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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 Glenwood, UT

Home Care Glenwood, 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 Glenwood United Order Marker 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 Glenwood, UT is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Glenwood, 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!”

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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 Glenwood, 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 Glenwood, UT

Types of Elderly Care in Glenwood, 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 Glenwood, 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 Glenwood, 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 Glenwood 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 Glenwood, 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 Juicy Lucy's Steakhouse or visit Frontier Historical Museum, 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 Glenwood, UT

Benefits of Home Care in Glenwood, 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 Glenwood, 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 Glenwood, 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 Glenwood, 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 Glenwood, 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 Glenwood, 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 Glenwood, 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:

  • Roaring Fork Senior Living
  • Open Gate Assisted Living
  • Glenwood Springs Health Care
  • Sunnyside Retirement Center
  • Heritage Park Care Center
  • Manor Two Senior Citizens
Home Care Glenwood, 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 Glenwood, 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 Glenwood, 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 Glenwood, UT

Latest News in Glenwood, UT

Federal appeals court derails Uinta Basin Railway plan to send billions more gallons of Utah crude through Colorado

The Uinta Basin Railway plan to direct billions of gallons of Utah crude oil through Colorado has been derailed.The U.S. Court of Appeals on Friday agreed with Eagle County and several environmental groups and overturned federal approval of the Uinta Basin Railway, citing violations of the National Environmental Policy Act.“They cut corners in their environmental analysis of this...

The Uinta Basin Railway plan to direct billions of gallons of Utah crude oil through Colorado has been derailed.

The U.S. Court of Appeals on Friday agreed with Eagle County and several environmental groups and overturned federal approval of the Uinta Basin Railway, citing violations of the National Environmental Policy Act.

“They cut corners in their environmental analysis of this project particularly as it relates to Colorado and now they have to start over,” said Eagle County Attorney Bryan Treu, who joined several environmental groups in opposition to the controversial railroad plan.

The appeals court ruled that the Surface Transportation Board’s three-year study of the Utah railroad, which will connect remote oil fields with the national rail network and direct billions of gallons of crude oil through Colorado, failed to consider downstream impacts along the Colorado River. The railway is an economic development project by Utah’s Seven County Infrastructure Coalition.

The Surface Transportation Board conducted a “poor environmental review,” the court found, by failing to adequately study the potential of oil spills, trail derailments along the Colorado River and the potential for wildfire in communities along tracks that will be carrying heated tankers filled with “waxy” crude from Utah to the Gulf Coast.

“The limited weighing of the other environmental policies the board did undertake fails to demonstrate any serious grappling with the significant potential for environmental harm stemming from the project,” the ruling reads. The court ruled that the board “hurriedly disposed” of objections by railway opponents in the Environmental Impact Statement review of the project.

The board in 2021 approved the Uinta Basin Railway, which planned 88 miles of new track connecting oil basins in Utah with the national rail network. The new railroad would quintuple production in the Uinta Basin with an estimated 3,300 new oil wells. The rail line in central Utah would direct 225,000 to 350,000 barrels of crude every day along the Colorado River to refineries on the Gulf of Mexico. The Uinta Basin already directs its waxy crude along railroads through Colorado but the new track would increase traffic as much as five times.

The plan galvanized opposition in Colorado, with dozens of communities opposing the project. Eagle County and five environmental groups in 2022 filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Court of Appeals challenging the board’s approval.

In recent months, several Colorado federal, state and regional lawmakers have urged federal officials to reconsider approval of the Uinta Basin with a focus on how a derailment of tankers carrying the basin’s oil in Colorado could foul the Colorado River and increase wildfire danger for railside communities like Glenwood Springs.

The Surface Transportation Board argued it did not have jurisdiction to address or enforce mitigation of impacts outside the 88-mile rail corridor.

The appeals court ordered the Surface Transportation Board to redo its environmental review of the project. But the court did not agree with Eagle County and the environmental groups led by the Center for Biological Diversity that the Uinta Basin Railway could lead to the opening of the long-dormant Tennessee Pass Line between Dotsero and Cañon City.

The court also did not wholly agree that the transportation board failed to adequately consider the climate impacts of burning the new crude, which could increase pollution and account for 1% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The court also found “the board failed to weigh the project’s uncertain financial viability and the full potential for environmental harm against the transportation benefits it identified” and ordered the federal transportation board to vacate its approval of the Uinta Basin Railway.

If the board decides to relaunch a new environmental review of the project, it will include heavy scrutiny from urban and rural communities far from the proposed new track, Treu said. Eagle County was among the only Colorado communities to formally object to the Surface Transportation Board’s analysis of the Uinta Basin Railway, opening the opportunity for the county to join the environmental groups in a legal challenge in the federal appeals court. A new environmental review will likely include challenges from many more communities, Treu said.

“We raised a lot of awareness around this project and this time around, there will be a lot more eyes watching,” Treu said.

Federal, state and local leaders oppose “oil train” through Glenwood Canyon

Elected leaders, including Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Joe Neguse cite environmental concerns about trains hauling oil through Colorado.GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — As seven counties in Utah continue progress towards building a railway connecting Utah’s resource-rich Uinta Basin to the national rail network, a coalition of federal, state and local elected leaders are calling on the Biden administration to stop the process – citing environmental concerns about trains hauling crude through Colorado.Sen. Michael Be...

Elected leaders, including Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Joe Neguse cite environmental concerns about trains hauling oil through Colorado.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — As seven counties in Utah continue progress towards building a railway connecting Utah’s resource-rich Uinta Basin to the national rail network, a coalition of federal, state and local elected leaders are calling on the Biden administration to stop the process – citing environmental concerns about trains hauling crude through Colorado.

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) and Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Boulder) held a news conference near the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon Friday, urging the U.S. Forest Service not to grant a special use permit to build the railway though Utah’s Ashley National Forest. Bennet called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study the impact of up to five trains a day hauling waxy crude along 100 miles adjacent to the Colorado River.

“We’re all here today to say the oil trains from Uinta Basin are not welcome in Colorado,” Bennet said. “When the federal government reviewed this project… it’s important to understand they didn’t properly assess the risk to Colorado.”

In March, Bennet and Neguse wrote a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, warning of the danger of running the trains along the banks of the headwaters of the Colorado River, which provides water to 40 million people in the American West. In that letter, the lawmakers warned of potential derailments, especially after the environmental disaster after a derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

“Derailments in this country are shockingly common… more than 1,000 per year on average,” Bennet told reporters Friday.

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand that this project, which as the senator said would enable 4.6 billion gallons of oil to travel adjacent to this river, is not a smart idea,” Neguse said. “Imagine the degradation of this river, imagine the ecosystems impacted, imagine the people impacted if a disaster were to occur.”

Glenwood Springs has been no stranger to disaster in Glenwood Canyon.

“This canyon is a very fragile place,” Glenwood Springs Mayor Jonathan Godes said at a news conference. "We’ve had the Grizzly Creek Fire. We’ve had climate change induced floods… rockslides...Glenwood Springs has an economy that’s based on tourism and a lot of that tourism is based on water.”

The company building the railway did not respond to a 9NEWS request for comment on the opposition as of Friday afternoon. In the past, the head of the company has criticized environmental concerns, saying the waxy crude is easier to clean up than other materials.

Bennet responded to that criticism saying the proponent of the project shouldn’t be the judge of the environmental impact and again called for the federal government to assess the Colorado impact.

The Uinta Basin Railway would allow for a new way for hardened crude to be transported out of the region in Utah. Currently a small road is the only way to move material out. If connected to the national railway, crude could be transported from Utah to the Gulf Coast.

“We are in favor of domestic energy production, I want to note,” said State Sen. Dylan Roberts (D-Steamboat Springs) said. “But you’re supposed to do that in the right and safe way. This is not the right or safe way.”

Utah’s proposed crude oil railway could see an accident every year

A proposed 85-mile oil railway through Ashley National Forest, in the northeast corner of Utah, is on the cusp of final approval from federal agencies. The Uinta Basin Railway project intends to connect the oil-rich but hard-to-access region to refineries on the Gulf Coast by linking the basin to an existing line. The route would then chart a course east beside the Colorado River, through flood and rockslide-prone Glenwood Canyon and onwards into downtown Denver before heading south.Up to five 2-mile-long trains would traverse it each...

A proposed 85-mile oil railway through Ashley National Forest, in the northeast corner of Utah, is on the cusp of final approval from federal agencies. The Uinta Basin Railway project intends to connect the oil-rich but hard-to-access region to refineries on the Gulf Coast by linking the basin to an existing line. The route would then chart a course east beside the Colorado River, through flood and rockslide-prone Glenwood Canyon and onwards into downtown Denver before heading south.

Up to five 2-mile-long trains would traverse it each day, carrying crude oil. A federal analysis predicts that accidents are likely to occur once a year on the segment from Kyune, Utah, to Grand Junction, Colorado, with the portion between Grand Junction and Denver experiencing one every two years. Up to 2,000 new oil wells would need to be drilled in the Uinta Basin to make the project economically viable.

A coalition of seven fossil fuel-producing counties in Utah have allied with Drexel Hamilton, a New York investment bank, to promote the railway, and Rio Grande Pacific would manage train operations on the new Utah section as well as on the existing Union Pacific line through Colorado. The Ute Indian Tribe also holds a small equity stake in the project, since the nation has an economic interest in oil extracted from Uintah and Ouray reservation land.

Too sludgy for pipelines, the viscous petroleum can only be moved by train and truck. Some consider waxy crude “clean-up friendly” because it must be heated to flow and tends to form globules, rather than oil slicks, when it encounters water, making remediation easier.

But critics are concerned about how a derailment of the toxic material would affect the Colorado River, a major artery of Western agriculture and the source of drinking water for 40 million people. Roughly150 miles of preexisting trackline the Colorado River, and other stretches run through the headwaters of the river system. The federal environmental impact study did not examine the consequences of a spill in Colorado, nor the downstream effects a crash could have on the seven states that rely on the river’s water. The study that accompanied the rail line’s approval in 2021 confined its most comprehensive impact analysis to Utah.

Tanker rail cars run along the Colorado River near its confluence with the Roaring Fork River in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The federal environmental impact study of a new oil railway project did not examine the consequences of an oil spill in Colorado, nor the downstream effects a crash could have on the seven states that rely on the river’s water._____________Major King

Environmental groups, Colorado communities and politicians have seized on that omission in a last-ditch effort to stall the railway. “The last thing in the world we should be doing is jeopardizing that water source,” said Deeda Seed, a campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the environmental groups involved in lawsuits against the railway.

“The last thing in the world we should be doing is jeopardizing that water source.”

The February train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, alarmed Matt Scherr, Eagle County’s commissioner. “After what happened there, we can’t ever believe that they’re taking the risks seriously,” Scherr said. Still, attempts to thwart the project preceded East Palestine’s crash. The impetus behind Eagle County’s lawsuit is simple, Scherr said: “It’s just math. With greater volume, there will be more accidents.” Union Pacific would not comment on whether waxy crude and other petroleum products are already transported along the route. The rail operator “is required by federal law to transport chemicals and other hazardous commodities that Americans use daily, including fertilizer, ethanol, crude oil and chlorine,” a spokesman said in an email.

Early last year, Eagle County, with the Center for Biological Diversity, launched a legal challenge against the Surface Transportation Board, which arbitrates disputes on transit projects, arguing that the environmental impact study neglected to fully account for the risks posed to Colorado. A judge won’t hear the case until sometime this fall.

Meanwhile, Sen. Michael Bennet, D, and Rep. Joe Neguse, D-District 2, have been writing letters to anyone in the Biden administration who could intervene to stop the railway. They wrote Brenda Mallory, who chairs the Council on Environmental Quality, to request an environmental study focusing on Colorado’s watershed and noted that an oil spill in the Colorado River would be “catastrophic.” They also highlighted the West’s extreme drought conditions and how wildfires could spark from a crash. In 2020, the Grizzly Creek blaze, likely started by a flicked cigarette butt or sparks from a dragging trailer chain, burned the same section of Glenwood Canyon where the oil trains would pass. But money, or the lack of it, could also stop the project in its tracks. In promotional materials for the railway, the coalition of counties behind the project promised “private pays for it,” indicating the costs of construction and operation likely wouldn’t fall to taxpayers. But then the estimated costs doubled and last week, the coalition applied for over $2 billion dollars in tax-exempt government bonds.

“It’s just math. With greater volume, there will be more accidents.”

Deeda Seed thinks this could be a sign of trouble for the sprawling oil route. “The efforts to secure these bonds show how fragile the financing of this railway is. They never represented to the public before that anything like this would be needed,” said Seed. The bonds are normally issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation for projects with clear public benefits — think bridges or bus lanes — and would cost taxpayers $80 million per year.

Bennet and Neguse leaned on the news of the bonds to once again ask the federal government to intervene. In a letter last week to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, they implored him to use his authority to block access to the bonds, citing the project’s failure to provide public value.

“The additional risks posed by this project ... have gained new urgency in the wake of the East Palestine disaster,” the politicians wrote. It would “irretrievably sink taxpayer dollars into a project that has proven unable to contain its own costs.”

Samuel Shaw is an editorial intern forHigh Country Newsbased in the Colorado Front Range. Email him at[email protected]or submit aletter to the editor. See ourletters to the editor policy. Follow Samuel on Instagram @youngandforgettable.

Glenwood Springs grad Luke Gair walks on with University of Missouri football

Hide CaptionsLuke Gair knew where he wanted to go for college and what he wanted to do in college dating back to his early childhood.Gair dreamed of not only studying at the University of Missouri, but also playing for the football program.Coming out of tiny Glenwood Springs, the odds were stacked against Gair getting a spot on the Tigers’ football team in the tough Southeastern Conf...

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Luke Gair knew where he wanted to go for college and what he wanted to do in college dating back to his early childhood.

Gair dreamed of not only studying at the University of Missouri, but also playing for the football program.

Coming out of tiny Glenwood Springs, the odds were stacked against Gair getting a spot on the Tigers’ football team in the tough Southeastern Conference, but on Aug. 19, Gair’s dream came true as the Tigers awarded him a roster spot, a helmet, and a locker with plans on using him on the scout team offense and defense with a chance to crack the gameday roster on special teams.

“Honestly, it’s a dream come true,” Gair, who is studying industrial engineering at Mizzou, said during a phone interview from his dorm room in Columbia, Missouri. “When they gave me my helmet and locker, it really didn’t feel like I was there; it was all surreal. Everything I’ve ever wanted was being placed in my hands, and I’m so excited to be part of this great program.”

Two years ago, Missouri offered Gair a preferred walk-on spot in the recruiting process, but last season — Gair’s senior year at Glenwood — the Tigers gave the preferred walk-on spot to another player, leaving Gair in limbo. The senior, who rushed for 1,576 yards and 22 touchdowns in three years at Glenwood while adding 40 receptions for 598 yards and two touchdowns, garnered some attention from smaller Division I schools like the University of Northern Colorado, but Gair remained steadfast in his desire to play for the SEC program, even if they didn’t seem to show much interest until late in the process.

“I’d been communicating with them here and there, but I didn’t really know if I was going to play football for them,” Gair said. “In the back of my mind, I made the decision to come to Missouri for the education, but it really ate at me that I wasn’t playing football this fall until they called me Monday and asked if I was interested in coming out for the team.

“But once I got that call and got a chance, there was just a lot of satisfaction that I felt,” Gair added. “I realized that all the hard work was towards something, and that it’s actually possible to make it coming from a small-town school like Glenwood. That’s a big lesson in life for me, knowing that if you have the will and the determination, things will work out.”

Once Gair got word he’d earned a spot on the Tigers’ team, he fired off a quick text message to his father, Todd, with a picture of his Missouri helmet and locker.

“It was a really cool moment,” Todd Gair said. “We weren’t expecting him to get a chance so quickly; it was just a great moment to get that text from Luke. He was kind of up in the air about not being a preferred walk-on with them and all the work being worth it without getting a real chance, but once they gave him his helmet and told him what the plan was, he was all in.”

Gair’s point of contact at Mizzou over the years has been former CU star safety Ryan Walters, now the Tigers’ secondary coach under head coach Barry Odom. Former Glenwood Springs head coach Rocky Whitworth has a long-standing relationship with Walters, so the connection was there from the coach’s side, as well as the family side.

“Missouri was our home, but we moved here to Colorado when Luke was 3,” Todd Gair said. “His mom and a number of aunts graduated from Mizzou, so he’s always wanted to go there and wanted to play football there. We’re really happy for him and proud of him. He set his mind to achieve this and worked hard over the years, so it’s great to see him get rewarded.”

Gair won’t travel with the Tigers for the first year, unless he makes the gameday roster as a special teams player in his first year. However, Gair will dress for home games and will get to run out of the tunnel with the Tigers on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.

“I’m really looking forward to that moment,” Gair said. “It’s hard to put it into words, honestly.”

The Tigers open on the road Saturday, Aug. 31, at Wyoming before opening up at home on Saturday, Sept. 7, against West Virginia.

The origins of Park City’s cemeteries and how they preserve history

PARK CITY, Utah — At the end of Silver King Road, nestled behind some condominiums at the base of Park City Mountain Resort, lies the Glenwood Cemetery. Established in 1885, the land was purchased by Park City’s many fraternal organizations to benefit miners, loggers, masons, and their families by providing an afford...

PARK CITY, Utah — At the end of Silver King Road, nestled behind some condominiums at the base of Park City Mountain Resort, lies the Glenwood Cemetery. Established in 1885, the land was purchased by Park City’s many fraternal organizations to benefit miners, loggers, masons, and their families by providing an affordable place of rest. The organizations banded together to raise funds for the first three acres of land; then, two acres were donated, adding up to the five-acre plot with a 5,000-person capacity.

Today, the cemetery is less than a fifth full, with only 949 occupants. Within the 5-acres are plots designated to each organization. Most headstones offer an answer as to which occupation and organization the deceased was a part of. The woodmen’s gravestones are stone tree trunks or logs, the Odd Fellows’ headstones have three chain links, and masonry tools are etched into the Masons’ headstones.

Burials in the Glenwood slowed in the early 20th century in step with our town’s mining industry, and with that, maintenance and care fell to the wayside until the 1980s when community members rallied to preserve the land.

After restoring headstones and refurbishing the quiet grove, the Glenwood Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Currently, the Park City Historical Society heads up the cemetery’s maintenance and offers tours for those interested in peeking into the lives of Park City’s past.

Park City’s next two cemeteries are linked to the Snyder family, for whom Snyderville Basin is named. Prior to Mormon pioneers settling the area, the Snyderville Basin was a summer hunting ground for the Utes.

Samuel Snyder, George Snyder and one of his wives, Rhoda, and Samuel’s son Ephraim were among the first pioneers to settle in Park City, arriving in 1849 and purchasing Parley Pratt’s claim to Parley’s Park in 1850. It’s said that Rhoda was the first female Parkite.

The Snyders literally helped build Park City. Lumber from the Snyder Mill was used to build many of the mining structures and tunnels, as well as build infrastructure, homes, and buildings in town.

In the 19th century, loss was all too familiar to the community, from mining and labor accidents to illnesses. The child mortality rate was incredibly high. In 1874, Ephraim lost his six-month-old son Robert. Samuel’s grandson was laid to rest on a hillside plot, which is now the Snyderville Cemetery. The land belonged to Samuel’s brother, Chester.

The cemetery is tucked away in the Sun Peak neighborhood on Roffe Road. There are 27 documented burials at the pioneer cemetery; the last of whom was 15-year-old Sextus Snyder, buried in 1920. Now, headstones face an apartment building, and many of the Snyders rest on the hillside of their namesake land.

Another unfortunate Snyder death was George’s daughter, young Pearle Snyder, the first to be buried in what is now the Park City Cemetery in 1897.

The story goes that Pearle Snyder passed away in the winter of 1879. The Snyder family attempted the 3-hour wagon ride to Salt Lake City, where the closest public interment spaces were, but the wintry roads were too gruesome to navigate. So, out of necessity, George Snyder buried his daughter on his land and what is now the Park City Cemetery.

Soon after, he donated the land for use of the community. The cemetery began to be used in a more official capacity in 1892. Qualifying Parkites with “immediate need” can still be buried in the Park City Cemetery today. A qualified resident was born in Park City Miner’s Hospital, owns property or currently resides in Park City Proper, or has resided within the limits of Park City for a period of at least 10 years consecutively.

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