Finding local help

Counties and communities Ave Maria serves

Our service counties are listed below with a few example communities in each. This is not an exhaustive list of communities. Tell us where your loved one lives so we can discuss care at that location. The public programs discussed in this guide have their own eligibility rules and service areas.

• Bandera County: Bandera · Lakehills · Medina
• Bexar County: San Antonio · Converse · Universal City
• Blanco County: Blanco · Johnson City · Round Mountain
• Gillespie County: Fredericksburg · Harper · Stonewall
• Kendall County: Boerne · Comfort · Kendalia
• Kerr County: Kerrville · Ingram · Hunt
• Kimble County: Junction · London · Roosevelt
• Llano County: Llano · Kingsland · Horseshoe Bay
• Mason County: Mason · Pontotoc

Start with one need and your ZIP code

Call 2-1-1 or 877-541-7905 and choose the community-services option, or search 2-1-1 Texas online by need and ZIP code. The directory includes food, housing, health and other local services. Explain whether someone can leave home, whether you need help promptly, and which county they live in. A referral identifies a possible resource; the organization itself decides eligibility and whether it has openings or funding.

Use the aging and disability office for your county

Texas Aging and Disability Resource Centers help people locate long-term services and supports. Call the statewide ADRC number, 855-937-2372, or use the HHS directory. The nine counties in Ave Maria’s service area fall into four regional groupings:

• Alamo region: Bandera, Gillespie, Kendall and Kerr.
• Bexar County: A separate Bexar office serves Bexar residents.
• Capital Area: Blanco and Llano.
• Concho Valley: Kimble and Mason.

Look close to home for everyday support

A county agency is not the only useful starting point. Senior centers, community meal programs and local nonprofits may help with ordinary tasks that have become difficult. In the Fredericksburg area, Golden Hub operates Meals on Wheels and community activities. Call to ask about the exact address served, the application process and current capacity. A program based in a nearby town may not deliver to every rural address, so describe the location rather than relying only on a city name.

Get help with benefit applications

Your Texas Benefits offers screening and applications for state benefit programs, including food and health coverage assistance. It also allows applicants to upload requested documents and check their case. Screening is a starting point, not an approval. If an online application feels difficult, ask an aging agency or 2-1-1 for help finding an application-assistance organization. Use the official state website when entering private information.

Keep a simple record and ask for the next step

A small notebook can spare you from repeating the same search. Write down the agency, contact name, date, documents requested and the next action. If a program cannot help, ask which nearby organization may handle that need. With permission, bring the list to a hospice social worker, hospital discharge planner or other professional already supporting the family. Tell them which calls have been made and where the process stalled.

• Before accepting a service: Confirm any fee, waiting list, application deadline, home-visit requirement and cancellation policy.
• If the need changes: Ask for a new review. A person who needed an occasional ride last month may now need meal delivery or more hands-on support.