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Home Care In Robins, IA

Home Care Robins, IA

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 Future Birthplace of Captain Kirk 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 Robins, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care Robins, IA

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 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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“Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the”

Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the caregiver is sick, nobody comes. I would think that they need a little more back up than they have right now. They give me a schedule, and billing is paid by Medicaid.
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“I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose”

I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose it. The caregiver is very good with a very good attitude. They were able to provide the caregiver for myself immediately. She accompanies me to shopping.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the caregiver is sick, nobody comes. I would think that they need a little more back up than they have right now. They give me a schedule, and billing is paid by Medicaid.”

DouglasJJIWF
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose it. The caregiver is very good with a very good attitude. They were able to provide the caregiver for myself immediately. She accompanies me to shopping.”

Carol64210350

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Robins, IA?

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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.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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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.

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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.

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Senior Care Robins, IA

Types of Elderly Care in Robins, IA

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal 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:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming
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Respite Care Robins, IA
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

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:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
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Caregivers Robins, IA
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

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 East Knoll Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
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Home Care Robins, IA
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

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 Lebowski's Bar & Grill or visit Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 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.

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In-Home Care Robins, IA

Benefits of Home Care in Robins, IA

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:

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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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

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.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

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 Robins, 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.

Elderly Care Robins, IA

Affordable 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:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your IA's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
Senior Care Robins, IA

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

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 Robins, 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.

Assisted Living Referral Services

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.

Respite Care Robins, IA

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:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
Caregivers Robins, IA

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:

  • Emery Place
  • Grand Regency of Robbins Supportive Living
  • Village Ridge Assisted Living
  • The Views Senior Living Of Marion
  • The Views of Cedar Rapids
  • RidgeView Assisted Living
Home Care Robins, IA

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.

In-Home Care Robins, IA

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

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

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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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 Robins, 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.

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Elderly Care Robins, IA

Latest News in Robins, IA

Robins' proposed bike trail sparks controversy: Locals rally against plan to cut through 160-year-old farm

A proposed bike trail in Robins could cut through a 160-year-old farm.Locals in town are against the plan, but the city says it will keep safety a priority and connect people together.Just over 3,000 people call Robins home and part of the 52 mile Cedar Valley Nature Trail runs throughout town.The city plans to spend $860,000 in federal funds to connect the trail and make it easier for bikers to get around.However, locals such as Dave Stamey, whose family has owned their farm for over 160 years, say there are othe...

A proposed bike trail in Robins could cut through a 160-year-old farm.

Locals in town are against the plan, but the city says it will keep safety a priority and connect people together.

Just over 3,000 people call Robins home and part of the 52 mile Cedar Valley Nature Trail runs throughout town.

The city plans to spend $860,000 in federal funds to connect the trail and make it easier for bikers to get around.

However, locals such as Dave Stamey, whose family has owned their farm for over 160 years, say there are other options for the bike path, and through his farm is not one of them.

"Right now, we have our operations for like cattle it involves both farms, so we have, you know, put in the back path through the center of it and put that in too," Stamey said.

Homeowner Leslie Hoyt and her husband started an online petition against the bike path.

She says her concern is for the kids in the area.

"The thought of, you know, the potential of having hundreds of bikers a day and then even the cars and the people parking to get on the trail from there is his terrifying," she said.

Stamey accuses the city of ignoring potential red flags, adding that it will be a liability to put the path near so many cattle.

"Who's responsible if someone jumps their fence, or a cow gets out, or, you know, has a calf and they're very protective and might take some child out or some biker," he said.

Robins' Mayor, Chuck Hinz, wasn't able to go on camera, but says he is working with lawyers and surveyors to find easements and right of ways.

He added that the path would connect bike riders coming from the west side without forcing them to ride through traffic, which could bring more people to Robins.

Stamey says he will have his lawyer review anything the city comes back with, but says no amount of money could make him give up the fight.

"I will use every option I have to preserve the farm as a farm. A bike path does not fit. It's part of my soul. I don't want to give that up," he said.

Mayor Hinz says it could take about a month or a little longer to review all the information on those easements.

He says he is confident everyone will reach an understanding.

Baidu CEO Robin Li says more than 70 AI models already released in China

Robin Li, CEO of Chinese tech company Baidu, said on Sep. 5 that more than 70 artificial intelligence (AI) models have been released in the country, according to a report from Reuters.Li commented that the over 70 AI language models that have been released were created with over 1 billion parameters, which technically qualifies them as large language models (LLMs).Curre...

Robin Li, CEO of Chinese tech company Baidu, said on Sep. 5 that more than 70 artificial intelligence (AI) models have been released in the country, according to a report from Reuters.

Li commented that the over 70 AI language models that have been released were created with over 1 billion parameters, which technically qualifies them as large language models (LLMs).

Currently, some of the biggest LLMs on the market include Meta’s Llama, released earlier this year, containing 65 billion parameters, and OpenAI’s Chat GPT-4, which has not publicly released its parameters but is rumored to have over 170 trillion.

Parameters matter when it comes to LLMs because an increase in the number of parameters means the model is able to capture more details in the data. Ultimately, this helps models perform better.

Baidu, a prominent AI developer and internet services provider in China, released the latest version of its Ernie chatbot to the public on Aug. 30. It was among the first companies to release chatbots for public use after the enactment of China’s new AI laws.

Related: US and China AI-tech standoff shows signs of spreading to other countries

According to Li, the latest version of Baidu’s chatbot, Ernie 3.5, is equipped with a processing speed twice that of the previous version and an improved efficiency of 50%. He also revealed that the company plans to launch a newer version in the “near future.”

Earlier this summer, on Aug. 3, the Chinese e-commerce and tech giant Alibaba launched two new AI models that are open-sourced and said to rival Meta’s Llama 2.

The Chinese government only recently passed and implemented its AI laws. Previously, companies were able to launch small-scale tests of their AI products, which, under the new rules, widened the test size and enabled more features.

Magazine: AI Eye: Get better results being nice to ChatGPT, AI fake child porn debate, Amazon’s AI reviews

Robins Landing construction set to begin soon

More than a year in the making, construction of the expansive Robins Landing mixed-use development on the south side of Robins is now ready to begin.The Robins City Council gave its final approval to a rezoning request for the first phase of the 400-acre development June 20, including changing the site’s Future Land Use Map.Work for the first phase of the Robins Landing construction project, with an anticipated initial investment of $85 million, is expected to begin this summer, according to developer Jon Dusek of Hamilto...

More than a year in the making, construction of the expansive Robins Landing mixed-use development on the south side of Robins is now ready to begin.

The Robins City Council gave its final approval to a rezoning request for the first phase of the 400-acre development June 20, including changing the site’s Future Land Use Map.

Work for the first phase of the Robins Landing construction project, with an anticipated initial investment of $85 million, is expected to begin this summer, according to developer Jon Dusek of Hamilton Development Company.

Robins Landing is being designed as a “live-work-play” development, including residential, commercial, residential and recreational components, and will be located northwest of the intersection of Tower Terrace Road and Robins Road.

Initial plans call for the development of a variety of housing options, including moderately-priced, single-family housing and townhomes, both of which have been identified as areas of housing need in Robins, a rapidly-growing community just north of Cedar Rapids. Future development is expected to include a variety of both single-family homes and duplex/townhome/patio home neighborhoods, developers say, appealing to residents in various age groups.

Also included will be a retail//commercial area along Tower Terrace Road, providing businesses an opportunity to take advantage of traffic along the nearby Cedar Valley Nature Trail. It will also offer convenient access from Interstate 380 when the Tower Terrace Road extension and the I-380 interchange, both currently under development, are completed.

Developers say potential businesses for Robins Landing include bars and restaurants, ice cream shops, coffee shops, bicycle shops and smaller retailers.

A 10-acre park bordering the Cedar Valley Nature Trail is also included in the Robins Landing plans, along with a trail connection to South Troy Park, which features baseball fields and volleyball courts. Future park and trail improvements are also being discussed for the Robins Landing area, including a family trail, developers say.

Robins city officials say the city’s low property tax levels – nearly half the rates of other communities in the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area – will make the area appealing for residential and commercial development, while maintaining the city’s hometown feel.

And businesses will want to locate in Robins Landing, they added, because of convenient access for both customers and employees, citing the I-380 corridor from Waterloo/Cedar Falls through the Cedar Rapids metro area to Iowa City/Coralville that provides access to over 620,000 residents and a workforce of 325,000 potential employees.

Greg Neumeyer, economic development director of the Robins Economic Development Initiative, discussed the city’s development efforts in an April 2022 presentation to the Downtown Rotary Club, and noted Robins Landing is part of an ongoing development effort that began with a task force organized by Robins city leaders and launched in late 2019 to broaden the city’s tax base and move the city beyond its reputation as a “bedroom community” for the metro area.

At that meeting, Mr. Neumeyer said Robins Landing construction is expected to help lead a progressive future for the city.

“One of the things we’ve talked about is that we don’t have a lot of housing for younger families,” he said in April. “Another demographic we’ve missed out on is people that live in Robins and want to downsize. We just haven’t had those kinds of units. So if we can create some units for people who already live in Robins to downsize, then we can have new families moving into the existing houses. It should really create some growth for Robins. It’s an exciting time. You’ll see more coming up.”

Robin Williams' daughter says she finds AI recreations of her father's voice 'personally disturbing'

Tech Robin Williams' daughter says she finds AI recreations of her father's voice 'personally disturbing' Facebook ...

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Robin Williams' daughter says she finds AI recreations of her father's voice 'personally disturbing'

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Zelda Williams slammed AI recreations of her father's likeness, saying she finds these recreations "personally disturbing."

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In an Instagram story on Sunday, Williams wrote: "I've already heard AI used to get his 'voice' to say whatever people want and while I find it personally disturbing, the ramifications go far beyond my own feelings."

Zelda further wrote that she had seen attempts at using AI to replace or recreate actors who cannot consent to its use — like her father.

"These recreations are, at their very best, a poor facsimile of greater people, but at their worst, a horrendous Frankensteinian monster, cobbled together from the worst bits of everything this industry is, instead of what it should stand for," she further wrote.

Robin Williams died by suicide in 2014, aged 63. The actor was known for his roles in "Aladdin," the "Dead Poets Society," and "Good Will Hunting."

For context, Zelda Williams has long held her stance against AI replacing actors. In 2019, Zelda criticized a director's plans to digitally recreate late actor James Dean for the film, "Finding Jack."

And Williams isn't alone in her criticism of AI. Actor Tom Hanks shared an Instagram post on Sunday warning his fans about an AI deepfake of his likeness being used to promote dental plans, saying he has "nothing to do with it."

In June, voice actor Brad Ziffer said he was avoiding gigs that would enable companies to create an AI-generated voice clone, for fear that it would threaten his future livelihood.

Williams' comments now come amid a growing debate over the use of AI in the media industry. Protections against AI were a key demand of the Screen Actors Guild strike. Williams has also been critical of studios proposing that background actors get scanned for digital likenesses that studios can own forever.

Representatives for Zelda Williams did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider, sent outside regular business hours.

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New Hindu temple reflects growing Eastern Iowa community

Consecration of ground marks a new home for generations of IndiansElijah DeciousROBINS — As gongs rang through the field and incense drifted in the breeze, a crowd in Indian and Western garb wove together around a square to make a declaration that comes about once in a generation for Iowa.With an ancient cadence, priests chanted a call and response in Sanskrit. Nearby, women in ornate dresses of many colors were made visible no...

Consecration of ground marks a new home for generations of Indians

Elijah Decious

ROBINS — As gongs rang through the field and incense drifted in the breeze, a crowd in Indian and Western garb wove together around a square to make a declaration that comes about once in a generation for Iowa.

With an ancient cadence, priests chanted a call and response in Sanskrit. Nearby, women in ornate dresses of many colors were made visible not by their traditional clothes but by their voices welcoming the gods in a sweet melody.

And with each chant at the ceremony on Saturday, their prayers grew louder.

“We’re saying, ‘hey, God, we all need this temple,’” said Pranaykumar Kasarla, a devotee of the Hindu Temple Association of Eastern Iowa for the last seven years.

Eight years after the Hindu temple purchased the plot along W. Main Street in Robins and nearly 20 years since it opened the first Cedar Rapids temple, Saturday marked a new era for the community. After significant growth but pandemic disruptions, the congregation finally will start constructing a new temple to accommodate the growing number of Indian devotees.

A new milestone

"We’ve been trying for five or six years. Today is the day we finally reach this milestone,“ said Hindu temple devotee Vinayak Nagaraja.

Distant from the square of prayer, friends convened with friends as neighbors caught up with neighbors in the swelling throng. After driving to the site in everything from Toyotas to Maseratis, hundreds of families in the field blended as one.

But even closer to the center, where priests reverently sprinkled holy water and fanned the billows of cleansing smoke, the excitement couldn’t stop smiles from peeking through serious faces on attendees. This was a joyous occasion.

With the mark of not the first, but the second Hindu temple in Eastern Iowa, their groundbreaking marks a community that has stood the test of time after integration and growth on new soil. As they declared their intentions to the gods to receive a blessing, they also made a declaration to the neighborhood around them.

In bringing something foreign to the Cedar Rapids suburb, the new construction by immigrants and their native-born American children is how they call Eastern Iowa home. But it’s not out with the old and in with the new — it’s integrating ancient traditions into new growth that came because they refused to forget who they are and where they came from.

“This is our home now,” said Nagaraja. “You will see a presentation from across India come together for one cause.”

A growing temple

For Priest Sri Sheshashai B. Srinivas, the milestone marks growth with American Hindus that started even before his priesthood. In 1976, his grandfather was the first priest to consecrate a Hindu temple in Pittsburgh.

In his tenure since joining the Cedar Rapids temple in 2012, he’s seen attendance at festivals like Diwali and Holi grow by several hundred people. On Saturday, he asked the gods to ensure smooth construction without obstacles.

“Here, if we get more Indian population, the temple will grow like anything,” Srinivas said. “We feel peace of mind here.”

The new 17,000-square-foot building, slated for completion by the end of 2024, will include a 4,000-square-foot prayer hall for spiritual rituals and a 4,000-square-foot community hall. With a temple for the lord to face east at a slightly higher elevation from the rest of the temple, the building will be stylized with Indian features as much as possible.

The community hall also will function as a cultural center to celebrate festivals, weddings and cultural events like arengetram dances. Previously, leaders expressed hope to add offices and a library, too.

The project, estimated to cost about $2.5 million, more than triples the size of the Hindu temple’s current location at 1700 Naoma Drive SW in Cedar Rapids. The old temple will close after the new one opens.

The Hindu Temple of Eastern Iowa is one of only two Hindu temples in Iowa, drawing families from Dubuque to the Quad Cities. The other temple is located in Madrid, just north of Des Moines.

More than religion

For the faithful and the less religious, the Hindu temple provides a cultural touchstone for Indian families to their South Asian values. With dozens of Indian festivals and holidays celebrated in a country where they’re not recognized in official capacities, it’s a chance for families raising their children here to stay connected to with their heritage.

“The goal is to make a bigger temple to show these traditions have not been lost. It will bring people together and keep the next generation in touch with their heritage,” said Nagaraja.

For devotees like Kasarla, it’s a chance to celebrate their culture and teach their children in a living, breathing way with fellow Indians living here.

“They’re missing the culture when they’re far away from India,” he said. “Things like a temple make Iowa feel like home.”

But in a nod to the state that has welcomed them, the third temple to be constructed in Iowa offers a lesson even to those who aren’t Indian or Hindu. True to their traditions, they welcome visitors to their temple as much as America welcomed them.

“This place doesn’t just belong to Hindus,” Nagaraja said. “We are a part of this community. We are a part of this country.”

Comments: Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or [email protected].

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