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.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Oxford Castle & Prison gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Oxford, 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. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Florence Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
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. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local The Folly Restaurant or visit Martyrs' Memorial, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
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 Oxford, 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 Oxford, 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.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
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 Oxford, 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.
Calyx Creek shows versatility in lavender that tastes as good as it looksThe Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.OXFORD — Every summer, lavender blossoms in season. But this year, lavender is coming into style across Johnson County.As lavender lattes, lavender scones and more trend at national restaurants and retailers, one of the few Iowa farms growing the herb is localizing it in Johnson County.When they opened last summer, owners Taylor and Stephanie ...
Calyx Creek shows versatility in lavender that tastes as good as it looks
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
OXFORD — Every summer, lavender blossoms in season. But this year, lavender is coming into style across Johnson County.
As lavender lattes, lavender scones and more trend at national restaurants and retailers, one of the few Iowa farms growing the herb is localizing it in Johnson County.
When they opened last summer, owners Taylor and Stephanie Getting knew the versatility of lavender. For months, Calyx Creek has sold infused cosmetics like lotions, massage oils and tallow balm — products that appeal through scent.
Before long, national trends manifested locally in their organic sales numbers when the owners realized three of their top five selling products were edible.
“Why would we not want to meet that need with Iowa grown lavender? You get to experience lavender visually, cosmetically and edibly,” Taylor said.
This year, the trend is coming into full bloom through another growing sensory avenue: taste. On their shelves, visitors can find traditionally infused options like simple syrups, sugars and teas. Other more novel products go a step further with brownie mixes, scone mixes, salts and extracts.
Now, there are even more offerings taking it to the next level. From North Liberty to Iowa City, you can taste local lavender without stepping foot on the farm.
Partnerships with local businesses like A Chocolate Studio, Maggie’s Farm and Barrett’s Quality Eats are bringing a new floral profile to chocolate ganache, sweet notes to pizza and unexpected surprises to barbecued meats.
“People want to experience the beauty, they want to go pick, but they want to taste,” Taylor said. “A lot of people think lavender is lavender, but there’s a huge difference between culinary and craft lavender.”
What: Calyx Creek Lavender & Lodging
Where: 1722 255th St. NW, Oxford, Iowa 52322
Details: Enjoy one of Iowa’s largest dedicated lavender farms through a variety of experiences that offer public access to 8,000 French, English and hybrid plants through culinary products, you-pick, classes, demonstrations, on-site lodging and more.
In the last year since opening, the 20-acre property’s sprawl has intensified from about 5,000 plants to 8,000 — half of which are varieties for culinary uses.
Royal Velvet lines a new labyrinth with a medium violet, while English and French breeds like Gros Bleu and Melissa yield qualities and oil suitable for the kitchen.
Lavender blooms in the summer, but now it will bloom throughout the season at the farm thanks to the diversification.
Calyx Creek has doubled its drying racks and quadrupled its product portfolio. It has also added seven honey combs, a full onsite hive, and a still that can turn 50 pounds of lavender into dozens of oil jars for products like insect repellent.
Adjacent fields, currently used for corn, leave more room for lavender growth, should they need it.
“We say lavender is a powerhouse herb,” Taylor said. “What other kind of herb out there can make an effective bug spray, but also a very delicious blueberry (Moscow) mule, or ice cream, or what have you?”
Experiences on the farm have diversified, too. In addition to its other classes, visitors can learn how to make lavender-infused chocolates or pry open the honey combs to see what’s inside.
With AirBnb options and experiences in or out of the field, the couple opened the farm as a new kind of escape.
Tasting lavender ice cream made by Heyn’s and lavender chocolates from A Chocolate Studio — both sold only at the farm, for now — are an extension of that vision. Local collaborations between chefs and food creators are paving new entry points that lead visitors to the gravel roads of Oxford.
“If that’s their first experience, we want it to be a very positive experience,” Stephanie said. “We hope it’s that open invitation to come on-site to escape the day.”
It’s been fun for them to watch food producers think outside the box and demonstrate lavender’s culinary versatility. But what’s more rewarding is seeing others take the first bite.
“Most people have never eaten lavender before,” Taylor said. “You see it in people’s eyes — they’re escaping the everyday.”
Lavender ice cream by Heyn’s Ice Cream in Iowa City was one of the first collaborations Calyx Creek commissioned.
Owner Peggy Cullivan tried making it many years ago as a wedding request, before lavender was a market of its own.
Back then, she had to get creative by taking the flower’s calyx and soaking it in the ice cream’s base. Today, the process is much easier — just add Calyx Creek’s simple syrup to a base of 14 percent butterfat ice cream from Anderson Erickson in the right proportion.
Next year, she plans to carry it in her own dipping cabinet.
Her stores carry 40 flavors, but collaborations like this are a special treat for Heyn’s. The last one was a blueberry cheesecake ice cream to complement a beer at Field Day Brewing in North Liberty.
Other past trends haven’t sold as well. Flavors like maple bacon and sweet corn ice cream were too uncertain for customers to commit to buying. Striking a balance in a flavor’s prominence can be challenging.
But she thinks this flavor, a subtle elevation of lavender in sweet cream, will be different.
“To keep up with our numbers, it’s a lot (of lavender,)” Cullivan said. “We’ll end up selling a lot out of our doors.”
This one was designed to the taste of the Gettings. It’s rare for outside collaborators to have a heavy hand in the formulation of new ice cream flavors, but she won’t change a thing when she produces more next year.
“We wanted to make sure it was what they wanted to represent their lavender,” she said. “I’ll stay consistent with what they’ve chosen, because they’re the lavender experts.”
Chocolatier Anne Goddard, owner of A Chocolate Studio in North Liberty, was introduced to the lavender by a client.
“I said sure, I’ll try it. And I love a challenge,” Goddard said.
For months, she experimented with batch after batch to perfect a signature 4-piece box with dark chocolate, white chocolate, lavender lemon and lavender honey.
Lavender is infused into chocolate by steeping the calyx into a ganache’s cream. Tiny increases in lavender concentrations, from 3.2 percent to 3.4 percent, make a dramatic difference in taste from the potent herb.
“It’s very floral. There’s a fine line, you don’t want it to taste like soap,” she said.
Goddard tries several new flavors each year to keep up with trends. Last year, she tried Mexican hot chocolate with cinnamon and jalapeno. This fall, she’ll bring in cardamom chai.
She doesn’t collaborate with other businesses often. But the relationship she had enjoyed with Calyx Creek may make her feel more comfortable in collaborating with flavor profiles outside her comfort zone, she said.
“Everybody’s got to eat. People are hungry for more experiences and more flavors,” said Taylor. “That’s why lavender is starting to gain some traction.”
Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or [email protected].
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