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Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

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.

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Home Care In Black Mountain, NC

Home Care Black Mountain, NC

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 Black Mnt Fire Tower in Black Mountain, NC 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 Black Mountain, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Black Mountain, NC

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 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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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider They help with the needs that we have. It gives me time to go to the grocery store.”

Jane R.
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“I am a current client of this provider I like my caregiver. They've made my experience positive by sending me Barbara.”

Marvin ".
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“I am a current client of this provider I feel comfortable with them so far. I don't have any problems getting things done when the caregivers show up.”

Ralph R.
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“ABC has provided care for my client for 5-6 years. They have been great! Melisa and Autumn have given extra effort and care to assist with managing my client's needs. I don't know how I would have made it without them.”

Becky C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care for Seniors has served my clients well based on feedback received. They take the time to assess the needs of caregivers and care recipients alike and establish a detailed person-centered plan of care that addresses the care needs and wellbeing of the care recipient. This approach builds rapport and confidence with the caregiver and emphasizes respite for the caregiver while meeting the care recipients’ needs.”

Bethanie T.
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“I am a current client of this provider Belinda has done everything I have asked and more. Belinda has gone above the call of duty.”

Roger M.
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“I am a current client of this provider They are courteous, polite, kind and hard-working. It helps keep him interactive with people.”

Paul H.
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“I am a current client of this provider I liked the intake interview lady. Mary, the nurse, is very encouraging. Their presence is helpful because I can't be there.”

Gaye B.
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“I am a current client of this provider I like that they are flexible and the people that they provide have been good so far. They have removed a lot of stress from my life.”

Terry A.
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“The team with Always Best Care were instrumental in the assistance with my mom during her decline and eventual passing. They were thoughtful, kind, supportive, considerate and readily available. Mary, one of the nurse managers at the Asheville location, was so supportive it is as if she became family. She would come without hesitation as I navigated through this difficult time offering tremendous support. She not only foresaw what was needed, but understood what I needed and catered to that need. She is a tremendous asset to your team! I am forever grateful for her.”

Hanna M.
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“I'm a new hire and the office staff is wonderful, informative and thorough. I feel like this will be a most rewarding opportunity.”

Julie C.
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“I am a current client of this provider I couldn't have a life without them. They do the cooking and everything for me. One was a poor caregiver and the other was good.”

Sharon W.
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“I am a current client of this provider This helps us both be more refreshed and get breaks from each other. I like the fact that they seem to be a Christian-based organization. That comes through with the care that is provided.”

Joseph D.
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“I am a current client of this provider They have helped tremendously with her sadness. I like how I can call, get a person and not just a recording.”

Kathy K.
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“Always Best Care was always responsive to our family’s caregiving and respite needs. They created a thorough and detailed individual care plan with us that addressed all of our concerns and caregiving requirements. Our caregiver Elaine was fantastic. She is genuinely caring, compassionate, friendly, and engaging. My father was always excited when Elaine came to the house. They would talk for hours, laugh, play games, do puzzles, look at photo albums, and watch all kinds of sports together including tennis, football, soccer, and basketball. He said that Elaine made the best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches too. She even stopped by to check on us after hurricane Helene to make sure that we were ok. I fully recommend Always Best Care to any family needing respite and caregiving services for their loved ones. They are truly the Best!”

Veronika G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a past client of this provider They have helped the most with just providing me really good care and there was a never struggle with them. I liked that Always Best Care was always very kind and worked with me very easily.”

Lisa R.
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“I am a current client of this provider They help the most by talking to him. They're very good about doing what they are supposed to be doing.”

Robert T.
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“I am a current client of this provider They provide me with company. They make you feel comfortable.”

Kenneth I.
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“I am a current client of this provider I can depend on her coming and being there. They are very responsive and do what they say they're going to do and are dependable.”

Lorrie M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care Seniors Services provide the personal touch in-home care! From our initial call inquiring about services, to meeting staff to discuss our unique family needs, to the caring compassionate and understanding caregivers we are thoroughly impressed. Its such a relief knowing our loved ones are receiving the care they deserve.”

Living T.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I'm so happy to have such a professional and reliable agency that I can refer my caregivers to and know that they will receive the service they need to assist with the care of their loved ones with dementia,”

Lisa K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care Seniors Services provide the personal touch in-home care! From our initial call inquiring about services, to meeting the owner Jim Smeaton to discuss our unique family needs, to the caring compassionate and understanding caregivers we are thoroughly impressed. Its such a relief knowing our loved ones are receiving the care they deserve.”

James K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Highly professional and very caring. A great company”

Melisa L.
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“Highly professional and very caring. A great company”

Joyce P.
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“I love this company. They are always very responsive. They truly care about the ones that they care for.”

Deavon M.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Black Mountain, NC?

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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.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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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.

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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.

 Senior Care Black Mountain, NC

Types of Elderly Care in Black Mountain, NC

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal 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:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Black Mountain, NC
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

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:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Black Mountain, NC
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

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 Veterans Park in Black Mountain, NC with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Black Mountain, NC
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

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 Que Sera or visit Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center, 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.

 In-Home Care Black Mountain, NC

Benefits of Home Care in Black Mountain, NC

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:

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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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

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.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

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 Black Mountain, NC, 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.

 Elderly Care Black Mountain, NC

Affordable 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:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your NC's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Black Mountain, NC

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

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 Black Mountain, NC 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.

Assisted Living Referral Services

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.


Respite Care Black Mountain, NC

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:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Black Mountain, NC

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:

  • Marjorie Mc Cune Memorial Center
  • Lakeview Center For Active Aging
  • North Carolina State Veterans Home - Black Mountain
  • Givens Highland Farms
  • The Settings of Black Mountain - Gated Mountain Community
  • Mountain Ridge Wellness Center
Home Care Black Mountain, NC

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.

 In-Home Care Black Mountain, NC

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

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

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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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 Black Mountain, NC 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.

 Elderly Care Black Mountain, NC

Latest News in Black Mountain, NC

Budget amendment approved for repairs at senior center in Black Mountain

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (WLOS) — The town of Black Mountain has approved a budget amendment to initiate temporary repairs on the Lakeview Center for Active Aging.The facility has remained closed since September 2024 due to flood damage from Hurricane Helene. After the storm, the town discovered that the building had also sustained damage from a fire years earlier, which had not been properly repaired.The senior center, which offers activities, meals and programs for older adults, is now the focus of restoration efforts to me...

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (WLOS) — The town of Black Mountain has approved a budget amendment to initiate temporary repairs on the Lakeview Center for Active Aging.

The facility has remained closed since September 2024 due to flood damage from Hurricane Helene. After the storm, the town discovered that the building had also sustained damage from a fire years earlier, which had not been properly repaired.

The senior center, which offers activities, meals and programs for older adults, is now the focus of restoration efforts to meet current codes.

BLACK MOUNTAIN AND OLD FORT MEDICAL PRACTICE CLOSES DUE TO INCOME LOSS, HELENE

A special-called meeting was held on Tuesday, Oct. 28, to consider the now-approved amendment. The budget amendment would allocate $15,000 to begin repairs, including an engineering assessment to evaluate the damage and outline necessary steps for reopening.

"FEMA eventually made a decision that the fixing of the upstairs would not impact funding for the downstairs. That was our holdup," said Town Manager Josh Harrold. "We did not want to spend money on the upstairs and cancel ourselves out of any FEMA funding for the building."

While Harrold said he delayed repairs due to concerns about jeopardizing FEMA federal funding for other building repairs, Black Mountain Mayor Mike Sobel vehemently disagreed.

For months, Sobel has maintained that the two issues have nothing to do with one another. Sobel said Harrold could have moved forward months ago with repairing the charred boards in the floor from the decades-old fire. Sobel said it was a pre-existing issue and never would have risked FEMA funds.

"I could have gone ahead and started this procedure earlier to see what could be done to rectify it, so we could move the seniors back in," said Sobel.

HELENE: A JOURNEY OF HOPE (RETURN TO BLACK MOUNTAIN)

Harrold said he hopes that the center will reopen by the end of the year.

Despite the ongoing closure at the center, some services, such as the senior meal program, continue through a pick-up system at other locations.

Stay updated with News 13 on air and online for the latest on this story.

Black Mountain and Old Fort medical practice closes due to income loss, Helene

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (WLOS) — Hundreds of patients in Black Mountain and Old Fort have to find new physicians after the medical practice, Family Care of Black Mountain/Old Fort, closes, in part, due to Helene.According to the medical practice's website, it's closing on Oct. 31.Raleigh Durham Medical Group owns the practice. An individual responding to the group’s main number confirmed “patient volume could not support the practice expenses.”“I’ve been going there for over 30 years,&rdq...

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (WLOS) — Hundreds of patients in Black Mountain and Old Fort have to find new physicians after the medical practice, Family Care of Black Mountain/Old Fort, closes, in part, due to Helene.

According to the medical practice's website, it's closing on Oct. 31.

Raleigh Durham Medical Group owns the practice. An individual responding to the group’s main number confirmed “patient volume could not support the practice expenses.”

“I’ve been going there for over 30 years,” said Elizabeth Collins, a patient. “Actually, it was a shock.”

Dr. Drew Schnyder, the primary physician at Family Care, told News 13 the following about the closures both in Black Mountain and Old Fort.

"I feel heartbroken we have to close the practice due to income loss,” said Schnyder. “We've been losing patients since the hurricane. People moved away or transferred. Our patient level was 1,200 a month. After Helene, it dropped to 900. Our management group pulled out. They gave us a 30-day notice.”

Dr. Bill Hathaway, Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) CEO, spoke with News 13 about the dynamics of small practices.

Looking from the outside, Hathaway said the equation for running them involves patient numbers and practice costs. He said the days of locally owned small practices are few and far between. He wasn’t surprised to hear that a Raleigh group owned the practice and decided to close it.

“We’ve seen a significant shift even pre-Helene away from independent primary care practices,” Hathaway said. "Towards physicians being employed by health systems or otherwise employed. Those trends have been going on for five or ten years.”

Hathaway has worked in the Asheville medical field for decades, having come from Mission, where he served as chief medical officer.

“I suspect it’s the case that they were on a critical margin that depended on seeing a certain number of patients per month to see the finances work out. When they had a change in population, the margins weren’t there and tough decisions were made by someone else," Hathaway said. "If you take the exacerbating effect of the challenges on the entire community and put it on a small medical practice that may be struggling because of high overhead and high costs, with a subsequent loss of patients, this doesn’t surprise me at all to see this.”

Next to the Family Care medical offices on old US Highway 70 in Black Mountain is a holistic practice office where Dr. Kirsten West works as a holistic health provider. She said there were often patient referrals between the practices. She’s aware Family Care next door is closing.

“We’re seeing a lot of people scrambling to see where their primary health is going to be,” said West.

She said in her own practice, after Helene, patients have bought gift cards to cover costs for other patients in her practice.

“They’ve actually stepped up and donated to provide money care for other patients," said West.

Across Black Mountain, the community and its people continue to move forward from Helene. Cheryl Hyde, Black Mountain’s Chamber of Commerce Director, said tourists are coming, but there’s still an issue she’s heard from local merchants.

“They aren’t spending as much money as they did,” said Hyde. “But we are happy to see them. And there is strong resolve. All of our shopkeepers are local, all of the people who work in the shops are locals and so it does affect the whole economy.”

Hyde was aware that the medical practice was closing, saying she’s seen patients posting on Facebook the past few weeks asking for recommendations on new physicians.

Black Mountain mural attracts crowds ahead of new art gallery's grand opening

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. — A unique mural in Black Mountain is drawing lots of attention to local shops ahead of a new art gallery’s grand opening.Many families have stopped in front of the mural to take photos."The mural outside has brought a lot of business to the store and the town because before it was just a blank yellow wall, so now it’s this gorgeous, beautiful Black Mountain mural, and many, many people come to take their picture there," said Debbie Hinten, the Team Lead at Sassafras, a bookstore...

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. — A unique mural in Black Mountain is drawing lots of attention to local shops ahead of a new art gallery’s grand opening.

Many families have stopped in front of the mural to take photos.

"The mural outside has brought a lot of business to the store and the town because before it was just a blank yellow wall, so now it’s this gorgeous, beautiful Black Mountain mural, and many, many people come to take their picture there," said Debbie Hinten, the Team Lead at Sassafras, a bookstore in downtown Black Mountain.

Hinten says she’s noticed many customers walk into the shop after taking photos in front of the mural outside one of their entrances.

"All of the tourists that come by that are photographing themselves in front of this, and then that is proliferating all over the internet, is massive in terms of just cultural influence and actual economic dollars," said Jonathan Bidwell, one of the artists commissioned to bring the mural to life.

The artwork was done by a designer in Atlanta named Ben Rupp; however, Bidwell was asked to bring the design to life and adapt it to the environment of Black Mountain.

"I had to make some adaptations, slight changes to the design just to sort of fit it to the wall," Bidwell said.

The mural was commissioned by Cherry Street Gallery, an art gallery preparing to open, and was painted on the side of the gallery.

They finished the mural in late July, and then Bidwell came back a week ago to add a protective clear coat.

"I love it, I was just admiring it when I was walking by," said Thomas Barker, a Black Mountain resident.

The Gallery Director at Cherry Street Gallery says they are looking to open by the end of the month.

In photos: No Kings rallies in WNC

Editor’s note: This article was updated at 4:07 p.m. with additional photos from the Black Mountain No King rally. No Kings rallies are underway across Western North Carolina. Xpress will be updating this post with additional photos throughout the day. Gatherings in Marion and Hendersonville have wrapped up.Ongoing or upcoming rallies are listed below.451 ViewsWe share your inclination to get the whole story. For the over 30 years, Xpress has been committed to in-d...

Editor’s note: This article was updated at 4:07 p.m. with additional photos from the Black Mountain No King rally.

No Kings rallies are underway across Western North Carolina. Xpress will be updating this post with additional photos throughout the day. Gatherings in Marion and Hendersonville have wrapped up.

Ongoing or upcoming rallies are listed below.

451 Views

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