From Institutional to Intimate: The Shift Towards Small Senior Memory Care Homes

Business Name: BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care
Address: 6919 Camp Bullis Rd, San Antonio, TX 78256
Phone: (210) 874-5996

BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care

We are a small, 16 bed, assisted living home. We are committed to helping our residents thrive in a caring, happy environment.

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6919 Camp Bullis Rd, San Antonio, TX 78256
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Monday thru Saturday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
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Families frequently explain the search for dementia care as the hardest series of decisions they have actually ever made. You are handling safety, expense, regret, and love, while trying to interpret medical lingo, licensing rules, and shiny brochures. For years, the default response was a large assisted living or nursing facility with a locked memory care wing. Lately, more families are stepping far from that model and toward something quieter: small, home-like senior care settings focused totally on memory care.

These are often called residential care homes, care cottages, or little senior memory care homes. Labels vary by state, but the core idea corresponds. Rather of 60 to 120 citizens in a big building, you may have 6 to 16 people living in a genuine home on a residential street, with trained caretakers on site around the clock.

The shift toward these intimate settings is not just a trend. It reflects deep frustration with institutional designs and a better understanding of what individuals with dementia in fact require to feel safe and secure and valued.

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How the "big building" model took over

Large assisted living neighborhoods did not grow by mishap. They fit the monetary and regulatory structure that controlled senior care for years. The design was basic: numerous homes or rooms grouped around shared dining and activity locations, with different levels for independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Services like medication management, bathing support, and housekeeping were layered on top.

From an operator's viewpoint, this structure scales well. One nurse can supervise lots of residents, one activities director can plan events for an entire flooring, and a centralized cooking area can prepare hundreds of meals per day. Financiers understand the model and know how to project occupancy, staffing ratios, and revenue.

For families, the benefits can appear obvious in the beginning look. There is a long menu of services, social programs, therapy offerings, and onsite extras such as beauty salons or transportation. The buildings often look like upscale hotels. When you are feeling guilty about moving a parent from home to "a center," it is appealing to equate more facilities with better care.

The problems appear later, when the complexities of dementia start to encounter the realities of large-scale operations. Staff turnover, long walks from rooms to dining, overstimulating environments, and stiff schedules can be tiring for someone whose brain can no longer filter sound, browse space, or remember what they are "expected" to do next.

Families inform you that a parent who was gentle at home unexpectedly began "acting out" after the relocation. Frequently, nothing changed clinically. The environment changed, and the brain responded with distress.

Why dementia and institutional settings often collide

Dementia is not only about memory. It affects understanding of space, capability to analyze faces and expressions, tension tolerance, and day-night rhythms. The features that help a hotel run efficiently can work straight versus someone with cognitive decline.

A couple of patterns come up repeatedly in large, traditional senior care:

Staffing feels extended. A caregiver may be accountable for 12, 15, or more residents during a busy shift. Even with the best intentions, that structure presses care towards task completion instead of relationship building. Showers end up being something to make it through, not a minute to preserve dignity.

Noise and motion never ever really stop. Elevators, Televisions, overhead statements, vacuum cleaners, and large-group activities produce consistent background stimulation. People with dementia typically lose the capability to filter this, which results in stress and anxiety or withdrawal.

Distance becomes a daily challenge. Long corridors, elevators, and big dining rooms add several points where a resident can forget their location, get reversed, or lose track of hints. Each error reinforces their sense of failure.

Schedules are built around the system. Breakfast at 8, lunch at 12, medications at set times, group activities at 2. That regularity helps staffing and logistics, however the brain with dementia might not sync with the clock. Waking up late, declining to go to the dining-room, or wandering throughout "rest time" gets labeled as behavior, instead of a mismatch.

One daughter summed it as much as me just: "The community was great. My mom just could not live that sort of life any longer."

Small senior memory care homes emerged specifically to resolve this gap.

What defines a little senior memory care home

Where a big neighborhood might resemble a cruise liner, a properly designed little memory care home feels like checking out a relative who happens to have professional caregivers and security functions developed in.

A normal home may have 6 to 10 citizens, each with a private or semi-private bed room, a large shared living room, an open kitchen area, and a yard or outdoor patio. Some homes are transformed single-family houses; others are purpose-built however still scaled to residential proportions.

Several functional differences matter more than the structure:

Caregivers understand each resident extremely well. When you only support a handful of people, you see how they like their coffee, which tune relaxes them during a bath, and the early signs of a urinary system infection. That level of familiarity is tough to reproduce in a location with multiple systems and continuous personnel rotation.

The day follows individuals, not the other method around. If someone wakes at 5 a.m. Hungry for toast, a caregiver can safely accommodate that. If another resident prefers a late breakfast and a peaceful walk before signing up with others, the environment can flex. There is typically a loose structure, but it flexes to private rhythms.

Spaces are scaled to the brain. Rooms are better together. Bathrooms sit a few actions from bed rooms. The kitchen shows up, so gives off cooking work as hints for mealtimes. This decreases disorientation and the aggravation of "I understand there was a bathroom someplace."

Family life is much easier to maintain. Grandchildren can visit and sit at the kitchen table for a snack. Discussions feel more natural without yelling over a dining hall. Numerous households report that vacation visits in a little home feel more like "going to Granny's house," which softens the emotional weight of senior care.

When little memory care homes are done well, the intimacy is not just aesthetic. It forms how assisted living, dementia care, and even respite care are delivered day to day.

The heart of the shift: relationship-based care

The most powerful change in small homes is cultural, not architectural. Staffing patterns and training are designed around relationships rather of jobs. This technique is in some cases called person-centered care, however that phrase is so tired that it risks becoming background sound. The distinction displays in where time and attention go.

In a traditional schedule, a caregiver may have 10 minutes slotted for each resident's early morning regimen. If someone resists a shower or feels confused, the pressure to move on boosts. In a little home, a caregiver has less individuals to support, so they can rest on the edge of the bed, talk, sing, or merely hold a hand till the stress and anxiety passes. The shower still happens, however at a speed the brain can handle.

I as soon as enjoyed a caregiver in a six-bed home help a gentleman with advanced dementia get dressed. The procedure took nearly 40 minutes. They talked about his days working on a farm, and she laid clothes out in the exact same order each day so he could still participate by choosing a t-shirt. In a large neighborhood, that sort of time simply is not readily available on a regular basis. The result was not just tidy clothing, but preserved identity.

This relational depth likewise enhances scientific outcomes. Subtle modifications in gait, hunger, mood, or sleep frequently precede falls, infections, or medication reactions. When staff see the exact same 6 to 8 faces every day, these shifts stick out. Early intervention is much easier. In practice, that can mean fewer emergency clinic visits and less disruptive medical facility stays.

Assisted living, memory care, and where little homes fit

Families often get tangled in terminology. Assisted living, memory care, dementia care, competent nursing, board and care - it starts to blur together. Small senior memory care homes usually sit at the intersection of assisted living and specialized memory support.

Residents usually require aid with some or most activities of daily living. These include bathing, dressing, medications, toileting, transfers, and meals. What differentiates a real memory care home is not just that the locals have actually detected cognitive disability, but that every aspect of the environment is tuned for dementia.

You will frequently see:

    Higher staff-to-resident ratios than typical assisted living Secured outdoor areas that avoid risky wandering while permitting fresh air Simplified visual hints, such as contrasting colors for toilet seats or plates Structured but versatile regimens that anchor the day without frustrating

In states where guideline allows, some small homes support fairly advanced medical requirements with nurse oversight. In other regions, they need to release locals who need specific levels of knowledgeable nursing. Understanding local rules is vital, because it directly affects whether a particular home can provide care through the later phases of dementia.

For families, the useful concern is generally: "Can my parent age in place here, or will we have to move once again?" A cautious, truthful evaluation up front matters more than any marketing phrase.

Respite care in a little home: a different sort of break

Respite care is often framed as a short-term service for caregivers who are "burned out." That framing misses the point. Planned breaks are a core part of sustainable senior care in the house, especially when dementia is involved.

Large communities typically provide respite stays of a few days to a few weeks in supplied homes. These can be helpful, however the adjustment period is genuine. New structure, brand-new routines, brand-new faces. By the time an individual with dementia starts to feel settled, it is oftentimes to go home again.

In a little senior memory care home, respite can feel much less disruptive:

The setting looks like what the brain anticipates. A home, a backyard, a kitchen area, a living-room. Even if the layout is unknown, the total pattern matches decades of memory. This can lower confusion and nighttime agitation.

Staff rapidly find out choices. Over a two-week respite stay, caretakers will most likely see and respond to repeating patterns: how someone likes their tea, whether they rate before meals, which chair they pick. With a handful of locals, these details land faster.

Interaction feels more natural. Instead of walking into a big dining-room loaded with complete strangers, a respite resident joins a table with 5 or six others. Discussion is much easier. Silence is comfortable. There is room for slowness.

Used tactically, respite stays in a little home can also function as a mild trial run for future full-time placement. Both the household and the personnel discover whether the fit is right without the emotional weight of a long-term move.

The compromises: little is not always automatically better

Every care design has limits. It is tempting to romanticize little homes as widely superior, but that does a disservice to households making tough compromises.

Cost structure can cut both ways. Some little homes are more inexpensive than large communities, specifically in areas where property and overhead are lower. Others sit at the premium end of the market. Rates differs extensively, and inclusions matter: are incontinence products consisted of, or billed separately, for example.

Access to onsite medical services is frequently more restricted. A big assisted living with memory care might have regular visits from physical therapists, nurse practitioners, or pharmacy consulting groups. In a small home, these services frequently can be found in from the outside on an as-needed basis. That works well with a strong primary care physician and coordinated home health, however it needs more proactive communication.

Social alternatives vary. Some homeowners genuinely enjoy large-group activities, getaways, or the buzz of a larger setting. A previous instructor may thrive running a trivia video game in a 40-person hall. In a six-bed home, social life is more intimate by design, which suits some characters better than others.

Regulation and quality can be irregular. A stunning website means little if staffing is unsteady or the owner views the home primarily as a property financial investment. With small operations, the variety between outstanding and poor is large. Families need to look previous decoration and into day-to-day routines, staff training, and turnover.

Geography matters. Not every neighborhood has well-run small senior memory care homes. Backwoods may have less licensed alternatives, or homes that choose to specialize more in basic senior care than dementia care. In those cases, a trustworthy bigger memory care program might be the safer choice.

The concern is not "little or big" in the abstract. It is, "Offered my parent's needs, personality, resources, and location, which specific setting aligns finest with how they want to live?"

What to try to find when you tour a little memory care home

Even experienced healthcare professionals can be amazed by how different 2 memory care homes feel, even when they look comparable on paper. Licenses, personnel ratios, and square video footage do not tell the entire story. You discover a lot from what you see and feel while standing in the living room.

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Here is a concentrated checklist families frequently discover beneficial when assessing little homes:

Engagement: Are residents up, dressed, and associated with something recognizable as real life, not simply parked in front of a television? Staff presence: Do caretakers stay mostly in the common areas, engaging, or are they hidden in a back workplace? Communication: When you ask comprehensive questions about care, medications, or emergencies, do you get specific answers or unclear peace of mind? Environment: Are there clear visual cues for bathrooms, exits, and dining, with minimal mess and safe outside gain access to? Family gain access to: How does the home handle checking out, shared meals, and involvement in care preparation?

It deserves checking out 2 or 3 times, if possible, at various times of day. Early morning exposes how the home manages wake-up routines, which can be the hardest part of dementia care. Late afternoon or early night demonstrates how they handle "sundowning," the agitation that often surfaces as daytime fades.

Ask to see where medications are stored, how they log administration, and who is licensed to give them. Discover how typically a nurse visits and what sets off a call to the medical professional or paramedics. A solid home will stroll you through particular circumstances they handle frequently: a fall, refusal of care, a family dispute about objectives of care.

Integrating little homes into a wider care journey

Senior care choices rarely occur in a straight line. A common course might start with family-provided assistance in the house, supplemented by adult day programs or at home aides. In time, safety issues grow, and families look towards assisted living or specialized dementia care.

Small memory care homes can play various roles along this path:

Short-term respite when household caregivers require surgical treatment, travel, or just deep rest.

A bridge setting for somebody who can no longer live securely alone but does not yet need full nursing home care. A long-lasting home for the remainder of the dementia journey, especially when the home is geared up to handle late-stage requirements in collaboration with hospice.

The key is to see these homes not as separated islands, however as part of a network that includes medical care, neurologists, medical facility groups, home health, and hospice. The very best outcomes come when information flows smoothly amongst all parties.

If your parent moves into a little senior memory care home, share medical records, advance directives, and medication lists in a structured way. Develop how the home will interact changes to you and to the medical team. Ask about their experience partnering with hospice, even if you are not at that point yet. Clearness early on prevents confusion during crises.

Emotional impact on families

Beyond clinical procedures, one of the starkest distinctions I have actually seen in between institutional settings and intimate homes is emotional. Families of locals in little homes typically report a various type of sorrow. The loss is still genuine and heavy, but the day-to-day experience feels less like "going to a center" and more like going into a shared household.

Adult kids are most likely to sit at the kitchen counter, help serve lunch, or sign up with a walk in the backyard. Conversations with personnel seem like exchanges between partners, instead of requests to a far-off provider. This sense of shared ownership over care decisions can lower regret and helplessness.

One kid informed me, "It still harms every time I leave, but I do not go home feeling like I abandoned my dad. I seem like I left him with individuals who in fact know him." That distinction, while difficult to quantify, matters deeply.

At the same time, the intimacy of small homes can cut both ways emotionally. When bonds with personnel and other locals are strong, deaths in the home impact everyone. You are not protected by layers of administration. Households ought to be prepared for that depth of connection, which brings both comfort and vulnerability.

Looking ahead: the future of little memory care homes

Demographics guarantee that demand for dementia care will respite care keep rising over the coming decades. Big assisted living neighborhoods will stay part of the landscape, and many will improve their memory care wings with better training and ecological design.

Small senior memory care homes will likely broaden in parallel, specifically in regions where states recognize and properly regulate residential models. Their success will depend upon preserving quality as numbers grow. A six-bed home run by a deeply included owner is one thing; a portfolio of lots of such homes spread out throughout a number of counties is another, and requires more formal systems.

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For households and experts, the most crucial mindset shift is to move far from thinking of senior care solely in institutional terms. Home is not simply a location; it is a lifestyle, relating, and being recognized. For lots of people with dementia, a small, intimate memory care home provides the closest approximation of that sensation, while still providing the safety and assistance they now need.

Choosing look after a loved one with dementia will never be simple. But comprehending the genuine differences in between institutional and intimate choices, and how each aligns with your parent's history, personality, and medical requirements, brings the choice out of the fog and into clearer light.

BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living has license number of 307787
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living is located at 6919 Camp Bullis Road, San Antonio, TX 78256
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living has capacity of 16 residents
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living offers private rooms
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living includes private bathrooms with ADA-compliant showers
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living provides 24/7 caregiver support
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living provides medication management
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living serves home-cooked meals daily
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living offers housekeeping services
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living offers laundry services
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living provides life-enrichment activities
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living is described as a homelike residential environment
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living supports seniors seeking independence
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living accommodates residents with early memory-loss needs
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living does not use a locked-facility memory-care model
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living partners with Senior Care Associates for veteran benefit assistance
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living provides a calming and consistent environment
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living serves the communities of Crownridge, Leon Springs, Fair Oaks Ranch, Dominion, Boerne, Helotes, Shavano Park, and Stone Oak
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living is described by families as feeling like home
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living offers all-inclusive pricing with no hidden fees
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living has a phone number of (210) 874-5996
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living has an address of 6919 Camp Bullis Rd, San Antonio, TX 78256
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living has a website https://beehivehomes.com/locations/san-antonio/
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living has Google Maps listing https://maps.app.goo.gl/YBAZ5KBQHmGznG5E6
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living has Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/sweethoneybees
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living has Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sweethoneybees19
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living won Top Assisted Living Homes 2025
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living earned Best Customer Service Award 2024
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living placed 1st for Senior Living Communities 2025

People Also Ask about BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living


What is BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living monthly room rate?

Our monthly rate depends on the level of care your loved one needs. We begin by meeting with each prospective resident and their family to ensure we’re a good fit. If we believe we can meet their needs, our nurse completes a full head-to-toe assessment and develops a personalized care plan. The current monthly rate for room, meals, and basic care is $5,900. For those needing a higher level of care, including memory support, the monthly rate is $6,500. There are no hidden costs or surprise fees. What you see is what you pay.


Can residents stay in BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living until the end of their life?

Usually yes. There are exceptions such as when there are safety issues with the resident or they need 24 hour skilled nursing services.


Does BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living have a nurse on staff?

Yes. Our nurse is on-site as often as is needed and is available 24/7.


BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care has license number of 307787
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care is located at 6919 Camp Bullis Road, San Antonio, TX 78256
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care has capacity of 16 residents
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care offers private rooms
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care includes private bathrooms with ADA-compliant showers
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care provides 24/7 caregiver support
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care provides medication management
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care serves home-cooked meals daily
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care offers housekeeping services
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care offers laundry services
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care provides life-enrichment activities
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care is described as a homelike residential environment
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care supports seniors seeking independence
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care accommodates residents with early memory-loss needs
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care does not use a locked-facility memory-care model
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care partners with Senior Care Associates for veteran benefit assistance
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care provides a calming and consistent environment
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care serves the communities of Crownridge, Leon Springs, Fair Oaks Ranch, Dominion, Boerne, Helotes, Shavano Park, and Stone Oak
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care is described by families as feeling like home
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care offers all-inclusive pricing with no hidden fees
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care has a phone number of (210) 874-5996
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care has an address of 6919 Camp Bullis Rd, San Antonio, TX 78256
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care has a website https://beehivehomes.com/locations/san-antonio/
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care has Google Maps listing https://maps.app.goo.gl/YBAZ5KBQHmGznG5E6
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care has Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/sweethoneybees
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care has Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sweethoneybees19
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care won Top Assisted Living Homes 2025
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care earned Best Customer Service Award 2024
BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care placed 1st for Senior Living Communities 2025

People Also Ask about BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care


What is BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care monthly room rate?

Our monthly rate depends on the level of care your loved one needs. We begin by meeting with each prospective resident and their family to ensure we’re a good fit. If we believe we can meet their needs, our nurse completes a full head-to-toe assessment and develops a personalized care plan. The current monthly rate for room, meals, and basic care is $5,900. For those needing a higher level of care, including memory support, the monthly rate is $6,500. There are no hidden costs or surprise fees. What you see is what you pay.


Can residents stay in BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care until the end of their life?

Usually yes. There are exceptions such as when there are safety issues with the resident or they need 24 hour skilled nursing services.


Does BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care have a nurse on staff?

Yes. Our nurse is on-site as often as is needed and is available 24/7.


What are BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care visiting hours?

Normal visiting hours are from 10am to 7pm. These hours can be adjusted to accommodate the needs of our residents and their immediate families.


Do we have couple’s rooms available?

At BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care, all of our rooms are only licensed for single occupancy but we are able to offer adjacent rooms for couples when available. Please call to inquire about availability.


What is the State Long-term Care Ombudsman Program?

A long-term care ombudsman helps residents of a nursing facility and residents of an assisted living facility resolve complaints. Help provided by an ombudsman is confidential and free of charge. To speak with an ombudsman, a person may call the local Area Agency on Aging of Bexar County at 1-210-362-5236 or Statewide at the toll-free number 1-800-252-2412. You can also visit online at https://apps.hhs.texas.gov/news_info/ombudsman.


Are all residents from San Antonio?

BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care provides options for aging seniors and peace of mind for their families in the San Antonio area and its neighboring cities and towns. Our senior care home is located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country community of Crownridge in Northwest San Antonio, offering caring, comfortable and convenient assisted living solutions for the area. Residents come from a variety of locales in and around San Antonio, including those interested in Leon Springs Assisted Living, Fair Oaks Ranch Assisted Living, Helotes Assisted Living, Shavano Park Assisted Living, The Dominion Assisted Living, Boerne Assisted Living, and Stone Oaks Assisted Living.


Where is BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care located?

BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care is conveniently located at 6919 Camp Bullis Rd, San Antonio, TX 78256. You can easily find directions on Google Maps or call at (210) 874-5996 Monday through Sunday 9am to 5pm.


How can I contact BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care?


You can contact BeeHive Homes of Crownridge Assisted Living & Memory Care by phone at: (210) 874-5996, visit their website at https://beehivehomes.com/locations/san-antonio/,or connect on social media via Facebook or Instagram

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