Food, transportation & practical help in the Hill Country

Ask about meals and help at home

The Dietert Center in Kerrville lists Meals on Wheels, resource referrals, caregiver respite and medical equipment lending among its services. In Kimble County, the Concho Valley AAA lists Kimble County Meals on Wheels; in Mason County it lists the Mason Multi-Service Center as a nutrition site. Contact the organization to ask about current delivery boundaries, eligibility, dietary needs, fees or donations, and any waiting list. A nutrition site and a home-delivery program are not necessarily the same service.

Find the transportation district for your location

Alamo Regional Transit provides rural public transportation in non-urbanized areas of several counties, including Bandera, Gillespie, Kendall and Kerr. Its reservation center is 866-889-7433. CARTS publishes county service pages for Blanco and Llano. These are public transit starting points, not a promise that every trip or destination can be accommodated. Ask the provider to confirm your pickup address, destination, return trip and any transfer before making plans.

• If you live outside those areas: Ask your regional aging office or county government which transit provider currently serves your address. Do not assume a neighboring county’s provider crosses the county line.
• If mobility is limited: Describe wheelchair or walker use, steps at the home, whether someone must accompany the passenger and how much assistance is needed between the door and vehicle.

Check Medicaid medical transportation benefits

Texas Medicaid’s nonemergency medical transportation program helps eligible members without other transportation reach covered health services. Members with a Medicaid health plan should call the plan’s transportation number; those without a plan can call 877-633-8747. HHS generally asks for at least two working days’ notice, or five days for an out-of-county appointment, with some same-day exceptions. This program does not provide ambulance transportation. Give the appointment details and explain accessibility needs when requesting the ride.

Match transportation to the care plan

For a person receiving hospice, discuss medical trips with the hospice team before arranging them. Ask whether the visit is still useful for the person’s goals, who should arrange the trip and whether coverage applies. A public bus or van may be unsuitable for someone who needs medical supervision or cannot tolerate sitting through a long ride. Let the clinical team help determine the appropriate transport rather than choosing only by cost.

Build a backup for ordinary tasks

Keep a short list of tasks other people can take over: collecting groceries, bringing a meal for the caregiver, doing laundry or being present while a family member rests. Make the request specific and agree on the time. For any outside service, confirm the charge, cancellation policy and what happens if the provider cannot come. Keep a second contact where possible. Accepting practical help can leave more time and energy for being together.