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 the historic 1928 Lincoln Highway Memorial Marker 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 Lincoln University, PA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Harmony Park 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 Citronnelle or visit Historic RittenhouseTown, 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 Lincoln University, 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.
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 Lincoln University, 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.
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 Lincoln University, 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.
CHARLOTTE, NC (August 15, 2025) - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®), the nation’s oldest historically Black athletic conference, is officially launching its biggest ticket deal of the year for the highly anticipated 2026 Food Lion CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament.Beginning today through September 1, fans can score $100 off All-Session General Admission tickets by using the promo code EARLY, part of the limited-time CIAA Early Bird Special. All ticke...
CHARLOTTE, NC (August 15, 2025) - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®), the nation’s oldest historically Black athletic conference, is officially launching its biggest ticket deal of the year for the highly anticipated 2026 Food Lion CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament.
Beginning today through September 1, fans can score $100 off All-Session General Admission tickets by using the promo code EARLY, part of the limited-time CIAA Early Bird Special. All tickets are available at CIAATournament.org.
February is CIAA and fans are invited to “Come Home to Baltimore” and experience:
From February 24 to February 28, 2026, the CIAA Basketball Tournament returns to Baltimore and this year promises to be bigger than ever. CFG Bank Arena will come alive with the energy of alumni, students, athletes, the Divine Nine, and fans from across the country for an unforgettable celebration of HBCU excellence. This is more than a tournament, it’s a powerful gathering of culture, pride, tradition and legacy.
With the CIAA extending its winning partnership with Baltimore through 2029, the city stands as the official home of CIAA basketball, cementing Charm City as the heart of CIAA basketball where history is made, and the culture comes alive. To get tickets now, book hotels and get the latest information about the CIAA, visit theciaa.com. You can also like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch.
About the CIAA Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
About Visit Baltimore Visit Baltimore is the official sales and marketing arm for the City of Baltimore. The 501(c)(6) non-profit organization generates economic benefits for stakeholders through the attraction of convention, group and leisure visitors. In 2022, 26.7 million people visited Baltimore for overnight and day trips, spending a total of $3.7 billion to Baltimore’s economy. For more information, please visit Baltimore.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Martine Charles, [email protected], direct: 206-295-9114 Jenny McIntosh, [email protected], direct: 480-202-7112
From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!Faced with falling enrollment and cuts in federal spending, universities are cutting costs, merging with others and pooling their resources to buy energy, computer services and health insurance, industry observers say.And some are closing.Between 2010 and 2021, the n...
From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!
Faced with falling enrollment and cuts in federal spending, universities are cutting costs, merging with others and pooling their resources to buy energy, computer services and health insurance, industry observers say.
And some are closing.
Between 2010 and 2021, the number of students at institutions of higher learning dropped by 15%, according to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics.
The numbers are a result of a decline in college-age students. They come at the time of cuts in federal funding for higher education and research. In addition, staffing cuts in the U.S. Department of Education has caused additional uncertainty. The Trump administration is also seeking higher taxes on university endowments and is placing restrictions on foreign students studying in the U.S.
In this environment, Thomas P. Foley, president of the 80-plus member Association of Independent College & Universities of Pennsylvania, or AICUP, said that its member schools have joined together to help keep tuition competitive.
“AICUP manages 39 cost-saving programs resulting in tens of millions of dollars in annual savings for participants,” Foley said. “We save schools money in all sorts of ways and in a variety of sectors, from technology and finance to HR and research. We buy insurance together, buy software together, buy energy together, and invest retirement funds together.”
The group includes larger schools, including Carnegie Mellon University, Drexel University, Villanova University and the University of Pennsylvania, but most are small, private, independent institutions like Haverford and Swarthmore colleges.
According to Foley, AICUP pools its resources to be financially nimble because as private, independent universities, many of its members do not receive direct payment from the federal or state government. With a large percentage of students who receive financial aid and minority students, AICUP gets federal money via student Pell and other grants, he said.
Lincoln University, a historically Black university, known as an HBCU, faces additional uncertainties. As a state-related institution, Lincoln receives 25% of its budget from the state. The state budget was supposed to be completed by the end of June, but remains unresolved, which puts further financial pressure on the school and others.
“We still don’t know how the decrease in staffing in the [U.S. Department of Education] financial aid offices, especially regionally, will impact the timing of student financial aid getting processed,” said Brenda Allen, Lincoln’s president.
About 98% of Lincoln students rely on some sort of federal aid.
“We are having to figure out how to manage our own cash flow,” Allen said. “We are just trying to navigate our way in this really shaky time.”
So far, Lincoln has not had to lay off employees. Even so, “we are dealing with cost-cutting and right-sizing,” Allen said.
In Pennsylvania, 10 higher education institutions have either merged or closed since 2016, according to Higher Ed Dive, which tracks college closures and mergers nationwide.
Three closed outright, including the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, which closed abruptly in 2024, citing declining enrollment, financial challenges and a weakened cash position. The two others are Pittsburgh Technical College, which closed in August 2024, and Clarks Summit University in Lackawanna County, which closed in July 2024.
The rest merged with another university, some of which were in the Philadelphia area.
In March, Rosemont College said it would merge with nearby Villanova.
In June, Lackawanna College completed its merger with Pierce College in Philadelphia, citing complementary course offerings, especially for working adults, and a major online presence by Pierce.
In July, the federal government approved Drexel’s merger with Salus University.
A spokesperson for Drexel said in a statement that the merger “strengthens research capacity, community engagement and long-term sustainability in a rapidly evolving healthcare and higher education landscape.”
“The Drexel-Salus merger represents a strategic and collaborative integration that combines Salus University’s nationally recognized strengths in non-overlapping clinical graduate health programs — such as optometry, audiology, and occupational therapy — with Drexel’s R1 research infrastructure, broad academic offerings and institutional scale,” they said.
Other universities have sought to cut costs.
At Pennsylvania State University, the board of trustees in May approved the closure of seven campuses, citing declining enrollment of 30% at some of those campuses, financial pressures and demographic shifts. It will close the following campuses after the 2026-27 academic year: DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York. The university will still have 13 campuses, from Abington to Scranton.
Penn State also cut staff and other costs.
In July, Temple said it was eliminating 190 positions, including about 50 layoffs, to reduce a $60 million deficit to $27 million. Fry also cited changes in federal student loans and Pell Grant programs that will take effect in the 2026-27 academic year.
The announcement followed a June budget update by Temple President John Fry, who said university enrollment dropped by about 10,000 students since the fall of 2017, causing a $200 million hit to the school’s revenue.
There is much at stake for the surrounding communities when universities face financial pressures, experts say.
“College closures, mergers and other forms of financial distress can have profound effects not only on students and employees of the affected institutions but also on local economics – particularly in areas where the institution of postsecondary education serves as an anchor of local activity,” according to a 2024 report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
Drexel, Temple, Penn and Jefferson University are all major employers in Philadelphia, with large health care systems.
Last year, Gov. Josh Shapiro called on state leaders to “rethink” higher education in the commonwealth and established a new state Board of Higher Education to support and strengthen the sector, according to a spokesperson for the state Department of Education.
Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposes a $13 million increase for community colleges, $40 million for the state-owned universities and $60 million in performance-based funding for state-related universities like Lincoln, Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh and Temple, the spokesperson said.
In the U.S., higher education and hospital anchor institutions together pumped about $1.7 trillion in goods and services into the economy and supported 18 million jobs, or about 9% of the nation’s workforce, directly or indirectly, according to a 2022 report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
The report states that the higher education industry contributed about $700 billion to the U.S. economy, had a total student enrollment of about 25 million and employed about 3 million people.
In a report on the U.S. higher education outlook for 2025, Emily Wadhwani, senior director of Fitch Ratings, Inc., said universities are projected to continue to merge, undergo restructurings and closures this year.
“Public funding has flattened as states return to normalized revenue growth expectations, and net tuition growth prospects are modest at best,” Wadhwani said in her report. “This revenue trajectory is unlikely to be sufficient to fully offset still-elevated labor and wage costs, rising capital needs, and a sharply uncertain legislative landscape.”
Despite talk by some people about higher education not being a good return on investment, Foley, the AICUP president, said a college degree still translates into about $1 million more in lifetime earnings and helps students develop the “critical thinking skills’’ needed for the careers of the future, such as artificial intelligence.
Allen, the Lincoln president, said she wants students to understand that education is still the great equalizer.
“Our ability to move people out of poverty and into some of the higher socioeconomic levels will always be important to us,” she said. “We are redoubling our efforts to get that message out.”
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By Gabbie BurtonContributing WriterOn July 31, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced that Fatima DeMaria, 65, of Lincoln University was arrested and charged by indictment with eight counts of asylum fraud and eight counts of mail fraud. DeMaria is the owner and operator of Immigration Matters Legal Services located in Oxford.Authorities allege that DeMaria falsely represented herself to be an immigration attorney who could help undocumented resid...
By Gabbie BurtonContributing Writer
On July 31, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced that Fatima DeMaria, 65, of Lincoln University was arrested and charged by indictment with eight counts of asylum fraud and eight counts of mail fraud.
DeMaria is the owner and operator of Immigration Matters Legal Services located in Oxford.
Authorities allege that DeMaria falsely represented herself to be an immigration attorney who could help undocumented residents obtain employment authorization. DeMaria is, however, not a licensed attorney nor is she accredited to represent individuals in immigration proceedings.
According to the indictment, from at least December 2021 to July 2024, DeMaria prepared fraudulent Form I-589 asylum applications in her clients’ names with false information without their knowledge or consent. Authorities allege that her clients were never aware that the mechanism through which she would help them obtain work permits was Form I-589 asylum applications. Additionally, the victims were never informed that if the applications filed on their behalf were rejected, they would be placed in removal proceedings, potentially jeopardizing their eligibility for future immigration benefits.
The scheme defrauded an unknown number of clients out of thousands of dollars each, while DeMaria billed her clients between $6,000-$9,000 per individual and $12,000-$15,000 per couple, according to court documents. DeMaria allegedly had her clients pay in cash or peer-to-peer transactions that were deposited into her personal bank accounts which were later withdrawn at local casinos. In all, DeMaria’s earnings from the scam are alleged to be at least $1 million which prosecutors plan to seek forfeiture of.
If convicted, DeMaria could face a maximum possible sentence of 240 years’ imprisonment and a $4 million fine.
Office in school district’s administration building
News of DeMaria’s scam has spread throughout the local community, leaving many with lingering questions but few answers in sight. One detail of the case that has caught attention on Facebook is the location of DeMaria’s Immigration Matters office.
Located in Suite 1 of 125 Bell Tower Lane, the office was rented out of the Oxford Area School District’s administration building. On Aug. 4, Superintendent Dr. David Woods released a statement on the school district’s Facebook page:
“The Oxford Area School District was made aware of an FBI investigation on July 30, 2025, shortly after 12 PM. Fatima DeMaria was a tenant in the district office building located at 125 Bell Tower Lane, Oxford, Pa. The District is not part of the investigation by the FBI nor is the District implicated in any wrongdoing through the lease agreement to the tenant. The District will fully cooperate with the FBI regarding any future requests for information regarding the tenant. The administrative building does not include any full-time classrooms and has had other commercial tenants in the past. We are aware of the press release made public by the FBI and have no further comment at this time.”
Anonymous representatives from the school district were able to confirm that the office space rented to DeMaria and other previous tenants were not done independently by the district but rather with the help of a realtor. As to why and how the office was rented to DeMaria without proof of her legitimacy as a lawyer, has caused a flurry of speculative posts and comments made on the Oxford message boards.
“As a parent I would like to know the people who are operating within that building are vetted properly,” read one comment under an “Oxford Pulse” message board post discussing the matter.
According to DeMaria’s LinkedIn as of Aug. 1, she attended Penn State University for paralegal studies from 1994-1997. She then served as a senior immigration paralegal at “law firm” from January 1992-December 2001, then finally as paralegal at Immigration Matters, Inc. from March 2012-present. Nowhere on her current LinkedIn profile does she list experience as an attorney or as an immigration attorney.
Additionally, as of Aug. 1, her sparse activity listed on her LinkedIn profile included liking and commenting on a post made eight years ago reading, “Great News! President Trump wants to return the U.S. to the merit-based immigration system like in the rest of the developed countries!!! It would be great to say goodbye to the family-based import of low skilled labor.”
DeMaria commented on the post, writing, “about time!”
However, as of Aug. 4, DeMaria’s activity on that post was no longer listed on her LinkedIn profile nor could the post be found on the profile of its original author.
While DeMaria continues to garner attention across the region, community members who are the victims of DeMaria’s crimes are now forced to face a difficult reality, some only just now realizing they even are victims.
Immigration attorney Lindsey Sweet of Sweet and Paciorek, LLC in Avondale, recently shared her perspective on the case in an email with the Chester County Press. In the days after the news of DeMaria’s scam spread throughout the community, Sweet wrote that she has received “dozens of calls from victims and their family members,” and is expecting more to come.
“From the indictment, we are only now learning the true scope of the cases that Fatima was filing,” Sweet wrote. “It is likely that there are many people in the community who simply thought they were applying for employment authorization and still don't know what has happened.”
‘It seemed legitimate on its’ face’
As to how DeMaria was able to operate the alleged scam for as long as she did with victims still possibly in the dark, Sweet shared some potential reasoning.
“Most victims who realized what happened were afraid to come forward due to their tenuous immigration status and feelings of powerlessness by the time it was discovered,” she wrote. “Others who didn’t yet see the legal consequences down the road just saw immediate results. They were being told by someone who held herself out as an attorney that they were eligible for employment authorization and then they received employment authorization just like she promised. Any questions as to how legally this was possible fell by the wayside. It seemed legitimate on its face. Also, due to the length of the time that these cases take to process, many victims honestly didn’t know and may still not know that they were victims at all.”
Additionally, Sweet warned that DeMaria is not the only unlicensed service providing immigration legal services in the county. She recommends consulting with an experienced and licensed immigration attorney as well as working together with legal authorities if they suspect they are a victim.
Sweet concluded her feelings on the case and the state of immigration largely in both the community and country.
“The situation is tragic on multiple levels – tragic that someone in a position of supposed trust would scam vulnerable members of the community in a way that will have significant consequences legally for years to come, especially under the current presidential administration,” Sweet wrote. “It is also tragic that there is such desperation in the community to get legal status that people were willing to pay almost anything to work legally. Our legal immigration system is broken.”
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Anyone who suspects they are a potential victim can visit the links below:
To contact Contributing Writer Gabbie Burton, email [email protected].
The USC Trojans are heading into their second season as a member of the Big Ten conference. ESPN released their Big Ten power ...
The USC Trojans are heading into their second season as a member of the Big Ten conference. ESPN released their Big Ten power rankings.
Where do they have Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans?
Ohio State Buckeyes offensive linemen Seth McLaughlin (56), Carson Hinzman (75) and Donovan Jackson (74) block during the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa. on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. Ohio State won 20-13. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
ESPN released their preseason Big Ten power rankings. Here is how they stack up all 18 teams.
1. Penn State Nittany Lions
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
3. Oregon Ducks
4. Illinois Fighting Illini
5. Michigan Wolverines
6. Indiana Hoosiers
7. Iowa Hawkeyes
8. Nebraska Cornhuskers
9. USC Trojans
10. Minnesota Golden Gophers
11. Washington Huskies
12. Michigan State Spartans
13. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
14. UCLA Bruins
15. Wisconsin Badgers
16. Northwestern Wildcats
17. Maryland Terrapins
18. Purdue Boilermakers
USC is right in the middle of these Big Ten power rankings at No. 9. Is this too high, too low, or just right?
Dec 27, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws the ball against Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Cashius Howell (18) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The USC Trojans are ranked No. 9 in the Big Ten per ESPN’s Big Ten power rankings. This is a relatively fair ranking considering how the Trojans have done the past two seasons.
In 2023, USC finished the regular season with a record of 7-5 before winning the Holiday Bowl. The following year in 2024, USC just squeaked into the Las Vegas Bowl with a record of 6-6. They beat the Texas A&M Aggies in that game to finish with a record of 7-6.
USC will be turning to quarterback Jayden Maiava in 2025. Lincoln Riley announced at Big Ten media day that Maiava would begin the season as the staring quarterback. He took over as the starter for the final four games in 2024 after the benching of Miller Moss.
In Maiava’s four starts for the Trojans, they had a record of 3-1; beating the Nebraska Cornhuskers, UCLA Bruins, and Texas A&M Aggies while losing to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar talks with reporters during football media day in Holuba Hall on Saturday, August 2, 2025, in State College. / Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Penn State Nittany Lions are ranked No. 1 and the Ohio State Buckeyes are right behind at No. 2. This comes as a slight surprise considering the Buckeyes are the defending national champions and have beaten Penn State the past eight times they have played, including last season.
Penn State finished second in the Big Ten past season behind Oregon and made it all the way to the College Football Playoff semifinals, where they fell to Notre Dame. The Nittany Lions will be returning with quarterback Drew Allar, which clearly is a big factor in these rankings.
Ohio State on the other hand will be turning to a new quarterback after the Will Howard’s departure to the NFL. The Buckeyes still have one of the best wide receivers that anyone has ever seen on a college football field in Jeremiah Smith, who tends to make the quarterback’s job infinitely easier.
Oregon is third even though they are the defending Big Ten champs. However, Oregon is losing most of their offensive production from last season and will have to find a way to replace it.
ALLENDALE - Grand Valley State football players rode their bikes and scooters as they slowly made their way from the field to the on-campus dorm rooms that they stayed at all summer.They pass by large banner on a fence nearby that shows the Lakers’ 2025 football schedule and an image of quarterback Andrew Schuster in his No. 2 jersey.“It’s pretty wild,” Schuster said sheepishly.That’s putting it mildly.Schuster has become the face of the ...
ALLENDALE - Grand Valley State football players rode their bikes and scooters as they slowly made their way from the field to the on-campus dorm rooms that they stayed at all summer.
They pass by large banner on a fence nearby that shows the Lakers’ 2025 football schedule and an image of quarterback Andrew Schuster in his No. 2 jersey.
“It’s pretty wild,” Schuster said sheepishly.
That’s putting it mildly.
Schuster has become the face of the 2025 GVSU football team despite playing a total of one quarter in his college career.
“We had some older guys in the (quarterback) room last year,” Schuster said. “I learned a lot from them. For me, I took spring ball and summer very seriously. Obviously, I just have one quarter of experience under my belt, but Coach Shoe (quarterbacks coach Ian Shoemaker) has done a great job helping me out.”
There are five quarterbacks on the depth chart: Four freshmen and a redshirt sophomore.
But there is no quarterback battle going into the season.
Schuster is the starter.
“We thought it was important to have a guy coming out of spring ball for the guys to get behind,” GVSU coach Scott Wooster said. “And Andrew Schuster, with the way he commanded the ball in the spring, I think there was a consensus between me and Coach Shoe that he was going to be the guy.”
Grand Valley had another great season in 2024, finishing 11-2. The only losses were to Ferris State University, which won the Division II National Championship again, and in the second round of the playoffs to Harding.
But this is a completely different roster now, Wooster said during the team’s media day on Tuesday afternoon.
“Every team has its own identity,” he said. “College changes fast. We just graduated 25 seniors and had 15 guys leave in the transfer portal. So there’s a big change in the roster. We do a good job with recruiting, so a lot of those guys are now going to get an opportunity.”
Schuster, who graduated from Chippewa Valley High School in Macomb, will be the starter, but he won’t be the only QB getting playing time. Wooster said there will be three quarterbacks with very different skill sets in the mix. Zak Olejniczak, a redshirt freshman from Lapeer High School, and Brady Drogosh, a redshirt sophomore, who graduated from Warren De La Salle, are more of running QBs and Schuster is a pocket passer.
“I’d say I’m more of a drop-back guy,” said Schuster, who throws left-handed. “All my life, I’ve been a big thrower. We have other guys who compliment me. Brady and Zak are runners.”
Said Wooster: “The burden isn’t only on his shoulders. With Brady and Zak, they will be complimentary guys.”
Schuster was excited when Drogosh transferred to GVSU after two seasons at the University of Cincinnati.
“I grew up with Brady! He’s from my hometown,” Schuster said of Macomb. “So that’s pretty cool. So when he transferred from Cincinnati, I was excited. I grew up playing with him when I was younger. I’m close to his family.”
Drogosh, the 2022 Michigan Mr. Football winner, won two state championships at De La Salle. He said having Schuster as a teammate was a factor in him transferring to GVSU.
“I was in sixth grade and he was in fifth grade when we played,” Drogosh said of rocket football. “I grew up watching his older brother, Tommy. He was like my idol growing up. So I’ve known Andrew since I was like 10 years old.”
Drogosh said it’s kind of weird being the oldest QB on the GVSU roster.
“It’s special,” he said. “We have something unique with me, Andrew and Zak. It’s kinda weird. I’m only 20 years old and I’m the oldest guy in the room. It’s different. But it’s a challenge I’m ready for. I think between the three of us, we can do some special things this year.”
The true freshmen quarterbacks on the roster are Noah Oury, of Troy, and Ethan Plumb, of St. Charles, Ill.
With 25 seniors graduating, Wooster will look to new players to step up and be team leaders.
“It’s the two-headed monster of Anthony Cardamone and Brett Weaver,” Wooster said of the seniors. “And a guy like Syone Usma-Harper, another senior, has a tremendous voice for us.”
The team has some key returners on offense, especially at running back.
Kenneth Jones, Derrick Woods, David Holloman and Usma-Harper each got a lot of handoffs last year. Jones led the way with 78 carries for 358 yards.
The Lakers bring back one of their top receivers in Kellen Reed. The junior from Holt, was second on the team with 17 catches for 276 yards last year.
On defense, Cardamone, a senior linebacker who graduated from Utica Eisenhower, led the team with 80 tackles last season, including 4.5 sacks. Junior Jimmy Downs, who graduated from Schoolcraft, also returns. He had 44 tackles last year and 1.5 sacks.
Grand Valley begins the season with two home games, starting with Lincoln University (Pa.) on August 30 at 1 p.m. and Black Hills State University (S.D.) at 7 p.m. on Sept. 6.
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