It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Eli Whitney Museum Workshop 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 Hamden, CT 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.
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 Brooksvale Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Ristorante Luce or visit Hamden Historical Society, 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 Hamden, CT, 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 Hamden, CT 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 Hamden, CT 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.
Four people were displaced from their home after an overnight fire in Hamden, according to officials.HAMDEN, CT — Four people were displaced from their home after an overnight fire Saturday in Hamden, according to officials.Crews responded around 2:20 a.m. to a report of a fire at a two-family house in the 200 block of Morse Street in Hamden, according to officials.Officials said the first-arriving crew found heavy fire coming from the porch and extended to the attic.“Engine 2 pulled a hose line to s...
HAMDEN, CT — Four people were displaced from their home after an overnight fire Saturday in Hamden, according to officials.
Crews responded around 2:20 a.m. to a report of a fire at a two-family house in the 200 block of Morse Street in Hamden, according to officials.
Officials said the first-arriving crew found heavy fire coming from the porch and extended to the attic.
“Engine 2 pulled a hose line to start to extinguish the fire, while the crew from Rescue 2 did a search of the 1st and 2nd floor to make sure all occupants were safely out of the building,” officials wrote in a news release.
Four people live at the home, a single occupant living on the first floor with a family of three on the second floor, according to officials.
“There was only 1 occupant at home at the time of the fire,” officials wrote. “She was alerted by the smoke alarm and the 1st floor occupant to exit the building.”
She was evaluated by American Medical Response and denied transport to the hospital, according to officials.
The four residents were offered assistance and accommodations by the American Red Cross, according to officials.
Officials said the Cheshire, New Haven and North Haven fire departments provided station coverage in Hamden while Hamden firefighters battled the fire.
The Hamden Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the origin and cause of the fire.
“It is also extremely important to have working smoke detectors,” officials wrote. “Early detection and notification give you and your family the best chance of survival in the event of a fire.”
The town of Hamden is in the midst of installing six new humps on a very busy road, and let's just say the initial results were surprising. UPDATE: On Wednesday, the second speed hump was installed on Leeder Hill Drive and the third one is going in now (Thursday.) The town placed orange cones in the middle of the speed humps, which has helped alert motorists that they are now there. Of course, the signs were already installed on both sides too.HAMDEN, CT — The town of Hamden is in the midst of adding six speed humps to ...
UPDATE: On Wednesday, the second speed hump was installed on Leeder Hill Drive and the third one is going in now (Thursday.) The town placed orange cones in the middle of the speed humps, which has helped alert motorists that they are now there. Of course, the signs were already installed on both sides too.
HAMDEN, CT — The town of Hamden is in the midst of adding six speed humps to Leeder Hill Drive in an effort to reduce speeding.
If you're not familiar with Leeder Hill Drive, it's located off of Treadwell Street, and Treadwell is located off of Dixwell Avenue.
Leeder Hill Drive is a road that is a mile long in one direction, and it has an eclectic mix of uses including ACES Whitney Academy, ACES Whitney High School North, a massive retirement community, Whitney Center, and a large assisted living facility, Meadow Mills at Whitney Center.
There is also a church, Bible Gospel Center, a daycare, The Learning Center, Yale's Library Shelving Facility, and some manufacturing businesses too. There is also a condo complex of about 50 units known as Arbor Glen.
The street is known for vehicles traveling at high rates of speed, and several times fences have been crashed into and replaced near a sharp curve at the end of the street.
And so here we are, the town of Hamden is installing six speed humps in an effort to slow people down. As of Wednesday morning, one speed hump had been installed and the initial results have been interesting.
Despite two prominent signs indicating the speed hump is now there, a reporter witnessed a majority of vehicles going slightly airborne over the new speed hump and then quickly slowing down as if they were wondering what that object was.
A few cars did slow down before approaching the new speed hump. Crews are working Wednesday to install more speed humps.
Hopefully, folks will see the signs and slow down, because after all, that is the purpose of the new speed humps.
all photos taken by Brian McCready/Patch staff
HAMDEN, CT (WFSB) – Students in Hamden headed back to the classroom on Monday for their first day of school.The district’s superintendent, Gary Highsmith, said they prepared over the summer for a great school year.Highsmith said while the children enjoyed summer break, the district worked to get ready to welcome them back into the classroom.He said they did a lot of hiring to try and get the district fully staffed.He also told Channel 3 that they did a lot of planning to make sure they were ready to se...
HAMDEN, CT (WFSB) – Students in Hamden headed back to the classroom on Monday for their first day of school.
The district’s superintendent, Gary Highsmith, said they prepared over the summer for a great school year.
Highsmith said while the children enjoyed summer break, the district worked to get ready to welcome them back into the classroom.
He said they did a lot of hiring to try and get the district fully staffed.
He also told Channel 3 that they did a lot of planning to make sure they were ready to set students up for success.
After a summer filled with anticipation, Highsmith said he was more ready than ever to see schools again filled with students.
“That excitement, the first day of school, what they’re going to learn, their new adventures, they’ve grown up a little bit, they’re a little more mature, so they’re excited to be back and we’re happier to have them back than they are excited to be back,” Highsmith said.
There were a couple of things he wanted parents to know, like the district’s cell phone policy and a new curriculum.
Last spring, Hamden tested out a new policy and they officially implemented it this year.
Starting Monday, students in grades K through 8 won’t have access to their phone while in school.
If a child is in high school, they can check their phones, but only in passing time.
Also new this year, children in 4th through 6th grade were met with a new curriculum, one the district already started using in 1st through 3rd grade last year.
“We wanted to make sure that there was some continuity so students that had it in the 3rd grade would continue in the 4th and 5th and 6 grade,” Highsmith said. “[It’s] to make sure that kids acquire the literacy skills that they’ll need to be productive citizens and good students, to make critical thinking important so that students understand the fundamentals of literacy.”
The superintendent said that this years’ budget was fully supported, which meant the district could try and make big improvements in some of its priorities like chronic absenteeism and programming for students with disabilities.
Students from Hamden Hall are among the more than 16,000 semifinalists announced in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program.HAMDEN, CT — Students from Hamden Hall were among the more than 16,000 semifinalists recently announced by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) in its 71st annual scholarship program.According to a news release provided by NMSC, these academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth ...
HAMDEN, CT — Students from Hamden Hall were among the more than 16,000 semifinalists recently announced by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) in its 71st annual scholarship program.
According to a news release provided by NMSC, these academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring.
The following Hamden Hall Country Day School students were announced as semifinalists by NMSC:
Over 1.3 million juniors in about 20,000 high schools entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants.
The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state, according to the NMSC.
The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.
To become a finalist, the semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application that includes information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.
A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test, the NMSC noted.
From over 16,000 semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level next February.
Three types of National Merit Scholarships will then be offered in spring 2026.
All finalists will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis.
About 830 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 150 corporations and business organizations for finalists who meet their specified criteria.
In addition, about 150 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,600 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.
National Merit Scholarship winners of 2026 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July.
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.The grant will support Quinnipiac's Prison Education and Community Engagement program. Press releaseHAMDEN - Quinnipiac University has been awarded a $100,000 Accelerator Grant from the New England Prison Education Collaborative (NEPEC), making it one of only five institutions in New England selected to expand higher-education opportunities for incarcerated learners. The grant will support Quinnipiac’s Prison E...
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
Press release
HAMDEN - Quinnipiac University has been awarded a $100,000 Accelerator Grant from the New England Prison Education Collaborative (NEPEC), making it one of only five institutions in New England selected to expand higher-education opportunities for incarcerated learners. The grant will support Quinnipiac’s Prison Education and Community Engagement program.
The New England Prison Education Collaborative is a five-year initiative of the New England Board of Higher Education; this initiative is funded by Ascendium Education Group to implement the recommendations of the 2023 New England Commission on the Future of Higher Education in Prison.
A key aspect of NEPEC’s work is increasing overall higher education institution readiness to improve student access and success upon release through resource development and sub-granting. In addition to the Accelerator Grant funding, NEPEC provides institutions with project implementation support, data research and coordination to ensure the sustainability of programs.
“Quinnipiac is honored to receive this grant,” said Provost Debra Liebowitz. “It recognizes the innovative, collaborative work of our Prison Education and Community Engagement program, which advances community-informed solutions and reflects our mission to foster engaged citizenship and contribute to the public good.”
The project will lay the groundwork for exploring ways to expand Quinnipiac’s prison education initiatives into a full degree-granting pathway. In partnership with community and correctional stakeholders, the program will examine the systems, staffing and structures needed for Quinnipiac to become a Pell-eligible, degree-conferring provider of higher education in prison.
Quinnipiac is considering creating a baccalaureate program at a correctional facility that currently lacks any four-year college option, while also building strong reentry supports to help students transition successfully after incarceration.
Amber Kelly, professor of social work at Quinnipiac, is leading the effort.
“This grant empowers us to extend Quinnipiac’s mission beyond our campus borders,” Kelly said. “By bringing education inside the prison walls, we’re not just offering classes, we’re supporting dignity, opportunity and second chances. Education can be a powerful tool for reducing recidivism and strengthening communities, and Quinnipiac is proud to leverage our quality educational programming for those rebuilding their lives for a better future and society.”
The announcement comes at a pivotal moment. Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students was reinstated in 2023, creating new pathways to higher education inside prisons. Research shows incarcerated people who participate in postsecondary education are significantly less likely to reoffend, and that these programming opportunities provide benefits that ripple outward to families and communities.
University officials note how Quinnipiac’s selection for the competitive NEPEC grant underscores its commitment to making education innovative and inclusive. It also positions the university as a regional leader in an area of higher education that is gaining national momentum.
The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?
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