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 Urbandale, 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 Urbandale, 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 Urbandale, 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 Urbandale, 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.
Rain, hail, and strong winds swept across Iowa on Friday evening, putting large portions of the state under severe thunderstorm warnings and even knocking out power for thousands.The storms came as part of a swath of severe weather that swept across the nation called a "bomb cyclone."Iowa's storms were part of the same storm system that moved from the west to the east coast. The storm system ...
Rain, hail, and strong winds swept across Iowa on Friday evening, putting large portions of the state under severe thunderstorm warnings and even knocking out power for thousands.
The storms came as part of a swath of severe weather that swept across the nation called a "bomb cyclone."
Iowa's storms were part of the same storm system that moved from the west to the east coast. The storm system spun up a tornado in Southern California, dumped snow on the Sierra Nevada, caused dangerous road conditions in Texas, and spawned fatal tornadoes in the South and Midwest overnight.
The storms have come and gone in Iowa. Here's what you need to know about Friday night's storms, including rainfall totals, wind speeds and if we were really hit by a "bomb cyclone."
The large storm system that swept across the United States is sometimes referred to as a "bomb cyclone," a storm that undergoes an intensification process known as bombogenesis, which is a quick drop in atmospheric pressure, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
While the storm that hit Iowa was categorized as a "bomb cyclone" by the low barometric pressure, according to National Weather Service Des Moines meteorologist Kristy Carter, it did not bring as much damage as other parts of the storm system.
"Overall, we had a large, low-pressure system that brought these multiple rounds of storms, with wind being the main threat," Carter told the Register.
Friday night's storm pounded Iowa with heavy rains, but rainfall was scattered, Carter said.
Here are some of the rainfall totals:
Portions of southwest and central Iowa even saw some hail from .25 inches up to 1.5 inches in diameter in Friday night's storms, according to National Weather Service data on Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
Here's where hail was reported and how big it got:
Winds upwards of 80 mph were reported as part of Friday night's storms. Dust from Texas and even New Mexico swept up to Iowa, according to a social media post from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies.
Here are some of the highest wind speeds that were recorded throughout the state, according to data on Iowa Environmental Mesonet:
These high wind speeds reportedly blew tractor-trailers over on Interstate 80 and one on Highway 20, according to a storm summary provided by the National Weather Service.
There also were 25 reports of wind damage, according to Iowa Environmental Mesonet, including in Urbandale, Saylorville and near the Des Moines International Airport and scattered throughout in the central western and eastern parts of the state.
There were no reported sightings of tornadoes in Iowa, according to the National Weather Service.
As of Saturday morning, most of Iowa is still under a hazardous weather outlook, while northwestern Iowa is under a wind advisory and even a winter weather advisory that extends throughout South Dakota.
Here's the weather forecast for the next week:
Sunday: Breezy and sunny with a high of around 50 and a low of 34 in the evening.
Monday: Breezy and sunny with a high near 70 and a low of 48.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny with a high near 76 during the day, with a temperature drop to near 34 with precipitation likely.
Wednesday: A high near 40 with rain in the morning, turning into snow in the afternoon and a low of around 25.
Thursday: Sunny and windy during the day with a high of 44 and partly cloudy in the evening with a low of 27.
Friday: Partly cloudy with a high of around 48.
This week's forecast is likely to change, and snow accumulation amounts and location are still unknown. Keep an eye on this week's weather by checking the National Weather Service's forecast.
Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at [email protected].
The Iowa high school girls basketball postseason is here, and Valley lives to see another game.In a defense-heavy, low-scoring matchup against Urbandale, the Tigers came out on top, beating the J-Hawks, 42-37. No player – on either side – scored more than 12 points, with Kari Rose from Valley and Mariah Dixon from Urbandale each tallying that total.“It’s about what I expected,” said Tigers head coach Matt Uthoff. “Urbandale plays so dang hard. We knew they were going to come out and compete, ...
The Iowa high school girls basketball postseason is here, and Valley lives to see another game.
In a defense-heavy, low-scoring matchup against Urbandale, the Tigers came out on top, beating the J-Hawks, 42-37. No player – on either side – scored more than 12 points, with Kari Rose from Valley and Mariah Dixon from Urbandale each tallying that total.
“It’s about what I expected,” said Tigers head coach Matt Uthoff. “Urbandale plays so dang hard. We knew they were going to come out and compete, and playing a team three times (in a season) is challenging.”
The Tigers held a lead at the end of each quarter. Valley went up 14-9 in the first and clung to a 22-21 advantage at halftime. Despite Urbandale taking the lead at multiple points in the third quarter, the Tigers pulled away again in the fourth.
Urbandale possessed a five-point lead after the third quarter.
With some of the Tigers’ other offensive options limited, Rose took the lead on the scoreboard. She sank three 3-pointers, making her the only player in Wednesday’s game to hit multiple shots from beyond the arc.
“She hit some timely shots, and her teammates did a good job of finding her and making the pass,” Uthoff said. “And I think the 3s that she made were in big moments, and we really needed them.”
It was a team effort on defense, with several players grabbing rebounds, blocking shots and forcing steals.
Valley (7-15) advances to the Class 5A regional semifinal, where the Tigers will face Iowa City Liberty on Saturday. Urbandale finished the season with a 4-18 overall record.
“We’re ready to go for a quick turnaround,” Uthoff said. “And we’ll bounce back. The first one’s always the hardest and playing a conference team three times is challenging. Our kids are young and they’re resilient.
“We’re super proud of their effort tonight, and I’m excited to see them compete on Saturday.”
Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at [email protected] or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.
There’s nothing like a win, especially on senior night.Southeast Polk girls basketball eased past Urbandale, 77-41, on Tuesday night. The victory snapped a small two-game losing streak, giving the Rams a 9-11 overall record. Urbandale dropped to 4-17, ending another season without a win against Central Iowa Metropolit...
There’s nothing like a win, especially on senior night.
Southeast Polk girls basketball eased past Urbandale, 77-41, on Tuesday night. The victory snapped a small two-game losing streak, giving the Rams a 9-11 overall record. Urbandale dropped to 4-17, ending another season without a win against Central Iowa Metropolitan League opponents.
“Anytime you can get a win in the CIML is good,” said Southeast Polk head coach Brad Johnson. “We were excited to get out and play. Celebrating our three seniors is fun to do, especially when they played pretty well and we played pretty well as a team.”
Southeast Polk’s seniors – Margaret Johnson, Zoe Hinze and Alyssa Bartlett – stole the show, which was to be expected since two of those players have led the way for the Rams throughout the entire season.
Bartlett and Hinze are the key pieces on this Southeast Polk squad and are the only two players averaging in the double digits. Hinze led the way with 16 points, and Bartlett followed close behind with 14. The two seniors did more than just pile points onto the scoreboard, though.
Hinze finished with six steals, three assists and at least half a dozen rebounds. Bartlett picked up four steals, a handful of rebounds and eight assists.
“We’re playing out best when we’re sharing the ball and we are setting each other up,” Johnson said. “Those two are playmakers, so they can score the ball and they can distribute the ball. And that’s when we’re at our best, and they did a great job with that tonight.”
The Rams’ domination started in the first half, and Southeast Polk never slowed down. The home team led 22-8 after one quarter of play and 44-18 by halftime. It was more of the same in the second half with the Rams leading 61-33 after three quarters, and Southeast Polk picking up a running clock before the end of the game.
Johnson managed to empty his bench, and the Rams showed a lot of promise for the future. Non-senior starters Halle Clark and Hallie Vander Weerdt – both sophomores – scored in the double digits and collected several steals, rebounds and assists.
Coming off the bench, freshman Brooklynn Ruddy scored five points and added a steal, an assist and a pair of rebounds.
“Our freshman class is kind of the stability of our program,” Johnson said. “They have a lot of girls out and they’re all good athletes. We’re looking forward to that, and we have some good sophomores and juniors that can step in next year, as well.”
Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at [email protected] or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.
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Jewels, art, furniture and treasures galore: The Antiques Roadshow is back with an all-new season. Season 29 kicks off in Arkansas before making its way to Iowa and through the United States.
This season the series will travel to five cities, stopping at venues including Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, Nevada, Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa, Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms in Littleton, Colorado and Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Maryland.
An untouched 1968-1970 Mattel Hot Wheels store display is featured on the Urbandale stop, along with treasures from a Vintage family variety store, according to a news release.
Filming at Living History Farms took place in June 2024.
Iowa episodes from the show air on Feb. 17 and 24, and March 17.
Antiques Roadshow airs on Mondays at 7 p.m. on Iowa PBS. New episodes are also available to stream on YouTube, the Antiques Roadshow website and the PBS app.
Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.
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