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.
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.
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 Albia, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 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.
“Tracey Gray helped me in the biggest way today! She saved my day and I”
“Always best care provided excellent caregivers to us. I am really happy with the care”
“On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Always Best care for all”
“Always Best Care in Cedar Valley IA realy helps me a lot. They have Reliable”
“Tracey Gray helped me in the biggest way today! She saved my day and I am so thankful for her choice to help me! Thank you! #CertPrint #AlwaysBestCare”
“Always best care provided excellent caregivers to us. I am really happy with the care and support they provided to my father. Highly recommended to all!”
“On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Always Best care for all the support your caregivers have provided to my mother. She was very pleased with the care she received. I confidently recommend Always Best Care to all.”
“Always Best Care in Cedar Valley IA realy helps me a lot. They have Reliable Caregivers who helped me to take care of my loved one for several years. They are highly trained and managed well the daily routines and activities like bathing and dressing. Caregivers of always best care is dependable and passionate to their work. I am satisfied and so glad that I chose their service. Highly recommend whoever needs their caregiving service!”
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.
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 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.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home 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:
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:
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.
Common companionship services include:
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. 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.
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:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
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.
Request More Information
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.
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 Albia, IA, 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.
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:
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 Albia, IA 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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
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 Albia, IA 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.
The Albia cross country teams traveled to Iowa City on Thursday for the Class 2A State Qualifying Meet hosted by Iowa City Regina. With the top three teams and top 15 individuals earning trips to the state meet, both races featured loaded fields that included five ranked girls teams and three ranked boys teams.The Lady Dees put together a strong performance, finishing fourth overall with 131 points and narrowly missing a team trip to state. Mid-Prairie won the meet with 60 points, followed by Tipton with 84 and Jesup with 109 to claim...
The Albia cross country teams traveled to Iowa City on Thursday for the Class 2A State Qualifying Meet hosted by Iowa City Regina. With the top three teams and top 15 individuals earning trips to the state meet, both races featured loaded fields that included five ranked girls teams and three ranked boys teams.
The Lady Dees put together a strong performance, finishing fourth overall with 131 points and narrowly missing a team trip to state. Mid-Prairie won the meet with 60 points, followed by Tipton with 84 and Jesup with 109 to claim the three state qualifying spots. Albia was next in fourth, 22 points behind Jesup.
While the Lady Dees came up just short of advancing as a team, sophomore Mady Montgomery made sure Albia would be represented at the state meet. Montgomery finished third overall in an impressive time of 19:38.3, easily placing inside the top 15 and earning an individual trip to state.
Sophomore Leilani DeForest just missed joining Montgomery at state, placing 17th in 21:40.5. Senior Raegan Carter was next for Albia, finishing 24th in 22:07.4.
Senior Hannah Devore ran a personal-best 23:04.8 to finish 41st, while freshman Frankie Tharp also recorded a personal best, crossing the line in 23:36.6 to place 46th and round out Albia’s five scoring runners.
Senior Aliyah Hood finished 64th with a season-best time of 24:59.5, while senior Millie McAninch placed 75th in 26:33.8.
The meet brought an end to another successful season for the Lady Dees as a team. Albia battled through one of the toughest qualifying fields in the state and came up just short of earning another trip to Fort Dodge, finishing fourth overall. The Lady Dees continued to show their consistency throughout the season, highlighted by another South Central Conference championship and several strong team performances along the way. While the team portion of the season has come to an end, Montgomery will carry the Albia colors to Fort Dodge as she represents the Lady Dees at the Class 2A State Cross Country Meet.
Girls Team Standings
1. Mid-Prairie — 60
2. Tipton — 84
3. Jesup — 109
4. Albia — 131
5. Iowa City Regina — 150
6. Notre Dame/West Burlington — 171
7. Central Lee — 179
8. Mediapolis — 203
9. Chariton — 204
10. Louisa-Muscatine — 252
11. Davis County — 268
12. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont — 278
13. Centerville — 355
14. Wilton — 376
By Dean MurrayDouble rainbows over the Scottish Highlands and a rare triple lightning bolt striking New York skyscrapers are among the shortlist highlights of a prestigious weather photo competition.Now entering its second decade, the Royal Meteorological Society’s (RMetS) Weather Photographer of the Year 2026 competition serves as an international platform to raise awareness of environmental issues putting our planet at risk, including heat waves, flooding and wildfires — while showcasing the awe-i...
By Dean Murray
Double rainbows over the Scottish Highlands and a rare triple lightning bolt striking New York skyscrapers are among the shortlist highlights of a prestigious weather photo competition.
Now entering its second decade, the Royal Meteorological Society’s (RMetS) Weather Photographer of the Year 2026 competition serves as an international platform to raise awareness of environmental issues putting our planet at risk, including heat waves, flooding and wildfires — while showcasing the awe-inspiring beauty and power of our weather.
The expert panel of judges has selected finalists based on creativity, meteorological interest and originality, after receiving over 5,500 entries from around the world.
The 30 shortlisted images capture a diverse array of dramatic conditions across 13 countries, highlighting rare, powerful moments: from mist rolling over Mallorcan hills and brilliant crepuscular sunbeams across bridges to delicate “icy hearts” forming on mountain mesh fences, double rainbows arching perfectly across the Scottish Highlands, and a rare single-exposure triple lightning bolt striking major New York skyscrapers.
The collection also explores the realities of climate change. Images document agricultural lands engulfed by heat-driven blazes in Iran, severe wildfires burning through the Scottish Cairngorms, collapsing glacial ice calving surges in Patagonia, and densely populated communities completely isolated and surrounded by rising floodwaters in Bangladesh.
Liz Bentley, chief executive of the RMetS, said: “This competition continues to show us just how powerful photography can be in connecting people with weather and our changing climate.
“The incredible images shortlisted this year don’t just showcase the breathtaking, dramatic beauty of our skies, they also serve as a critical reminder of the impacts of climate change.
“With over 5,500 entries from around the world, our judging panel had an incredibly tough task in shortlisting the images and deciding on the winning images, and we are now delighted to hand over to the public to vote for their favorite.”
Voting is open until Nov. 5 for the public to cast their vote and select their favorite image in the contest. The winner will be announced on Nov. 17.
Instacart's Iowa Halloween report: Peanut M&M's is No.1, regional candy quirks and the iconic banana costumeHalloween means candy and costumes and Instacart's latest data shows what people in Iowa and across the country put in their carts throughout October.Key TakeawaysAmerica's Candy Leaderboard: Reese's Takes the Top SpotReese's Peanut Butter Cups took the No. 1 spot by ounces of candy sold. The top five were all chocolate: Peanut M&M's came in second, Hershey's Milk Chocolate thir...
Halloween means candy and costumes and Instacart's latest data shows what people in Iowa and across the country put in their carts throughout October.
Key Takeaways
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups took the No. 1 spot by ounces of candy sold. The top five were all chocolate: Peanut M&M's came in second, Hershey's Milk Chocolate third, M&M's fourth, and Snickers fifth. Sour Patch Kids was the first non-chocolate candy on the list, coming in at No. 7.
State by state, the pattern holds. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are the top seller in 40 of them. Peanut M&M's lead across much of the Plains and Mountain West and in Hawai'i. Then there's Rhode Island, the lone sour candy holdout in a sea of chocolate, where Sour Patch Kids took the top spot. Rhode Island is the only state where Sour Patch Kids ranked ahead of both Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Peanut M&M's.
The most popular candy in each state tells one story. The candy each state buys at a much higher rate than the rest of the country reveals another.
Iowa bought M&M's most as a share of items sold compared to the national average.
Montana is buying HI-CHEW at +616% above the national average, the largest over-index among candies in the country. Louisiana buys Tootsie Pops at +141% above the national share. Rhode Island also stands out for Sour Patch Kids, buying them +109% above the national share. Colorado and Wyoming show a strong preference for candy corn, with the candy ranking among their most over-indexed purchases.
Set aside any single candy and look at the full candy aisle: Which states devote the biggest slice of their overall cart to candy in October? The answer runs west, decisively.
Utah (+67% above the national average), Idaho (+50%), Alaska (+47%), Washington (+43%) and Montana (+40%) buy candy the most often in the country. The Northeast leads in the other direction: Delaware (-18%), Pennsylvania (-16%) and New York (-15%) are the most restrained. Nobody has a sweet tooth quite like the Mountain West and Pacific Northwest. They lead the country in candy purchases during October.
Iowa ordered 14% less candy as a share of items sold compared to the national average, ranking as the #4 least among all states.
Zoom to the city level and the Pacific Northwest and Alaska show up once again. Anchorage, AK (+56% above the national average), Eugene, OR (+53%), Tacoma, WA (+51%), Vancouver, WA (+48%), and Spokane, WA (+47%) top the list. The bottom of the rankings is equally clustered: Newark, New York City, and a string of NY, NJ and PA cities all buying candy well below the national rate.
What's fascinating is how clean the split is. The top cities are almost all in the Pacific Northwest, while the bottom cities are almost all in the Northeast. Both regions are up north, both get a proper chill in October, and both have plenty of family-friendly neighborhoods. Bottom line: Depending on where you live, Halloween traditions might just look a little different.
When it comes to costumes, adults and kids tend to shop for classic and spooky options: Skeleton and Witch costumes lead the way for adults, while kids go for Ghostface masks from "Scream," with Witch and Skeleton close behind. The accessories aisle runs on hats, jewelry and gloves, because the right hat can make the full costume.
And then there are the food costumes.
Since Instacart is a grocery technology company, it was worth taking a look. Among adult food costumes, Banana took the top spot. Fitting, since bananas happen to be the No.1 selling item on Instacart.
So whether you're filling the candy bowl with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, dressing up to go trick-or-treating, or trying to make it through October without eating all the candy before Halloween, it turns out that where you live can say a lot about how you celebrate Halloween.
877-292-2126
