It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting DeLaney Homestead Historic District in Aurora, CO 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 Aurora, CO 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.
“ABC did a fantastic job for my parents before I moved them out of state”
“Rachel is simply AMAZING! Our loved ones, a couple that is 102 adore her as”
“My experience with ABC a worker Norma is excellent and follow through with a work. Also”
“Always Best Care has been wonderful! Jessica is very outgoing and willing to do whatever”
“Cindy and Bridgette perform excellent assistance for my Mother. They make it so that my”
“Always Best Care has always been reliable and prompt to any of our needs for”
“Alyssa Blake with Always Best Care is absolutely amazing as well as the in home”
“Always Best Care has been helping us for almost 4 years. We have had a routine”
“Always Best Care Senior Services has been taking excellent care of my elderly mother for”
“We have been using Always Best Care for almost five years. If you’re looking for”
“I am a current client of this provider Always best care has been extremely helpful. They”
“Jen, Ariella and Megan were part of Dad’s Always Best Care (ABC) team for close”
“This company was a huge blessing for our family. They were extremely easy to work”
“I am a past client of this provider ALWAYS BEST CARE was a huge blessing for”
“As a social worker for older adults, I have been referring patients/families to ABC for”
“Always best care is a great workplace you meet such wonderful people and have great”
“This is my Lady Sue she’s amazing she’s 90 years young she’s been with Always”
“I have been doing in home care for 11 years and this is the best”
“Referred here by Cayce we met at a Restaurant. The Lakewood office picked up the”
“In my moment of need your company was there when I didn’t even knew I”
“Caring and loving staff , am happy to be part of the best care provider”
“I cannot say enough good things about about Always Best Care! I have been an”
“I have been a nurse for over 40 years and my expectations were high. Always”
“Anyone that has had to find assisted living for a loved one knows how nerve”
“I'm sending this thank u to thank you, not only for being the best company”
“ABC did a fantastic job for my parents before I moved them out of state with me. Anna traveled with both of them helping to navigate a rough move. I can't thank Anna and Jen enough”
“Rachel is simply AMAZING! Our loved ones, a couple that is 102 adore her as does our whole family. So attentive to them and fun! It brightens their day!”
“My experience with ABC a worker Norma is excellent and follow through with a work. Also she is very nice girl she care of me with love and patience”
“Always Best Care has been wonderful! Jessica is very outgoing and willing to do whatever is needed to support me. Always on time, willing to help anyone around. Helps me get around to appointments and just out of the facility.”
“Cindy and Bridgette perform excellent assistance for my Mother. They make it so that my Mother can continue to live in Independent Living, which is very important to her. They both are kind, caring, and dependable. We enjoy working with all of the people at Always Best Care.”
“Always Best Care has always been reliable and prompt to any of our needs for care and placement of a resident for assisted living and home care. We appreciate having them as a resource!”
“Alyssa Blake with Always Best Care is absolutely amazing as well as the in home caretakers! Compassionate, patient, on time and caring are just a few of the words I would use to describe their services. I would highly recommend Always Best Care for any of your senior care needs!”
“Always Best Care has been helping us for almost 4 years. We have had a routine schedule for Amber or Tina to come to our house, where they have become an important part of our family and needed help with caregiving and light housekeeping. Both of them are reliable and exceptionally caring. When my husband needed to move to Memory Care, Nancy Hemming spent so much time with us visiting facilities and teaching us about different models. She is so knowledgeable and was essential help when we didn't know how to approach the search. At times, during acute health problems, we needed daily and sometimes around the clock care. Always Best Care did a remarkable job of finding people to help, sometimes on very short notice. Most recently, Tina knew of my upcoming surgery and changed her own schedule so she could be with me daily following the surgery when I needed extra help. I continue to be stunned about how very caring and helpful everyone has been during these years. I have referred friends and will continue to do so. Thanks for everything!”
“Always Best Care Senior Services has been taking excellent care of my elderly mother for over a year now. Raelynn, our caretaker is like family to us. She is always professional, kind and good at everything she does. I don't honestly know what we would do without her. I highly recommend their services!”
“We have been using Always Best Care for almost five years. If you’re looking for the best company to take care of your family member and one that truly cares don’t look any further. They have outstanding staff, very communicative, and amazing customer service. I wouldn’t trust any other company with my loved ones after working with the .”
“I am a current client of this provider Always best care has been extremely helpful. They are responsive, dependable, trustworthy. I had a tough time with my mom and they were like an extension of the family. So caring and kind and thoughtful. Highly recommend.”
“Jen, Ariella and Megan were part of Dad’s Always Best Care (ABC) team for close to 100 days .We couldn’t have asked for more! Dad looked forward to their friendly smiles, sense of humor and “can do “ attitude. Thanks to the ABC team, Dad was able to remain in his own home in Lakewood for almost 100 days of hospice, growing weaker each day physically, but always staying positive and remaining emotionally and mentally strong. Dad was thankful for each day. After Dad’s passing, favorite members of the ABC team joined family, friends, neighbors and geology colleagues for his military tribute and memorial service at Fort Logan National Cemetery. ABC, we couldn’t have gone through the past four months without you!”
“This company was a huge blessing for our family. They were extremely easy to work with, even with very short notice. They met every need we had. The care my father received was excellent. Karalyn in the early days was such a fun person and my dad looked forward to her coming. As my dad needed more care they were able to meet those needs usually within hours. Dad had excellent care with Shannon, Robert, Genesis. They became like family . Dad was eager to have them there and they engaged him in things he enjoyed doing. The team you text with short notice needs were respectful and helpful with every request. And our care coordinator Jan would stop by and visit dad ,and make sure all his care was working smoothly which was so appreciated .This company is reliable, professional, and I would highly recommend them to anyone that needs home care.”
“I am a past client of this provider ALWAYS BEST CARE was a huge blessing for our family. They were extremely easy to work with, even with very short notice. They met every need we had. The care my father received was excellent. Karalyn in the early days was such a fun person and my dad looked forward to her coming. As my dad needed more care they were able to meet those needs usually within hours. Dad had excellent care with Shannon, Robert, Genesis. They became like family . Dad was eager to have them there and they engaged him in things he enjoyed doing. The team you text with short notice needs were respectful and helpful with every request. And our care coordinator Jan would stop by and visit dad ,and make sure all his care was working smoothly which was so appreciated .This company is reliable, professional, and I would highly recommend them to anyone that needs home care.”
“As a social worker for older adults, I have been referring patients/families to ABC for many years based on great experiences. When I moved my grandma to the Colorado area and she was needing some extra support, it was the natural response to utilize Always Best Care for her caregiving needs! We have been clients for 4 months and both my grandma and me feel incredibly supported by their team. Their caregivers are reliable and kind, and if there is a concern the leadership team works to resolve the concern in a quick and professional manner. I am so happy that my grandma gets to feel some extra love from this awesome company.”
“Always best care is a great workplace you meet such wonderful people and have great and positive staff . The office team is wonderful they are reliable and understanding the communication is a plus with this company!”
“This is my Lady Sue she’s amazing she’s 90 years young she’s been with Always Best Care for 3 years and tells me everyday how thankful she is for our services and that I am her best friend . I came to always best care because I was my Mother’s caregiver and she passed Mother’s Day 2022. I made a career change that is the most rewarding job I have ever had. Always Best Care is the best and I take pride in working for this company. I would definitely recommend our company to care for your loved one.”
“I have been doing in home care for 11 years and this is the best company I have worked for. The office staff is amazing, and I couldn’t ask for anything better. We are all compassionate with each and every client. I would highly recommend their services.”
“Referred here by Cayce we met at a Restaurant. The Lakewood office picked up the phone immediately. We got some help and things are back to normal which we didnt know they ever would be. More changes coming but ABC All The Way.”
“In my moment of need your company was there when I didn’t even knew I needed you. My mother who lived in another state has late onset Alzheimer’s and was being taken care by my brother. I didn’t expect that my brother would pass before my mother but that was the case. Without the care from my brother, I had to find a suitable memory care facility quickly so I could sell her house and move her closer to me because my mother declined quickly after the passing of my brother and my house isn’t suitable for her condition. I knew very little about the options or the processes needed to execute this very challenging decision. The professionalism and caring of your employees was a life boat in a very dire and emotional decision for my family. Mom is now settled and happy in her new surroundings. I can’t thank you enough for the angels (Alyssa and Nancy) in your company.”
“Caring and loving staff , am happy to be part of the best care provider in town. Keep the good work .”
“I cannot say enough good things about about Always Best Care! I have been an employee for almost 6 months and the experience has been professional and rewarding. I have worked with a plethora of clients and have yet to hear any complaints. The front and back office is available (24-7) to help with scheduling, appointments and literally ANY questions or concerns, client or staff related. I am forever grateful for the interpersonal relationships I have with clients and team members alike. I am grateful to serve our community each and everyday. Here are some photos from a beloved client, on her 98th birthday! :) I highly recommend Always Best Care ????”
“I have been a nurse for over 40 years and my expectations were high. Always Best Care Senior Services provided home care assisting me with my post operative recovery and my expectations were exceeded. Staff was very professional, caring, and most importantly competent and reliable. Highly recommended! Linda RN”
“Anyone that has had to find assisted living for a loved one knows how nerve wracking the experience is, I’m so thankful my family had Nancy to help us during such a fragile time. Thank you for keeping my grandmother comfortable during the rehabilitation process and in home care.”
“I'm sending this thank u to thank you, not only for being the best company I hold dear but being so individually beautiful!!! You're always the best care!!!!!”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Great Plains Park in Aurora, CO with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Borealis or visit Gully Homestead House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Aurora, CO, 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 Aurora, CO understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Aurora, CO 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.
Waves of colorful northern lights are expected to light up Colorado skies once again Wednesday night as severe geomagnetic storms continue, according to space weather forecasts.Another burst of energy from the sun, known as a coronal mass ejection, is expected to reach Earth midday and remain active throughout the night, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center, based in Boulder.That wave of solar activity, which triggers the light show on the horizon, is forecast ...
Waves of colorful northern lights are expected to light up Colorado skies once again Wednesday night as severe geomagnetic storms continue, according to space weather forecasts.
Another burst of energy from the sun, known as a coronal mass ejection, is expected to reach Earth midday and remain active throughout the night, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center, based in Boulder.
That wave of solar activity, which triggers the light show on the horizon, is forecast to arrive between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to space weather forecasters.
Two of those energy bursts arrived Tuesday on Earth, painting the skies of Denver and beyond with red, pink, purple and green. Coloradans across the state reported being able to see the colors with their naked eye, and the effect was boosted by phone cameras.
The magnetic field of Tuesday night's storm was eight times stronger than normal and favorable to "continued activity," NOAA space forecasters said in a video update.
The energy burst expected to arrive Wednesday will likely hit the "severe" G4 category, but could reach "extreme" G5 levels, forecasters said in the video.
The five-step geomagnetic storm ranking scale predicts how the storm will impact Earth -- not just in the vibrancy of the aurora borealis, but in the potential disruption or damage to power grids and communications systems.
An extreme storm, G5, can collapse power grids, cause blackouts and disrupt satellite navigation and radio frequencies, according to the NOAA.
How bright the auroras are and how far south they are visible will depend on when the solar bursts get here and how they interact with Earth’s atmosphere. If the Wednesday night storm is as strong as Tuesday's, as forecasted, Coloradans should once again be able to see it on the horizon.
The best chance to see the aurora borealis is by getting far away from city lights and checking a light pollution map for clear spots. Then turn all gazes and cameras, with long exposure activated, north.
The final round of a powerful solar storm will hit the Earth Wednesday night, potentially offering another chance to see the northern lights.DENVER — After a dazzling night of color across Colorado skies, space weather experts say the northern lights could make another appearance Wednesday night, though nothing is guaranteed.“It packed a bigger punch than we would have thought,” said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator at the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder. “That's why when the chance happens lik...
The final round of a powerful solar storm will hit the Earth Wednesday night, potentially offering another chance to see the northern lights.
DENVER — After a dazzling night of color across Colorado skies, space weather experts say the northern lights could make another appearance Wednesday night, though nothing is guaranteed.
“It packed a bigger punch than we would have thought,” said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator at the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder. “That's why when the chance happens like last night, people need to take the opportunity because even though we could expect it again the next night, it just may not all come together.”
Dahl said forecasters were tracking three coronal mass ejections, or CMEs — massive bursts of solar material ejected from the sun. Two of them reached Earth on Tuesday, sparking the vibrant aurora borealis display seen along the Front Range. A third CME arrived in the solar wind early Wednesday, setting up the possibility for another round.
“We went ahead and extended that G4 watch into tomorrow because we know the potential is there,” Dahl said. “But we never really know what’s going to unfold with these things.”
According to Dahl, predicting auroras is complicated. Scientists can see solar eruptions leaving the sun, but they don’t know their full impact until the energy reaches satellites about a million miles from Earth. That’s when forecasters can measure the magnetic field orientation — a crucial factor in determining whether a CME will interact with Earth’s magnetosphere or simply pass by.
“Last night, the magnetic fields came together like two magnets connecting,” Dahl explained. “That’s why it really spun up hard and we all saw it even from our rooftop here in Boulder.”
As for tonight, he said it’s worth keeping an eye on the northern sky.“It’s one of those things where you just have to keep checking,” Dahl said. “We’re at that great time of year, it gets dark early, so people might want to look around 8 p.m. to midnight and just be patient.”
He recommends watching for updates at spaceweather.gov, where real-time data shows when conditions are favorable.
Even during the sun’s 11-year solar cycle, events like this remain rare.
“During the last cycle, we never had a G5. That’s the top end of our scale,” Dahl said. “This cycle we had one last May, and last night came pretty close. But all these things have to come together, the storm has to hit Earth, and the magnetic field has to line up just right.”
That alignment, and Colorado’s long, dark nights, helped make this week’s display unusually vivid.
“Everything came together really great,” Dahl said. “We were very connected early on through the CME passage, and wow, I’ve seen some great pictures even from light-polluted areas here in Boulder and Loveland. My wife saw it from our driveway in Berthoud — the first time she’s ever seen the aurora.”
Whether it happens again tonight depends on how that third CME behaves.
“The potential is there,” Dahl said. “But it might not all come together like it did last night.”
Tips for spotting the Aurora in Colorado tonight
Here are some tips for seeking the aurora borealis Wednesday night in Colorado.COLORADO, USA — After Tuesday night's spectacular display, there might be another chance to see the northern lights on Wednesday in Colorado.Shawn Dahl with the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder said forecasters were tracking three coronal mass ejections, or CMEs — massive bursts of solar material ejected from the sun. Two of them reached Earth on Tuesday, sparking the vibrant aurora borealis display seen along the Front Range. A...
Here are some tips for seeking the aurora borealis Wednesday night in Colorado.
COLORADO, USA — After Tuesday night's spectacular display, there might be another chance to see the northern lights on Wednesday in Colorado.
Shawn Dahl with the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder said forecasters were tracking three coronal mass ejections, or CMEs — massive bursts of solar material ejected from the sun. Two of them reached Earth on Tuesday, sparking the vibrant aurora borealis display seen along the Front Range. A third CME arrived in the solar wind early Wednesday, setting up the possibility for another round.
Dahl said in an update Wednesday afternoon that the center has issued a warning for G3 (Strong) solar activity. That warning continues into the evening hours.
Tuesday night, the geomagnetic storm reached G4 (Severe) levels. Generally, storms at G4 levels and above bring the best chance to see northern lights in Colorado.
How bright the auroras are and how far south they will be visible also depends on how the burst interacts with Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere.
But clouds could obstruct the views for many. The 9NEWS Weather Impact Team predicts less cloud cover east of Interstate 25. So try heading east of Strasburg and Greeley for the best chance at good views.
Colorado: Tips on seeing the northern lights tonight. Again, tonight's chance is conditional.Will update as needed!#COwx pic.twitter.com/s69YCeYQTs
— Chris Bianchi (@BianchiWeather) November 12, 2025
Northern lights forecasts can be found on NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center website or an aurora forecasting app.
Consider aurora-watching in a quiet, dark area away from city lights. Experts recommend skygazing from a local or national park.
Taking a picture with a smartphone camera might also reveal hints of the aurora that aren’t visible to the naked eye.
The sun is at the maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle, making the light displays more common and widespread. Colorful northern lights have decorated night skies in unexpected places, and space weather experts say there are more auroras still to come.
Aurora displays known as the northern and southern lights are commonly visible near the poles, where charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere.
Sky-gazers are spotting the lights deeper into the United States and Europe because the sun is going through a major facelift. Every 11 years, its magnetic poles swap places, causing magnetic twists and tangles along the way.
Last year, the strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades slammed Earth, producing light displays across the Northern Hemisphere. And soon afterward, a powerful solar storm dazzled sky-gazers far from the Arctic Circle when dancing lights appeared in unexpected places including Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City.
The sun’s active spurt is expected to last at least through the end of this year, although when solar activity will peak won’t be known until months after the fact, according to NASA and NOAA.
Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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and last updated 12:26 AM, Nov 13, 2025
Tuesday night's aurora display across Colorado was incredibly vibrant, and in some cases was even more visible than the spectacular show from May 2024 when the largest solar storm in 20 years hit Earth. While it will be hard to beat those views, you have another chance to see the northern lights tonight.
You can scroll down to see the forecast for this evening, or read through to learn about what causes auroras, how they're predicted, and why they sometimes over or underperform the forecast.
The sun has a magnetic field that sometimes gets twisted like a rubber band wound around several times. Just like that rubber band, that twisted magnetic field can snap. When it does, it releases billions of tons of tiny particles in what's called a coronal mass ejection, or CME.
If that CME is pointed toward Earth, we get hit with those particles one to three days later. As the particles crash into Earth's magnetic field, they create a geomagnetic storm.
Scientists measure these storms using two related systems. The geomagnetic storm scale, or G scale, runs from 1 to 5 and rates storms based on their impact, similar to rating a hurricane by category.
The planetary-K index, or Kp scale, runs from 1 to 9 and measures geomagnetic activity, similar to the specific wind speed measured in a hurricane's eye. Space weather experts measure the Kp index using a network of magnetometers, including at the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, CO.
The G-scale corresponds to the upper ends of the Kp scale. It was designed to explain the impact of geomagnetic storms. Geomagnetic storms don't just produce auroras. They can disrupt anything with a circuit board - including radios and telecommunications, satellites, the power grid, and more. Operators of these technologies take steps to protect their devices and grids from impacts of solar storms. The G scale defines what impacts are likely to happen - thereby advising those operators what they need to do.
| G-Scale | Kp Index |
| 1 | 5 |
| 2 | 6 |
| 3 | 7 |
| 4 | 8 |
| 5 | 9 |
For Colorado to see a visible aurora, we typically need a Kp of 8 - a G4 storm, and for your phone to capture it, we need at least a Kp 7. Tuesday night's event had a Kp very close to the top of the scale.
This gets technical.
The strongest solar storms occur when the sun sends multiple CMEs toward us and they catch up to each other. In general, the speed of the particles and how many of them there are determines how strong a storm is.
The reason speed matters is due to momentum. Think about the difference between a bowling ball hitting some pins at walking speed, versus 100 mph. The faster the storm, the more it tends to disrupt the magnetic field.
Particle density also impacts intensity and how long the storm impacts last. The more particles...the longer the disruption to the field.
But nothing in space weather is straightforward. Earth's magnetic field has a polarity - the way the magnetic field points. When you hold a magnet next to another magnet, sometimes they attract and other times they repel, depending on which direction they're facing. The same is true with CMEs.
When a CME hits Earth, its polarity compared to Earth's determines whether the CME gets pulled into Earth and causes a storm, or if Earth's magnetosphere deflects it. Space weather scientists don't have an easy way to predict this ahead of time. Instead, they have to wait until the storm hits a solar observation satellite that orbits about a million miles away from Earth.
Strong storms require a perfect situation: typically multiple large and powerful CMEs, ideally catching up to each other, moving quickly, and with a polarity that aligns with Earth's magnetic field. That's why intense G-4 and G-5 storms are so rare.
When these ingredients do align, we get situations like Tuesday and tonight. Tuesday, we saw two CMEs combine. They were both (relatively) slow but had a lot of particles, and the polarity was perfect to strongly disrupt Earth's magnetosphere, creating the spectacular display many saw.
Tonight's CME is a single, much faster pulse, with some residual effects from the prior CMEs influencing the behavior of this CME.
Faster generally means stronger when it comes to geomagnetic storms, and this storm is on the extreme upper end in that sense. But the particle density is lower, so the storming may not last as long. The other wild card is the polarity. This cannot be well predicted and ultimately will be why this storm over or underperforms.
Because of the high-end potential, the Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a G4 (or higher) geomagnetic storm watch that is in place for this evening.
With a Kp index of 8 or above, you can see the aurora in Colorado with the naked eye. Given the strength of this storm, you should be able to see the aurora again tonight, but clouds are likely to be more of a factor than Tuesday. Follow our evening weather forecast for the details there.
The strength of the aurora will decrease through the night, and your best chance to see it is before 10 p.m. It is unlikely to be as visible and long lasting as Tuesday's display - so using your phone camera on night mode is a good plan. Your best chance to see it is in a dark sky location free from obstacles and facing north.
The colors occur when solar particles hit our atmosphere and give extra energy to air molecules. Green and red colors are both oxygen at different altitudes. Blues and purples are nitrogen molecules. The more intense the storm and the closer you are to the aurora itself, the more intense the colors will be and the more likely you are to see multiple colors.
While the exact strength of the aurora at a specific time is very hard to predict during a storm, you should still be able to see it tonight where there are breaks in the clouds.
You can check out last night's aurora and photos here or in the viewer below.
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The sky above Mesa County glowed brilliant shades of red, orange and green Tuesday evening as charged particles from a major solar storm reached Earth’s atmosphere.Residents from Palisade to Fruita to Glade Park captured images of the aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. Western Colorado Astronomy Club President Nancy McGuire was one of those people who witnessed and photographed the event.“Despite being an amateur astronomer for many years, it was my first time to witness it where you could actually ...
The sky above Mesa County glowed brilliant shades of red, orange and green Tuesday evening as charged particles from a major solar storm reached Earth’s atmosphere.
Residents from Palisade to Fruita to Glade Park captured images of the aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. Western Colorado Astronomy Club President Nancy McGuire was one of those people who witnessed and photographed the event.
“Despite being an amateur astronomer for many years, it was my first time to witness it where you could actually see the color in the sky,” McGuire said. “The human eye is not as sensitive as a camera, so very often for humans the sky might appear like a glowing white color or some white bands of light. This was a clearly visible bright red sky, like a pulsating red sky.”
According to an Associated Press report, the aurora was caused by a coronal mass ejection last week, which sends charged particles into space, some of which hit Earth’s atmosphere. Being able to see aurorae in Mesa County is unusual, McGuire said.
“In general, the sun has just passed or is in the process of passing what’s called the solar maximum,” McGuire said. “It’s a cycle that happens every 11 years. So the sun has been very active for the past couple of years, which has yielded a number of auroral displays this far south, which are pretty rare.”
McGuire said members of the Western Colorado Astronomy Club monitor announcements of solar events that could produce aurorae in our area, so they were ready to capture the event when it happened.
“Usually what happens is there’s a solar storm or a coronal mass ejection or something that happens on the sun and then within two or three days after that we get the aurora here on Earth,” McGuire said.
The show may not be over just yet. There is a chance for more aurorae to be visible in Mesa County this week, though the forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows it will be less likely than it was Tuesday evening.
“As with all nighttime sky phenomena, viewing from a dark location is important,” McGuire said. “If people are anywhere in town, like Grand Junction or Fruita, the best bet is to drive to a darker site where you have a good view of the northern horizon because that’s where the aurora will be visible and the darker sky you can get the better.”
McGuire said the phenomenon is called the Northern Lights for a reason.
“What happens when an aurora occurs, charged particles from a solar event collide with the Earth’s atmosphere and its strongest along the magnetic fields that come from the North Pole and the South Pole,” McGuire said. “Those particles follow the magnetic field of the Earth, which is strongest at the north and south polar regions.”
McGuire said anyone interested in learning more about amateur astronomy can attend the Western Colorado Astronomy Club’s monthly meetings. They are held the first Tuesday of every month, except January. They also hold public night sky viewing events during the warmer months where people can view things like planets and nebulae through club members’ telescopes.
To find out more about their meetings and events visit wcacastronomy.org.
ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT
The Western Colorado Astronomy Club is currently holding an astrophotography exhibit at the Grand Junction Visitor Center at 740 Horizon Dr. through Dec. 1.
More than 53 prints have been installed featuring solar, lunar, galaxy and nebulae images by local award-winning astrophotographers, all captured from the Grand Junction area.
The project is headed by Western Colorado Astronomy Club Vice President Terry Hancock, whose astrophotography will also be on exhibit.
Hancock and several of the exhibitors will give a presentation at 2 p.m. on Nov. 24 talking about where all the images were captured in the Grand Junction area, as well as giving a guided tour of the prints by the astrophotographers and exhibitors.
“Myself and several other exhibitors are doing a presentation, which will be a show of the equipment that we use for capturing comets and deep sky images,” Hancock said. “Then a guided tour by myself and other exhibitors of the prints at the exhibit.”
After the exhibit leaves the Grand Junction Visitor Center it will move to the Grand Junction Convention Center and Avalon Theater.
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