AA Learn more about in-home care options for your loved ones

Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Personal Care Consultation

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TESTIMONIALS

“We had just started and all of these hospitalizations happened. It would have had a really nice impact we just weren't able to use it for very long. They were great. Their service was wonderful and the communication was great. I was very happy with the kindness and care.”

Don C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They do a lot of the things we cannot do ourselves. Everyone we have had has been exceedingly pleasant and easy to get along with.”

Richard C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I never had a problem with Always Best Care. My experience was positive because they were attuned to the time with everything I needed to do. If there was a paper I needed to be signed, they were helpful. I don't have any memory problems, but they were very friendly. We laughed and talked. They were just like a best friend who took me where I needed to go. I have always told people about Always Best Care and the people working there. I have referred people. Always Best Care is the best. I like how they were attentive when I called. Laura, she knew exactly what I needed. And the timing, they were perfect about the timing. Always Best Care was attuned to what I needed.”

Marilyn F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They are really good with the clients. They are prompt and always on time. They are always on top of everything when we call.”

Mary S.
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“They help me to take a day off. They seem to be very caring.”

John C.
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“It was essential for her recovery. They're very responsive and work to make sure they have someone here.”

Marilyn W.
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“My caregiver helps me with numerous things, like helping me get out of my chair, and driving me places. Everybody is very kind, efficient, and thorough.”

Bruce B.
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“They helped in the way they interacted with her. The caregivers were all very friendly and caring.”

Darlene S.
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“They are reliable and I can count on them and she is getting excellent care. They have great caregivers and they are matched very well.”

Beverly D.
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“The caregivers are friendly and they help around the house. They do our laundry. They do not always tell us which caregivers are coming.”

Debbie R.
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“It's helped me get through a lot of difficult periods. I like the quality of the people they send out.”

Patrick T.
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“They are helpful for me. Especially the younger girls are so helpful, they volunteer to do things. They're helpful and reliable.”

Kathryn V.
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“I've been here going on three years their so flexible I really enjoy working here”

Michelle T.
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“They were here for a few hours and always came. Everything was just fine. It was just pricey.”

Jeffrey C.
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“When I first came here 10 months ago, Rich couldn't walk. I've never seen a client succeed this far for his age. They are so professional. I would not work with any other company besides ABC.”

Richard ".
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“The best employer I have ever worked for. Everyone from the management team and other caregivers are some of the nicest and compassionate people I have ever encountered. They always listen and take care of questions or concerns I may have.”

Jasmine L.
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“They have been outstanding. It has not been easy for me since me and my husband have a lot of medical appointments. When we are not able to get a car, they are willing to take us in their car, pick up prescriptions, and pick up groceries for us. They are very professional and look and see what needs to be done. They are very flexible and help wherever they can. They help us when the time is good for us.”

Joyce T.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I’m giving ABC a 5/5 star review because I have been a caregiver with them for 5 months and I absolutely love my job. I enjoy caring for other people and helping those who are in need. Besides work, every time I go into the office to pick up my checks I always feel so welcomed by the staff. They even let me bring my mini aussiedoodle there too! If you’re looking for a job that has a friendly staff, flexible schedule, and rewarding, apply TODAY to Always Best Care Senior Services.”

Madeleine W.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I’m giving ABC a 5/5 star review because I have been a caregiver with them for 5 months and I absolutely love my job. I enjoy caring for other people and helping those who are in need. Besides work, every time I go into the office to pick up my checks I always feel so welcomed by the staff. They even let me bring my mini aussiedoodle there too! If you’re looking for a job that has a friendly staff, flexible schedule, and rewarding, apply TODAY to Always Best Care Senior Services.”

Madeleine W.
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TESTIMONIALS

“It leaves me able to get more help as the pandemic calms down. I can get errands done. I like that the caregivers have been with us through the pandemic and they have been stellar. They are very helpful and I feel safe leaving my husband with the caregivers.”

Karen B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They were only there for a short time. They made a big difference. They took care of the basic daily needs. They were very good at being responsive to our questions and they provided generally good caregivers.”

Scott G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“This is a great home care company to work for! They are very sweet and do a lot for their clients and care givers! Nothing but good things to say about them! I saw the reviews and decided to go with them over other companies and it was definitely a great choice!”

Nicole M.
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“They sent the caregiver that we wanted them to send. I like the caregivers. They were responsible.”

Kendall M.
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“There is not much they can do. They cannot do more than what they are doing now. She never stops serving us. I am very pleased. I like the attitude, they always want to work with you. The person that is here is outstanding.”

Bruce B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Great place to work! I've never been happier with a job. The staff is always helpful and compassionate. They are always willing to work with my hectic schedule and do their best to give me the hours I want. Very organized and professional.”

Caitlyn B.
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“They help to exercise him and they help with giving him medicines. They provide us some very good care, and good caregivers.”

James ".
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“I've been a care giver for 10 years. And just started a month ago with Abc in longmont. I enjoy working for this company. They are so nice and Alway one step ahead of you. If you are looking for work I recommend ABC..”

Michelle W.
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“A wonderful group of caregivers managed by an amazing team of supervisors who really care! A perfect choice for your loved ones caregivers who really care about their passions their feelings and their happiness!”

Sunshine S.
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“They have helped us the most by providing good services to my mother. I like that they are very responsive.”

Diane K.
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“Absolutely love this company! Very good management and communication! ???? would choose this company for my family!”

gabby S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always best care is wonderful! They take care of there clients with immense amount of love and compassion. I’ve worked here for quite some time. I always feel like I can come to them with any discord’s, as they with take care of it diligently. I love the people I work with and I know they care for the clients just as much as I do.”

Sydney B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Working for always best care as a caregiver has open my eyes to how important caregiving really is me as well as all my coworkers always go to work we a positive attitude and I can tell everyone enjoys there job by far best working team I been with and there staff are amazing! :)”

maria M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Working for Always Best Care has been a joy. As a caregiver I have found fulfillment in what I do. Inga, our owner, and all the amazing staff in the office are truly delightful. We have a great scheduler and amazing care managers to pair the right caregiver with the right client. Always Best Care is a family of phenomenal professionals who care about the emotional and physical welfare of their clients. Communication makes this agency tick. I love it.”

Carolynn K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I almost slipped off my shower chair and if Tony was not there I would have been on the floor. They are a reliable company.”

Paula B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I’m an elder care provider and have worked for several agencies. ABC is the best. They have a professional orientation and one of their staff always accompanies you to your first visit to introduce you to the client and go over the care plan. Natalie, the lady who does the hiring, is professional and friendly. She makes sure those she hires are qualified. All care givers are occasionally shown educational videos and given periodic quizzes.”

Allie M.
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“I have never worked for a company who not only cares about their clients but also care about their employees! Always best care definitely cares for their people ❤️”

Candi F.
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“Very professional and caring, with both client's and employees.”

Veronica L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care is the best! I loved working here. Everyone cares about you and they are very compassionate. As a student, they were able to work with my schedule from part time to full time. They are reliable and great listeners. Natalie was the best! Anyone looking for a job as a caregiver I would highly recommend it here :)”

Deisy F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I have worked as a caregiver for over 3 years now, this being the third agency I have worked for. This is by far the best agency I’ve worked for or been around, I would highly recommend them to anyone. As a caregiver, I feel completely supported by all of the office staff and case managers. Communication is a key when it comes to home care, and this office makes that one of their priorities. I’ve never had any issues working for this company. I would recommend them for your family members, or as a caregiver looking for a new job. As a college student they are very flexible with time and accepting of what my needs are.”

Cassidi M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care was there with caring, knowledgeable staff, ready to meet me and discuss all of the care options available, including in-home care, local facilities, etc. They know their stuff and are kind and patient with great follow-through!”

Jessie H.
 In-Home Care Westminster, CO

How does In-home Senior Care in Westminster, CO work?

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's 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. When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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.

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 ages, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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 Senior Care Westminster, CO

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.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, 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:

Comfort
Comfort

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, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Westminster, CO, 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.

Healthy Living
Healthy Living

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.

Independence
Independence

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 an assisted living community. 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.

Cost and Convenience
Cost and Convenience

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 to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be 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 in Westminster, CO 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.

Empowers Seniors

Affordable Care Plans

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:

Veteran's Benefits
Veteran's Benefits

Aid and Attendance benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.

Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance

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.

Private Insurance
Private Insurance

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.

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

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.


Respite Care Westminster, CO

During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.

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 Westminster,CO 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.

 Caregivers Westminster, CO

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 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:

An assessment of your senior loved one

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An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home

02

Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs

03

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.

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.

Latest News in Westminster, CO

Westminster Public Schools candidates speak out at forum

Two slates of Westminster Public Schools’ candidates sounded off on issues ranging from test scores to cyberbullying during an Oct. 4 board of directors candidate forum.One group says the district is doing well and should continue on its current path, while the other says WPS needs greater accountability and financial transparency.The forum, held at the Westminster Grange Hall, was hosted by the League of Women Voters.The Nov. 7 election is the first time in six years the WPS board election has been contested. The ...

Two slates of Westminster Public Schools’ candidates sounded off on issues ranging from test scores to cyberbullying during an Oct. 4 board of directors candidate forum.

One group says the district is doing well and should continue on its current path, while the other says WPS needs greater accountability and financial transparency.

The forum, held at the Westminster Grange Hall, was hosted by the League of Women Voters.

The Nov. 7 election is the first time in six years the WPS board election has been contested. The WPS board includes just five members, so no matter the outcome, the election will add new voices. Adding to future changes at WPS, longtime Superintendent Pamela Swanson is retiring at the end of the academic year.

Six candidates are running for three at-large seats. Board treasurer Christine Martinez is seeking a second term. The other two vacancies come as current board President Ken Cianco and Vice President Max Math, both term-limited, step down from their seats.

Martinez, Mary Beth Murphy and Audrey Yanos are running as the MMY slate. The three women advocate for expansion of the district’s Career and Technical Education programs, reinforcing school safety and mental health programs, and recruiting and retaining high-quality staff. They have the support of both the Westminster and Colorado education associations.

Husband and wife Charles and Brenda Gallegos have joined Anthony Sisneros to run as the ABC slate. They say they’ll take a new direction from the current board, which doesn’t acknowledge “the challenges we face as a district.” Those promised changes include improving student achievement, adding more fiscal transparency, and stepping up parent involvement.

Brenda Gallegos said she aims to be a liaison to the Spanish-speaking segment of the community. She delivered all her responses during the forum in both English and Spanish.

WPS adopted a competency based system (CBS) of education in 2009, which does away with grade levels and allows students to advance based on their ability. The system was referred to repeatedly during the forum.

Here are their responses to three of the questions posed at the forum.

WPS students’ math and reading proficiency scores have slipped. What do you plan to do?

Brenda Gallegos: This topic hits very close to home for me because my child is a part of this. The system has failed her in a way. I want to be able to open pathways for the community and for more tutors to be able to help the struggling students advance.

Murphy: When I look at the school accountability framework, I see WPS has indeed been successful in educating students and moving them forward. Since CBS began, there has been marked improvement. There is nothing I would want to change. Students are not defined by a test that is taken on one day. They do no measure what students are learning or what we are teaching.

Charles Gallegos: I agree, looking at a snapshot in time of test scores doesn’t tell the whole picture. But looking over the course of 10 years, we start to see a trend. That trend, in my opinion, has flatlined. I support CBS, but I do believe these scores show there are some inherent flaws that would need to be remedied in order for us to see if CBS works when it’s operating at peak level.

Yanos: When I saw the CMAS (Colorado Measures of Academic Success) scores, I didn’t think it was a reflection of our students whatsoever. That CMAS score is a zip code test. Depending on the ethnicity and income level of your population dictates what your CMAS score is going to be. Our fight is at the capital for better assessment tests… a test that reflects our community and our students. It is not in our boardroom.

Sisneros: It’s critical to state a single test does not tell the whole story, but it is a crucial chapter in a year. We need to grade these students on an international standard so we can know how we’re doing in the world. I would ask what conditions created these outcomes. We know students of color are fully capable of demonstrating and achieving success. Why are our systems not fostering their ability?

Martinez: There is nothing standard about our children. They each have their own experiences, backgrounds and histories, and using a single standardized test created by white men to measure our kids and then rank our teachers is ridiculous. One state test on one day is nothing. We’re here … to teach, not prepare kids to take a test.

How do you plan to continue the current school board’s momentum? What do you hope to change?

Brenda Gallegos: I want all of us to be able to communicate with all of our parents, and all our students, so everybody can all be on the same page. I think there’s a lot of good that’s happening, but I feel we really need to open the communication for everyone.

Murphy: As a former CTE teacher, I would like to continue CTE courses. I would like to offer advanced courses in the pathways, so students can continue to learn and be job ready when they come out. I’d like to offer CTE classes to the adults in our community. I would continue the CBS. I would like to continue to have the highest salary schedules. There’s nothing on my radar right now I would like to change.

Charles Gallegos: We have to collaborate with the community, parents, teachers, with everyone across the board and figure out what are the problems. Otherwise we’re going to get a flawed conclusion. With CBS, I believe in the potential. But I do feel there are some inherent flaws. At least have the self awareness to say yes, this is a great system but there are problems with it, let’s address it.

Yanos: I believe the current board is doing a fantastic job. I am not a stranger to nor am I opposed to change. But I think my leadership style can best be described as pivot. Let’s keep doing what we’re doing, but find opportunities for growth and move in that way.

Sisneros: One thing I would want to change is the way we treat our marginalized students. I have a son with Down syndrome student. He was not able to attend school with his brother, I was told based on resources. I would do everything I could for these students. When we say students, I say all students.

Martinez: We have so much positive momentum happening. I want to keep running on all of these opportunities. We need more. How can we get all of the kids involved? We’re giving as many opportunities to our kiddos as we possibly can and I want to continue to see that happen.

How would you proceed in recruiting and hiring a new superintendent?

Brenda Gallegos: I feel we should have a search. We should make sure we’re finding the right person for our community, our school and for our people, and someone who’s going to understand our demographics.

Murphy: Somebody that already knows our system is best. We want somebody that would be supported by the staff and would continue the things Westminster Public Schools are doing. I would not be interested in a national search. Those are usually very expensive and not very successful.

Charles Gallegos: The superintendent that is chosen needs to share the same vision as the school board, so there are no conflicts of interest and the plan can be implemented seamlessly. I feel that search needs to be handled on a national basis, where we can draw from a diverse pool of candidates, and determine who shares our vision and who truly represents what we want to do for the district.

Yanos: I think it’s really important we hire somebody who understands our competency-based system … because it takes years to train that program (and) it’s not something anyone else is doing. We need to look for a superintendent who really understands it so … they can hit the ground running and keep us moving in the right direction.

Sisneros: I feel when we pay someone $300,000-plus a year, our community deserves a national search. Yes, CBS is great. But they shouldn’t be appointed just because you’ve served here. Whether the best person is in house or not, the community deserves the search.

Martinez: I think a national search would do us harm. We are hosting conferences where international people are coming to learn CBS from us. Are we going to train our national superintendent at this conference? Absolutely not. We have bench strength. We have people who have lived and breathed this experience, and that is where our focus needs to be.

Watch the full candidate forum on the Heart of Westminster website.

Tagged: CandidateselectionForumpublic schoolsWestminster

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Uplands groundbreaking draws star-studded guest list and protesters

In keeping with promises to deliver thousands of affordable homes, the groundbreaking for what’s called the Uplands included something for almost everyone: local food from Westminster’s Valente’s Deli, craft beer from hometown brewery Kokopelli’s, music by the Westminster High School drumline, balloons, bulldozers and star power in the form of speeches from local, county and state dignitaries.All of it unfolded under a brilliantly sunny late September sky.The hosts of the private event did not, however, ...

In keeping with promises to deliver thousands of affordable homes, the groundbreaking for what’s called the Uplands included something for almost everyone: local food from Westminster’s Valente’s Deli, craft beer from hometown brewery Kokopelli’s, music by the Westminster High School drumline, balloons, bulldozers and star power in the form of speeches from local, county and state dignitaries.

All of it unfolded under a brilliantly sunny late September sky.

The hosts of the private event did not, however, extend an invitation to neighboring homeowners, many of whom have fought the project for years. Several of them protested the Sept. 27 groundbreaking and then continued the following day, standing at the entrance of the old farm property with signs reading, “Save the Farm,” “No Uplands development” and “Who paid who?”

Historically a working farm, 2,350 homes will be built on it. Those homes will be developed in a mix of styles and price points, including single-family houses, townhomes and apartments, including rentals. The 234-acre project is a partnership that includes Oread Capital & Development, Varde Partners, Peak Development, and Dream Finders Homes.

While supporters of Uplands say many of the homes will be affordable, price points have yet to be set.

“The first homes will begin construction in 2025, so prices won’t be determined until closer to that date since there are so many factors, like the price and availability of materials,” said Sara O’Keefe, a consultant hired to help the Uplands developers with communication. “We have a tremendous amount of horizontal infrastructure to get in place before we can start building homes.”

It’s taken about a decade for the project to get to this point. Oread Capital president Jeff Handlin joked at the ceremony that he had hair when he began work on the Uplands.

“Today we stand at the threshold of something extraordinary,” he said. “The Uplands was never intended to be just another housing development. From the beginning, our vision was to create a model of sustainability and affordability, with plentiful missing middle housing. And above all, we were passionate about leading on water conservation, design innovation, and thoughtful placemaking.”

He was flanked by officials, including Gov. Jared Polis.

Polis praised Uplands’ planned mix of housing types, public parks, bike lanes and efficient water usage.

Like much of the Western U.S., Colorado suffers from an acute housing shortage, pushing up home prices and rents and also causing homelessness. Municipal and state officials have been struggling against intense local opposition to increase housing construction and ease these pressures.

“This project will be an inspiration for other parts of Colorado, and indeed across the country,” Polis said. “It’s exactly the kind of development we need more of.

“We have a major problem with lack of housing in Colorado. We simply need more units that individuals and families can afford. These homes will be accessible for first-time home buyers, seniors looking to downsize, young professionals and so many others. Not only that, but this community is being built with affordability, mobility and sustainability as the foundation.”

Polis has made creation of affordable housing a priority in the past year. In August, he issued an executive order to streamline developments that are centered around transit. In issuing that order, his office stated that nearly one in three Colorado households spend more than 30% of their income on housing and the state is expected to add an estimated 1.72 million more people by 2050.

Westminster Mayor Nancy McNally also praised developers for compromises in the planning process, including reducing some of the originally proposed density and preserving popular mountain viewpoints.

“The Uplands has listened,” she said. “They heard the community. They heard us as a council. I can’t thank you enough for caring about the community.”

Adams County Commissioner Steve O’Dorisio and Westminster Public School Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jeni Gotto also gave short speeches, citing benefits the development will bring to the region and the school district.

Meanwhile, protesting neighbors, who stayed at the entrance to the groundbreaking event for hours, view the development in a very different light. They’re disappointed to see the project moving forward, and said many questions remain.

John Palmer, a 60-year area resident whose Lowell Boulevard home is across the street from the site, opposes the development and believes multi-story housing shouldn’t be built there. “Multi-story units are not conducive to our neighborhood.” The existing housing, he adds, ”is all single-family detached homes.”

Palmer’s many concerns also include water runoff and potential flooding he believes could result from converting open land to a development with large areas of hard surface and increased traffic.

Palmer doesn’t feel heard. “Our city council … they not once listened to our community concerns or needs. It was all basically rubber stamped for the convenience of the developer.”

And he feels housing costs will not be as affordable as the developers say.

Karen Ray, a resident of the adjacent Shaw Heights neighborhood and a member of the Save the Farm citizens group, said that opponents fought the development for years.

“Most importantly the priority was around the open space,” she said. “It’s pristine, beautiful land, and it’s been a landmark in this city for over 100 years.”

She worries for the character of the neighborhood.

“It’ll completely change the dynamic of this whole area,” she said.

Full buildout of the Uplands is expected in about 15 to 20 years at the site, which is located between Federal and Lowell boulevards and 84th and 88th avenues. It was owned by The Pillar of Fire Church until it sold to Uplands developers.

Harrington: A two-second window to change

Operation to flatten tents – watched by vulnerable men and women – should be a watershed momentThe tent clearancesFRESH from being booted out of his own party’s conference for heckling Suella Braverman – that Queen of the Culture wars who is surely a shoo-in for a talk show on GB News should she want one – Andrew Boff is back in the more sedate surrounds of his favoured stomping ground, the London Assembly.Indeed, yesterday you could find the long-serving Tory on hi...

Operation to flatten tents – watched by vulnerable men and women – should be a watershed moment

The tent clearances

FRESH from being booted out of his own party’s conference for heckling Suella Braverman – that Queen of the Culture wars who is surely a shoo-in for a talk show on GB News should she want one – Andrew Boff is back in the more sedate surrounds of his favoured stomping ground, the London Assembly.

Indeed, yesterday you could find the long-serving Tory on his feet in the main chamber (Harrington’s most loyal readers will know this place as the “Ultra Low Efficiency Zone”) and hear him asking London mayor Sadiq Khan how Labour types could be so critical of Braverman’s bravado on homelessness and her desire to stop people handing out tents to rough sleepers, but not feel the same revulsion for Labour-run Camden Council.

The neighbouring authority, after all, was caught up this week in an operation to flatten tents close to Tottenham Court Road, and this just as every Labour councillor in London was taking it in turns to source more adjectives to describe Ms Braverman, the now former home secretary.

Over the road, vulnerable men and women, some in tears, watched as the shelters were tossed into a rubbish truck.

Mr Khan yesterday responded in the only appropriate way, by telling The Boff that he was appalled at the video.

It’s easy to draw parallels with this incident and Ms Braverman’s heartlessness but at least Camden’s council leader Georgia Gould broke off her maternity leave to apologise at a public meeting last night – her new baby strapped into a sling in front of her as she did – and Mr Khan too made no attempt to conjure up some wordy excuse for what has happened.

Maybe that’s the difference. After her recent comments, would Ms Braverman be similarly appalled and apologetic by this shameful episode, or would she be ordering the next round of vans to blast through her small tents crisis?

More interesting perhaps is how the crushed shelters have escalated into a national story. Not just a Camden New Journal exclusive, it has bounced around Fleet Street.

It’s interesting because this isn’t the first time this has happened in the United Kingdom at all. Outreach workers and groups like Streets Kitchen know tents are ripped up and confiscated up and down the country for spurious reasons every week; mainly because somebody somewhere decides they do not want to walk past a living illustration of our stark inequality.

In fact, there will surely have been people in local authorities in lots of areas who saw the national coverage of the tent clearances this week and mumbled to themselves… haven’t we done this before.

Maybe even one not too far from where you are reading this newspaper.

We’ve seen spikes added to doorways and street furniture specifically designed to make a bench impossible to sleep on. A hostile environment has expanded with hardly a peep from those who can influence policy – or write for the masses about it.

Of course, anything that happens in Camden is always amplified beyond how would if the same thing was happening in [insert the name of any town outside of London].

And that’s a problem. Homelessness is only ever really a national story if a) it’s happening in rich London or b) something outrageous is caught on a cameraphone and posted on social media in a way which can be translated into a quick and easily shared web story.

You see, it wasn’t apparently a national story that 15 people were so desperate that they’ve spent a year clinging to a hospital’s back end air-conditioning system for warmth. Many people will now only know they were there all that time because of the awful way they have been treated this week. A scandal untold.

Anything deeper than a shock horror video, or anything aiming to start a considered debate about how to actually end homelessness won’t score high enough on the web metrics to be seen.

Our newspapers in this office have resolutely reported on the issue for years now and Harrington pays particular tribute to reporters Isabelle Stanley and Frankie Lister-Fell for their compassionate journalism, but they were often pressing on when nobody wanted to listen.

Sadiq Khan

Now a viral clip has provided a brief window to try and have that conversation. If that’s the only way, so be it – but it must not be wasted.

At the same meeting that Georgia Gould was apologising at last night, other Labour councillors were bemoaning the Right to Buy policy for depleting affordable housing stocks, and insisting so much more could be done if the Conservative governments of the past 13 years had not scissored local council budgets.

Sadly, such comments from the Labour camp rarely move on to the next obvious sentence, which surely should be: So if we win power next year, we’ll end Right to Buy and pledge millions into new council homes to get people off the streets.

As we know, none of this has been pledged by Keir Starmer so far, nor his would-be chancellor Rachel Reeves, that voracious reader of Wikipedia. No, we haven’t forgotten!

Mr Khan could make it front and centre of his mayoral election campaign next year: how about less hardly-used second homes in London and properties lost to Airbnb, and more long-term empty buildings being used to help.

It won’t be, but the video of the tent clearances should be a watershed moment.

The Labour ranks should see how horrified people are about the way rough sleepers have been treated here and understand that voters might – might – just be interested in policies that actually help people on the streets rather than ones that persecute them.

It may cost a little more than the wondrous strategy of not doing much, but how long can rows of sleeping bags in this city and others not be a daily topic of conversation for all of us?

Rather than copying her rhetoric, doing the exact opposite of anything Suella Braverman suggests could be the right starting point. Then move upwards from there.

Napoleon: moments of big-screen perfection in Ridley Scott’s grand epic

Joaquin Phoenix stars in beautiful film that's sometimes awful, but always mesmerisingJoaquin Phoenix in Ridley Scott’s NapoleonNAPOLEON Directed by Ridley Scott Certificate: 15 ???? PICTURE a classic French countryside scene. A country lane with a mature avenue of trees either side. This is a legacy of Napoleon. One of the thousands of laws passed under his rule was to compel landowners to provide shade for peasants walking their produce ...

Joaquin Phoenix stars in beautiful film that's sometimes awful, but always mesmerising

Joaquin Phoenix in Ridley Scott’s Napoleon

NAPOLEON Directed by Ridley Scott Certificate: 15 ????

PICTURE a classic French countryside scene. A country lane with a mature avenue of trees either side. This is a legacy of Napoleon. One of the thousands of laws passed under his rule was to compel landowners to provide shade for peasants walking their produce to market.

This minor aside illustrates the untold stories of Napoleonic rule, and is the type of tale no film-maker has ever tried to relate.

In Ridley Scott’s grand epic, he carries on with the usual image of Napoleon formed partly by the British press, who lampooned him as the devil across the Channel. Apart from being beaten at Waterloo, his story is taught as a war-hungry conqueror whose godlessness was illustrated by his dislike of monarchy.

But read Vincent Cronin’s biography and a different picture emerges, a story of a man who rose from lowly beginnings, who never wanted to be an emperor, who sought to run a collective government, ensured a separation of Church from State, laid down what equitable justice meant, founded state schools, and saw the care of the peasantry as the reason to wield power.

Scott’s biopic does not seek to understand what special powers he possessed, nor his motivation to wield them bar through the prism of his infatuation with his wife, Josephine.

Instead, we get a monstrous film whose size and scale is beautiful, sometimes awful, and always mesmerising.

He could hardly have done it any other way, when Abel Gance’s 1927 Napoleon film is considered a religious relic by film buffs, its cast of thousands breaking ground in visual bravado. Scott does this in spades.

With a lot of history to get through, we understandably swoosh over much. Scott starts with the Corsican artillery officer who has shown nerve mixed with tactical intelligence. The French Revolution has collapsed into Robespierre’s Reign of Terror, and a royalist faction is emerging to threaten the Republic.

Napoleon’s (Joaquin Phoenix) skill is recognised by the men at the top, and called on by statesman Barras (Tahar Rahim). Along the way, Napoleon falls in love with Joséphine de Beauharnais (Vanessa Kirby) who enjoys her power over the most powerful man in France, but isn’t so enamored to ignore dashing cavalry officers while Napoleon battles in Egypt.

This relationship is the narrative drive, making this a personal story of the impact two individuals had on each other.

Watching Napoleon win the battle of Austerlitz, his march on Moscow, and Waterloo are big-screen choreographic perfection.

Uplands finally breaks ground on contested farmland in Westminster

After a decade-long and at times bitter struggle to convert 234 acres of mostly farmland in southern Westminster into a new community, the Uplands is finally turning dirt.“From the beginning, our vision was to create a model of sustainability and affordability, with plentiful missing middle housing. And above all, we were passionate about leading on water conservation, design innovation, and thoughtful placemaking,” said Jeff Handlin, president of O...

After a decade-long and at times bitter struggle to convert 234 acres of mostly farmland in southern Westminster into a new community, the Uplands is finally turning dirt.

“From the beginning, our vision was to create a model of sustainability and affordability, with plentiful missing middle housing. And above all, we were passionate about leading on water conservation, design innovation, and thoughtful placemaking,” said Jeff Handlin, president of Oread Capital & Development, during a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday afternoon.

The “moderate” density community expects to provide 2,350 new housing units targeting middle-income buyers who are increasingly left on the sidelines in a housing market where the median price of a single-family home sold runs $650,000.

Besides market-rate single-family homes, the master-planned community will include for-sale courtyard cottages, townhomes and duplexes better priced to meet the needs of first-time buyers, growing families and older adults looking to downsize.

In a “new urbanism” nod to pre-war designs in Denver, Uplands will have alleyways and garages in the back, small parks throughout and local retailers, restaurants and office space concentrated in the center of the neighborhood.

Also on the drawing board are 300 deed-restricted rental units affordable to lower-income households, including seniors. The affordable component represents about 13% of the total number of units.

“I hope this project serves as an inspiration for other parts of the Denver metro area, as well as communities across our state,” Gov. Jared Polis said at the groundbreaking.

Polis, who has taken a more vocal stance to boost Colorado’s housing supply, said the lack of attainable housing forces people to live farther away from their jobs, creates hiring challenges for businesses, adds to traffic and pollution and puts the dream of homeownership out of reach for many.

“There’s no question that Colorado faces a housing crisis. We simply need more units that individuals and families can afford,” he said.

But Uplands faced considerable opposition for many years from the surrounding community. The land being developed, located primarily between Federal and Lowell boulevards and between 84th and 88th avenues, is on a high point with commanding views of the mountains to the west and downtown Denver to the south.

Those views, combined with the lack of open space and inadequate public investment in that part of Westminster, motivated some nearby residents to block development efforts and push for preservation.

Other concerns raised by opponents, who protested the groundbreaking, included Upland’s higher density and building heights compared to the surrounding community, the added traffic generated on nearby roads, Westminster’s limited water supply, and the small percentage of homes designated as affordable.

Handlin said an irony of the whole fight was that the land was slated to become a housing development in the early part of the last century. The owner at the time, Westminster University, offered free tuition to the children of people who bought lots, and it sold a good number.

The university, also known as Belleview College, had the unfortunate timing of switching to all-male enrollment right before World War I broke out and by 1917 it shut down. The Pillar of Fire church acquired the college building and surrounding land in 1920.

It held onto the undeveloped land for more than a century, renting it out to farmers who raised feed for livestock. All those acres became defacto open space, albeit privately owned, as the surrounding area was built out.

The church, which also runs a private school and the KPOF radio station at 910 AM, will continue to hold onto 100 acres. However, the majority of the church’s land was sold and the money was placed into an endowment.

It may be about 105 years behind schedule, but the new community comes at a time that the metro region desperately needs more new homes, Handlin said.

YIMBY, a group of mostly millennials advocating for more housing supply, was key in helping sway the public narrative, he said. So too was the local school district.

As the surrounding neighborhoods grew older, nearby schools struggled with declining enrollments. Uplands not only held out the promise of a large property tax base but also housing options that teachers and staff could better afford.

But winning approval wasn’t easy, and the debate over the development, led by a group called Save the Farm, merged with other issues to create one of the most politically volatile periods in Westminster’s history earlier this decade.

“Uplands has listened, they knew what they were up against,” said Westminster Mayor Nancy McNally during the groundbreaking.

Uplands will use significantly less water than other new communities, thanks to more water-efficient fixtures, appliances and landscaping. A Village Center will include local small-scale commercial space, should promote walkability and reduce the number of trips otherwise needed on nearby thoroughfares.

Developers will donate 34 acres to the city to develop public parks and are setting aside six acres for dedicated view corridors and another seven acres for publicly-accessible pocket parks. Residents of the new community will be within a 10-minute walk of a park.

Among the land being set aside for the public is an area where drivers regularly stop to take in the views on the Lowell Boulevard side of the Pillar of Fire campus.

“This is the first time we have been on this field legally,” said Adams County Commissioner Steve O’Dorisio, who highlighted the public improvements the area will receive, including new parks, stormwater upgrades and better traffic lights.

Handlin said he and his partners were drawn to the area in 2013 because it sits along the U.S. 36 corridor, which he described as over-employed and underhoused. The land represented one of the largest and most strategic infill opportunities in the region.

And on Wednesday, rather than a tractor blade turning the soft soil, as had been the case for decades, he and other dignitaries pushed shovels into the ground.

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