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 Eddyville, 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.
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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.
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.
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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 Eddyville, 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 Eddyville, 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 Eddyville, 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.
EDDYVILLE -- Kate and Molly Shafer were born to be volleyball players.One look at their family's home just south of Eddyville on Iowa Highway 163 paints a vivid picture of just what the Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont High School sophomore twins are all about. On the east side of the house in the front yard is a full-size volleyball court, complete with a regulation all-weather floor and net.When the Shafer twins aren't in school or at volleyball practice, they can often be found on the practice court in their front...
EDDYVILLE -- Kate and Molly Shafer were born to be volleyball players.
One look at their family's home just south of Eddyville on Iowa Highway 163 paints a vivid picture of just what the Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont High School sophomore twins are all about. On the east side of the house in the front yard is a full-size volleyball court, complete with a regulation all-weather floor and net.
When the Shafer twins aren't in school or at volleyball practice, they can often be found on the practice court in their front yard, honing their already sharp skills.
The Shafer twins are never far from a volleyball court, nor is volleyball ever very far from their minds. That's why they're two of the top players in the state and being recruited by NCAA Division I schools.
For the twins, Volleyball is a big part of their lives.
"So far so good. We've been winning all of our matches so far. At West Branch we beat them in three," said Molly, a six-foot outside hitter who is averaging six kills per set. "Playing big schools prepares us for some good teams we'll play down the road."
"I like it when I set the ball and my hitters get a big kill. That's a good feeling," said Kate, a six-foot setter who is averaging 8.7 assists per set. "I feel like we have a really good team dynamic. We have a couple seniors this year that are good leaders."
In fact, the Shafer twins spend so much time focusing on volleyball and doing everything possible to be the best payers they can that Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont head coach Gladys Genskow has had to rein them in to keep them from overworking.
"They push each other and I think that's how they've gotten so much better, especially in the aspect of volleyball," said Genskow, who's in her 23rrd season as head volleyball coach of the Rockets. "They push each other so hard every single day. There's never a day off. In fact, there was a time last year I had to talk to them and tell them it's okay to take some time off and let your body rest and heal and recover. But they go all the time. When they don't do that they feel it's abnormal, it's not right."
The Shafer twins' parents, Ron and Shellee (Glass) Shafer have provided their daughters with everything they need to be successful. Shellee was an athlete in high school and coached softball for 17 years. Ron is tall, which is where the Shafer girls get their height.
Molly and Kate's older sisters were standout athletes in their own right.
Paige Shafer holds the school's career assists record with 3,315 from 2011-14, and helped the Rockets to state tournament appearances her junior and senior years. She went on to play volleyball for Wartburg College.
Brooke Shafer was an outside hitter for the Rockets. She currently is a sophomore on the Wartburg College women's track and field team.
When they were younger, Molly and Kate would play volleyball on the sidelines while watching their sisters play for Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont.
Genskow knew years ago that she was going to have a pair of special players when the Shafer twins got to high school.
"When they were at the tournaments peppering on the sidelines they were just little, little tykes, but you knew eventually they were going to be good," Genskow said. "Then as they grew you could see they were going to be really tall and their basic skills were so good because they did it all the time. When they were in seventh grade they could have started for me at the varsity level."
Molly and Kate made an immediate impact for the Rockets as freshmen. Molly was a Class 3A first-team all-state hitter, while Molly was a third-team pick as a setter.
Molly averaged 5.9 kills per set, while Kate averaged 9.1 assists. They helped the Rockets win the South Central Conference championship with a 6-0 mark to advance to a Class 3A regional final to face Mount Vernon on the Mustangs' home court.
But the Rockets fell short in their quest to advance to state for the first time since 2015. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but one which has fueled the Rockets to get better ever since.
"I liked the Mount Vernon game. It was really hard and close and we almost made it to state. We were right there. We know we can make it to state this year. It was exhausting. That was a lot of attempts. I was definitely tired after that game, but it's rewarding," Molly said. "Our motto this year is 'unfinished business.' We really want to get to state because we were so close to state. We tasted it and now we want it."
"Tradition is a huge part of that. I want to keep that tradition alive when I put on that jersey. It's great to represent the Rockets," Kate said. "That would be super exciting since we haven't gone (to state) since 2015. I feel like this is our year to do that."
The Shafer twins play for Club Ignit Select out of Des Moines in the offseason. Three times a week in the winter and early spring they make the 90-minute drive to Des Moines for volleyball practice, with tournaments around the country on weekends.
It's a big commitment, but the Shafers are committed to being the best.
We play really good competition against really good players," Molly said. "We get some height. They have a really tall blocker and a really scrappy libero who teaches you how to cover holes."
"It's definitely a commitment and a lot of work, but it's worth it to get in more reps and play with and against the best of the best," Kate said. "We go to big tournaments all over the country. It's a whole new level of volleyball that we don't really see in high school."
The Shafers are nearly inseparable and share many of the same interests. And they have a chemistry between them that's unmatched on the court.
"It's awesome. I love having her with me. It's nice knowing I always have someone to go to, always someone to lean on," Kate said.
"She's always been the setter. We have a great connection, so that's very important. A lot of teams have to work on their connection and we have it instantly," Molly said. "You always have a pepper partner and you always have someone to rely on on the court."
"They're playing club ball in the winter, which is different than what you play in high school," Genskow said. "When you get off in college it steps up to an even higher level beyond that. It forces you to get better. They are the type of kids that will do whatever it takes to get better and better to benefit themselves and the rest of the team. They are good enough to do that."
The Shafers know their roles on the team. And with talented teammates around them, it takes some of the pressure off them.
"It's amazing. We've had so many great athletes come through. It's exciting to see that we can build that up, too, and be a part of this amazing program," Molly said. "We have Whitney (Klyn). She does really well on the outside, especially when we go out of (our) system. She sets a nice ball for me. She does very well on serve receive. We have Cooper (Champoux). She is a big block on the right side and Aliya (Wagamon), she has a heavy arm in the middle and blocks well."
The Shafers play other sports for Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont. It not only makes them well-rounded athletes and teaches them other skills, but also teaches them humility and teamwork.
"It's a smaller school so we play everything and that helps build the team because a lot of girls play a lot of different sports," Molly said.
"It teaches me to accept a different role," Kate said. "In volleyball, I have to be a leader. In basketball, I am not the main person and in softball, I might just be a baserunner. It's nice not being the best at everything, just accepting my role and doing the best I can."
"You have players that have a little bit of ego. 'Hey, look at me.' They're the opposite," Genskow said. "They love doing what they're doing, but they love it because it's all part of making this team better. Just like their loyalty to how they put that uniform on and how they represent their school. You don't hear that from a lot of people."
Every time the Rockets step foot on the court, all eyes go to the Shafer twins. Anyone who knows high school volleyball in the state knows about them. When they ply their trade on the court, they give the fans their money's worth.
But their eyes are on the big prize -- getting back to the state tournament for the first time in seven years.
"I want to make it to state and break the assist record that my sister has. That's always my goal," Kate said.
"We want to make it to state and maybe win a game at state. That would be amazing," Molly said. "There's pressure, but it's fun to know that they are afraid of you. They're thinking, 'Oh yeah, she's a big hitter.'"
"They're amazing athletes. It's not just in volleyball, it's all around. They are amazing kids. From just their personalities and they work so hard. They are so competitive 24-7," Genskow said. "Right now, we've got total targets on our backs because of our ranking and because we have these two powerful players. It's satisfying to know they are on my team. The rest of our team is really good. So putting the combination off all of these kids, it's nice to see the dedication they have put into the sport and they love playing the sport."
Matt Levins is a sports reporter for the USA Today Network in Burlington, Iowa, who has covered local sports for 32 years at The Hawk Eye. Reach him at [email protected].
EDDYVILLE, Iowa — Three days into the search for a missing man from on the Des Moines River and there is still no sign.“The family came up to me yesterday and it is, it’s not a rescue mission at this point,” said Mahaska County Sheri...
EDDYVILLE, Iowa — Three days into the search for a missing man from on the Des Moines River and there is still no sign.
“The family came up to me yesterday and it is, it’s not a rescue mission at this point,” said Mahaska County Sheriff Russell Van Renterghem. “We consider it a recovery mission.”
Waylon Straube, 47, is the missing boater. Fifty-year-old Roseanne Benda, of Corydon, was rescued after the pair was thrown from the boat around 9:50 a.m. on Sunday morning. Sheriff Van Renterghem explained what had led up to the pair being ejected from the vessel.
“They actually deployed their boat from here (boating ramp just south of the accident) and they were going north of 310th to check diddy poles that Mr. Straube had out there. And all indications, and we have the boat now, we recovered the boat as well. They went out around one of the concrete pillars on the 310th Street Bridge,” said Van Renterghem. “And because water levels were a little higher, they hit a pile of rubble.”
Pieces of the concrete that sit in the Des Moines River were covered with water, making it less visible. The damage on the boat indicated to authorities that this is how the accident occurred.
Benda was rescued after a Mahaska County Sheriff’s Deputy deployed a drone shortly after the accident occurred, locating her holding onto a branch in the river. Other deputies contacted fishermen who were out on the water, who then pulled Benda out of the water.
“We can second-guess all we want, but possibly, I just wish they both had life jackets on. We may not even be out here,” said Renterghem. “If they had, we would still have to come out and get them off the banks wherever they made it to. But we really, we would ask anybody who gets on the Des Moines River, not just the Des Moines, any body of water during the summer, because we’re just going into that season. Please, wear your life jackets.”
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