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 Norwalk, 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 Norwalk, 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 Norwalk, 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 Norwalk, 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.
Click here for important updates to our privacy policy.HIGH SCHOOLDes Moines RegisterThere is a buzz in the hallways of Norwalk High School.Two days earlier, the girls basketball team advanced to the state tournament for the first time i...
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HIGH SCHOOL
Des Moines Register
There is a buzz in the hallways of Norwalk High School.
Two days earlier, the girls basketball team advanced to the state tournament for the first time in nearly two decades.
Those same players now congregate in the hallway outside of the gymnasium. The door is locked; head coach Josef Sigrist is out with the flu and the athletes wait for an assistant coach to arrive.
Conversation steers clear of the upcoming state tournament. That buzz, that excitement isn’t about getting to play a little bit of extra basketball this season. It’s about Pizza Ranch and Hyper Energy Bar.
The two chains are coming to Norwalk and, to put it lightly, the members of the girls basketball team are excited. Being a part of one of the best teams in recent school history, that’s old news.
But getting a Pizza Ranch – with an arcade – and a drive-thru energy drink stand a few minutes from their homes? That’s the news of the day.
It’s a friendly reminder that these girls – a community’s worth of hope behind them and dreams on their shoulders – are still just high schoolers at the end of the day. Soon enough, they’ll be enjoying pizza and energy drinks together.
First, though, the Warriors are headed to the Iowa high school girls basketball state tournament. The hope is that Norwalk – led by two high-scoring sisters – can bring home a state title.
Bailey and Braylyn Birmingham never played on an organized team together before this season.
Bailey, a senior, and Braylyn, a freshman, are far apart enough in age that they never matched up in school or club programs. The two competed one-on-one in pickup sessions at home, sure, but playing a full season together was foreign.
This season marked the first – and possibly only time – that Bailey and Braylyn will play on the same team. The sisters want to make every moment count, but let’s remember: They’re still sisters, one a freshman and the other a senior.
“We’ve definitely adapted over the past four months,” Bailey shared. “It was hard at the beginning, just learning to play together. Even off the court, dealing with things like frustration.”
That’s the thing about being sisters and teammates, little frustrations follow them home. If Braylyn does something that annoys Bailey, the two still sit at the same dining room table and eat the same meal.
It isn’t easy, either, when a little sister bypasses the older sibling as the Warriors’ leading scorer.
Braylyn is Norwalk’s top points-getter this season, averaging 20.7 per game while shooting 53% from the field and 41% from 3-point range. Bailey comes in second, adding 16.7 points while shooting better than 41% overall and from deep.
Part of that is due to Bailey’s past success, making her a top priority for opposing defenses. But a bit of that is just talent, even if Bailey didn’t expect her sister to be this good this soon.
“I’ve been really impressed with how she’s been playing, especially as a freshman,” Bailey said. “I knew she was definitely going to help us, but I guess I didn’t know in what ways that would have been. So, it’s been really cool to see her succeed.”
For Braylyn, there is nothing but admiration for her older sister.
The younger Birmingham sister remembered watching Norwalk lose to Lewis Central in the regional championship, just missing the chance at the tournament. Braylyn practiced with the team when her eighth-grade season finished, running through drills as a scout-team guard.
She wanted nothing more than to be out on the court with the Warriors in that game against Lewis Central. Instead, she watched the heartbreak from the stands.
This season, she got the chance to make a difference. And she isn’t playing for herself or padding her statistics. She’s playing for those same players that she watched lose to Lewis Central.
"I was motivated,” Braylyn said. “It gave me another reason to play, for those six seniors that are out here playing with me.”
Two high-scoring sisters don’t make a starting lineup.
And the reason Norwalk works so well is because of the other players around the Birminghams, the ones who do a lot of the things that win games but don’t always receive the accolades.
Hannah Overholder moved to Norwalk from Texas and joined the team last summer. She studies the game, bringing a notebook to team film sessions.
Pearl Brown is 5-feet 9-inches of defense, assigned to the other team’s leading scorer.
Ava Carlson runs the floor and is Norwalk’s leader in rebounds.
The Warriors head coach could talk about all his players for hours, not just the top two scorers. The girls on this team understand their roles and execute. There is little ego and a whole lot of sisterhood.
That’s part of a culture change that came to Norwalk with Sigrist two years ago.
Team dinners. Camps. Trips to the lake house. The types of things that bring teams closer together. And when every player from top to bottom buys into that philosophy, it works out – in this case, with a trip to the state tournament.
“Basketball is a tough sport,” Sigrist said. “Basketball is a long season. I see a lot of teams that have tons of talent, but when they’re selfish, they’re not as successful. There’s no selfishness on this team.
“These girls just truly embody wanting to win, wanting to have a special season that they’ll never forget together.”
And that memorable season got a little bit longer last Tuesday, when Norwalk defeated Pella for a berth in the state tournament.
What was it like seeing his team unfurl the "state tournament qualifier" banner?
Sigrist pauses before answering the question.
“Sorry, you hit one there,” he said, swallowing the emotional-fueled lump in his throat.
Two years ago – under a different head coach – the Warriors compiled a 6-16 record. Bailey Birmingham, then a sophomore, averaged over 18 points per game. But wins were hard to come by.
Now the Warriors are one of eight teams left standing in Class 4A – one of 40 statewide – and Norwalk could win a title. The competition to get there is tough, but even getting to that point means a lot to a community that has rallied behind its girls.
“Seeing a group of people come together and do something that hasn’t been done in their lifetime is just what it’s all about,” Sigrist said. “I’m just so happy for these girls, their families, the Norwalk community.”
At Norwalk, the trophy cases for boys and girls basketball stand side-by-side. The latter is noticeably empty in comparison, with large chunks of the white wall visible and a plaque fallen on its side.
In the bottom-left corner, a plaque honoring the 1979-80 squad – a six-player group that emerged as the Class 3A champion before losing to Ankeny in the state title game – leans against the wood paneling.
One year later, in 1981, Norwalk avenged the previous season’s loss and won the state title, one decided among all classes. The Warriors won another title in 2006, but it’s been a bit of a dry spell ever since.
Those championships happened quite a while ago, before any of the players on the current squad were born. But those teams showed that Norwalk girls basketball could be successful on a statewide scale.
There is room for growth, room for many more trophies in that case. Maybe this is the group that puts Norwalk back on top.
Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at [email protected] or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.
Norwalk is turning into a dining destination. Cooper’s Central Table and Cocktails opened in the middle of February, combining Valley Junction hospitality destinations Cooper’s on 5th and The Winchester Public House from owners Jason Rieper and Ryan Cooper.Now another group of Des Moine...
Norwalk is turning into a dining destination. Cooper’s Central Table and Cocktails opened in the middle of February, combining Valley Junction hospitality destinations Cooper’s on 5th and The Winchester Public House from owners Jason Rieper and Ryan Cooper.
Now another group of Des Moines restaurateurs expands their empire south to Norwalk. James Thyberg and Ryan Flattery — who also operate the tiki-themed Bellhop, Mexican and tequila destination Coa Cantina, and bar The Lamp in the East Village, as well as 300 Craft & Rooftop in downtown Des Moines — now have Sunset Lounge in Norwalk along with co-owner and chef Matt Linford, who also has 2nd Avenue Sandwich Truck.
The restaurant and bar opened at the beginning of February with a mix of pub fare and a kitchen that’s open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant also only serves customers who are age 21 and older.
Everything, with the exception of the chicken strips, is made in house.
Here’s a look at the menu at Sunset Lounge.
Boursin-stuffed mushrooms: A toasted garlic panko dusting on top adds a bit of crunch to the rich mushrooms and Boursin cheese.
Deviled eggs: Diners are already raving about the deviled eggs, which come with a garlic chili crisp on top.
Cheese curds: A side of poblano ranch gives this dish an added kick.
The appetizers are in the $7 to $10 range.
Sunset smash: Your basic smash burger with two patties, topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and onions.
The Warrior: This smash burger features bacon, cheddar cheese, barbecue sauce, sriracha, fried onions and lettuce.
The Claremont: Swiss cheese, cremini mushrooms and balsamic onions elevate this burger.
Grinder: Graziano sausage in a red sauce comes topped with mozzarella and giardiniera.
The burgers and sandwiches are in the $10 to $17 range. Each comes with fries (a thicker cut, almost like British chips), potato salad or a side salad for $1 more.
The restaurant also offers salads, such as a Caesar and club with chicken strips and bacon in the $8 to $12 range.
Once the weather is warmer, Sunset Lounge will offer a patio.
Artist Van Holmgren designed the logo.
Also in the future, the restaurant will serve breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: 1409 Sunset Drive, Norwalk
Contact: facebook.com/sunsetloungenorwalk or instagram.com/sunsetloungenorwalk/
Hours: Open Sunday through Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to midnight, Thursday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., kitchen is open until 10 p.m. daily.
Happy hour: Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. with $1 off all drinks.
(This article was updated with new information.)
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), or Instagram, or drop her a line at [email protected].
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