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 Staley, NC 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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“ABC has been helpful on most occasions I have been in assistance. Once or twice substitute caregivers have not been at all satisfactory but for most part they have. Our regular caregiver, Parecia Boynton, is superb but unfortunately has had serious health problems which have kept her from working. Our current substitute, Comswell Williams, is very good and we like her a lot. She would be a very acceptable regular if Parecia Boynton is not able to return.”
“ABC is a great company that cares about their employees. The pay is good and everyone in the office is extremely helpful. It’s easy to get time off, (just let them know 2 weeks ahead of time). We have monthly in-service & education is offered in person or via zoom. We are given the tools we need to succeed.”
“Hi my name Amiya and I have been working for ABC for almost 4 months now. I really love this job because it’s very flexible especially since I’m a full time college student. It’s really hard to find jobs like this and if you need days they don’t mind as long your attendance isn’t bad. They are also very understanding. It’s really a great job and I love helping people.”
“I love working for Always Best Care! They're understanding, have a wonderful team in the office that helps make our jobs easier as caregivers! Easy to talk to and communicate. A great atmosphere, fun activities and different things throughout different times that make the work days a little more light and fun!”
“Great place to work!....Smart and Hard Working group of individuals!”
“Always best care is a great company. Staff and residents are always taken care of. If anything is needed there willing to help.”
“Every time I call the office the staff are very friendly. I love what I do and I really enjoy it.”
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“Always best care is the best senior care company to work for. The schedulers and other staff members are always helping when times need to changed or a shift needs to be changed. You can always count on ABC to get the job done.”
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“Thank you to Ted for helping us make the adjustment to in-home care! We appreciate your willingness to put up with some negative reactions to your companionship for Bill while I am away from home.”
“Cindy is the perfect fit for my needs and is always kind and respectful toward my husband. I could not have hand picked a better person.”
“Stacy Blackwell is my current caregiver. She is the best ever and I am 95 years old - a lot of “givers” for appraisal . Stacy is naturally effective and efficient . She regularly achieves a level of strengthening and health that evokes a confidence and optimism that I have not earlier experienced. I am now in significant part due to her professional care optimistic about my future life. I wish to continue indefinitely my care from her - please. It”
“Aliyah fits perfectly with my life style,desires and needs. Ready and able to assist me in any way that I need. I am content and satisfied with our relationship,daily tasks,chores and communication.”
“Since she first helped bring my husband home from the hospital after a months’ long stay, Talayna Turner has been helping me care for him. Talayna is an excellent listener, efficient worker, and responsible helper. She has helped witpersonal care, computer problems, grocery shopping, and his laundry. I don’t know what I would do without her cheerful presence. Thanks ABC for providing a wonderful caregiver resource in Talayna!”
“Sam is one of the kindest most sincere owners I've met. She truly cares about her clients and staff. Everyone in the office is so helpful.”
“Happy to Service this area!”
“Great caregivers working for a great agency. Everyone wins, especially my Mom. Sometimes the caregivers are taking care of me too; I always learn a new method or better way of finishing personal chores to keep Mom safe and comfortable. Best choice to use this agency over efforts to hire private caregivers. Trust and training make it a blessing to have the assistance from ABC”
“Incredibly responsive, caring, and professional! They treat your loved one as a unique person for whom they also care! We have had many experiences with home care agencies and this one is exceptional!”
“I can not tell you how great this company is. I called on a Tuesday at 4 pm because the live in care giver for my father was a "no show". Channing was amazing, caring and so supportive. By Wednesday morning she had people lined up to assist in covering my father's care. Channing also went above and beyond by contacting facilities and homes to help me look into care for my father. Let me explain that she didn't give me a number-she called them on my behalf. Channing could tell I was overwhelmed and did anything she could to help. This is a amazing team of care givers that really cares. I have loved the women they sent out to care for my father. Can't say enough!!!!! J. Wilkins.”
“Always Best Care has provided great care for my dad. I'm grateful that they're available (sometimes on short notice) and that they're so compassionate and easy to work with.”
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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 Staley, NC, 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 Staley, NC 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 Staley, NC 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.
Dawn Staley and the South Carolina women’s basketball team travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday for a neutral-site game versus the NC State Wolfpack. Here’s how you can watch, stream, and listen to the game, plus gambling odds and predictions.Who: No. 1 South Carolina (1-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. No. 9 NC State Wolfpack (1-0, 0-0 ACC)When: Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, 3 p.m. ETWhere: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North CarolinaLIVE UPDATES: GamecockCentral ...
Dawn Staley and the South Carolina women’s basketball team travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday for a neutral-site game versus the NC State Wolfpack. Here’s how you can watch, stream, and listen to the game, plus gambling odds and predictions.
Who: No. 1 South Carolina (1-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. No. 9 NC State Wolfpack (1-0, 0-0 ACC)When: Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, 3 p.m. ETWhere: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
LIVE UPDATES: GamecockCentral has a live updates and game thread every South Carolina basketball game, exclusively for subscribers. You can find the updates on The Insiders Forum approximately 30 minutes before tipoff. We’d love to have you join us!
TV/streaming: ESPN will televise the game. The broadcast crew is Ryan Ruocoo (play-by-play), Rebecca Lobo (analyst), and Holly Rowe (reporter). You can stream the game on espn.com and the ESPN app (with your TV provider credentials).
Local radio/streaming in South Carolina: The game will be on 107.5 The Game in Columbia and 96.3 FM in Florence, with Brad Muller calling the game. The pregame show begins at 2:30 p.m. You can stream the South Carolina radio broadcast here.
Local radio/streaming in Raleigh: The game will be on WKNC 88.1 FM. You can stream the NC State radio broadcast here.
National radio: The game will be on SiriusXM 84.
Gambling Information
At FanDuel, as of Sunday 11:20 a.m., South Carolina is listed as a 9.5-point favorite, while the over/under is 137.5.
South Carolina is 0-1 against the spread this season, failing to cover against Michigan in the season opener.
According to DraftKings, South Carolina is a moneyline favorite of +200 (bet $100 to win $200) to win the NCAA Women’s Tournament. The closest teams are UConn (+450), Southern Cal (+475), Texas (+650), and Notre Dame (+700). FanDuel has South Carolina’s odds at +155, while BetMGM has them at +160.
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Computer Predictions
The Massey Ratings give South Carolina a 77% probability of winning, with a predicted score of 72-62 (as of Saturday at 5 p.m.).
GamecockCentral & 107.5 The Game Staff Predictions
Elijah Campbell: Gamecocks 77-69Chris Clark: Gamecocks 82-71Tyler Head: Gamecocks 72-60Kevin Miller: Gamecocks 81-68Wes Mitchell: Gamecocks 76-67Brian Shoemaker: Gamecocks 80-60Mike Uva: Gamecocks 72-61Jack Veltri: Gamecocks 71-70
South Carolina-NC State WBB Series
The Gamecocks are 13-20 all-time against the Wolfpack but are 5-2 in the Dawn Staley era (beginning 2008-09 season). The teams have met three times in the last four seasons, with South Carolina claiming the last two outings.
South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley spoke to the media on Friday to preview the team’s upcoming game against NC State. Here’s everything she had to say.[STOP! Don’t rely on search engines and social media for YOUR South Carolina WBB info. Sign up for the free GamecocksW newsletter.]Opening statement on Ashlyn Watkins’ return to the team&ld...
South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley spoke to the media on Friday to preview the team’s upcoming game against NC State. Here’s everything she had to say.
Opening statement on Ashlyn Watkins’ return to the team
“I’m going to make this statement about Ashlyn (Watkins). Ashlyn is back. We welcome her back. We’re going to let her get acclimated to being back on the team, and we look forward to just having our entire team back in the fold.”
On how it feels to have Watkins back
“We’re at our very best when we got our full roster, especially healthy. So, it feels good, it feels natural – it doesn’t feel unnatural to us. It feels like we’re complete now.”
On how Watkins has looked in practice since her return
“She looks great. The Highlighters might throw a little rust comment at her, but she looks natural.”
On what Watkins being acclimated means
“Haven’t been here, now she’s here. She’s got to get acclimated to the being here, doing 12:30 (p.m.) to 3:30 (p.m.). Her schedule is probably a little bit off, so just getting back to her normal routine, her daily routine.”
On whether Watkins will play against NC State on Sunday
“If she’s out here, she’s gonna play, right?”
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On what kind of test NC State will give the Gamecocks
“They do know us, we know them. I’m sure they want the result to be a lot different than what it was back in April, and we want the same results. Neither one of us is playing at that quality of play, obviously. It’s a very early game in the season, and, all of us, we have to knock some rust off. Hopefully, we just put on a really good game for women’s basketball and not set our game back.
On playing NC State again so soon after their most recent matchup
“It is (unique). Who knew when we scheduled them that it would be in such a fashion of a Final Four matchup – a rematch of the Final Four. I think it’s cool. I think it’s great for women’s basketball, and, hopefully, we don’t let our game down.
On Staley’s message to South Carolina’s players after close win over Michigan
“My message was for all of our team. We weren’t that team – we haven’t been that team in a very long time. That wasn’t rust – that was just us not approaching the game probably the right way that we need to approach it. It was just not us. It wasn’t the habits that we created. So, hopefully, we got back to the habits this week.
“We talked about a lot of things, we talked about how we felt. We got it out, we responded well on Wednesday, had a really good day today. So, hopefully, we get another prep day in, and we get back to being the team that showed up in Memphis and showed up here against Clayton State.”
On how Sania Feagin has responded to two-point performance
“She’s responded. (Sania) Feagin doesn’t really have it. I don’t have an issue with Feagin in practice. It’s just – she’s got to give us a little bit more to start the basketball game. So, we’re going to see. We got one more prep day. Ashlyn won’t start, I can tell you that.”
[See the Gamecock discussion on The Insiders Forum!]
On how South Carolina’s players have attacked practice this week
“I think every single player fell short of how they really wanted to play, even Chloe (Kitts). Chloe had a double-double, but she took some ill-advised shots. We’re just not that type of team, and they’ve taken responsibility.
“Raven (Johnson), everybody’s taking responsibility performing at top level the way that we need to perform so everybody looks good.”
On whether Staley would have handled a “shock to the system” game earlier in coaching career
“I mean, basketball is really simple – it really is. You create habits, and you execute your habits; when you don’t, you lose. So, it’s the same approach.
On whether Watkins is prepared for any potential blowback that may come her way
“Listen, the charges have been dismissed, okay? (Their) on their way to expungement. Is it a hard thing for a young person to deal with? Absolutely. It was hard for all the young people that were involved in the altercation. It’s hard for our university and our athletics department. It’s hard for even the solicitor’s office, it’s hard for her lawyers – it’s hard for everybody. But I imagine that this is the first time that it’s happened on any campus. So, you deal with it head on, just like Ashlyn did, and now she finds herself back. We’re not going to keep revisiting it – we’re going to keep getting better and making better decisions.
“Ashlyn will be who she is. She’s created some really good habits and, you saw her make a terrible mistake that, if she could do it all over again, she’ll do it again. She got teammates, she got coaches, she’s got support system, she’s got family. So, you know, people are gonna be people. She’s going to ignore them, obviously. And if it gets to her to a point, then I’m gonna take up for her – because that’s what we’re supposed to do.”
COLUMBIA — South Carolina women's basketball coach ...
COLUMBIA — South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley spoke Friday for the first time about junior forward Ashlyn Watkins' return to practice after charges against her were dismissed last week.
Watkins was arrested on Aug. 31 on charges of first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping. Following her arrest, she was suspended from all team activities until Wednesday.
"If she's (practicing), she's going to play," Staley said Friday when asked about the game on Sunday, when the No. 1 Gamecocks (1-0) take on No. 8 NC State (3 p.m., ESPN) at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
Staley said Watkins will not start on Sunday.
"Ashlyn is back, we welcome her back, we are going to let her get acclimated to being back on the team and we look forward to having our entire team back," Staley said. "We are at our very best when we have our full roster, especially healthy, so it feels good, it feels natural, it doesn't feel unnatural to us, it feels we're complete now."
Watkins averaged 9.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game last year, starting in nine of 38 total games last season for the Gamecocks. She averaged 20.6 minutes off the bench and against NC State in the Final Four on April 5, and she had a career-high 20 rebounds.
Staley said Watkins looks great, and didn't think she looked rusty. Staley said that getting acclimated meant getting her back to her normal routine.
"The charges have been dismissed, on their way to expungement," Staley said. "Is it a hard thing for a young person to deal with? Absolutely. It's hard for all the young people involved in the altercation, it's hard for our University and the athletics department, it's hard for the solicitors office, her lawyers, it's hard for everybody ... you deal with it head on, just like Ashlyn did and now she finds herself back, we aren't going to keep reliving it, we are going to keep getting better at making better decisions."
According to the Richland County Fifth Judicial Circuit Public Index, both charges were listed as "Dismissed Not Indicted" on Nov. 1. The records said that Watkins completed Pre-Trial Intervention, a program that provides a second chance to first-time offenders. According to the Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office, participants are required to perform community service, make restitution to their victims and to participate in individual and group counseling.
SCOUTING REPORT:South Carolina women's basketball vs NC State score prediction, scouting report in Final Four rematch
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
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