It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Cove Fort 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 Junction, UT is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Oh my goodness.....Roland is so experienced, professional, and so very kind with a great sense”
“Oh my goodness.....Roland is so experienced, professional, and so very kind with a great sense”
“Leah was so accommodating to our needs. Theresa, the nurse, is amazing. I”
“Leah was so accommodating to our needs. Theresa, the nurse, is amazing. I”
“MUST READ!! This is the best company to hire for your loved ones who need”
“MUST READ!! This is the best company to hire for your loved ones who need”
“I am a caregiver with ABC, and I am so happy with the company!! They”
“Lea, Brent and the staff are great. Because I live in a different city, the”
“Absolutely the best company here in St George! The care goes above and beyond what”
“Absolutely the best company here in St George! The care goes above and beyond what”
“i’ve been working for ABC for about 6 months now & love it! they’re super”
“My experience with Always Best Care was hands down amazing! Their staff is super attentive”
“I've been with ABC 3 years now. They have been gracious and kind whenever I”
“Love working here! Brent and lea are so sweet and understanding towards everyone! They work”
“This is a great company to work for if you’re interested in a flexible schedule.”
“I cannot express enough how grateful I am for the exceptional care Siale provided for”
“Always Best Care of Southern Ut is a great company. In November I will have”
“I work for Always Best Care and it's amazing they really do care for their”
“Always Best Care has definitely been a blessing to our little familys life. As an”
“I can leave a long review if I wanted to . I can talk about”
“Love always best care ❤️”
“Amazing business. Staff are helpful and kind.”
“Always Best Care is always best!!! Highly recommended! Brent listens and hears what we need”
“Love them! Staff is always super sweet and easy to work with! Highly recommend.”
“Always Best Care has provided caregivers for my mother and now my father for the”
“Alway best care! They are so giving and caring to their staff and clients❤️❤️❤️”
“I've been using ABC for about 2 1/2 years and have really met some wonderful”
“Always best is such an incredible company! They are so accommodating to all of the”
“Always best care has been warm and welcoming. They start off with a really good”
“Great company”
“Great to work with, caring, compassionate and willing to work with different situations! They take”
“Oh my goodness.....Roland is so experienced, professional, and so very kind with a great sense of humor! Take good care of him! You also sent Blanca and same goes for her!!!! Love them both! Also Michael loved both of them, too.”
“Oh my goodness.....Roland is so experienced, professional, and so very kind with a great sense of humor! Take good care of him! You also sent Blanca and same goes for her!!!! Love them both! Also Michael loved both of them, too.”
“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!”
“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!”
“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!!”
“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!!”
“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 ????”
“Lea, Brent and the staff are great. Because I live in a different city, the staff takes care of my father’s needs where he lives. Maria is wonderful with my dad. I’ve not personally met the staff, except Maria, but I’m very grateful for all they do for my dad and me. Appreciate them.”
“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!”
“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!”
“i’ve been working for ABC for about 6 months now & love it! they’re super flexible & have true love & passion for helping others!”
“My experience with Always Best Care was hands down amazing! Their staff is super attentive and kind. I always felt like I was their first priority and that they really cared about me. 10/10 would recommend!!”
“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.”
“Love working here! Brent and lea are so sweet and understanding towards everyone! They work very hard! Great pay and amazing communication!”
“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.”
“I cannot express enough how grateful I am for the exceptional care Siale provided for my dad. He was committed to delivering the highest quality of care and truly valued my dad as a patient. Siale, he goes over and beyond to make a positive impact on the lives of his patients.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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”
“Love always best care ❤️”
“Amazing business. Staff are helpful and kind.”
“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.”
“Love them! Staff is always super sweet and easy to work with! Highly recommend.”
“Always Best Care has provided caregivers for my mother and now my father for the last year. They always send the best people to take care of them and give me peace of mind when I have to be at work. I highly recommend them if you’re seeking care for anyone in need.”
“Alway best care! They are so giving and caring to their staff and clients❤️❤️❤️”
“I've been using ABC for about 2 1/2 years and have really met some wonderful people and great caregivers. I know they all work hard and are experienced and dependable which is important to me. At times I've needed a flexible schedule and they've been able to accommodate my needs and been very friendly about it. At times I've also had to ask these caregivers to do things for me outside of their job description and they've been very accommodating. Brent is also been great to follow up with phone calls and help adjust my schedule when needed. I do recommend this company.”
“Always best is such an incredible company! They are so accommodating to all of the needs of their clients and do their best to help any way that they can. They are reliable and really seem to care. I would recommend Always Best to anyone looking for these kinds of services!”
“Always best care has been warm and welcoming. They start off with a really good pay start and they also give really good hours and are very flexible with my work and school schedule. They are very kind even throughout my shifts they will sometimes ask me how my shifts went and make sure I’m doing ok and even through the holidays they send me messages or cards wishing me the best of holidays and always making me feel part of their family and business. And if I have any questions or concerns they are always supportive and always there for me I definitely recommend working hear and also I love working there my clients are all very nice and if you are ever looking for help always best care is the best place to call.”
“Great company”
“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!!????”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Bingham Junction Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Edge Steakhouse or visit Old Kiln Historical Site, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Junction, 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.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Junction, 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.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Junction, 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.
LOGAN — Authorities have released the identities of the man who was found dead early Friday morning in the rubble of his Cache Junction home, along with the other two who remain in the hospital. The family’s house exploded Thursday night just before 6 p.m.Cache County Sheriff’s Lt. Mikelshan Bartschi said emergency crews located John Mullin just after midnight. He had been in the home at the time of the explosion and perished in the blast. Meanwhile, Caryn Mullin and Joshua Mullin remain hospitalized in critical cond...
LOGAN — Authorities have released the identities of the man who was found dead early Friday morning in the rubble of his Cache Junction home, along with the other two who remain in the hospital. The family’s house exploded Thursday night just before 6 p.m.
Cache County Sheriff’s Lt. Mikelshan Bartschi said emergency crews located John Mullin just after midnight. He had been in the home at the time of the explosion and perished in the blast. Meanwhile, Caryn Mullin and Joshua Mullin remain hospitalized in critical condition.
Firefighters and law enforcement were called to the Mullin’s home, near 5670 North SR-23, right after the explosion was reported. The home was almost completely gone except for a pile of debris and the foundation. Flames were also coming from the rubble.
Bartschi said Joshua Mullin was outside the home when the first crews arrived. He suffered multiple burns on his arms, chest and face. He was transported to Cache Valley Hospital by paramedics, where he is currently sedated and has a long recovery ahead of him.
Caryn Mullin could be heard yelling for help inside what was left of the house. She was rescued and transported to Logan Regional Hospital, suffering from multiple fractures and burns to her body. Doctors later transferred her to McKay Dee Hospital for additional care.
The sheriff’s office released body camera footage of emergency responders pulling Caryn from the rubble. Bartschi said the video demonstrates the heroic behavior of men and women who put their lives on the line during the rescue.
The Mullins family are professional dog breeders. There were approximately 30 dogs on the property in a separate structure at the time of the explosion. There were 16 dogs in the home, five dogs were recovered five hours after the explosion and taken to the New Vision Intake and Animal Shelter for treatment. Of those five dogs, three are in critical condition and 2 are in good condition. All the other dogs on the property are being taken care of by family members.
Firefighters from multiple departments responded to the scene to extinguish the two alarm fire, including Newton Fire, Logan Fire, Clarkston Fire, Trenton Fire, Smithfield Fire, Lewiston Fire, Mendon Fire, Franklin County Idaho Fire, Cache County Fire, and the Cache County Sheriff’s Office. There were no fire hydrants nearby so several tender units were also dispatched to establish a water supply.
Bartschi said the sheriff’s office was offering their sincerest condolences to the family of the victims involved in this incident.
will@cvradio.com
Some state lawmakers say the bill they passed Thursday morning ensures access to affordable housing. Summit County officials say it violates their land use authority and violates their existing contract with Dakota Pacific, perhaps illegally.Senate Bill 84 passed 24-2-3 in the Senate Thursday morning. Senate President Pro Tempore Wayne Harper, the bill’s sponsor, spoke to Summit County’s opposition on the Senate floor before the vote.“They are out of compliance with their moderate income housing plan....
Senate Bill 84 passed 24-2-3 in the Senate Thursday morning. Senate President Pro Tempore Wayne Harper, the bill’s sponsor, spoke to Summit County’s opposition on the Senate floor before the vote.
“They are out of compliance with their moderate income housing plan. This bill goes through and provides a process for them to come into compliance,” Harper said. “I'm not sure they're comfortable with all those elements. But I think it is a step forward because affordable housing is important.”
County officials are definitely not comfortable with those elements. Language substituted into the bill in the Utah House—five minutes before the House vote—penalizes Summit County because it didn’t apply for what’s called a Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone in its moderate income housing plan.
The penalty: Dakota Pacific Real Estate gets to build its mixed-use development proposal at the Tech Center in Kimball Junction, without county approval or further revision.
Summit County Councilmember Chris Robinson doubts that Dakota Pacific’s development, which includes both market rate and affordable housing units, meets moderate income housing goals.
“In our county, the market rate housing, whether it's rent or for sale, is extremely expensive. So, the model of just increasing supply won't work,” Robinson said. “But we're viewed as not playing along.”
Robinson and other county officials think Dakota Pacific Real Estate lobbied for the additional language in SB84 due to the last-minute add sounding strikingly similar to the developer’s proposal.
“Dakota Pacific and its lobbyists have been working on this strategy for a very long time, it appears to us,” Robinson said. “This is very specific.”
Dakota Pacific told KPCW in a statement that they support the changes “to encourage compliance by local governments, including Summit County, and to expedite the development of urgently needed affordable housing.”
Summit County’s senators, Sen. John Johnson and Sen. Ron Winterton, were the only to vote against the bill. Johnson told KPCW, “I believe strongly that local authorities should make these zoning decisions.”
Winterton echoed that on the Senate floor.
“This is starting down a path that we currently don't do in the state of Utah, spot zoning,” Winterton said. “And it seems like it's targeted right at them.”
Bills like SB84, which had language substituted after it had been read three times on the floor, don’t get read again.
In the House, which passed SB84 unanimously Wednesday, representatives voted without hearing what was added to the bill.
Two of Summit County’s representatives in the House, District 4 Rep. Kera Birkeland and District 59 Rep. Mike Kohler, told KPCW Thursday that they had voted yes in error because they didn’t know the bill contained a mandate to let Dakota Pacific build without county approval. Both said SB84 caught them off guard because they were working on other things.
Birkeland had previously introduced House Bill 233, which would repeal last year’s targeted HTRZ legislation. She said she will be making some amendments to it now that SB84 has passed.
But until SB84 is a law, work on the Dakota Pacific zoning proposal continues as normally as it can. Summit County Council held a work session Wednesday night all about HTRZs, the funding tool at the center of the standoff.
Brian Baker, the county’s financial advisor, walked the council through how government entities apply for an HTRZ. He’s the Vice President of Zions Bank, which has helped other counties apply for the zones.
The existing law that SB84 seeks to amend requires the county to explore adding an HTRZ as part of its plan to provide housing for middle income residents.
The way the tool works is by awarding developers local tax money or other subsidies to offset costs, including losses the developer takes on by creating below-market rate housing.
Baker said that successful HTRZ applications demonstrate that community benefits justify giving the developer tax breaks and subsidies. But, it would be nearly impossible to apply without a development partner at the table—officials can’t know what the benefits are if there’s no development plan in place.
But what does that mean for Summit County? Coming into compliance on its own terms might require working with Dakota Pacific, unless some other developer wants to build near a transit hub.
If SB84 becomes law, that compliance will be forced.
BEAVER, Utah (ABC4) — Over 340 fire personnel are at the scene of the nearly 7,300-acre Thompson Ridge Fire, according to Utah Fire Info.The lightning-caused fire, located 10 miles southeast of Beaver, Utah, started just over a week ago, on Aug. 4. Officials said that as of today, Aug. 13, the fire is still 0% contained. ...
BEAVER, Utah (ABC4) — Over 340 fire personnel are at the scene of the nearly 7,300-acre Thompson Ridge Fire, according to Utah Fire Info.
The lightning-caused fire, located 10 miles southeast of Beaver, Utah, started just over a week ago, on Aug. 4. Officials said that as of today, Aug. 13, the fire is still 0% contained.
Officials said Sunday that a new weather system is bringing winds to the area and may increase fire activity. “Today there will be a new weather system moving in from the southeast, bringing winds from the east. Cooler, damper conditions will remain, but winds may increase fire activity when wind directions and terrain align,” a release states.
According to the release, firefighters have been able to identify areas where they can safely attempt to fight the fire around its perimeter. Officials said monsoonal moisture has helped fire crews in battling the blaze over the last two days. Parts of the fire area have reportedly seen .1″ to .25″ of rain.
1 / 8
Fire officials will reportedly be hosting community meetings in Junction and Beaver this week. The Junction meeting will be at the local fire house at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 14. The Beaver meeting will be at the City Center at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 15.
Both meetings will be streamed on the Fishlake National Forest Facebook page as well, officials said.
SR-153, Kent’s Lake Road (137), Upper and Lower Kent’s Lake, Little Reservoir Campground, Anderson Meadow, and LeBaron are open at this time. Officials said to use caution in and around these areas as there will be ground and air equipment working to suppress the fire.
There are currently 11 engines, six helicopters, two water tenders, three dozers, nine crews, and 344 personnel working to fight the fire. The area is made up of steep, rugged terrain transitioning into rolling pinyon juniper hills, officials said.
The Thompson Ridge Fire started at just five acres on Aug. 4, and has grown to 7,289 acres. For reference, a football field is about 1.32 acres in size, meaning the fire has blazed over the equivalent of 5,522 football fields.
Courtesy: Colorado Mesa AthleticsGRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University swimming and diving teams combined to defeat three NCAA Division I opponents while the Maverick women knocked off a Power 5 conference member for the first time in program history on a stellar day of performances at the Intermountain Shootout, which wrapped up Saturday here at the El Pomar Natatorium.The Maverick women went 3-1 in head-to-head dual scores against the other four teams, out-pointing BYU of the Big ...
Courtesy: Colorado Mesa Athletics
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University swimming and diving teams combined to defeat three NCAA Division I opponents while the Maverick women knocked off a Power 5 conference member for the first time in program history on a stellar day of performances at the Intermountain Shootout, which wrapped up Saturday here at the El Pomar Natatorium.
The Maverick women went 3-1 in head-to-head dual scores against the other four teams, out-pointing BYU of the Big XII Conference for the first time. The Mavs also defeated Division I Air Force 224-186 to knock off the Falcons for the first time in 21 all-time dual meetings and extended their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference dual-meet winning streak of more than seven years to 34 with a 345-57 drubbing of CSU Pueblo.
The Mavs fell just short (206-198) of Pac 12 Utah as the duals with BYU and Utah came down to the final event, which saw the Mavs take second in the 400 free relay between Utah and BYU, one of ten second place and 19 top-3 women’s performances throughout meet, nine of which came on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Maverick men blasted Air Force 307-102 but fell short to BYU (253 ½-146 ½) and Utah (227-176). They Mavs were once again led by Ben Sampson, who won all five of his individual events throughout the two days, including the 200-yard individual medley and 200 back on Saturday, both of which were done with NCAA Division II Championship provisional or “B Cut” times.
The Maverick women also had three such times while divers Jenna Hurley and Isaiah Cheeks both set NCAA qualifying scores in 11-dive women’s 1-meter and men’s 3-meter competitions, respectively.
Sophomores Maddi Moran and Ada Qunell led the Maverick women as each won events on Saturday.
Moran took the 50 breaststroke in 29.66 seconds before coming back to take second in the 200-yard discipline with a time of 2:22.71. She also teamed with Katerina Matoskova, Kiara Borchardt and Qunell for a third place finish in the 200 medley relay, which saw the Mavs touch third in 1:44.88, just 0.04 behind Utah, a result that eventually would have reversed the overall dual against the Utes.
Meanwhile, Qunell set a NCAA “B” cut time of 52.01 (51.91-altitide adjusted) to win the 100 free before clocking a lead-off split of 52.02 to help the Maverick 400 free relay team to finish second in 3:30.28, a result that gave the Mavs the overall team win over BYU as the Cougars took third in 3:30.49. Utah’s top squad finished in 3:27.36 to secure the event and dual win.
Matoskova, who led a 1-2-3 sweep in the 200 free on Friday, also turned in another NCAA “B” time of 2:03.89 (2:02.69-converted) to place third in the 200 back while sophomore Olivia Hansson had yet another “B” cut time of 5:05.95 (5:00.95-converted), her third of the weekend, to finish fourth in the 500 free.
Freshman Amber Siverts and fifth-year senior transfer Benedict Nagy also turned in impressive runner-up performances to help the Mavs in their history-making day. Siverts turned in a 200 fly time of 2:07.84 (2:06.64-coverted) and moved into the No. 8 spot of CMU history with what was CMU’s fastest time in the event since the 2021 RMAC Championships.
Meanwhile, Nagy took fourth in that event with a time of 2:09.18 (2:07.98) to just miss out on a spot on the updated top-10 performers list in program history. Matoskova was also fifth in the event, touching in 2:10.65.
Nagy also finished second in the 200 IM with a time of 2:07.60 (2:06.40-converted), again just missing out of a spot in the Maverick all-time top-10 by just 0.07 seconds.
In the diving well, Hurley, a freshman out of Southlake, Texas, scored 401.75 points to break up a 1-5 BYU sweep while surpassing her first career NCAA Championship qualifying standard (390.00).
Cheeks also finished second in the men’s 3-meter event, scoring 506.00 points to register his second NCAA qualifying score in as many days.
Elsewhere, Sampson won the 200 IM in 1:51.19 (1:49.99-converted) before winning his fifth event of the meet in the 200 back with a time of 1:47.35 (1:46.15-converted). He set four NCAA “B” times during the weekend.
Sampson also teamed with Kuba Kiszczak, Dejan Urbanek and Jameson McEnaney for a second place time of 1:29.10 in the 200 medley relay while Kiszczak had a third place time of 45.83 in the 100 free.
The Maverick men totaled 13 top-3 finishes throughout the meet, five of which came on Saturday.
The Mavericks will continue their season next Saturday competing at the Denver Relays.
Courtesy: BYU Athletics
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — BYU swim and dive totaled seven more event wins as the Intermountain Shootout concluded at El Pomar Natatorium on Saturday afternoon.
“Our athletes brought incredible energy to this meet,” said BYU swimming head coach Shari Skabelund. “I am pleased with the progress they’re making and momentum they’re carrying into the season after a solid summer of training.”
The BYU men won both of their dual matchups, topping Air Force 316.50-90.50 and beating Colorado Mesa 253.50-146.50. BYU women’s swim and dive overcame Air Force 229-181 and CSU Pueblo by a score of 343-57. Host Colorado Mesa, however, edged the Cougars 208-202.
Jordan Tiffany won his third event in two days and nearly broke a second school record in Grand Junction. Tiffany clocked 47.11 to take first in the 100 fly and tie Jorge Azevedo (2008) for second all-time at BYU. Javier Nicolas Matta (2022) holds the program’s 100 fly record at 46.40. Tony Puertas joined Tiffany on the 100 fly podium after finishing third at 49.62.
Tiffany, Puertas, Brad Prolo and true freshman Joshua Reed combined to clock 1:28.49, winning the men’s 200 medley relay over Colorado Mesa and Utah. Prolo built on his relay success with a winning time of 1:50.22 in the 200 fly. Luigi Riva and Reed finished one-two in the 100 free with times of 45.59 and 45.75, respectively.
Mickey Strauss completed his sweep of the meet’s men’s diving events as he posted a 513.05 in the 3-meter. BYU freshman Russell Haws took fourth at 479.85.
BYU women’s diving dominated the 1-meter competition with Alexia Jackson scoring 444.95 to finish first. Sophia DeBergh took third at 398.70 and Aubryn Ordyna fourth at 376.40.
Regan Geldmacher and Victoria Schreiber finished first and second, respectively, in the 500 free. Geldmacher came in at 5:01.96 while Schreiber cut nearly three seconds off her personal best with a time of 5:03.64.
Abi Furqueron finished third in the women’s 50 breast at 29.95, improving on her previous best of 30.81 set at the Intermountain Shootout a season ago. With her 50 breast performance on Saturday, Furqueron surpassed Londyn Clawson (2011) for No. 9 all-time at BYU.
After a week off, Cougar swim and dive returns to action with a dual meet at TCU on Oct. 13 in Forth Worth, Texas.
Courtesy: Utah Athletics
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Jaek Horner posted two first place finishes and the University of the Utah swim team collected eight individual wins and five team triumphs on Saturday on day two of the CMU Intermountain Shootout, which was held inside the El Pomar Natatorium in Grand Junction, Colo.
“We had a good meet,” said head coach Jonas Persson. “There were some really good swims and some swims that people can learn from. We dealt with a little pressure today and we still performed well and I’m happy with how the team responded. It’s really promising for us moving forward that we know the team can swim in those situations. It’s going to be a good next phase of the fall, starting Monday as we move towards the start of our dual meets.”
Horner made his mark with a pair of excellent performances, first grabbing the top spot in the 50 breaststroke, where his mark of 25.11 bested the field by more than a full second, then he outpaced the field in the 200 breaststroke, clocking in at 2:03.69 to land atop the podium again.
Utah’s first triumph of the afternoon came courtesy of Nick Chirafisi, who earned his second win in as many days by logging a time of 4:31.19 in the 500 freestyle. Also appearing in the winner’s circle for the second straight day were Summer Stanfield, who reached the finish in the 2:05.72 in the 200 individual medley, and Norah Hay, who outswam the competition in the 200 backstroke to the tune of a 2:00.04 mark. Krystal Lieu picked up her first victory of the year, taking first in the women’s 200 breaststroke by finishing in 2:21.98.
The Utes finished the day with back-to-back relay triumphs, as Erin Palmer, Stanfield, Maddie Woznick and Lily Milner took the women’s 400 free relay with a time of 3:27.36 and Will Woodall, Ethan Smith, Matthew Dedering and Evan VanBrocklin clocked in at 2:59.85 to nab first in the men’s 400 free relay.
Utah ended the day with three meet victories on the women’s side, topping the Air Force Academy, 216.50-187.50, besting Colorado State 312-57 and defeating Colorado Mesa 206-198. Utah’s men’s squad knocked off the Air Force Academy, 304-100 and triumphed over CMU, 227-176.
Looking Ahead The Utes will now shift their focus to an Oct. 7 dual meet against the LSU Tigers that will begin at 10 a.m.
A University of Texas at Dallas-led team of researchers has developed a new technique to open the blood-brain barrier temporarily to deliver medication to the brain.Getting medication past the brain’s unique and protective blood vessels, known as the blood-brain barrier, is one of the biggest challenges in treating brain and central nervous system diseases, said Dr. Zhenpeng Qin, associate professor of ...
A University of Texas at Dallas-led team of researchers has developed a new technique to open the blood-brain barrier temporarily to deliver medication to the brain.
Getting medication past the brain’s unique and protective blood vessels, known as the blood-brain barrier, is one of the biggest challenges in treating brain and central nervous system diseases, said Dr. Zhenpeng Qin, associate professor of mechanical engineering at UT Dallas and co-corresponding author of the study that describes the method. The technique uses light and nanoparticles to pry open temporarily these barriers — called tight junctions — to allow medication to reach its target.
Qin and his colleagues in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and at other institutions demonstrated the approach in mice in a study published online Sept. 13 in the journal Nano Letters.
Researchers synthesized gold nanoparticles to target the tight junction specifically and demonstrated that transcranial picosecond laser stimulation of the nanoparticles post-intravenous injection increases the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. (Illustration credit: Nano Letters)
The findings are the result of five years of research funded in part by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Qin said the approach could lead to treatments for brain tumors and Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; aid in stroke recovery; and deliver gene therapy. Qin said further development and testing is needed before it could be used in humans.
“Approaches to increase blood-brain barrier [BBB] permeability are essential to advance therapeutics for central nervous system diseases,” said Xiaoqing Li, the paper’s co-lead author and a biomedical engineering doctoral student at UT Dallas.
The technique involves injecting gold nanoparticles, which absorb light, into the bloodstream to target the blood-brain barrier. Researchers apply picosecond (one-trillionth of a second) laser pulses externally to activate the gold nanoparticles.
“The action produces a tiny mechanical force that temporarily breaks the barrier open so a drug can enter the blood flow into the brain,” Li said.
The study demonstrated that the technique did not damage the blood-brain barrier or the constriction and dilation of blood vessels, called vasomotion.
“We demonstrated that the BBB permeability can be modulated without significant disruption to the spontaneous vasomotion or the structure of the neurovascular unit,” said Dr. Qi Cai, mechanical engineering research associate and co-lead author of the paper.
In their experiments, the researchers tested the method with cargos of antibodies, liposomes and adeno-associated viral vectors, which can be used to carry gene-editing components.
In August, Qin received a fourth CPRIT grant to study whether the method can be used to treat glioblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in adults. He and his team aim to design and produce magnetic nanoparticles that can be stimulated to disrupt the blood-brain barrier using magnetic fields.
“Support from CPRIT has been instrumental in our work,” said Qin, who received grants from the state agency — the second-largest cancer research and prevention program in the world — in 2016, 2018 and 2019. “When we started, we had an idea, basically to use nanoparticles to target specific components of the blood-brain barrier with minimal injury.”
The Nano Letters study involved a global interdisciplinary team of researchers including Dr. Heather Hayenga and Dr. Shashank Sirsi, both assistant professors of bioengineering at UT Dallas. Additional UT Dallas co-authors included Dr. Xiuying Li and Dr. Hejian Xiong, research scientists in mechanical engineering; and Peiyuan Kang PhD’20, now a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School.
Other collaborators included researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center: co-corresponding author Dr. Robert Bachoo, associate professor of neurology and internal medicine; Dr. Vamsidhara Vemireddy, co-lead author; and Dr. Edward Pan, associate professor of neurology and neurological surgery and section head of neuro-oncology.
The collaboration also included researchers from the Italian Foundation for Cancer Research Institute of Molecular Oncology, the Smurfit Institute of Genetics at Trinity College Dublin, and the University of California, San Diego.
In addition to CPRIT, funding for the research came from the American Heart Association, the National Institutes of Health, the European Research Council and Fondazione Cariplo.
Nano Letters
Experimental study
Animals
Reversibly Modulating the Blood-Brain Barrier by Laster Stimulation of Molecule-Targeted Nanoparticles
13-Sep-2021
A patent has been filed based on these findings (WO 2019/241623 A1)
Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.
435.215.7170
