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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.

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Home Care In Kennett Square, PA

Home Care Kennett Square, PA

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 Historic Kennett Square 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 Kennett Square, PA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Kennett Square, PA

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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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TESTIMONIALS

“I like that they keep me informed. To make my experience positive, they've provided the best care I could've asked for. They are always there to give me the care I need. I like that the office staff keeps me informed very well. I appreciate that my caregivers are very caring.”

James
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TESTIMONIALS

“They are very caring, and flexible. It was short notice for me coming home, and they got me people to come help. They are so caring. They respond very quickly. They have always found replacements when needed.”

Harry V.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They were recommended by a friend. I like that they are dependable. Caregiveris on time everyday, and that is important.”

Vernon
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TESTIMONIALS

“They are compassionate and nice. They care about their clients and dont blow you out. They help me to take care of my husband. They help him with showering, feeding, and getting him ready for the day. They help take him to the doctor's appointment. They are always there for me when I have questions or concerns.”

Melissa
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care really listened to what we needed in a caregiver for my mom. We found that the services provided were what we expected. The caregiver was reliable, kind, and very helpful.”

Tammy Z.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I can't thank this Company enough for the challenges that's been given to me, I love working for Always Best Care they have showed me nothing but love for the work I put in for them. This is a ALSOME company to be a part of. Thank you to my Boss John. Heather, and Vanessa and Jayne, for all you do! ♥️ Keep up the great work and keep striving to make us better!”

Cyd L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I absolutely love working for this agency!! Absolutely amazing! ????”

Tomee A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I truly LOVE working for this company! They go above and beyond to make me feel appreciated as an employee! Highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services!”

Charlene K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Great customer service friendly and informative staff.”

Latasha J.
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TESTIMONIALS

“The best Home Care in Chester County! Reliable Friendly, and caring people who are there for you.”

jayne G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider She helps me participate in some exercise programs. I like the home health aide is very good and dedicated.”

Jon W.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider She helps with cooking, laundry, and cleaning. The caregiver is very attentive.”

Betty S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider They allow me, his wife, to be his caregiver, and they work well with the VA. They are very kind and offer a lot of things to do.”

William W.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider They have made my experience positive by handling all the paperwork. I like how Always Best Care sends very helpful and knowledgeable people.”

C.Gale A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider The caregiver provides him with company and takes him the different places he needs to go. It helps me out a lot, because I am able to get things done around the house while they are taking care of him. I like that they are very hands-on with the care that they give.”

Thomas C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider They've helped us the most with information about my dad. I like that they're attentive to their clients.”

Francisco P.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider They help me get things done that I need help with. All my needs are cared for.”

Aaron B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider They give me good support. There have been no issues with the office or caretakers. They get me what I need.”

Gerald J.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider It really helps me when they help me take my shower. I have a problem falling. I like that they care about me. They are very caring people.”

Annette L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider Because of the aid being very skilled and motivated I do not have to tell her to do anything, she already knows. I like this agency because I have an incredible aid, and rarely in the 15 years have I ever had someone this good.”

Carol S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider They communicate and respond right away. The caregivers had all been great. They keep in touch and send emails. They are accommodating and flexible.”

Sterling F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider To have someone else here that I can have a conversation with and be in my age group means a lot. I liked the worker is very courteous professional, and clean. She would also take me shopping.”

David R.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider Their attention to detail is beyond reproach. I've enjoyed their promptness and attention to detail.”

Alden O.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider They're very helpful, they do what they have to do every time to help him as best they can. They wash the car, make his meals, and other tasks like that. We like that they're flexible.”

Jay L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a past client of this provider They made it positive by doing what they did because I couldn't do it. I like that you could always get a hold of them, and they were always willing to help you.”

Jane G.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Kennett Square, PA?

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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.

 Senior Care Kennett Square, PA

Types of Elderly Care in Kennett Square, PA

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

Respite Care Kennett Square, PA
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
 Caregivers Kennett Square, PA
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 Anson B Nixon 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
Home Care Kennett Square, PA
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 Portabellos of Kennett Square or visit Kennett Square Historic District, 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.

 In-Home Care Kennett Square, PA

Benefits of Home Care in Kennett Square, PA

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 Kennett Square, PA, 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 Kennett Square, PA

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 PA'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 Kennett Square, PA

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 Kennett Square, PA 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 Kennett Square, PA

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 Kennett Square, PA

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:

  • Friends Home In Kennett
  • Brandywine Living at Longwood
  • Linden Hall Nursing Home
  • Kennett Area Senior Center
  • KendalCrosslands Communities
  • Kendal At Longwood
Home Care Kennett Square, PA

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 Kennett Square, PA

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 Kennett Square, PA 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.

 Elderly Care Kennett Square, PA

Latest News in Kennett Square, PA

40th annual Mushroom Festival takes root in Kennett Square, celebrating heritage and all things fungi

From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!The 40th annual Mushroom Festival bloomed over several streets of Kennett Square this weekend, featuring 229 vendors, mushroom-growing demonstrations and the pungent smell of mushrooms.The “mushroom capital of the world” hosts the annual mushroom-themed festival to celebrate the heritage of the Pennsylvanian borough.Gale Ferranto is one of the many Kennett Square residents with ties to th...

From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!

The 40th annual Mushroom Festival bloomed over several streets of Kennett Square this weekend, featuring 229 vendors, mushroom-growing demonstrations and the pungent smell of mushrooms.

The “mushroom capital of the world” hosts the annual mushroom-themed festival to celebrate the heritage of the Pennsylvanian borough.

Gale Ferranto is one of the many Kennett Square residents with ties to the area’s mushroom farming heritage.

She is president of Buono Foods, a mushroom production company that stemmed from her grandfather’s farm in the early 1900s, which remains one of 53 family-owned and operated farms in the area.

Ferranto said those farms are responsible for about 64% of the mushrooms grown nationwide.

Ferranto, who also serves as the festival coordinator, said the event started small in 1985, with just a few industry growers and shippers.

“[They] thought it would be a great idea for mushrooms, since Pennsylvania leads the country in mushroom production,” said Ferranto. “So they got together and said, ‘Let’s celebrate mushrooms.’”

In addition to celebrating the edible fungi, another purpose of the festival is to give back to the Kennett Square community.

“I’m a mushroom farmer, so I’m going to be swayed, but I’m quite proud that we could still live in the suburbia together and get along with the community,” she said. “The mushroom industry supports this community and this town and these people and these nonprofits.”

Kennett Square’s love for mushrooms has taken root across state borders, with visitors from Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. The festival expects nearly 100,000 attendees over the weekend.

The 2025 Mushroom Festival

Nick Tonetti and Megan Helin were first-time visitors to the festival. The pair got an Airbnb nearby and made a weekend out of their short trip from Philly.

They tried four different mushroom soups on their first day and were looking for more on their second.

Helin and Tonetti compared the mushroom festival to the ones in Philadelphia. “It wasn’t like shoulder-to-shoulder packed,” Helin said. “ So it was actually enjoyable.”

“Even all the vendors have been really nice,” Tonetti said. “There’s so much good art and crafts to buy, but no one’s being pushy, which is really nice. It lets you feel safe to walk in and look at things without feeling like someone’s going to try and sell you something.”

Although not all the vendors were inherently mushroom-themed, many brought out either special recipes or crafts to match the mushroom madness. Still, there were some dedicated mushroom-related vendors, like The Royal Mushroom Society.

Joanne Day, a calligrapher, mushroom forager, photographer and artist, has attended the event in every way. She spent one year as an attendee, another as an artist in the painted mushroom competition and this year as a vendor.

Day said she loves being out in the woods, with every hike “turning into a treasure hunt of sorts.”

“Who can find the most interesting mushroom, the most mushrooms, you know, the most unique mushrooms,” she said.

Day either photographs the foliage or turns them into collages. However, Day’s point of pride is the variety of mushrooms she’s eaten, 37 by her count.

Something Day recognized as a change over the last few years is “the interest in mushrooms has really exploded,” she said.

“To see that’s gone from the pop culture, like the Mario mushroom, the red and white mushroom … to people actually being interested in the real stuff, you know, the stuff in finding the woods. The stuff you can eat, not just the psychedelic ones,” she said.

The festival highlights this emerging interest in mushrooms, with farmers volunteering their time to explain the growing process. It’s also grown in size in recent years, partly because of increasing public interest and support from the community, Ferranto said.

And, when asked about the notorious smell that is attributed to Kennett Square and its mushroom industry, Ferranto said, “We are growing a lot of mushrooms in this area in a very small, you know, per square mile. So that is one of the reasons why it’s pungent.”

Editor’s Note: Nate Harrington’s WHYY News internship has been made possible thanks to the generous support from the Dow Jones News Fund O’Toole Family Foundation Internship.

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Community celebrates 40th annual Kennett Square Mushroom Festival

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (WPVI) -- Thousands of visitors flocked to Kennett Square this weekend for the 40th annual Mushroom Festival, celebrating the borough's title as the "mushroom capital of the world" with food, family activities and a spirit of giving back to the community."I love mushrooms so much! It tastes so good," said Vincent of West Chester.What better place to indulge in mushrooms than the Kennett Square Mushroom Festival?The borough is better known as the mushroom capital of the world!...

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (WPVI) -- Thousands of visitors flocked to Kennett Square this weekend for the 40th annual Mushroom Festival, celebrating the borough's title as the "mushroom capital of the world" with food, family activities and a spirit of giving back to the community.

"I love mushrooms so much! It tastes so good," said Vincent of West Chester.

What better place to indulge in mushrooms than the Kennett Square Mushroom Festival?

The borough is better known as the mushroom capital of the world!

"We have 53 family-owned and operated mushroom farms that grow about 64% of the mushrooms in the entire country," said Gale Ferranto.

Ferranto is a third-generation mushroom farmer and coordinator of the festival. In fact, her mother, RoRo, is a co-founder.

"They thought, let's have a festival and teach people about mushrooms, how to use them, how to cook them, the nutrition value, and then businesses started to contribute also," said Ferranto.

Forty years later, the festival continues to flourish with activities for all ages.

"We have the Lego masters this year, which is really fun," said Ferranto. "We have a mushroom build. We've got a puppet show for kids. We have rides. We have a culinary tent."

In this tent, visitors learned how mushrooms grow.

"I think it's terrific, especially for the youth, so they can get involved in agriculture," said Vincent Perez of West Chester.

"A lot of people who come through don't realize how much goes into it," said Vince Basciani, who is a fourth-generation mushroom farmer with MD Basciani & Sons. "I think it gives them more of an appreciation for the process and the people who do the work."

From farm to table - there are a variety of mushrooms to devour: breaded, sautéed, and even ice cream.

"The spice on them is perfection, and they're plump and very juicy," said Pat Cassar of Mayfair.

"Excellent. Very good," complimented Tony Cantando of West Grove. "Every year it gets bigger and bigger. We've been coming for like 20 years."

It's not all about mushrooms. Organizers also give back to the community.

Since its inception, the mushroom festival has awarded more than $1.4 million in grants to organizations.

This year, $200,000 will be donated to 43 local non-profits.

One of them is Family Promise of Southern Chester County.

"Family Promise has been the beneficiary of the mushroom festival's generosity in terms of tangible things for our families, beds, sofas, couches, mattresses," said Carol Lowe, the non-profit's executive director. "It feels amazing."

"It is the heart and soul of this community. At the end of the day, people come together, they volunteer," said Ferranto. "I don't know how else to feel but so heartfelt about that."

Fire alarm activated; teen treated for breathing issues, Kennett Square PA

A fire alarm was triggered near Newark Road. Children were reportedly present. Emergency responders found a 15-year-old female having difficulty breathing. Medical staff are evaluating her while waiting for confirmation of any fire at the scene. No fire has been confirmed.AudioSource:Transcript:00:00Now, for Burrough Park, and Lach-by-Lar, Bucks, 2100.00:02Station, New Garden, Township, BASIC, U.S. The Q-25, 25, the second emergency, the Bowling Greenland, Manchin, near Newark Road...

A fire alarm was triggered near Newark Road. Children were reportedly present. Emergency responders found a 15-year-old female having difficulty breathing. Medical staff are evaluating her while waiting for confirmation of any fire at the scene. No fire has been confirmed.

AudioSource:

Transcript:

00:00

Now, for Burrough Park, and Lach-by-Lar, Bucks, 2100.

00:02

Station, New Garden, Township, BASIC, U.S. The Q-25, 25, the second emergency, the Bowling Greenland, Manchin, near Newark Road.

00:08

First word, the rehab nurse is station.

00:09

New Garden Township, Basic Person.

00:11

Thank you, 125, June and Rout.

00:13

Vicki, 125, too, okay, it's a 32-year-old male with cough and congestion.

00:17

Ricky, thank you. Okay, M. 21, again, your response?

00:19

Jamie, M. 21,2.

00:20

Let me start a dramatic now.

00:22

15-year-old female shortness of breath.

00:24

Okay, I'll hold off of that.

00:25

Let's evaluate real quick.

00:26

And that's what I want to okay.

00:27

Patient 21-531 Fold Street, Dr.

00:30

Verro. Operating H.

00:31

Report my side alarm with a six-person, box 2100.

00:34

Engine 211, opinion, your response.

00:36

Initially, a third-party call, children on occasion lives, the alarm was going off.

00:41

Now reporting a 15-year-old female with shortness of breast.

00:44

AML212 is on scene evaluating.

00:45

Parents should be in rally.

00:46

He had 20 minutes driving the waiting time for you.

00:48

AML212, Justin, new medical emergency here.

00:50

Audible alarm holding off waiting for the engine company.

00:54

Hey man, 212, okay.

00:55

Engine 21-1.

00:56

You repeat it.

00:57

Negative sick person's audible alarm from the structure waiting for your arrival.

01:02

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