen as the Student Fan of the Game. You can self-nominate or nominate a friend here.

Get organized

If you’re attending the game at Folsom Field, here are some things to know before game day:

Visit the CU Athletics website

Be respectful and considerate

Remember that you’re a Buff wherever you are. Whether you’re watching the game at Folsom Field, a local restaurant or a friend’s house off campus, be considerate and respectful to those around you. Buffs stand shoulder to shoulder and value honor, respect and integrity. Make sure you’re welcoming fans, new and old, treating everyone with dignity and celebrating responsibly.

If you’re off campus, be mindful of noise levels. Excessive noise at any time of the day can result in a nuisance ticket—a common citation that can be avoided. You can also be fined if there is trash in your yard or around your property.

Learn more about behaviors that could cost you

Look out for yourselves and each other

We can all do our part to look out for fellow Buffs, both on and off campus.

Restaurant in a remote area of Utah is named one of the nation’s best — again

Hell’s Backbone Grill is honored by James Beard Foundation; two Salt Lake City businesses also got national recognition.| Updated: Jan. 30, 2023, 7:15 a.m.For the second year in a row, a restaurant in a remote area of Utah has has been named one of the top eateries in the nation.Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm...

Hell’s Backbone Grill is honored by James Beard Foundation; two Salt Lake City businesses also got national recognition.

| Updated: Jan. 30, 2023, 7:15 a.m.

For the second year in a row, a restaurant in a remote area of Utah has has been named one of the top eateries in the nation.

Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm in tiny Boulder, Garfield County, is the only Utah restaurant ever selected as a national semifinalist for the prestigious James Beard Awards — the dining industry’s top honor — in the category of Outstanding Restaurant.

One Salt Lake City establishment is a national semifinalist as in the Outstanding Hospitality category; another is a national semifinalist as Outstanding Bakery. One is a national semifinalist as Outstanding Bar. And seven Utah chefs at five establishments are semifinalists in the five-state Mountain region.

Hell’s Backbone is a nationally renowned farm-to-table restaurant located in tiny Boulder — population of about 250, about 200 miles southeast of Salt Lake City and 130 miles northeast of St. George in rural Garfield County. Co-owners and co-chefs Jen Castle and Blake Spalding were semifinalists in the Best Chef category in the Southwest region in 2017, 2018 and 2019, and nominees for Best Chef in the Mountain region in 2020.

Winter at Hell's Backbone Grill in Boulder Utah

Since Hell’s Backbone was named one of 20 national Outstanding Restaurant semifinalists in 2022, Castle and Spalding have had to turn to crowd-funding to keep their restaurant open. As of Wednesday, the restaurant’s GoFundMe page has raised more than $405,000 — well beyond the original goal of $324,000. Castle and Spalding wrote that they were “absolutely undone” by the support.

“Through hundreds of handwritten letters, calls, emails, texts, posts, and comments — and thousands of donations — you’ve granted us something invaluable: The courage, confidence, inspiration, peace of mind, determination and resources to carry on with the work we deeply love,” they wrote on the page. “Your belief in us has not only helped us believe in ourselves again, it’s renewed our faith in humanity.”

Three Salt Lake City establishments were named semifinalists in other James Beard categories:

Manoli’s, which “reinterprets Greek cuisine by using fresh, local and seasonal products,” is one of 20 national semifinalists in the Outstanding Hospitality category. The small restaurant at 402 E. Harvey Milk Blvd. (900 South) remains closed after suffering water damage in early January; it is expected to reopen sometime in February.

Normal Ice Cream, which touts its “unconventional flavor combos ... locally sourced milk from happy cows” and its “knack for snagging the very best ingredients,” is one of 20 national semifinalists as Outstanding Bakery. It’s located at 169 E. Harvey Milk Blvd. (900 South).

• And Post Office Place, which was “born out of a love for travel and food” and “has been an outlet for an abundance of ideas and a passion for providing place,” is a national semifinalist as Outstanding Bar. It’s located at 16 W. Market Street.

Seven Utahns at five restaurants were among the 20 eateries named Best Chef semifinalists in the Mountain region, comprised of Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming:

• Paul Chamberlain and Logen Crew, SLC Eatery, 1017 S. Main, Salt Lake City.

• Andrew Fuller, Oquirrh, 368 E. 100 South, Salt Lake City.

• Briar Handly, Handle, 136 Heber Ave., Park City.

• Young-Ho Kang and Peter Kim, The Angry Korean, 11587 S. District Main Dr., South Jordan. (The Angry Korean has a second location, at 6945 S. 1300 East in Cottonwood Heights.)

• Ali Sabbah, Mazza, 1515 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City.

Finalists will be named in March. Winners will be announced in June.

CU Boulder faculty and University Libraries call for equitable access to information

CU Boulder faculty are supporting the University Libraries in current negotiations with major academic publishers over licensing agreements that will determine who gets access to academic journals under what terms and conditions and at what cost to the campus.The Boulder Faculty Assembly, which is the representative body of the faculty for the Boulder campus, passed a ...

CU Boulder faculty are supporting the University Libraries in current negotiations with major academic publishers over licensing agreements that will determine who gets access to academic journals under what terms and conditions and at what cost to the campus.

The Boulder Faculty Assembly, which is the representative body of the faculty for the Boulder campus, passed a resolution on October 5, 2023, supporting the libraries’ mission to provide equitable access to information and preserve author’s rights. Approved without dissent, the resolution recognizes the impact of subscription costs on the campus budget and champions open access to information and protecting authors rights to retain copyright of their work.

The faculty support comes as the University Libraries engage in negotiations over fees and terms for renewal of licenses with major academic publishers including Elsevier, Wiley, Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis, and SAGE, who together account for half of worldwide academic publishing revenues.

At stake are issues such as whether publishers can stop authors from sharing their articles openly with other researchers and the public after they’ve been accepted into academic journals; whether the public has immediate, unfettered access to taxpayer funded research content; whether libraries can share content through Interlibrary Loan; and how much faculty and graduate students must pay publishers to get their articles published.

“I’m heartened to see our CU Boulder faculty supporting the University Libraries as they engage in very difficult licensing negotiations over access to information and how it is managed,’’ said Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Russell L. Moore. “From our perspective, journal content is a result of the labor of our scholars and productivity of our labs and we are buying it back as well as paying to publish.”

Elsevier is the single largest and most expensive journal license package purchased by the University Libraries amounting to about $2 million or roughly 14% of the library materials budget. The Elsevier negotiations are being conducted through the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries on behalf of 15 libraries in Colorado and Wyoming. The CU Boulder contingent to that team is composed of librarians and faculty members and is meeting almost weekly this semester to review offers, discuss options, and formulate counter offers. Librarians say the negotiations may run six months or longer.

“Academic publishing under its current model is unsustainable as it continues to charge libraries for read access and charges publishing fees direct to our researchers with no or minimal compensation for the academic labor of writing, peer review and editing,” said Robert H. McDonald, dean of University Libraries and senior vice provost of online education. “Campuses need sustainable publishing models that will support our research enterprise without taxing the limits of what campuses can afford.”

One of the roles of collections librarians is to negotiate alternative agreements with academic publishers that move away from subscription-based reading and towards open access publishing.

“The Boulder Faculty Assembly resolution signifies a growing awareness among scholars and researchers of the power that academic publishers hold over a critical part of the research lifecycle,” said BFA Chair and Prof. Shelly Miller, Mechanical Engineering. “Our research depends upon timely publication and dissemination as well as open access to enable global scientific collaboration and share scientific results widely.”

The University Libraries has established licensing priorities for upcoming negotiations which are in the resolution approved by CU Boulder faculty. These include:

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