FEATURE STORY
A Fresh Start
By Gracy Vargas
Cibolo House Assisted
Living resident Billie
Kite H. considers
herself a people person.
I
n her own words, Billie Kite H.
describes herself as being able to
“bloom wherever [she’s] planted.” It was
her natural ability to make friends and
strike up a conversation that helped her
transition from living in her home of 20
plus years to living in an assisted living
community.
A former biology teacher and mili-
tary wife, Billie Kite is originally from
Arkansas, but moved to Texas in 1978
when her husband Byron began a career
at USAA after serving in the United
States Army. The couple established
their home in The Dominion residen-
tial community during the 90s, where
they remained until Byron’s passing in
2015.
“I stayed in my house alone for a year,
and it was the saddest year of my life
without Byron,” Billie Kite reflected.
It was during this time that she made
her first visit to Cibolo House. “One
of my friend’s mother [lived at Cibolo
House], and when my friend traveled
she would ask me to come visit,” said
Billie Kite. “I came out and thought:
this is a lovely place, it’s very nice.”
After giving it some consideration
and speaking with her family, Billie Kite
realized that she needed assistance with
medication management and decided
to move into the community – but not
without having a “test run” first.
“At first I kind of pretended that I
was going on a cruise. I brought a few
things out because I thought: I want
to be sure I’m ready and happy here
before I do the whole thing. And I did,
I’ve met so many nice people and we all
have similar stories,” Billie Kite shared.
As a full-time resident of Cibolo
House, Billie Kite oves everything that
her fresh start at Cibolo House brings
her daily.
“I made the choice [and] I’ve been
very, very happy,” Billie Kite shared.
“We play bingo, we go for walks around
the neighborhoods, we have church
services on Wednesday afternoons,
we have speakers that come in and
entertainment at least once a week. We
stay pretty busy. I don’t want to miss
anything! I’ve enjoyed it.”
Cibolo House Assisted Living and Memory Care is owned and operated by Morningside Ministries, a faith-based, not-for-profit senior
retirement organization providing a continuum of care to retired adults for more than 55 years. All faiths are welcome.
Lifetime Living Magazine
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