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Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always

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Home Care In Due West, SC

Home Care Due West, SC

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 Young Place 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 Due West, SC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Due West, SC

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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TESTIMONIALS

“I have been with the company for a while now. I can honestly say that the staff goes above and beyond for their clients. Even working nonstop trying to cover for call outs and everything else. This is a business but it is more than just a business. You can feel the love that the staff has for the clients and how they go above and beyond for them. The clients become family here and are cared for as such.”

Brittney D.
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TESTIMONIALS

“ABC were able to quickly organize the 24/7 care we needed to help my mother through her final days of hospice. All of the attending staff were courteous and professional. The owner communicated clearly and we were very thankful for her attention and quick response to our situation. I would highly recommend ABC to assist with your senior care needs.”

David M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“When I left my old company and went to a new one being the same thing I was, a caregiver, I was nervous. I wasn't treated the best or appreciated at all at the old company so I figured this one would be the same way but boy was I wrong. I work for a company that appreciates me and is willing to work with me through any situation so we are all on the same page. They respect me as their employee, a mother and just a person in general. Yesterday when I went to the office to pick up my check, I was given an award. The boss of our company chose ME as "Employee of the Month of September". Talking about feeling appreciated, I've only been working for them for 4 months. I cannot thank Always Best Care enough for choosing me and believing in me and my work. It's not always easy but it's worth it!????”

Catlyn C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always best care was my very first home health job coming out of high school and it has truly been a experience for me. I did leave to explore and find my way in the world however in 2020 I gotten the opportunity to come back with open arms and I couldn't pass it up. This company works hard to help employees and clients. The owner miss Beth is a strong independent women that gets the job done and will help anyone that needs it. She has seen things in me that I hasn't been able to see in my self, and that is why this will be my forever employment. If you want to work somewhere where communication is key in this business, a business that cares about you and wants to see you move up in the world you need to come and work for this company. I am not just saying that because I work there now. I am saying this because I have a job that enjoy going to work each and everyday.”

Kirstie I.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Dear Beth and Kathi, I want to thank you for sending Tonya to me. She is a great caregiver. She has been a lot of help since my husband of 64 years passed away.”

Barbara
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider Everyone at Always Best is always responsive and so helpful. They take great care of my parents and have become part of our family. In addition to caring for my parents, they assist with meals as needed and do light housekeeping and laundry. They have reduced our stress level so much, knowing that the folks are well taken care of around the clock.”

96woodkat
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TESTIMONIALS

“A great big thank you for the wonderful services as well as friendship & "seeming like part of the family" that Ms. Anita wore. She is an angel and my mom as well as family loved her! I definitely recommend your agency to people & we feel very blessed that "Ms. Anita" was part of our lives & how much she meant to us! Any patient that has her to care for them will definitely get 100% care - she is great! Thank you for being so personable, kind & caring... God bless you and your agency and thank you so much!”

Pattie D.
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TESTIMONIALS

“A great big thank you for the wonderful services as well as friendship & "seeming like part of the family" that Ms. Anita wore. She is an angel and my mom as well as family loved her! I definitely recommend your agency to people & we feel very blessed that "Ms. Anita" was part of our lives & how much she meant to us! Any patient that has her to care for them will definitely get 100% care - she is great! Thank you for being so personable, kind & caring... God bless you and your agency and thank you so much!”

Hoyt &.
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TESTIMONIALS

“ABC helped me take care of my mother in her last few weeks. Trudy the Caregiver was wonderful! Trudy was so gentle with mom, very compassionate and professional. You could tell she loves her job. she started helping in the evenings, then on weekends. Mom's health got really bad and she was hospitalized and Trudy changed her schedule so she could stay up at the hospital all night with my Mom. I never had to worry because I knew mom was in good hands and that Trudy would te… See more”

Mary K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Other ABC was hired to help me take care of my mother in her last few weeks. Trudy mom's Caregiver was wonderful! Trudy was so gentle with mom, very compassionate and professional. Trudy first started helping mom in the evenings but as mom got worse she changed her schedule and started helping on the weekends. Anytime I needed them Trudy came to the rescue! Mom was hospitalized and I'm a single mother and needed someone to stay at the hospital with mom during the night. Trudy stayed with my mom every night at the hospital and I never had to worry because I knew mom was in the best hands and that if anything went wrong Trudy would text or call me. I definitely will recommend this company to anyone they were a blessing.”

Maryk84
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TESTIMONIALS

“I’ve been a employee for 3 years I love working here”

Kathi S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Dear Lynn, It was a pleasure working with you and your accomplished and compassionate team during my husband’s illness. Each step of my experience with your company was professional and at the same time caring and loving, from the initial interview to the final day. The aid who spent time in our home was willing to do whatever was requested and was kind and truly caring. I compliment you and your competent team for lessening the burden and for making the journey as pleasant as possible. With sincere thanks, Laura G.”

Laura G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care of Greenwood has given us exceptional service. We are grateful for the tireless devotion of Beth Kapperman to our needs. She is professional, compassionate, and extremely well versed in all aspects of providing top flight senior services. We feel so fortunate to have Beth and her team working on our behalf. Grandpa is 90 years old and has a rare movement disorder. He is able to live at home and enjoy a wonderful quality of life because of the in-home care we receive through Always Best Care. Grandpa is fond of his ABC caregiver Missy. She is kind to him. They seem like life long friends together. Missy is our angel. She is capable and willing to do whatever is necessary for grandpa. Always Best Care provides life saving services for families that want their loved ones to enjoy the comforts of home. We simply could not do it without them. Furthermore, we have had the benefit of Beth's knowledge of other options for Great Grandma who needs skilled nursing care at age 99. We are so thankful for the peace of mind afforded us through our relationship with Beth Kapperman and her company Always Best Care Senior Services of Greenwood.”

Selos S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Really appreciate how quickly Always Best Care was able to get care started for my father with such a short notice. The caregivers did an amazing job and I would highly recommend them to others.”

Linda Z.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care of Greenwood has given us exceptional service. We are grateful for the tireless devotion of Beth Kapperman to our needs. She is professional, compassionate, and extremely well versed in all aspects of providing top flight senior services. We feel so fortunate to have Beth and her team working on our behalf. Grandpa is 90 years old and has a rare movement disorder. He is able to live at home and enjoy a wonderful quality of life because of the in-home care we receive through Always Best Care. Grandpa is fond of his ABC caregiver Missy. She is kind to him. They seem like life long friends together. Missy is our angel. She is capable and willing to do whatever is necessary for grandpa. Always Best Care provides life saving services for families that want their loved ones to enjoy the comforts of home. We simply could not do it without them. Furthermore, we have had the benefit of Beth's knowledge of other options for Great Grandma who needs skilled nursing care at age 99. We are so thankful for the peace of mind afforded us through our relationship with Beth Kapperman and her company Always Best Care Senior Services of Greenwood.”

Bernad L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Every single person that I spoke with at your place of business was super helpful and very friendly. I could not have asked for them to be anymore helpful all while being so respectful and kind. You just don't get that everyday when dealing with different agencies and other people, so it was very important to me that to let you know what an incredible job the staff is doing in your facility. From the lady who answered the phone to the lady who assisted with transportation arrangements, each time I called was nothing short of accommodating. Thank you for teaching your staff that respect and friendliness goes a long way as does everyone helping to make things happen for the RESIDENT!!”

Duncan S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Every single person that I spoke with at your place of business was super helpful and very friendly. I could not have asked for them to be anymore helpful all while being so respectful and kind. You just don't get that everyday when dealing with different agencies and other people, so it was very important to me that to let you know what an incredible job the staff is doing in your facility. From the lady who answered the phone to the lady who assisted with transportation arrangements, each time I called was nothing short of accommodating. Thank you for teaching your staff that respect and friendliness goes a long way as does everyone helping to make things happen for the RESIDENT!!”

Lori S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care of Greenwood has given us exceptional service. We are grateful for the tireless devotion of Beth Kapperman to our needs. She is professional, compassionate, and extremely well versed in all aspects of providing top flight senior services. We feel so fortunate to have Beth and her team working on our behalf. Grandpa is 90 years old and has a rare movement disorder. He is able to live at home and enjoy a wonderful quality of life because of the in-home care we receive through Always Best Care. Grandpa is fond of his ABC caregiver Missy. She is kind to him. They seem like life long friends together. Missy is our angel. She is capable and willing to do whatever is necessary for grandpa. Always Best Care provides life saving services for families that want their loved ones to enjoy the comforts of home. We simply could not do it without them. Furthermore, we have had the benefit of Beth's knowledge of other options for Great Grandma who needs skilled nursing care at age 99. We are so thankful for the peace of mind afforded us through our relationship with Beth Kapperman and her company Always Best Care Senior Services of Greenwood.”

Jane R.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care provides a in-home care for a variety of needs. The owner of the company comes in to your home for a free evaluation of the client and spent over an hour talking to us about my dad, They provide service for a minimum of one hour to overnights. Their workers are very knowledgeable and friendly. Even though their primary job is to care for your loved one they are there to do light housework, laundry, etc. Their rates are reasonable and you can be assured that your loved one is well taken care of under their care.”

Karen F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Very professional and very well run. Provide good help at a reasonable price. Also very responsive to any request. Would not hesitate to recommend them to others.”

Alan W.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Great Place. Really caring people. would recommend if a friend of family member need non-medical care.”

Maryanne M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“The best care anyone can offer.”

Vivian T.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Very professional and very well run. Provide good help at a reasonable price. Also very responsive to any request. Would not hesitate to recommend them to others.”

Gerald T.
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TESTIMONIALS

“The best care anyone can offer.”

Vivian T.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Due West, SC?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Due West, SC

Types of Elderly Care in Due West, SC

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Due West, SC
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Due West, SC
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Poinsett State Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Due West, SC
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Town Cafe or visit Erskine Beach, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care Due West, SC

Benefits of Home Care in Due West, SC

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Due West, SC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Due West, SC

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your SC's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Due West, SC

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Due West, SC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Due West, SC

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Due West, SC

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:

  • The Renaissance Senior Living
Home Care Due West, SC

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Due West, SC

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Due West, SC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care Due West, SC

Latest News in Due West, SC

How the location of sunrise and sunset changes throughout the year

Science Have you ever wondered why the direction of sunset changes throughout the year? We usually speak of the sun setting in the west, but technically it only sets due west at the spring and autumn equinoxes. For the rest of the year, the direction of sunset pivots about this westerly point, moving northerly in winter, and towards the south in summer. (In the northern hemisphere, the sunset tends more northerly in summer and more southerly in winter.)...

Science

Have you ever wondered why the direction of sunset changes throughout the year? We usually speak of the sun setting in the west, but technically it only sets due west at the spring and autumn equinoxes. For the rest of the year, the direction of sunset pivots about this westerly point, moving northerly in winter, and towards the south in summer. (In the northern hemisphere, the sunset tends more northerly in summer and more southerly in winter.)

Technically the sun only sets due west at the spring and autumn equinoxes.

If you’re an early riser, you’ll have noticed that the same symmetries apply to the easterly directions of sunrise. But it must have taken years for ancient astronomers to notice the particulars of all these patterns, let alone explain them astronomically.

One of the earliest records of such an observation may lie in the alignment of the Wurdi Youang stone circle in Victoria, on land traditionally owned by the Wathaurong people. The circle’s age is unknown, but it could be as old as 11,000 years, and researchers – including former Monash academic Duane Hamacher – think it's likely that the circle includes deliberate markers of the direction of sunset at the solstices and equinoxes.

We’ll never know just why, or even if, the builders of Wurdi Youang, Stonehenge, and other stone arrangements marked out the directions of sunrise or sunset at solstices and equinoxes. But historians do know that ancient Greek-speaking people deduced an extraordinary amount of astronomical information from the way the sunset and sunrise directions change throughout the year.

Most of the early Greek astronomical manuscripts have been lost, but their content was developed and codified by Claudius Ptolemy, about 150CE, in a book known as Almagest. It’s one of those ancient Greek classics that owe their survival to mediaeval Arabic scholars. Its first printed appearance, in Venice in 1515, was based on a mediaeval Latin translation of the Arabic adaptation of the original Greek – quite a multicultural achievement!

Among many other things Ptolemy was interested in was the fact that the symmetry in the arc of sunset directions is reflected in the symmetry between the sun’s midday altitude at the summer and winter solstices. The sunset direction reaches its northerly and southerly extremes at the solstices, while the noon altitudes are also at their extremes (highest and lowest) at the solstices. The midpoints in both cases occur at the equinoxes.

Thanks largely to Hipparchus of Nicaea – who worked about 150BCE, and to whom Ptolemy was indebted – astronomers had already figured out the geometrical configuration of the equinoxes. To do this, they used the concept of two imaginary planes cutting through a huge imaginary “celestial sphere” centred on the Earth. You can get the idea by visualising a third, more obvious plane – an extension of the one we appear to be standing on, bounded by the horizon with the sky sitting on top like a hemispherical dome.

The first plane is that of the “celestial equator”, which is parallel to the plane of the Earth’s equator. This is the plane in which the sun appears to make its daily journey about Earth, from sunrise to sunset and on through the night until sunrise again.

Today, following pioneers such as Nicolas Copernicus, we can imagine this more easily, because we know it’s not the sun that is moving but the Earth, which is rotating on its axis from west to east – that is, in the plane of the equator – producing the illusion that the sun rises and sets each day.

The second plane is that of the “ecliptic”, the sun’s apparent yearly path around the Earth. It must have seemed strange to the ancients that the sun had two different paths in its journey about the Earth. Still, these astronomers had figured out that these two paths lay in two different, intersecting planes. The equinoxes and the directions of sunset show why.

The equinoxes occur when the sun sets due west, and the days and nights are (virtually) of equal length everywhere on Earth. At the equator, however, the days and nights are always 12 hours long, so the spring and autumn equinoxes must happen when the sun is “on” the equator. So, in its yearly journey along the ecliptic, there are only two days when the sun crosses the equator. Which means that the ecliptic and equator must be in different planes, and must intersect at the equinoxes.

Ptolemy’s goal was to calculate the angle between these two imaginary planes, so that the celestial equator and ecliptic could be represented accurately – via an armillary sphere, for example. Like the Babylonians and others before them, the Greeks wanted to be able to keep track of the stars and planets, in order to study the ways of the deities who ruled them, and also to help with navigation.

Ptolemy reasoned as follows. At the equinoxes – when the direction of the sunset is halfway between the most northerly and southerly sunset points – the sun is at the point of intersection of the ecliptic and the celestial equator, as I mentioned. So the angle between these two intersecting planes must be half the difference between the summer and winter solstice solar altitudes, which exhibit the same symmetry.

He measured this angle to be about 23°40', or 23.67°, in the ballpark of a value found earlier by Aristarchus of Samos (whose maverick heliocentric theory of planetary motion had inspired Copernicus).

It was an incredible deduction, even if Ptolemy did believe that the planets and stars, including the sun, literally moved around the Earth. Today, of course, we believe it's the Earth that's moving in the plane of the ecliptic, not the sun. Astronomers also have a more up-to-date figure for the angle of tilt, 23.44°. (The change since Ptolemy’s time is largely because of the phenomenon of “precession”, a slow rotation of the Earth’s axis.)

What this means is that the Earth’s axis, and consequently its equatorial plane, must be tilted at an angle of 23.44° to the plane of the Earth’s yearly orbit along the ecliptic. If there were no tilt, the Earth would revolve around the sun with its north pole pointing upwards, and the ecliptic and equator would be in the same plane. The sun would always set due west, and there’d be no seasons.

Another interesting deduction made by earlier astronomers is that these changing directions depend on the observer’s latitude. As the intriguing Elizabethan mathematician Thomas Harriot showed, there’s a formula giving the angle by which the direction deviates from due west at any given time of year at any particular location on Earth.

The formula uses the sun’s “declination”, the angle it makes with the celestial equator. It’s a different measurement from the solar “altitudes” that Ptolemy used in his calculation, which are measured with respect to the horizon. At the equinoxes, the sun appears to be “on” the equator, so its declination – its angle above the equator – is zero. The maximum declinations, which occur at the solstices, are ±23.44° (that is, 23.44°N and 23.44°S with respect to the equator).

Harriot knew all about how to take these different measurements, and how they related to the geometry of the celestial sphere – in the 1580s and 1590s, he was Sir Walter Raleigh’s navigational advisor, when Raleigh was sending fleets of sailing ships to America. And, like his famous contemporary Galileo Galilei, Harriot was also a Copernican.

In the 1590s, Harriot took his own careful measurements to update Ptolemy’s. He also wrote down the formula for the sunset directions: the sine of the deviation of the direction from due west = the sine of the sun’s declination at noon on the given day/the cosine of the observer’s latitude.

So, at the equinoxes, when the declination is zero and therefore so is its sine, the deviation of the direction of sunset is also zero, and the sun sets due west as expected.

For an observer at the equator, the latitude is zero, and cos 0 =1. So the deviation from due west is just the declination of the sun on that day. For instance, the maximum deviation, at the solstices, is 23.44°.

For all other latitudes, the cosine of the latitude is less than one, and since it's on the denominator of the equation, the maximum change in sunset direction is greater than 23.44°. For Melbourne, it's 30.3° away from due west, towards the south in summer and towards the north in winter.

A couple of months after the winter solstice, in the weeks around the September equinox, it’s wonderful to watch the setting sun making its way back towards the west, hovering there at the equinox, and then inching its way towards the south as the days get longer and spring finally arrives. And it’s fascinating that so much astronomical information lies hidden in such seemingly simple natural phenomena.

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Follow Our Upstate Donut Trail & Find Your Favorite Donuts

Are you craving donuts? Greenville, SC and the surrounding area are full of melt-in-your-mouth delicious donuts. We’ve researched the local donut shops, and of course, taste-tested. All that’s left is for you to hop on the donut trail. Choose one to try or visit them all. Let us know where you found your favorite Greenville donut.National Donut Day is June 2nd, 2023. Jump down to National Do...

Are you craving donuts? Greenville, SC and the surrounding area are full of melt-in-your-mouth delicious donuts. We’ve researched the local donut shops, and of course, taste-tested. All that’s left is for you to hop on the donut trail. Choose one to try or visit them all. Let us know where you found your favorite Greenville donut.

National Donut Day is June 2nd, 2023. Jump down to National Donut Day Deals to see where you might be able to grab a free donut in Greenville!

You’d be lying through your teeth if you said you don’t crave a donut every once in a while. I mean, we’re all human and want sweets in our life, so grabbing a donut every now and then is perfectly fine.

Plan Your Donut Trail Route

We’ve compiled a list of places for you to check out and eat until your heart’s content! Based on your location and donut preferences, pop a few of these addresses into your map app and get going. Don’t forget to let us know about your favorite donut spots.

Don’t want to decide? Follow our 5 Stop Donut Trail in Greenville, SC. Just click the box in the upper left hand corner of the map below and follow the blue directions on the left.

This map was created by a user. Learn how to create your own.

Amazing Donuts: Greenville SC

1300 SC-14, Greer, SC

A mochinut is a variation of a traditional donut made the rice dough called mochi. The result is a light and chewy flavorful dough, that comes in a few daily flavors that vary. We really liked the strawberry shortcake, blackberry funnel cake, and rice krispy treat mochinuts.

3935 Pelham Road, Greenville

Duck Donuts in Greenville offers made-to-order, mouth-watering donuts. Each donut can be customized with a coating, topping, or drizzle. Or you can try one of their fan favorites such as Bacon in the Sun, Chocolate Caramel Crunch, or Strawberry Shortcake. You can even place an order online and pick it up if you’re in a hurry.

860 S Church Street, Greenville, SC 109 SE Main Street, Simpsonville, SC

Located on Church Street in Greenville and Main Street in Simpsonville, Farm Fresh Fast serves gluten-free, vegan and sugar-free donuts. They bake their donuts fresh in-house every morning. They’re dedicated to covering a wide variety of food allergies and diets.

Some of the flavors they offer are Cookies & Cream, Red Velvet Cake, S’mores, and Caramel Delight. They don’t offer every flavor every day, but you’re sure to find a unique flavor during your visit. Bottom line: these donuts are a healthier alternative to most other treats!

A pop-up doughnut shop that will likely have their permanent home at 1700 E. North Street, Greenville later in 2023, Scout’s Doughnuts is run by a husband-wife team and is a creative take on doughnuts and flavors.

Some of their doughnuts are so fluffy and are actually cronuts (a cross between a doughnut and a crossaint, which, really, you can never ever go wrong with).

Follow them on Instagram or sign up for their email newsletter to get the latest info on where you can get their doughnuts.

126 Augusta Street at Gather GVL

Prepared daily, HenDough offers a changing variety of donuts. They offer cake donuts, yeast donuts, filled donuts, vegan donuts, bear claws & fritters. Donuts are priced individually, but a purchase of a dozen donuts will receive a 10% discount.

Want to know more about the unique, family-friendly venue that HenDough occupies? Gather GVL is one of our favorite venues in downtown Greenville that we can’t get enough of!

8590 Pelham, Road, Greenville, SC

You can try flavors like red velvet with oreo at The Mad Batter Bakery and Cafe. Their strawberry sprinkle doughnut looks so delicious and is giving us major Homer Simpson vibes. (Closed through Father’s Day 2023)

Food Truck

Who doesn’t love food trucks? After the pop-pop shop, it’s time to check out The Donut Wagon. Since 2018, this mobile food truck sells made from scratch glazed donuts along with handcrafted soft pretzels.

Once a week, they visit local towns, events, festivals, and farmers’ markets to serve their products. You can follow their schedule on social media to find out where they’ll be next!

Delicious Donuts in Easley, SC

122 Folger Avenue, Easley, SC

You Drive Me Glazy offers gourmet mini donuts and customers get to custom-create each one they purchase.

Spartanburg, SC Donuts

147 E Main Street, Spartanburg, SC

Offering delicious donuts along with a breakfast and lunch menu, Downtown Deli & Donuts is a great place to go for a meal or just a yummy donut snack. Their donut flavors rotate weekly.

Due West Donuts

205 South Main Street, Due West, SC

Go early, because these delicious donuts from Mama’s Sweet Shoppe will sell out.

Donuts in Simpsonville, SC

926 NE Main Street, Simpsonville, SC

Lickin Good Donuts has some of the most unique flavors and yummy donuts, including ones covered in fruity pebbles!

219 West Butler Road, Mauldin, SC

Hand-made, gourmet donuts with a wide variety of toppings and fillings, plus breakfast sandwiches, is what you’ll find at Big Apple Donuts.

117 Batesville Road, Simpsonville, SC

Classic, fresh donuts, apple fritters, filed donuts and more at Maverick’s Donuts in Simpsonville.

Delicious Donuts in Gaffney, SC

720 S Granard St, Gaffney, SC 29341

Make your way to Gaffney to find more scratch-made donuts at Sunny’s Donuts! From apple fritters, cinnamon rolls, apple bear claws, jelly-filled donuts, to old-fashioned dour cream donuts, this donut shop serves homemade donuts to will leave you yearning for more than just one.

Donuts in Hendersonville, NC

309 North Main Street, Hendersonville, NC

McFarlan’s Bake Shop is an old-timey bakery filled with delicious cookies, pastries, pies, cakes and donuts. Try the Boston Cream or Glazed. We don’t think you’ll be disappointed. These donuts practically melt in your mouth.

Expect a long line, sometimes stretching out the door. But don’t worry, it goes pretty quick. Go early for the best selection.

By 1 pm on Saturdays, there are usually very few donuts left, which is what happened in the picture below!

Celebrate National Donut Day

Wondering where you can celebrate National Donut Day? Celebrated on the first Friday of June, this day was originally started by Salvation Army in Chicago as a way to honor their members who assisted in WWI by serving donuts to the troops. There are a few places in Greenville where you can grab some donut deals in celebration of National Donut Day.

We recommend checking with your nearest location to ensure that they are participating. In years past, there was local participation.

You can even show your kids how intelligent you are by telling them some fun facts such as:

Participating Krispy Kreme locations will be offering a free donut of your choice on National Doughnut Day!

Dunkin’ is offering a free classic doughnut with the purchase of any beverage on June 2nd to celebrate. Find a nearby Dunkin’ location.

Stop by the Greenville Duck Donut store and get a cinnamon sugar doughnut. No purchase is necessary. This promotion is only available in shop.

They are going all out for Donut Day. Visit Scout’s Doughnuts at 1700 E North Street for these deals on June 2: 1. 1st 10 people in the door get a free doughnut & coffee, 2. Senior Graduates get a free doughnut, 3. Balloons and temporary doughnut tats for the kids, 4. A raffle to win Scout’s merch & Methodical coffee beans, and 5. Cinnamon sugar & coffee samples

Still Hungry?

Find more delicious food to enjoy in our guide to Greenville’s Restaurants.

Where do you find your favorite donut in the Upstate?

The Food Network filming at Upstate restaurant

[email protected] local restaurant is garnering the attention of The Food Network for its special take on a quintessential southern dessert. Grits and Groceries in Belton will be featured on the Food Network’s “Top 5 Restaurants,” sometime next year.Each show, hosted by Food Network stars, Sunny Anderson and Geoffry Zakharian, uncovers the top five places in the country to get a certain food item. Past episodes have focused on the best places to find fried chicken, the best burger and the best ice c...

[email protected]

One local restaurant is garnering the attention of The Food Network for its special take on a quintessential southern dessert. Grits and Groceries in Belton will be featured on the Food Network’s “Top 5 Restaurants,” sometime next year.

Each show, hosted by Food Network stars, Sunny Anderson and Geoffry Zakharian, uncovers the top five places in the country to get a certain food item. Past episodes have focused on the best places to find fried chicken, the best burger and the best ice cream.

Grits & Groceries will be highlighted for the restaurant’s famous fried pies. The network will be filming at the restaurant from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, according to Heidi Trull, who co-owns Grits & Groceries with her husband, Joe.

“We about fell over ourselves when we got the call,” Heidi said about receiving notice from the Food Network that the restaurant had been chosen for the television show. “Of course we said yes.

In addition to filming the pie making process, the Network will be looking to interview customers at the restaurant as well, Heidi said. Producers will be looking for people to discuss the fried pies and what makes them so special.

The fried pie has a long history with the Trulls. The two Carolina natives – Joe is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Heidi is from Sumter – grew up eating the specialty hand pies in various forms and flavors. But Joe took the confection to the next level while working as a pastry chef for Emeril Lagassee at Lagasse’s famous New Orleans restaurant, NOLA. The result is a bourbon and brown sugar soaked fresh apple filling enwrapped by a flaky pie crust that is deep fried. Trull then coats the warm pies in a cinnamon and sugar mix to mimic the crust of the traditional skillet fried pies and serves it with homemade cinnamon ice cream.

“We make about 200 pies a week,” Heidi said.

The Food Network appearance will be a first for the Trulls, though the restaurant, and the fried pies, have been featured in The New York Times and Garden & Gun Magazine.

The air date for the show that features the Trulls and Girts & Groceries is yet to be announced, Heidi said. But she hopes the exposure will have a lasting effect on a small business that is the sole provider for seven families and also utilizes local producers and purveyors.

“It’s really more than just a pie,” she said.

If you're interested in visiting Grits & Groceries, the address is 2440 Due West Highway, Belton, SC 29627

This Fall Dream Destination is Just Two Hours from Charlotte

This Fall Favorites Guide from South Carolina's Old 96 District will help kick-start your fall getaway planning.In Partnership with Old 96 District – South CarolinaFall is one of our favorite seasons for a reason! As the weather gets cooler and the leaves start to change, we’re ready to put on our sweaters and embrace the season. South...

This Fall Favorites Guide from South Carolina's Old 96 District will help kick-start your fall getaway planning.

In Partnership with Old 96 District – South Carolina

Fall is one of our favorite seasons for a reason! As the weather gets cooler and the leaves start to change, we’re ready to put on our sweaters and embrace the season. South Carolina’s Old 96 District captures the Fall spirit perfectly, making it a perfect stop on any road trip. Spanning the counties of Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens and McCormick, the district is home to many local farms, historic sites, unique shops, family-owned restaurants and more. Here are just some of our (many) favorite ways to celebrate the Fall in the Old 96 District.

Fall Foods

This wouldn’t be a proper Fall Favorites list if we didn’t talk about seasonal food. Our favorite taste in the District goes to the Apple Cider Donut at Mama’s Sweet Shoppe in Due West, SC. This charming bakery started from a humble camper selling donuts at the local farmers markets. They were so popular that they eventually grew to have their own brick-and-mortar place with lunch options and coffee. (Those are also delicious, if you were wondering.) Their menu changes daily, so keep an eye out for other decadent donut flavors like Raspberry Cheesecake and Maple Bacon.

Seasonal Sips

There’s just something magical about a glass of wine beside a campfire. Add live music and best friends to make an unforgettable evening! South Bend Winery in Greenwood, SC brings the whole package with delicious locally-made wine and backyard campfire seating. Swing by on a Saturday evening to enjoy live music. (We recommend ordering a charcuterie board for the table as well.)

Making Memories

Fall Festivals make for a great family outing or even romantic date. Fortunately for us, the Old 96 District has plenty. Hickory Hill Milk in Edgefield, SC welcomes guests on October Tuesdays to tour a working dairy farm, enjoy live music, explore the corn maze and more. Stewart Farms in Enoree, SC has a petting zoo and an expansive pumpkin patch ripe for the picking. Check out the whole calendar of events here.

The Great Outdoors

The Old 96 District has over 250 miles of hiking and biking trails! With so many options to choose from, the seasoned bike enthusiast to the fresh hiking beginner can find a match. Especially in the Fall, the weather becomes more temperate and the leaves change colors to create an even more scenic experience. It’s a must-trek for any outdoor lover looking to escape the crowds.

Ghosts

The only thing as South Carolinian as Bar-B-Que is a good ghost story! The Old 96 District has two Revolutionary War battlegrounds and too many historic buildings to name, so there’s always a good ghost story to share this spooky season. Some of our favorites include the haunted tours of Edgefield, where travelers can learn the bloody legend of Becky Cotton, dubbed “the Devil in Petticoats.” (There’s even a locally-made gin named after her.) Here’s a list of the Old 96 District’s Most Haunted Sites.

Stay

What better way to finish a Fall evening than to cozy up in a historic inn or bed & breakfast? Belmont Inn has been in service for over a century and rests right in the heart of Abbeville, SC next to the Abbeville Opera House, or enjoy a bed & breakfast experience at Sharon Manor only minutes away. Lady Amelia Bed & Breakfast Inn in Laurens County lets visitors cozy up in charming historic rooms, with a gourmet restaurant also on the grounds. If you’re looking for something dog-friendly, Greenwood, SC’s boutique hotel Inn on the Square is walking distance from several great restaurants and shops– and they have a jar of dog treats at the desk to welcome their furry guests.

This is only a small sampling of everything the Old 96 District has to offer. The next time you find yourself on a road trip through South Carolina, consider spending a night in the area and discovering all the unexpected wonders.

Dixie High School opened up for public tour

DUE WEST, S.C. (WSPA) – Parents in Abbeville County are concerned about conditions at two high schools in the district, originally built more than six decades ago.“I don’t think you would send a prisoner to some of these bathrooms at both of these schools,” said parent Jo Beth Hite.7News joined a public tour of Abbeville High School Tuesday and a public tour of Dixie High School Thursday.The issue is in the spotlight because the school board is getting cost estimates for re-building both schools i...

DUE WEST, S.C. (WSPA) – Parents in Abbeville County are concerned about conditions at two high schools in the district, originally built more than six decades ago.

“I don’t think you would send a prisoner to some of these bathrooms at both of these schools,” said parent Jo Beth Hite.

7News joined a public tour of Abbeville High School Tuesday and a public tour of Dixie High School Thursday.

The issue is in the spotlight because the school board is getting cost estimates for re-building both schools in phases and building a new, consolidated high school. Parents agree that something needs to be done, but not everyone agrees on how to address the aging buildings.

Dixie High School was built piecemeal, with parts of the schools built in the ’70s, parts built in the early ’00s, and original parts built in the ’50s.

“I’m glad to see that they are doing a really good job of keeping up their building here,” Hite said of Dixie. “I think this building is salvageable.”

According to the Dixie High School assistant principal, a group of citizens has raised more than $250,000 for the school since 2004 with the Dixie High School Foundation.

Hite toured both schools this week.

“I don’t think the Abbeville building is still salvageable,” she said.

However, she also said she thought the newer wing at Abbeville High built in 2002 was nicer than some older areas of Dixie High. Several parents told 7News they were shocked by the conditions at Abbeville High School this week.

Concerns came to light at a school board meeting a few weeks ago. One woman held up a water bottle filled with yellow water that she said came from Abbeville High School.

“We immediately went in and assessed the water situation at the high school,” said Abbeville County Schools Superintendent Dr. Julie Fowler. “Part of the problems at the high school are the result of pipes.”

She said the the city has since flushed the pipes. 7News observed the water from sinks and water fountains at Abbeville High School to be clear Tuesday.

Fowler said the district also did three tests for air quality and cleaned problem areas twice.

“At this point in time, we are comfortable in saying we have a report that says that the air quality is fine, or is safe, for students and our faculty and staff to be in,” she said.

Several members of the community told 7News they are very concerned about the cost to update.

The final decision about what will happen with the high schools will be up to voters.

Several members of the community told 7News they are very concerned about costs, both for re-building the schools and consolidating them.

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