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 The Museum of Western Art 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 Kerrville, TX 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.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
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 Louise Hays 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 1011 Bistro or visit Schreiner Mansion, 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 Kerrville, TX, 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 Kerrville, TX 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 Kerrville, TX 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.
KERRVILLE, TEXAS - JULY 06: A damaged vehicle sits on the banks of the Guadalupe River on July 06, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. Heavy rainfall caused severe flooding along the Guadalupe River in central Texas, leaving more than 70 people reported dead. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)KERRVILLE, Texas - More than 1,000 local, state, and federal responders, alongside thousands of volunteers from across the country, remain on the ground in Kerr County as search and recovery efforts continue in the aftermath of devastating floods....
KERRVILLE, TEXAS - JULY 06: A damaged vehicle sits on the banks of the Guadalupe River on July 06, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. Heavy rainfall caused severe flooding along the Guadalupe River in central Texas, leaving more than 70 people reported dead. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
KERRVILLE, Texas - More than 1,000 local, state, and federal responders, alongside thousands of volunteers from across the country, remain on the ground in Kerr County as search and recovery efforts continue in the aftermath of devastating floods.
Crews are working across the region, from the headwaters of the Guadalupe River to Canyon Lake and back again, focused on recovering and returning missing loved ones to their families. As of Tuesday, officials have confirmed 107 deaths in Kerr County, including 70 adults and 37 children.
In response to the ongoing emergency operations, a Temporary Flight Restriction remains in effect between Hunt and Canyon Lake. All drone operators must register and be approved before flying in this restricted airspace.
To support the response efforts, a drive-thru Volunteer Reception Center is open at Antler Stadium, located at 1310 Sidney Baker Street in Kerrville. The center operates Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kerr County officials are also urging residents not to remove large debris piles from private property until they have been evaluated by professional search teams. Piles that require heavy machinery must be inspected first to ensure safety and avoid disturbing potential evidence or remains. Residents can request an evaluation by calling 2-1-1 and speaking with an operator, or by contacting the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at (830) 896-1133.
For families dealing with injury, loss, or missing loved ones, the Family Assistance Center remains open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at BT Wilson Sixth Grade School, located at 605 Tivy Street in Kerrville.
Kerr County officials continue to urge the public to remain alert, follow official guidance, and report any suspicious activity or hazards as emergency operations continue in full force.
Authorities in Kerr County say they have plans to drain at least one flood-swollen lake, as they continue to search for the roughly 100 people still thought to be missing after the catastrophic flash flooding of July 4.The dammed reservoirs along the Guadalupe River near Kerrville are believed to have captured debris washed downstream. One local resident, Ann Carr, told county commissioners on Monday about what she and her sister saw happening on Ingram Lake, just upstream from Kerrville, on the night of the flood....
Authorities in Kerr County say they have plans to drain at least one flood-swollen lake, as they continue to search for the roughly 100 people still thought to be missing after the catastrophic flash flooding of July 4.
The dammed reservoirs along the Guadalupe River near Kerrville are believed to have captured debris washed downstream. One local resident, Ann Carr, told county commissioners on Monday about what she and her sister saw happening on Ingram Lake, just upstream from Kerrville, on the night of the flood.
"We went out and started seeing the lake rise, and as we did we saw all kinds of things float past. Propane tanks, kitchen appliances — you name it!" she told commissioners.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said in a Monday morning meeting of the county commissioners that authorities were aware of the potentially hazardous debris in the lakes. There's also a possibility some of the missing may be buried in debris in the riverbeds or in the lakes.
"We don't know how many we've lost," Kelly said. "We've heard accounts of trailer after trailer after trailer being swept into the river with families in them. Can't find the trailers."
Kelly said the search now includes dive teams and sonar. They've found indications that the flood waters may have buried large objects. He cited the example of a trailer found stuck in gravel under 27 feet of water.
Commissioners said they have a plan to drain at least one of the lakes on the Guadalupe, but they're not ready to share details. The effort may prove to be expensive and complex, in part because of the presence of endangered species in that part of the river.
At a makeshift memorial erected near the dam that formed Nimitz Lake, Kerrville's main reservoir for drinking water, local resident Dwight McDonald says he sees no alternative to draining it.
"We're going to have to," he says. "It's a huge task, but nobody's going to stop until we get the last one," he says, referring to the missing people. "Texas is different — this is family down here."
Another flash flooding threat halted search efforts for the Texas flooding victims on Sunday. FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne reports from Kerrville, Texas where she spoke to search volunteers waiting for the rain to stop to continue their important work.KERRVILLE, Texas – Another potentially life-threatening flooding event took place across Centr...
Another flash flooding threat halted search efforts for the Texas flooding victims on Sunday. FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne reports from Kerrville, Texas where she spoke to search volunteers waiting for the rain to stop to continue their important work.
KERRVILLE, Texas – Another potentially life-threatening flooding event took place across Central Texas on Sunday, with torrential rain sending rivers and streams above their banks, forcing officials to stop search efforts along the Guadalupe River that had been underway since a catastrophic and deadly flash flooding event over the Fourth of July holiday.
FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne had been in Kerrville reporting on the disaster when her cellphone began to blare, warning people to move to higher ground.
FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne was in Kerrville, Texas, on Sunday, where official warned people to get away from the Guadalupe River as more flash flooding occurred.
"This is absolutely a punch to the gut for people here in Kerrville," Byrne said Sunday morning. "We are along the Guadalupe and we’re getting heavy downpours right now."
Byrne shared an image of the alert that was sent to cellphones across the region.
(Katie Byrne / FOX Weather)
"They’re expecting the river to reach flood stage once again, a little over a week after catastrophic flooding here claimed the lives of 129 people across the state of Texas, many of them were young campers at Camp Mystic," Byrne said.
In Kerr County, which was hit hard by the historic and deadly flash flooding disaster over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, officials sent out a Code RED Alert, warning residents in the area of the potentially dangerous conditions through Sunday morning.
The sheriff’s office warned that excessive rainfall could lead to additional flash flooding across the southern Edwards Plateau and Hill Country.
In addition, officials warned that rapid river rises were possible along the Rio Grande, southern Edward Plateau and in Hill Country.
"If you live near the water, and it starts raining, get to higher ground," officials said in the Code Red Alert.
By early Sunday afternoon, most of the heavy rain had moved out of the Kerrville area, but the FOX Forecast Center warned that more rain and thunderstorms would be possible later during the afternoon and evening hours.
The Guadalupe River at Kerrville rose above action stage but has since dropped to about 2.5 feet – well below the 34.29-foot crest on July 4.
A Flash Flood Emergency had been issued for portions of San Saba County early Sunday morning due to the heavy precipitation and thunderstorms, but that has since been allowed to expire.
However, officials across the region are still concerned that flooding could impact those who had been impacted by the deadly flooding event last week.
The San Saba County Sheriff’s Office said numerous roads had been closed due to rushing water, and residents had been warned not to travel over flooded roadways.
San Saba County Judge Jody Fauley took to social media on Sunday, urging people to seek higher ground.
"If you are in an area that was previously affected or close to being affected last week, please make plans now to move to safety," he said in a Facebook post.
A mandatory evacuation was also ordered for some areas hit by the flooding last week.
"All homes that were damaged last Friday need to evacuate their homes in preparation (of) the river rising quickly throughout the day," he said in another Facebook post. "Please do not be in this designated area after 1 p.m. (Sunday)."
Properties that were close to being impacted last week were told to prepare and have been placed under a recommended evacuation order.
"Make plans to evacuate and pay close attention to all water levels," Fauley said. "We anticipate closures of all major roads in and out of San Saba by the end of the day."
In addition, officials say Colorado Bend State Park would be closed on Monday due to the ongoing flooding.
NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said most of Texas is at risk of seeing flash flooding on Sunday. However, portions of Central Texas have been placed in a Level 3 out of 4 threat.
The FOX Forecast Center said that recent rain and thunderstorms have already saturated the ground in that region, making it easier for flooding to occur.
Computer forecast models have signaled that the most intense rain would likely fall before sunrise on Sunday before the rain and thunderstorms move off to the east and southeast.
With that setup, the FOX Forecast Center said rivers and streams, like the Guadalupe River, could rise rapidly.
The Lampasas River near Kempner, Texas, crested at 32.45 feet on Sunday morning, just under major flood stage.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the Lampasas River was at 1.75 feet at 4 a.m. local time and rose to more than 32 feet at 9:15 a.m.
Major flood stage at that location begins at 33 feet.
Rain totals have been rising all morning, with about 9.30 inches of rain falling in San Saba. About 6.37 inches of rain fell at Colorado Bend State Park, and Sonora picked up just over 6 inches of rain.
Brady picked up about 5.24 inches of rain while Killeen received 4.89 inches.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to adjust the FOX Forecast Center's revised calculation for the rate of floodwater in the Lampasas River. This remains a developing story.
From their deteriorated, now unrecognizable, homes, survivors of the devastating flooding earlier this month in Kerrville, Texas, are seeking faith in the face of tragedy as the community rebuilds their livelihoods together."We can't measure the support that we're trying to offer somebody just by letting them cry on our shoulders," said Capt. Juan Gomez, III, corps officer for the Salvation Army in Texarkana. "This is not ...
From their deteriorated, now unrecognizable, homes, survivors of the devastating flooding earlier this month in Kerrville, Texas, are seeking faith in the face of tragedy as the community rebuilds their livelihoods together.
"We can't measure the support that we're trying to offer somebody just by letting them cry on our shoulders," said Capt. Juan Gomez, III, corps officer for the Salvation Army in Texarkana. "This is not something I can measure for some people."
This past Friday, Gomez received a call asking if he could step away from his duties in Texarkana, more than 460 miles away, to support those in Kerrville. Without thinking, he agreed and served temporarily as the Emotional Care Officer, providing support to survivors.
"We're talking about loss of life, we're talking about loss of homes. So these are people who need to find a new norm, their everyday life has been completely disrupted," he said.
It is hard to label this as another natural disaster when it is much more than that, as it does not begin to encapsulate the heartbroken families all through Kerrville. One of those families is the Boltons.
Bud Bolton, a Kerrville resident, lost his home. However, it wasn’t until he recalled his fellow neighbors being washed away that he started to choke on his own words, resisting his tears, trying not to let them overtake him, in a Fox Weather report.
Licensed marriage and family therapist Keneth Howard explained how trauma responses could vary. Families who lost a child will have different grieving processes than those who lost their home or a car. However, having faith allows one to push their day a little better.
"Some people have resiliency that will allow them to be anchored into a faith, into a community," he said. "They're going to weather that differently than when people have none of those resiliencies, and they're going to suffer."
Howard said access to trained professionals, especially in trauma-focused methods like EMDR, can also reduce the risk of PTSD. Moreover, as a Christian, he emphasized that organizations with a religious outlook, such as the Salvation Army, will build strong "interpersonal connections" and lead communities to heal through their trauma.
Bud Bolton’s son, Ashton, has been reflecting on the tangible relationship that therapeutic and religious outlets have been providing to those in Kerrville and how they intertwine.
"I think it's good that we're having therapists reaching out towards us, but I believe that it all dwells within us and our spirituality and being able to handle our problems over to the good Lord," Ashton said.
Ashton said he feels that if we try to fight our problems alone, we're not getting anywhere. Just having a shoulder to cry on to release the weight of the grief goes a long way. For him, all it took was a chat with a distant relative and a hug.
"He didn't allow me to bear the burden that I found. He didn't allow me to do that alone," Ashton said.
Gomez can relate to Ashton, because he's experienced this.
In August 1999, Hurricane Brett took over Texas, cultivating winds that reached over 194 miles per hour and causing $15 million in damage. Gomez, 16, witnessed firsthand the devastation it had on his community. When his grandmother encouraged him to reach out for support, it was his first interaction with an organization like the Salvation Army.
As he was introduced to the world of public service, Gomez was surprised. He expected to be bombarded with the typical "How are you doing?" a half-hearted question that feels impossible to answer after a devastating disaster. But that question was never mentioned. Instead, he was met with a genuineness that inspired him to stay strong.
"They gave me the support I needed to know that I still could have value in my day and to push through and to find a way to make it to the next part of my life," he said. At the age of sixteen, I knew what it meant to serve."
Today, he implements that lesson and uses the philosophy that there’s no blanket solution for grief. While some people may need a two-minute conversation, others could need 20. He seeks to meet people at the root of their pain, not with answers, but with presence.
"What we're trying to do is make sure that in the moment, we're trying to provide some relief and some efforts because at the end of the day, we understand they still have to go home to whatever they're now calling home and whatever their new norm is," Gomez said.
Ashton understands this and sees the potential it can have on Kerville's current state of brokenness.
"I mean, we just need hospitality between one another and generosity, and that's almost it," he said. "Just being a family is all we need."
Howard explained this sentiment in one word: Shalom. Leaning into the more traditional Hebrew route, it brings about a specific kind of peace that comes from being deeply connected not only to God and ourselves, but to those around us.
"In a time of trauma when Shalom is broken, when relationships are broken, when people are no longer connected in a way that they were, we suffer," he said. That communal piece, that community piece, that faith piece allows us to live as God created us to live, deeply connected."
Editor’s note: President Donald Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem traveled to Corpus Christi on Friday to honor the crew’s courage and dedication. For his “actions, skill and heroism,” Ruskan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Hopper received the Distinguished Flying Cross in recognition of his “exceptional aeronautical skill and heroism.” Ogujiofor and Reeves were awarded the Air Medal in recognition of their “actions and aeronautical skill.” For more informatio...
Editor’s note: President Donald Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem traveled to Corpus Christi on Friday to honor the crew’s courage and dedication. For his “actions, skill and heroism,” Ruskan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Hopper received the Distinguished Flying Cross in recognition of his “exceptional aeronautical skill and heroism.” Ogujiofor and Reeves were awarded the Air Medal in recognition of their “actions and aeronautical skill.” For more information on these citations, please see the press release.
Coast Guard members are trained to be America’s first responders. That training was in full force on July 4, when Air Station Corpus Christi received a call to assist the State of Texas near the town of Kerrville. Rising waters from the Guadalupe River had caused a catastrophic flash flood, and resources from across the state were mobilizing to respond.
The request was 150 miles inland and not an area where the service normally operates, but four members from Air Station Corpus Christi, Rescue 6553, were ready.
Over the next seven hours, the crew – pilot Lt. Ian Hopper, co-pilot Lt. Blair Ogujiofor, rescue swimmer Petty Officer 3rd Class Scott Ruskan, and flight mechanic Petty Officer 3rd Class Seth Reeves – tried to punch through weather that tested the operating limits of their HC-65E Dolphin helicopter. During three attempts to navigate the weather, the helicopter experienced inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), a situation where a pilot must suddenly rely on instruments for navigations – one of the most dangerous situations a flight crew can experience. After three aborted attempts, the crew punched through using their weather radar capabilities. Army helicopters followed close behind, relying on the Coast Guard’s radar to plot a path through the storm.
After arriving on scene, Rescue 6553 assessed the increasingly complex airspace and proceeded to Camp Mystic along with several other aircraft in the area. After landing at the camp, the team left their rescue swimmer, Petty Officer 3rd Class Scott Ruskan, on scene. Over the next three hours, Rescue 6553 air-lifted campers and counselors from Camp Mystic to safety. While the HC-65E Dolphin was airlifting children to safety, Ruskan triaged campers on the ground, carefully counting the 165 people he loaded into helicopters to ensure accuracy and accountability in the ongoing response.
Camp Mystic, in the town of Kerrville, was one of the hardest hit areas in the catastrophic flooding, which has tragically claimed at least 120 lives. In partnership with state and local authorities and first responders, Coast Guard crews have assisted and rescued 230 people. As we mourn with the families and local community, we also honor the heroic efforts of the Rescue 6553 team and all the state and local responders.
“Our crew’s efforts in this response alongside our state and local partners were heroic,” said Lt. Cdr. Rachel Ault, Coast Guard Heartland District’s Public Affairs Officer. “As we commend them on their incredible efforts to bring Texans to safety, we also stand with the local community as they continue their response to this tragedy. As America’s first responders, our crews will always be ready to help those in need.”
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