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 Loa Veteran Memorial gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Loa, 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.
“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”
“I am a current client of this provider I have Always Best Care Serving Southern Utah”
“I am a current client of this provider I have Always Best Care Serving Southern Utah”
“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”
“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.”
“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”
“1. Stay active. Exercise may be the last thing you want to do when your”
“Always Best Care has some of the friendliest staff. They are quick to learn &”
“Always Best Care has some of the friendliest staff. They are quick to learn &”
“I can leave a long review if I wanted to . I can talk about”
“I like working for ABC because it works well with my busy nursing school schedule!”
“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”
“They are seriously so amazing to work with and really care for their clients. I”
“Love working for this company”
“Great to work with, caring, compassionate and willing to work with different situations! They take”
“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 ????”
“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.”
“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.”
“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!”
“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.”
“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.”
“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 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!”
“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!”
“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”
“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!”
“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.”
“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.”
“Love working for this 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 Loa City 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 Marinia's Country Cafe or visit Fremont Rock Church House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Loa, 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 Loa, 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 Loa, 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.
A previous version of this news release stated that both the boater registration fee and the aquatic invasive species fee could be paid at the DMV. That has been updated to show that only the boater registration fee can be paid at the DMV — the AIS fee can be paid on the DWR website.Salt Lake City — A lot of bills were passed during the 2023 legislative session, and March 23 was the deadline for Gov. Spencer Cox to sign or veto them. There were several bills related to wildlife management that were signed into law this leg...
A previous version of this news release stated that both the boater registration fee and the aquatic invasive species fee could be paid at the DMV. That has been updated to show that only the boater registration fee can be paid at the DMV — the AIS fee can be paid on the DWR website.
Salt Lake City — A lot of bills were passed during the 2023 legislative session, and March 23 was the deadline for Gov. Spencer Cox to sign or veto them. There were several bills related to wildlife management that were signed into law this legislative session — here are just a few to know about.
Under this funding appropriation, the state received $56.8 million, which was needed to rebuild the Loa Fish Hatchery. The hatchery closed in November 2014 after it was infested by the New Zealand mudsnail, an invasive species. The original hatchery was built in 1936, and due to the age of the raceways and deterioration of the facility, removing the snails wasn't effective. The hatchery had to be closed to prevent the spread of the snails through fish stocking.
Over 1.1 million pounds of fish are raised and stocked in Utah annually, and the Loa Fish Hatchery historically had the capacity to produce the most trout of any of the state's 13 fish hatcheries. Its closure decreased fish production and stocking throughout Utah and put a strain on the other remaining hatcheries.
"Reconstruction of Utah's Loa Fish Hatchery will help provide the additional fish-rearing space needed to redistribute production, improve hatchery fish-rearing conditions and meet the annual angling demands for healthy, stockable fish," DWR Fish Culture Coordinator Roger Mellethin said. "A rebuild on the same site will allow us to take advantage of the area's remarkable local springs and build a cost-effective, secure hatchery that produces 350,000 pounds of fish annually, while returning clean water to the nearby Fremont River. The reopening of this hatchery will benefit the local economy by providing jobs in Wayne County and also by improving fishing in Utah."
This new law goes into effect May 3.
This bill made a few administrative updates to boating fees in Utah. Previously, boaters could pay their boat registration fee and their aquatic invasive species fee in the same payment and through the same process. However, in an effort to address fee-collection issues, this new legislation will require boat owners to pay their boat registration fee through the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles and then to separately pay the aquatic invasive species fee online, resulting in two separate proof-of-registration stickers. Boaters will be able to pay the aquatic invasive species fee on the DWR website.
The aquatic invasive species funds are used to help prevent quagga mussels from spreading from Lake Powell to other Utah waterbodies.
This new legislation also requires boaters who live in Utah to take the annual quagga mussel awareness course, which can be found on the STD of the Sea website. Previously, the education course was only required for non-resident boaters.
This new law will go into effect July 1.
Many limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime hunting permits in Utah take years to successfully draw out or may only happen "once in a lifetime," as the permit name indicates. Under this new law, an individual who is being mentored by an immediate family member on a limited-entry or once-in-a-lifetime hunt can still take advantage of that hunting permit if the mentor dies prior to the hunt.
This new law goes into effect May 3.
In addition to having a hunting license, anyone hunting waterfowl in Utah is required to have a Harvest Information Program (HIP) number, and those 16 years of age or older are required to also have a federal duck stamp. Previously, duck stamps could only be purchased from a local post office, various license agents or by phone. This new law authorizes the DWR to sell duck stamps online on the DWR website, in order to make the transaction easier for hunters. The fee for an electronic duck stamp is $30.
Federal duck stamps help fund wildlife conservation across the U.S., with 98% of the purchase fee going directly to help acquire and protect wetland habitat and purchase conservation easements for the National Wildlife Refuge System.
This new law goes into effect May 3.
This new law makes a few wildlife-related rule changes including:
The DWR is still working through updating their rules to reflect these changes. This new law goes into effect May 3.
In August 2022, the Utah Wildlife Board approved a fee increase for hunting and fishing licenses and permits — for both residents and non-residents — in an effort to keep up with increased rising costs of operation. The legislature also passed this fee increase during the legislative session. License and permit fees fund most of the daily operations of the DWR. The DWR is currently 92% self-funded and receives only limited funding from the state's General Fund, which is appropriated for specific issues that impact all Utahns. Prior to this change, the last substantive fee increase for resident licenses was in 2014, and the last fee increase for non-resident licenses was in 2020.
This new bill will go into effect July 1.
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LOA, Utah — A road in a remote area of Utah was closed for hours after a semi-truck filled with fuel rolled over and burst into flames.
State Route 24 was closed in both directions at milepost 45, which is near Loa in Wayne County beginning just before 8 a.m. Traffic was reopened in both directions at around 1 p.m.
Utah Highway Patrol officials reported the semi-truck was hauling double trailers, both of which were loaded with fuel.
The rear trailer rolled and the truck became fully engulfed in flames, UHP said.
Once the fire was extinguished, video from Jerry Schmidt showed the charred remains of the truck, still smoldering from the fire.
WATCH: See what was left of the semi-truck after it burst into flames on the road
remains of semi truck
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Luckily, the driver was able to get out and no injuries were reported in the incident.
Photos show a thick black plume of smoke and tall flames in the area due to the incident. Due to the burning load, UHP said SR-24 was closed in both directions for hours.
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The pro football consultant who cleared Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to play during the team's Sept. 25 game has been terminated, a source familiar with the matter said.The consultant, who was not named, gave his approval after Tagovailoa hit his head on the turf during Miami's 21-19 home win over Buffalo. Afterward, Tagovailoa ...
The pro football consultant who cleared Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to play during the team's Sept. 25 game has been terminated, a source familiar with the matter said.
The consultant, who was not named, gave his approval after Tagovailoa hit his head on the turf during Miami's 21-19 home win over Buffalo. Afterward, Tagovailoa stumbled and fell to his knees.
Nonetheless, he was allowed to return to the game in the third quarter, and he played again Thursday in the Dolphins' loss to the Bengals in Cincinnati, a matchup in which Tagovailoa's head struck the turf during a sack by defensive tackle Josh Tupou.
Tagovailoa, 24, was taken off the field on a stretcher and is sidelined indefinitely.
NBC Sports and its Pro Football Talk platform first reported the firing of the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant.
The consultants are hired jointly by the players union, the NFL Players Association, and the league, under pro football's concussion protocol, which is intended to prevent the kind of traumatic brain injuries that have plagued the sport for decades.
According to the NFL's concussion protocols, a team's unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant is required to be "a physician who is impartial and independent from any Club, is board certified in neurology, emergency medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, or any primary care CAQ [certificates of added qualification] sports medicine certified physician or board eligible or board certified in neurological surgery, and has documented competence and experience in the treatment of acute head injuries."
The consultant wasn't the only official involved in clearing Tagovailoa to play.
A league source said the NFL and the NFLPA jointly conducted interviews Friday afternoon with those involved in clearing Tagovailoa to play, including club personnel and the consultant who was fired.
In a joint statement, the NFL and the union said that their investigation into the decision to allow Tagovailoa to play Sunday continues but that they agree that the league's concussion protocol needs to be updated to better define "gross motor instability" and use the signs to prevent further injury.
Under the league's concussion protocol, a display of gross motor instability should trigger a concussion evaluation by medical personnel.
If the personnel, including the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant, determine that the display didn't have a neurological cause, the player can return to play.
The ugly injuries last Sunday and Thursday prompted widespread criticism of the system and personnel to prevent such incidents.
“I couldn’t believe what I saw last night,” Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Friday. “I couldn’t believe what I saw last Sunday. It was just something that was astonishing to see. I’ve been coaching for 40 years now, college and the NFL, almost 40, and I’ve never seen anything like it before. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”
Tagovailoa was rechecked every day leading up to Thursday's game, Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL's chief medical officer, told NFL Media.
After Thursday's injury, Tagovailoa was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for evaluation before he was sent home with his team. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said it wasn't yet clear when Tagovailoa will be able to return to the field.
The team's next game is Oct. 9 against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
CORRECTION [Oct. 3, 2022, 12:17 a.m.ET] An earlier version of this article misstated the location and score of the Sept. 25 Miami Dolphins-Buffalo Bills game. The Dolphins won, 21-19, and the game was played in Miami, not Buffalo.
The article also misstated the location of the Dolphins’ Sept. 29 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The game was in Cincinnati, not Miami.
Minyvonne Burke is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News.
Peter Alexander
Peter Alexander is chief White House correspondent for NBC News.
David K. Li and Dennis Romero contributed.
Rick Draney sits as he's elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. He will be officially inducted Saturday in Newport, Rhode Island. (Marleen Fouchier & ABN Amro Open) ? 3 photos8Save StoryEstimated read time: 8-9 minutesLOA, Wayne County — When Rick Draney first started playing wheelchair tennis as a quadriplegic, his sister noted that it was a struggle for him to start the sport. He had to tape the racket to his hand, she explained, and when he swung the racket to h...
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Estimated read time: 8-9 minutes
LOA, Wayne County — When Rick Draney first started playing wheelchair tennis as a quadriplegic, his sister noted that it was a struggle for him to start the sport. He had to tape the racket to his hand, she explained, and when he swung the racket to hit the ball, it didn't often go over the net.
"I just said, 'Why would you do that to yourself?'" Debbie Rime said when remembering the past experience. "He just looked at me and he said, 'What else am I gonna do?' You know, so, from then on I realized you can't limit another person by your perspective."
Through his own resiliency and others' support — including that of Rime — Draney has gone far in his tennis abilities. So far, in fact, that this Saturday in Newport, Rhode Island, the Loa, Wayne County, native will be the first quadriplegic tennis player to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Draney will be one of the only seven wheelchair tennis players inducted in the history of the sport.
"It is such an honor to be recognized and included," Draney said. "To somehow think that I have been deemed, that my accomplishments and my contributions have been deemed, worthy to be included in those revered halls with all of those other individuals is incredibly humbling for me."
The athlete was nominated for the award in November 2022 and after a few months of review, the International Tennis Hall of Fame announced it would induct him and another wheelchair tennis athlete, Esther Vergeer, into the Hall of Fame.
"This will be the first time that two wheelchair tennis players will be inducted in the same year," Draney added.
Not only is Draney world-famous in tennis, having been a three-time No. 1 champion in the International Tennis Federation quad singles, but he also won three national championships with the Sharp Shadow wheelchair rugby team and received a gold medal for wheelchair rugby with Team USA, in 1994, and with the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, Australia.
With his accomplishments and skills, Draney has used his knowledge to teach dozens of paraplegic and quadriplegic athletes how to best compete in wheelchair tennis.
Rime added that Draney "was basically the quad tennis player who put quad tennis on the map."
"My involvement gave me the opportunity, provided me the opportunity, not only for what I was able to experience and accomplish in my life, but to help try to advocate for the opportunities and possibilities for other quads around the world," Draney said.
However, the journey to Draney's current success was not simple.
When Draney was 19 years old, he was severely injured in a car accident, rendering him quadriplegic.
"He was on the cusp of becoming independent. He was headed to Germany on a mission and all that changed in an instant, through no fault of his own really," Rime said. "When this happened it was, it was such a bleak future."
Originally an athlete who had loved sports and being outside, Draney tried to just survive one day at a time, he said. After his physical rehabilitation, he re-enrolled in college in Southern California, and in one of his first classes was seated next to another student in a wheelchair.
"He asked me if I played any sports, and I was still new out of the rehab hospital," Draney said. "He told me about a wheelchair tennis program at another college there in Southern California, and initially I thought, 'Man, I am struggling just getting through the day. How in the world could I even think about playing sports again?'"
After some encouragement from his classmate, Draney decided to go to a wheelchair tennis practice. Instantly, he faced several struggles.
For one, he said, his hand retained about 5% of his motor control, which made it difficult to hold a racket. It was also difficult to pivot in the wheelchair, stay in the chair, and move quickly in it, Draney added.
He began experimenting with taking a bandage and wrapping his hand around his tennis racket handle; however, he had trouble swinging it correctly to even hit the ball.
"I didn't know what I was doing, and you know, there wasn't really anybody to teach or coach most quads (quadriplegics) how to get started in tennis. A lot of it was trial and error, and so I got rather frustrated and felt, 'Well, I'm never going to do that again,'" Draney said. "But there was something about the challenge, I think, of enjoying physical activity again that sparked enough curiosity in me that I overcame my frustration and thought, 'Well, I need to try this another time or two.'"
That was when Draney began to truly experiment with how he would hold the racket, as well as propel the wheelchair forward to get to the ball and hit it.
"When he first started, you know, it was a whole different world, as far as you couldn't just look on YouTube and figure out how to do this," Rime said. "It was all trial and error."
Draney added that in order for him to secure the racket to his hand, he "looked at the options that were out there" — one of them being athletic tape.
The athlete would originally tie the tape around his hand and racket handle with the adhesive side in — which created pain and other problems for his hand. Then he tried a different solution: wrapping his hand with the adhesive side of the tape facing out.
"Now, I had a nice tacky surface around the wrapping … around that handle, the grip of the racket, and that tackiness then translated into better contact and better movement, better mobility, as I pushed with handgrip," Draney said.
He then would strap his legs and feet into the wheelchair, making it easier for him to stay sitting, while the racket became a simple extension of his arm.
As Draney practiced and played, the opportunity to get outside and be athletic allowed him to have hope for the future despite the difficulties of the present, he said.
"There was a future again, and it was exciting again, and I was grateful for that," Draney said. "It was the enjoyment of being outdoors, of feeling the sun in my face, of sweating, of just engaging with other people and purely enjoying sport for sport's sake kind of thing. So that was a part of my life that I wasn't sure how that was going to turn out, and that re-energized, thinking, 'Well if I can do this, what else can I do?'"
With the modifications he made, Draney began to play competitively, starting his career in 1984.
Draney entered his first open tournament in Fresno, where he competed and won against other quadriplegic players. He went on to compete in the U.S. Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships, making it all the way to the finals.
The athlete went on to win 12 singles and six double titles at the Super Singles level — with five British Open titles and seven U.S. Open titles — spending a total of 289 weeks in the singles top 10 of the Quad Division rankings.
As he competed, he noticed there were far more paraplegic division players in the open competitions than quadriplegic players, noting that the competitions gave him "an opportunity … to maybe help bring a little bit more of a spotlight on the quad division."
Draney would continue bringing the spotlight to the quad division by serving for nine years as the Tournament Committee Chairperson of the U.S. Open Tennis Association Wheelchair Championships. The athlete also received the United States Tennis Association Brad Parks Award in 2012, given due to his strong perfomance in wheelchair tennis.
Competing with so many different athletes, Draney said he realized, "They truly are professional athletes who just happen to sit down instead of standing up to do what they do."
In serving and befriending his fellow wheelchair tennis players, Draney added that many loved ones and friends — including the classmate who encouraged him to take up wheelchair tennis in college — have propelled him to success.
"I will be forever grateful for their efforts, for their time, for their service, their sacrifice, their support. …I am so grateful for the people and the places and the experiences that I've been able to have," Draney said.
He also hopes that the competitions and successes will encourage other players with disabilities that they can continue to move forward with hope despite their challenges.
"You never really know how much of an impact or a difference you're making," Draney said. "It might be one person at a time, individually, that you work with. It might be a group of individuals at a camp or a clinic. It might just be as you're competing around the world, and doing what you do, that others watch and observe and see and again, just like I saw theirs and said, 'Well if they can do that, maybe I can do that as well.'"
It's not just other players that Draney has impacted; his sister said that Draney's ability to make his future brighter with resilience and creativity has helped her in getting through her own trials.
"Your life takes a different turn and, you know, it can be better than what you imagined, or at least better than what you thought it was going to be," Rime said.
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Kris Carpenter is a student at Utah State University in Logan, Utah.
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A Utah college student who vanished last week was found alive and covered in coal in the basement of a 39-year-old suspect's home, according to authorities.The suspect, Brent Brown, was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice, aggravated kidnapping, rape and object rape, an affidavit states. It's not clear if Brown has obtained an attorney.The student, Madelyn Allen, 19, was reported missing after she was seen leaving her dorm at Snow College in Ephraim around 9:22 p.m. on Dec. 13, according to a ...
A Utah college student who vanished last week was found alive and covered in coal in the basement of a 39-year-old suspect's home, according to authorities.
The suspect, Brent Brown, was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice, aggravated kidnapping, rape and object rape, an affidavit states. It's not clear if Brown has obtained an attorney.
The student, Madelyn Allen, 19, was reported missing after she was seen leaving her dorm at Snow College in Ephraim around 9:22 p.m. on Dec. 13, according to a press release. Security footage released by the school showed her wearing a jacket and skirt as she exited the building.
The search for Allen ended five days later, on Saturday night, when she was found at Brown's home in Wayne County. Allen has since been reunited with her family.
“We are overjoyed and relieved that she is safe,” a family spokesperson said at a news conference on Sunday. “While she is now safe, the ordeal that she has been through is dangerous and traumatic. The experience and details and effects of which we’ve only begun to understand. She is a fighter. She is now a survivor. We are grateful that she is with us again so that we can help her heal and recover.”
An affidavit outlines disturbing details about Allen’s kidnapping. According to the affidavit, she allegedly met Brown in an online “chat group."
Brown picked up Allen the day she went missing and drove her to Loa, a town in Wayne County about 87 miles from her school.
The girl’s parents became concerned when they received a text from her phone on Dec. 14 that “expressed Madelyn’s love for the parent but provided no additional details,” investigators wrote in the affidavit.
Her parents contacted Verizon to get additional details and were informed that the text had been sent from Loa. Law enforcement also obtained information that Allen’s phone pinged in Loa and began searching in the town, the affidavit states.
The investigation led detectives to a home on North Main. According to the affidavit, when investigators approached the home they “observed through a basement window, a person with light-colored hair and a small build in the basement of the house.” The person scurried away when detectives knocked on the front door, it says.
Brown answered the door and told investigators that no one else was in the home. He also refused to let investigators search the home without permission from his parents, who own the property, according to the affidavit.
Authorities were eventually able to reach the parents and got permission to conduct a search, the affidavit states. It's not clear if the parents lived in the home.
Investigators were able to determine that the person in the basement was Allen. The affidavit states that she was being held in a “coal storage area” of the home's basement and was naked and “completely covered in coal,” the document alleges.
Investigators also noted that Allen’s hair had been cut and “she appeared dirty,” according to the document.
The affidavit alleges that a gun was located in the basement and Brown was in possession of three knives when he was arrested. He allegedly told investigators that after he picked up Allen he turned her phone off, the affidavit says.
He only gave it back to her once to “let Madelyn text her parents,” it says.
“Brown said he took the phone back from Madelyn and did not allow Madelyn access to her phone again," investigators wrote in the affidavit.
Brown allegedly said he would tie up Allen when he went to work and would leave her food, according to the affidavit. He said he tossed her cellphone in a trash can after he saw news reports that she was missing, it says.
Allen told investigators that Brown raped her on several occasions, would choke her and would cover her nose and mouth until she couldn't breathe, according to the affidavit. He threatened to go after her family if she left or told anyone where she was, it alleges.
Allen told investigators that she feared Brown was not going to let her leave the house and would overpower her if she tried.
"Madelyn said Brown allowed her enough time to send a text message from her phone. Madelyn said she texted her parents saying, I love you," it says.
During Sunday's news conference, Allen's parents said she has a long road to recovery.
"We pray for our sweet Maddie as she moves forward that she can find hope and happiness and joy in her future," her mother, Taunya Allen, said.
Minyvonne Burke is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News.
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