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 Old Town Alexandria Waterfront in Alexandria, VA 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 Alexandria, VA 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.
“We recently moved my mom to Virginia, and Always Best Care was right there to”
“When I contacted Always Best Care, my primary need was reliable, safe transportation to and”
“Rashid and his team from Always Best Care of Fairfax were truly partners with our”
“Always Best Care has done an amazing job caring for my elderly mother. Daniel specially”
“I highly recommend Always Best Care! We have been using their services since August when”
“Always Best Care was a godsend for our family. When my dad needed immediate care,”
“Rashid and his staff are outstanding! They made it possible to transport my 96”
“Our experience with Always Best Care has been truly great. Rashid has been a”
“I cannot say enough wonderful things about this company and the owner Rashid Farrell. We”
“I cannot say enough wonderful things about this company and the owner Rashid Farrell. We”
“If you're looking for care for a loved one and don't know who to trust,”
“I would highly recommend Always Best Care. From our initial consultation through ongoing care, they”
“We have been using Always Best Home Care Services for the last week as my”
“I wanted to express my deep gratitude for the kindness, support and overall professionalism of”
“Absolute game changer. Super helpful to my mother, father, and made the rest of the”
“Rashid Farrell, the Owner, is very attentive, helpful and sincere. He follows up with clients”
“Rashid was great from day 1. Highly recommend always best services.”
“Had a great experience with Always Best Care! We had an urgent need for in-home”
“We started with Always Best Care mid July 2021. They worked with us and her”
“I have been with Always Best Care for over a year. I have a neurological”
“Always Best Care truly took the stress out of my grandfather’s post-surgery recovery. I was”
“Pleasant experience with the care professionals who provided support and care. Lankgo was very helpful”
“We did not end up getting care from Always Best Care since our father uses”
“My family and I were blessed to find Rashid and his wonderful team of caregivers!”
“I'm writing this review as a friend and sometimes caregiver of a person with dementia.”
“We recently moved my mom to Virginia, and Always Best Care was right there to help us every step of the way. My mom has Alzheimer’s, and we were unsure how to move her safely and calmly, especially since she didn’t fully understand what was happening. Traveling by plane and arriving at National Airport added another layer of stress. Jonathan connected us with Bruce from Always Best Care in South Carolina, and together, both offices and our family coordinated Mom’s move. The South Carolina staff was great, and Mom’s caregiver moved her schedule around so she could travel with Mom. She was incredibly kind and gentle and stayed with Mom throughout the entire flight. Always Best Care also recommended medical transportation from the airport to her new facility. The driver was compassionate and took great care to make sure Mom was comfortable and safe. In the days following, another kind and compassionate caregiver immediately connected with Mom and helped make her transition to her new home a wonderful experience. Always Best Care was truly the answer our family needed. We are so thankful to Jonathan and Rashid for helping us navigate this difficult season and for treating Mom with such genuine kindness, dignity, and care. We highly recommend Always Best Care!”
“When I contacted Always Best Care, my primary need was reliable, safe transportation to and from a medical appointment. From the outset, Mr. Rashid Farrell went beyond simply arranging a ride. Mr. Farrell, along with a nurse, took the time to review my medical background and conduct a thorough health assessment to ensure my safety and comfort. This personalized approach gave me confidence that my well-being was their top priority. Even though my transportation needs later changed, the company’s commitment to quality and care remained consistent. They adapted seamlessly to my new requirements, maintaining the same level of attention to detail. The staff’s professionalism, empathy, and genuine concern for my needs made the experience not just convenient, but truly caring. I highly recommend Always Best Care to anyone seeking transportation services that combine reliability with compassionate, individualized care. They have earned my trust and loyalty!”
“Rashid and his team from Always Best Care of Fairfax were truly partners with our family as we together provided care for my husband when he needed it. As my husband's care needs increased, ABC never failed to step up to provide the additional services and dedicated care necessary and, when needed, the recommendations for rehab and other outside services. Rashid is the kindest, most patient and most responsive owner/operator of any business I have ever worked with - both in healthcare and otherwise. I cannot imagine having gone through this part of our lives without Rashid and his team. Ms. Martine was also always very responsive every time she was needed, often as an emergency and after hours. Ms. Genet was with us the longest and we were always happy to see her. In her low-key professional manner, she successfully encouraged him to do all he could with physical therapy and other activities. Ms. Stacey spent many long hours with us and was always patient and supportive to both of us and provided excellent care as did Ms. Benica and Ms. Salay. Ms. Jidy was with us at the end of our journey and was truly a Godsend to both of us. I will be forever grateful to Rashid and his team and will never forget their dedication, support and kindness to us.”
“Always Best Care has done an amazing job caring for my elderly mother. Daniel specially has been an outstanding, dedicated helper throughout these months of struggle and complexity”
“I highly recommend Always Best Care! We have been using their services since August when we moved my mom into assisted living. She needed a lot of extra personal help, and we weren’t quite sure how the transition would go, but Rashid ensured that from the moment she arrived at her new home, she had a caregiver there to help her. All of the care professionals from Always Best have been warm, nurturing and professional, but the two who have been with my mom the longest, Ms.Jidy and Ms Shanice, have played a critical role in helping my mom adapt to her new home and be healthy. Beyond caring for her personal physical needs, they have helped her make friends, made sure she attended fun activities and went on excursions, took her outside to enjoy the sunshine, reminded her to do her exercises, and more. They have noticed when something is “off” with her and she isn’t quite herself, and have notified the nurses they suspect some medical attention is needed. My mom’s quality of life is definitely better due to their care, and my family has peace of mind knowing they are with her. Additionally, Rashid and Ron are incredibly thoughtful, professional and communicative, which we really appreciate. We are so glad we made the decision to use Always Best!”
“Always Best Care was a godsend for our family. When my dad needed immediate care, Mr. Rashid and his team stepped in with kindness, skill, and professionalism. I knew Always Best Care was different right from the initial assessment. Mr. Rashid, the owner, came with a nurse to meet my father, and together they quickly earned his trust. Other agencies had done similar assessments, but their staff barely interacted with him. The Always Best Care team, on the other hand, engaged with my dad and encouraged him to do things he hadn’t done in months — walking, stretching, showering, even playing word games. Their expertise and compassion gave me peace of mind, knowing my dad was not only being cared for but also gently challenged in ways I couldn’t manage on my own. My dad especially loved Ms. Renette, whose patience and kindness won him over, and Ms. Bouchra, who motivated him to stretch and walk outside after months of not doing so. Thank you, Always Best Care, for supporting our family and helping make such a difficult time easier and kinder.”
“Rashid and his staff are outstanding! They made it possible to transport my 96 year old mother-in-law from Virginia to New Jersey so she could attend our wedding. The aide that was with my mother-in-law for the entire weekend went over and above. We would recommend Always best Care Senior Services to anyone that wants the best care for their loved ones”
“Our experience with Always Best Care has been truly great. Rashid has been a source of support and we are grateful! In particular, he was very helpful in helping us select a senior living facility for our parents. He did all the leg work in narrowing down our list to those he felt matched our requirements and then helped us tour the finalists . This allowed us to make an informed decision and we are very happy with the results . Rashid cares deeply about the welfare of his clients and goes above and beyond to provide what is best for them!”
“I cannot say enough wonderful things about this company and the owner Rashid Farrell. We were searching for in home care for our aging parents so that we could keep them in the home they love for as long as possible. We began our search with our parent's primary physician, and he provided us with the names of a couple of agencies...one being Always Best Care. We spoke with Rashid about the type of care we were looking for and the specific needs of our parents and he listened carefully and provided wonderful insight and advice to us. He explained how and why he got into this particular business and it was mostly because of his own experience wanting the best care for his parents as they aged. He approaches his business from a caring and compassionate place and provided a care plan specific to our needs. He even found us a night caregiver in just a few short hours in the evening after our mom fell and broke her scapula and the hospital needed to release her ... at that time, we only had care from 9 to 5. He follows up constantly...checking in to make sure we are happy with the service we are getting. He also helped us transition our parents to an assisted living facility when the time came. His caregivers are kind and responsible. Our parents became very fond of Ms. Almaz as she was their main caregiver, but they also enjoyed the company of Ms. Salay, Ms. Stacy, Ms. Millie and Ms. Renette. If I had to do this all over again, I would definitely use Always Best Care...The name is appropriate because Rashid does provide the absolute Best Care for our aging loved ones!”
“I cannot say enough wonderful things about this company and the owner Rashid Farrell. We were searching for in home care for our aging parents so that we could keep them in the home they love for as long as possible. We began our search with our parent's primary physician, and he provided us with the names of a couple of agencies...one being Always Best Care. We spoke with Rashid about the type of care we were looking for and the specific needs of our parents and he listened carefully and provided wonderful insight and advice to us. He explained how and why he got into this particular business and it was mostly because of his own experience wanting the best care for his parents as they aged. He approaches his business from a caring and compassionate place and provided a care plan specific to our needs. He even found us a night caregiver in just a few short hours in the evening after our mom fell and broke her scapula and the hospital needed to release her ,,,at that time, we only had care from 9 to 5. He follows up constantly...checking in to make sure we are happy with the service we are getting. He also helped us transition our parents to an assisted living facility when the time came. His caregivers are kind and responsible. Our parents became very fond of Ms. Almaz as she was their main caregiver, but they also enjoyed the company of Ms. Salay, Ms. Stacy, Ms. Millie and Ms. Renette. If I had to do this all over again, I would definitely use Always Best Care....The name is appropriate because Rashid does provide the absolute Best Care for our aging loved ones!”
“If you're looking for care for a loved one and don't know who to trust, look no further. Rashid and his team of caregivers at Always Best Care Senior Services provided top-notch care for my 88-year-old mother over the course of several weeks. I was impressed by Rashid's professionalism, responsiveness, and dependability. When I first contacted him, he took the time to meet with me and my mother at her residence to better understand our needs. He always managed to line up high-quality caregivers, often on short notice. My mother was not in a good place mentally and resisted receiving care from strangers, yet she told me she was pleased with each of the caregivers that Rashid sent her way. My thanks to Ms. Martine, Ms. Barbara, Ms. Gidy, and Ms. Anna. They drove my mother to various appointments, helped her communicate with her healthcare providers, and supported her emotionally. I should also mention that the billing process was straightforward and transparent, with no surprises. Finding care for a loved one can be daunting and scary. You won't be disappointed if you turn to Rashid and his team.”
“I would highly recommend Always Best Care. From our initial consultation through ongoing care, they demonstrated true professionalism at every step. Rashid, in particular, provided a comprehensive view of the professional care and service, while always treating our family with genuine dignity and respect. The company also actively helped connect us with other vendors and resources we needed, making the whole experience seamless and a little less overwhelming. The care professionals they provided were top-notch - reliable, skilled, and compassionate, with many of them having years of professional and nursing care. Their team clearly understands that quality care extends beyond just the basics - it's about creating a comprehensive support network. If you're looking for a care provider that truly partners with you and delivers excellence, Always Best Care is the right choice.”
“We have been using Always Best Home Care Services for the last week as my mother transitioned from one memory care to another. She needed a little extra support during this big change and we were referred to Always Best. The owner Rashid, is one of the most professional, kind, knowledgable and detail oriented people I have ever worked with. We have used 2 other home care companies in the past, and the customer service Rashid provided was absolutely above and beyond. He was very communicative and updated me every step of the way to ensure a seamless transition for my mom. He made sure we had the appropriate care professionals who could fit our specific needs as well. His care team was top notch and we were thrilled with the care my mom received during this time. Ms. Monse, Ms. Judy, Ms. Aisha, Ms. Ling and Ms. Esther were all wonderful and made a valiant effort to keep my mom on her routine throughout the day while also keeping her stimulated. We are so thankful we found Always Best Home care services and would 100% wholeheartedly recommend Rashid and his team.”
“I wanted to express my deep gratitude for the kindness, support and overall professionalism of Always Best Care Senior Services. For those individuals facing the challenge of taking care of an elder relative, Always Best Care is more than just a nursing / care service - they are a support network. I wanted to make a special call out to Ron, Shanti, and Mary for their hard work and dedicated care for my mother. I truly appreciate all your help during these challenging and stressful times. Sincerely, Todd”
“Absolute game changer. Super helpful to my mother, father, and made the rest of the family feel safe and secure. Dr. T Talbert”
“Rashid Farrell, the Owner, is very attentive, helpful and sincere. He follows up with clients and truly does all he can to make them and their loved ones happy. I highly recommend using Always Best Care to care for anyone in need of care.”
“Rashid was great from day 1. Highly recommend always best services.”
“Had a great experience with Always Best Care! We had an urgent need for in-home care for my father following a recent surgery. Rashid and his team were responsive, caring, extremely communicative, and super flexible with our evolving needs and schedule changes, helping us navigate a challenging time with grace and support. We are really grateful and would highly recommend them to others in the area.”
“We started with Always Best Care mid July 2021. They worked with us and her insurance to provide me time to do things I needed to do. We have had the same caregivers for the past 3 years and we love them!! Brenda C. is absolutely terrific!! Jeanine is fabulous!! From the start, they have worked with and around our schedules, especially when we have had changes. Working with Scott M. the original manager/owner, and now with Rashid F., the new manager/owner has been really easy and enjoyable. Everyone as been easy-going and helpful.”
“I have been with Always Best Care for over a year. I have a neurological condition that affects my movement and balance. My caregiver has helped me make doctor appointments and attend weekly yoga. My caregiver is always punctual. I highly recommend the company.”
“Always Best Care truly took the stress out of my grandfather’s post-surgery recovery. I was so worried about how he would manage, especially since I couldn’t always be there due to work, but he was in amazing hands. The caregivers were compassionate, attentive, and made his recovery process so much easier. Knowing he was well cared for gave me peace of mind. I highly recommend their services!”
“Pleasant experience with the care professionals who provided support and care. Lankgo was very helpful with taking me to doctor's appointments, to the pharmacy, and entertaining my free time by playing cards. Rashid, the owner, has been so helpful, so understanding, and so kind and has helped me tremendously in my caring. I would recommend Always Best Care of Fairfax!”
“We did not end up getting care from Always Best Care since our father uses Medicaid, but they were very kind and helpful in connecting us with another agency who accepts Medicaid, and followed up with us to make sure we had reached the other agency.”
“My family and I were blessed to find Rashid and his wonderful team of caregivers! From the first day the emphasis was always on our father and how they could meet his needs and keep him comfortable. They took care of our dad as if he was a member of their family. The caring starts at the top with Rashid, who is amazing. He knew my father well and visited him often, always keeping us informed. He would be at the house to orient new care team members and introduce them to our father including weekends and shift change at 8 pm. When we could not be with our father, we knew he was in great hands. We were so fortunate to have found Rashid and his wonderful team of caring and empathetic caregivers, they were a blessing to us during a very difficult time.”
“I'm writing this review as a friend and sometimes caregiver of a person with dementia. She has received in-home services from Always Best Care for several years. Her home care aide, Brenda, helped my friend with things like organizing her files, paying bills, finding and keeping track of her things, canceling subscription items bought online and then not remembered, medication management, etc. She was kind, patient, and highly flexible. The company owner has also been wonderful to work with; kind, patient, flexible and responsive. I highly recommend ABC Senior Services!”
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 Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, VA 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 Ada's on the River or visit Carlyle House Historic Park, 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 Alexandria, VA, 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 Alexandria, VA 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 Alexandria, VA 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.
ALEXANDRIA, VA — Worshippers at one of Alexandria’s most historic churches received a star-studded Sunday surprise: Stevie Wonder was in the house.The 25-time Grammy winner attended worship at Alfred Street Baptist Church on Sunday, Sept. 6, according to photographs and public social-media posts from the church community.Alexandria City Councilman John Taylor Chapman, himself an Alfred Street member, shared an account originally posted by Chronicles Remix, a “Friends of ASBC” Facebook pa...
ALEXANDRIA, VA — Worshippers at one of Alexandria’s most historic churches received a star-studded Sunday surprise: Stevie Wonder was in the house.
The 25-time Grammy winner attended worship at Alfred Street Baptist Church on Sunday, Sept. 6, according to photographs and public social-media posts from the church community.
Alexandria City Councilman John Taylor Chapman, himself an Alfred Street member, shared an account originally posted by Chronicles Remix, a “Friends of ASBC” Facebook page that states it is not officially endorsed by the church. Chapman told The Zebra he was not in church today and did not see Wonder. Asked if he knew why he was in town, Chapman said, “Unfortunately, no.”
“Well, look who walked into church today! None other than the legendary Stevie Wonder!” the page announced. The post said Wonder took his seat and joined the congregation for worship.
A separate public post timestamped Sunday morning also reported Wonder’s presence at Alfred Street. The church published its official Sept. 6 sermon, “In the Beginning,” preached by Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, later Sunday.
The news quickly drew expressions of amazement and joy from people responding to Chapman’s post.
Commenter Lois Kebe said seeing Wonder reminded her of the beginning of his career as “Little Stevie,” performing with his harmonica and singing “Fingertips.”
“The man is a legend — what a blessing!” she wrote.
Wonder was only 11 when he signed with Motown’s Tamla label, according to his Recording Academy biography. Known then as Little Stevie Wonder, he scored his first Billboard Hot 100 hit at age 13 with “Fingertips.”
His career would produce landmark albums including “Talking Book,” “Innervisions,” “Fulfillingness’ First Finale” and “Songs in the Key of Life.”
The Recording Academy lists 25 Grammy wins and 75 nominations for Wonder. He won Album of the Year three times and received the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996.
Wonder’s visit placed one of America’s most celebrated musicians in the congregation of one of the country’s most prominent pastors.
Wesley was installed as Alfred Street’s eighth pastor in September 2008. The church’s official biography says the congregation has grown to more than 12,000 members under his leadership, with weekly online viewership exceeding 25,000.
A fourth-generation Baptist preacher and Chicago native, Wesley graduated magna cum laude from Duke University with a degree in biomedical and electrical engineering. He later graduated summa cum laude from Boston University School of Theology and earned a Doctor of Ministry in preaching from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Several of his sermons have been archived by the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Morehouse College inducted him into its Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers in 2015.
Alfred Street traces its origins to 1803. Black members of the Alexandria Baptist Society formally organized the Colored Baptist Society of Alexandria in 1806, creating what the church identifies as the first Black Baptist church north of Richmond.
The congregation began renting property on South Alfred Street in 1818 and purchased the site in 1842. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources calls Alfred Street Alexandria’s oldest African American congregation and one of the oldest in the Washington area.
The church organized an educational branch by 1820 to teach Black children and adults despite legal restrictions. Its building served as a hospital during the Civil War and has been used continuously for worship since 1855. The property joined the Virginia Landmarks Register in 2003 and the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
Alfred Street’s national reach has long been matched by local service. In April, The Zebra reported that the church contributed $1 million to clear back rent for 318 households facing possible eviction.
The church had not issued a separate announcement about Wonder’s visit by Sunday afternoon, but for the worshippers who saw him walk through the doors, the moment was already unforgettable.
ALEXANDRIA, VA — Federal employees in Alexandria could get more time to pay their personal property taxes when a federal government shutdown interrupts their paychecks, under an ordinance City Council is scheduled to consider Tuesday night.The proposal would allow eligible federal employees affected by a shutdown to apply to the City’s Finance Department for an extension of the personal property tax due date. Under the state authority behind the measure, the extended taxes would have to be paid no later th...
ALEXANDRIA, VA — Federal employees in Alexandria could get more time to pay their personal property taxes when a federal government shutdown interrupts their paychecks, under an ordinance City Council is scheduled to consider Tuesday night.
The proposal would allow eligible federal employees affected by a shutdown to apply to the City’s Finance Department for an extension of the personal property tax due date. Under the state authority behind the measure, the extended taxes would have to be paid no later than 90 days after the federal government reopens.
The ordinance is not yet in effect. It is on the agenda for introduction at the Sept. 8 City Council legislative meeting. City staff have recommended a public hearing, second reading and final vote on Sept. 19.
The proposal follows Virginia House Bill 915, passed during the 2026 General Assembly session, which gives local governing bodies authority to create this type of personal property tax extension for federal employees affected by shutdowns.
The timing matters in Alexandria. The City has already mailed its 2026 personal property tax bills, and payment is due on or before Monday, Oct. 5. The automobile tax rate remains $5.33 per $100 of assessed value, according to the City’s Aug. 28 tax-bill notice.
City Finance Director Kevin Greenlief wrote that the department managed roughly 200 payment plans for affected federal employees during the last shutdown and saw a high compliance rate, The Alexandria Brief reported. The City already has some authority to establish payment arrangements on a case-by-case basis, but the proposed ordinance would create a specific process tied to federal shutdowns.
Tuesday’s regular City Council meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center, 4850 Mark Center Drive, after a 6 p.m. executive session. The meeting is also available electronically. Details and the official docket are available through the City of Alexandria calendar.
The Zebra will watch the Sept. 8 discussion and the proposed Sept. 19 public hearing for any changes to the ordinance before final passage.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Matthew Quick, author of the bestselling novel "The Silver Linings Playbook," will discuss his new memoir from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St.The talk is free and open to the public, but registration is required at VaBook.org/events. Virginia Humanities, the state humanities council, is hosting it with the Alexandria Festival of the Book and Old Town Books."Dad, Love, Me: A Memoir" is Quick's first work of nonfic...
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Matthew Quick, author of the bestselling novel "The Silver Linings Playbook," will discuss his new memoir from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St.
The talk is free and open to the public, but registration is required at VaBook.org/events. Virginia Humanities, the state humanities council, is hosting it with the Alexandria Festival of the Book and Old Town Books.
"Dad, Love, Me: A Memoir" is Quick's first work of nonfiction. He wrote it as a long letter to his father after his father was diagnosed with dementia. According to Virginia Humanities, the book recounts memories of abuse in Quick's childhood home alongside his path toward understanding and reconciliation, and it explores family, memory, forgiveness, mental illness and generational trauma. It also examines the harm of some traditional models of masculinity.
His novel inspired an Academy Award-winning film.
Kalela Williams, director of the Virginia Center for the Book, a Virginia Humanities program, will moderate the conversation.
"It's a voice in the conversations that people of all generations are having about models of masculinity and fatherhood, as well as the ways our parents raised us and the chain-breaking and chain-making we can effect," Williams said in the announcement.
A book signing will follow, with books sold by Old Town Books.
Earlier that day, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., the Virginia Center for the Book will hold "Rekindling a Lost Art," a letter-writing workshop at the Lyceum. The workshop is free, open to all ages and also requires registration.
Participants will handwrite letters to people they care about and decorate them with art and craft supplies. Organizers will provide stamps, supplies, writing prompts and snacks, and they ask participants to bring the addresses of the people they plan to write to.
"Really, the whole day is about connection with the people we hope to hold close," Williams said.
Both events are part of Virginia Humanities' annual regional events initiative, which brings humanities programs to communities across the state.
Carolyn Fuller, coordinator of the Alexandria Festival of the Book, said the partnership gives residents a chance "to connect with noted authors, discuss books and explore our history and culture." The festival returns March 13, 2027.
Ryan Belmore is an Alexandria resident and the founder and publisher of The Alexandria Brief. Send tips, feedback, and story ideas to .
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — City Manager James F. Parajon has appointed Aspasia Xypolia director of the Office of Housing, making permanent a job she has held on an acting basis since May, the city announced Thursday.The appointment followed a national search. Xypolia was deputy director when Helen S. McIlvaine retired April 30 after 20 years with the city, and she took over as acting director May 1.McIlvaine joined the city in 2006 as deputy director and was appointed director in 2015. She led implementation of the Housing Master ...
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — City Manager James F. Parajon has appointed Aspasia Xypolia director of the Office of Housing, making permanent a job she has held on an acting basis since May, the city announced Thursday.
The appointment followed a national search. Xypolia was deputy director when Helen S. McIlvaine retired April 30 after 20 years with the city, and she took over as acting director May 1.
McIlvaine joined the city in 2006 as deputy director and was appointed director in 2015. She led implementation of the Housing Master Plan, guided community engagement for Housing 2040 and oversaw more than a dozen affordable housing development and preservation projects.
The largest of those has been moving through its first phase during Xypolia's months as acting director. Housing Alexandria opened a waitlist in April for the first 206 units at the Sansé, at 3600 Mount Vernon Ave. in Arlandria-Chirilagua, which the city has called its most ambitious affordable housing investment to date. Those units were expected to be ready for occupancy in August. The second building, the 79-unit Naja, which will also house a Neighborhood Health clinic, is expected to open in early 2028. Council approved its final piece of financing in March.
"Aspasia's extensive experience in affordable housing development and preservation makes her a perfect fit to continue to lead Alexandria's Office of Housing permanently," Parajon said, adding that he looked forward to working with her on efforts involving renters, homeowners and developers.
In the role, Xypolia oversees the city's housing strategy, policy and investment, including production, preservation and finance, and negotiates with private developers over affordable housing commitments. She also manages the city's partnerships across affordable housing programs.
Before coming to Alexandria, Xypolia directed Prince George's County's Department of Housing and Community Development. The city said she led work that created or preserved more than 6,340 housing units in under five years and deployed more than $122 million in emergency rental assistance.
She also revived a dormant right of first refusal law there, which the city said preserved more than 2,260 units of naturally occurring affordable housing. Such laws give a jurisdiction or a tenant group the chance to match an offer before an apartment building is sold, and preserving market-rate affordable apartments has been one of the central threads of Alexandria's Housing 2040 work.
Xypolia holds a master's in city planning from MIT and a master's in landscape architecture from Louisiana State University, and serves on Virginia Housing's Northern Virginia Advisory Council.
Xypolia has been the office's main voice before council since before McIlvaine left. She presented the city's five-year consolidated housing plan on April 28, the day before McIlvaine's last, and answered most of the substantive questions.
Council approved that plan unanimously, authorizing the city to seek about $1.06 million in Community Development Block Grant funds and $588,874 in HOME funds, along with a $5.3 million Section 108 loan toward the 495-unit Sansé and Naja development.
Pressed by Mayor Alyia Gaskins on why Alexandria's federal allocation keeps shrinking as need grows, Xypolia explained that HUD's two CDBG formulas favor cities with a growing poverty ratio or a declining population.
"Although it feels like the need is growing in Alexandria, which it does, it grows more in other cities, so their issues look more skewed," she said. The declining allocation, she said, reflects the city's comparatively stronger position even as need remains high.
She was equally direct about what that means in practice. Asked by Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley how the goal of six rehabilitated homes compared with past years, Xypolia said the target is set by the money available rather than the need.
"So we are not really working towards what we would like to do," she said. "We're working towards how far that budget of money can get."
The Office of Housing is carrying out Housing 2040, the update to the city's 2013 Housing Master Plan, which council adopted earlier this year.
Ryan Belmore is an Alexandria resident and the founder and publisher of The Alexandria Brief. Send tips, feedback, and story ideas to .
Alexandria, Va. news and information you won't find anywhere else.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Alexandria's office vacancy rate fell to 18.8% in the first half of 2026 from 21.6% a year earlier, according to a mid-year market report the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership released Tuesday, though the improvement was uneven across the city and tenants continued to give back space.The rate is better than Northern Virginia's 20.1%. On the other main measure, the comparison runs the other way: Alexandria posted negative net absorption of 160,400 square feet across an 18-million-square-foot inventory, while...
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Alexandria's office vacancy rate fell to 18.8% in the first half of 2026 from 21.6% a year earlier, according to a mid-year market report the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership released Tuesday, though the improvement was uneven across the city and tenants continued to give back space.
The rate is better than Northern Virginia's 20.1%. On the other main measure, the comparison runs the other way: Alexandria posted negative net absorption of 160,400 square feet across an 18-million-square-foot inventory, while the region absorbed a positive 302,274 square feet. Net absorption tracks how much occupied space grew or shrank.
AEDP attributes the vacancy decline to retaining the National Science Foundation, which moved in May into a 386,600-square-foot building the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office had occupied, and to office conversions, including the start of construction at 5001 Eisenhower Ave., a long-vacant building becoming affordable housing. The report says tenants are resizing as the market adjusts, and that across the region companies are shedding square footage to move into newer, better-amenitized buildings.
Most of the year-over-year improvement had already arrived by January. AEDP reported an 18.9% vacancy rate for year-end 2025 in the report it presented to City Council in February, meaning the rate has moved a tenth of a point in six months.
Of the city's four office submarkets, only Old Town and Old Town North saw vacancy rise. It reached 15.5%, and the submarket gave back 102,789 square feet, the worst net absorption in the city. It is also the largest, at 7.5 million square feet.
Carlyle remains the weakest by rate at 27.7%, down from 29.1% a year ago, with negative net absorption of 70,384 square feet. The West End improved to 16.9% and was the only submarket to add occupied space, 14,157 square feet. Potomac Yard again registered 0% vacancy across 908,527 square feet, which AEDP says signals demand outstripping a small inventory.
The largest leases signed were a 40,472-square-foot renewal by HumRRO at 66 Canal Center Plaza and 15,585 square feet taken by the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy at 675 N. Washington St., both in Old Town North. Charles Schwab took 10,761 square feet at 1920 Ballenger Ave., and the Water Environment Federation 10,131 square feet at 1940 Duke St., AEDP's own address.
Four notable sales closed. The largest was the Alexandria Professional Center at 4660 Kenmore Ave., which Chicago Pacific Founders bought for $16.5 million, or $140.72 per square foot. AEDP notes the building is primarily medical office, a sector drawing stronger regional demand. NNN REIT paid $15 million for 3800 Richmond Highway in Potomac Yard, or $353.59 per square foot — more than twice the West End rate. Washington University of Science and Technology bought 2900 Eisenhower Ave. for $7.2 million, and the Cohen Clinic for Plastic Surgery paid $4.9 million for 1505 Prince St.
For the first time, the semiannual report examines the industrial and flex market, where AEDP says demand is rising because such space is scarce inside the Beltway. Vacancy there rose to 5.9% from 4.9%, with negative net absorption of 41,900 square feet across a 4.4 million-square-foot inventory concentrated in the Eisenhower Valley and West End.
The increase came after Peraton vacated 14,000 square feet to consolidate in Herndon and WareSpace pulled 950 S. Pickett St. off the market to convert it to co-warehousing. That renovated space has since returned for lease, and AEDP says WareSpace is seeing high demand for it.
Alexandria City Public Schools signed the largest industrial lease of the period, 18,769 square feet at 602-608 S. Pickett St. for a textbook services center. Roda Auto Care took 16,590 square feet at 611 S. Pickett St., Collingwood Media Group 11,694 square feet at 841-881 S. Pickett St., and Singularity Security Group 8,966 square feet on Eisenhower Avenue.
AEDP said its figures come from CoStar data, analyzed against the city's boundaries. Office inventory counts buildings larger than 5,000 square feet, and the submarket figures do not cover the entire city.
The report landed the same day City Manager James Parajon is scheduled to give a State of the Economy presentation to City Council, at the body's first meeting since summer recess. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center.
Ryan Belmore is an Alexandria resident and the founder and publisher of The Alexandria Brief. Send tips, feedback, and story ideas to .
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