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 Cherry Hill Farmhouse 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 Falls Church, VA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“We did not end up getting care from Always Best Care since our father uses”
“My family and I were blessed to find Rashid and his wonderful team of caregivers!”
“I'm writing this review as a friend and sometimes caregiver of a person with dementia.”
“Hi, Please know my Five Stars rating is very real & very honest! I reached out”
“My family has used Always Best Care for about five months now. We are grateful”
“Scott and his staff were excellent to work with. We quickly needed all night”
“My mother required some post-surgical assistance as she was healing from a knee replacement procedure.”
“Scott Maquire, owner is helpful and will work with you to develop a plan that”
“I had caregivers for my elderly mother from Always Best Care for close to three”
“Finding Always Best Care was a game changer for me and my mom (after trying”
“Our experience with Always Best Care Senior Services of Herndon was positive. Excellent communication and”
“Our family was delighted to have found Always Best Care Senior Services, having been recommended”
“With my wife bed bound and I the only caretaker, I was soon exhausted. Scott”
“I am a past client of this provider My mother was in hospice care and needed”
“Scott and his team provided excellent companion care for Mom as her dementia progressed. They”
“I had the good fortune to work for Scott Maguire at ABC following my move”
“Anyone reading this is likely where my family was. Completely exhausted and desperate. My husband”
“Wow--my family has worked with a number of companies to assist us through the years”
“I couldn’t be happier with the care Scott and his team have provided my mother”
“They were able to find a suitable care-giver within a relatively short time frame”
“Scott Maguire at ABC was very helpful when I needed to find an assisted living”
“I have worked with this company for many years as the leader in an assisted”
“Always Best Care has provided a wealth of knowledge. They helped me deal with”
“Always Best Care is a very respected business in Herndon. It is always a”
“Scott was a huge help to the Nay family by helping us find an Assisted”
“We did not end up getting care from Always Best Care since our father uses Medicaid, but they were very kind and helpful in connecting us with another agency who accepts Medicaid, and followed up with us to make sure we had reached the other agency.”
“My family and I were blessed to find Rashid and his wonderful team of caregivers! From the first day the emphasis was always on our father and how they could meet his needs and keep him comfortable. They took care of our dad as if he was a member of their family. The caring starts at the top with Rashid, who is amazing. He knew my father well and visited him often, always keeping us informed. He would be at the house to orient new care team members and introduce them to our father including weekends and shift change at 8 pm. When we could not be with our father, we knew he was in great hands. We were so fortunate to have found Rashid and his wonderful team of caring and empathetic caregivers, they were a blessing to us during a very difficult time.”
“I'm writing this review as a friend and sometimes caregiver of a person with dementia. She has received in-home services from Always Best Care for several years. Her home care aide, Brenda, helped my friend with things like organizing her files, paying bills, finding and keeping track of her things, canceling subscription items bought online and then not remembered, medication management, etc. She was kind, patient, and highly flexible. The company owner has also been wonderful to work with; kind, patient, flexible and responsive. I highly recommend ABC Senior Services!”
“Hi, Please know my Five Stars rating is very real & very honest! I reached out to Always Best Care S.S. (Fairfax County VA) & received the best customer service from Rashid after 11 exhausting calls. What I actually needed at that time they did not offer, but Rashid still proceeded to assist me. Rashid showed caring concerns and patience. Rashid even reached out on my behalf to others in his field of work as well provided me with further resources outside of his own practice! Not only did Rashid provide other resources, Rashid followed up with me the next day!! Mind you I missed the call/phone tag & Rashid still returned my call until we connected! That’s above beyond…. I was relieved of a lot of burden & false hope. The resources ended up being a huge success. So I want to highly recommend Contacting Always Best Care S.S. And have the pleasure I experienced with Rashid an awesome person, very professional top notch customer service for your needs. Rashid Farrell thank you for being you???? Octavia”
“My family has used Always Best Care for about five months now. We are grateful for the help and advice we have received. The home health aide sent to us has been outstanding and Scott Maguire has always been available for advice. We recommend ABC to anyone who needs its services.”
“Scott and his staff were excellent to work with. We quickly needed all night companions at the hospital and home for more than two months. Scott responded to our needs and provided some wonderful people. Highly recommend.”
“My mother required some post-surgical assistance as she was healing from a knee replacement procedure. Scott was very helpful in arranging a dependable and compassionate caregiver for the time which we needed the assistance. I could confidently attend to my work schedule knowing that my mother was receiving the help she needed for medication reminders, meal preparation, exercise prompts and having a supportive ear during the convalescence from Sue. I recommend Always Best Care Senior Services very highly.”
“Scott Maquire, owner is helpful and will work with you to develop a plan that works best for your situation. My mom loves here caregiver and I highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services for peace of mind,”
“I had caregivers for my elderly mother from Always Best Care for close to three years, and I would unreservedly do so again. It took a little bit to find providers who were right for my mother’s particular needs (besides becoming increasingly frail, she had severe anxiety), and for my schedule (my mother was living with me), but owner Scott Maguire was extremely accessible and responsive, and ultimately we established an arrangement that worked well. The caregivers were honest, reliable, caring, and responsive to my feedback, and communication via daily logs and in-person reporting ensured I was aware of anything I needed to know. I found the advantage of working with a small company whose owner I never had trouble reaching or getting to understand my needs a huge factor in what made this agency work for me.”
“Finding Always Best Care was a game changer for me and my mom (after trying several other companies). Scott was professional and responsive. He found the perfect companion for my mom (Kendall). She was reliable, flexible, thoughtful, kind and an excellent communicator. Within a short time, my mom began asking when that "nice Kendall" was coming again. I cannot recommend ABC Senior Services highly enough. I will always be grateful for their services.”
“Our experience with Always Best Care Senior Services of Herndon was positive. Excellent communication and billing was easy.”
“Our family was delighted to have found Always Best Care Senior Services, having been recommended by another senior care agency. They quickly responded with excellent experienced care givers who were terrific in caring for my father, giving him the attention he needed. The personal attention given by the owner was terrific. The nursing consultation was also appreciated. I highly recommend this agency.”
“With my wife bed bound and I the only caretaker, I was soon exhausted. Scott and Always Best Care came to my rescue by providing me with the help I needed to get through this ordeal. The young lady that came 7 hours a day was a Godsend to me. She was attentive and caring and made my wife's life so much better, no to mention my own. I would not have made it through without her. Scott dealt directly with the insurance people saving me from having to manage any record keeping and payment issues. That also relieves a lot of stress. I would strongly recommend Always Best Care to anyone in need of such services.”
“I am a past client of this provider My mother was in hospice care and needed help and companionship and I couldn’t be there 24/7. Always Best Care sent providers to be with her and I can’t say enough good things about them. They were compassionate and skilled, and always there when I needed them. I could relax knowing that my mom was in good hands.”
“Scott and his team provided excellent companion care for Mom as her dementia progressed. They ran errands with her, provided meals for her and Dad, and generally kept her engaged and entertained during the pandemic. Scott was a wealth of knowledge and always available to help us navigate the disease and it’s effects. I highly recommend him and his team!”
“I had the good fortune to work for Scott Maguire at ABC following my move from New Hampshire to Virginia. I was with the agency for eight years until last month when I moved to Florida. Scott always cared about his clients, and had a knack for matching them with compatible caregivers. He was always available for questions and concerns. I had opportunities to work for other agencies between clients, but chose to stick with Always Best Care, because the name of the agency says it all.”
“Anyone reading this is likely where my family was. Completely exhausted and desperate. My husband and I had been primary caregivers for my in-laws when one ended up with non-COVID pneumonia and the other had a stroke followed by a fall-- all since early January. Now vaccinated, they were ready for outside help and wanted it to start right away. We had been talking to an agency throughout the process that came highly recommended, Old Dominion. But they were not able to turn around an awesome caregiver in 72 hours and recommended I call one of their friendly competitors-- Scott- At Always Best Care Senior Services in Herndon. Scott understood that we were looking for stopgap care until Old Dominion could find someone permanent and after a call Friday afternoon, he had someone at my in-laws on Monday, 8:00am. And she was terrific. It makes all the difference to have such a positive experience from the beginning. My in-laws were very pleased and appreciated that Scott had been upfront that the caregiver he had available had a thick accent and that, combined with a mask, might be challenging for someone hearing impaired. This is an issue for my mother in law and it made all the difference that she knew in advance. The other thing I appreciated is that all of Scott's caregivers are vaccinated or on their way. The one he sent was getting her second shot later in her start week with us. Unfortunately, my father-in-law is going to need a stint in skilled rehab, so we won't be continuing with Scott's wonderful caregiver. But Scott stepped up to help provide some insiders perspective on facilities. There was nothing to gain from that, except putting goodness out into the world. The process is overwhelming and it made such a difference to get his perspective. We could not have been more pleased to have had such a terrific experience and highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services if you or a loved one is looked for quality care.”
“Wow--my family has worked with a number of companies to assist us through the years in the Annandale area. This is the best. Scott Maguire--the owner is responsive, collaborative, and empathetic to unique questions and requirements. This is the company we will work with hereafter.”
“I couldn’t be happier with the care Scott and his team have provided my mother this past year. They’ve been very responsive and flexible to her changing needs. I would recommend this very well-run company to anyone seeking top-notch care for their loved one.”
“They were able to find a suitable care-giver within a relatively short time frame”
“Scott Maguire at ABC was very helpful when I needed to find an assisted living facility for my mother. Later, when my mother's needs increased, ABC provided a very good companion for her. I recommend Scott and ABC without reservation.”
“I have worked with this company for many years as the leader in an assisted living community in the local Herndon neighborhood. I have found that the caregivers at "Always Best Care" were compassionate, caring and engaging with the the residents they served with our community. The management team at Always Best Care, in addition, were very responsive to any questions or concerns that we may have had and resolved issues immediately. The management team often visited their team members in the community ensuring that their employees were engaging with their clients and performing professionally in the "guest community". I would highly recommend this organization if you are looking for a team who can understand the needs of the senior as well as the needs of the family.”
“Always Best Care has provided a wealth of knowledge. They helped me deal with all the issues that appeared once my Mom got sick and could no longer take care of herself. Scott shared ideas and information. He was able to direct me to VA services I didn't realize my Mom was entitled. This money thanks to Scott has allowed my Mom to stay in her home and have services provided to her. I highly recommend Scott and his caring wonderful staff at Always Best Care.”
“Always Best Care is a very respected business in Herndon. It is always a pleasure to work with Scott and his team.”
“Scott was a huge help to the Nay family by helping us find an Assisted Living Home that suited my parent's budget and lifestyle. Scott identified our financial concerns and then went to work looking for a place for my parents. He found a great place closer to my home and my parents are thrilled with it and are able to bank money instead of wasting money at the place they were at before. Scott's referral service will always be remembered by the Nay Family”
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 Cavalier Trail 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 2941 Restaurant or visit Tinner Hill Historic Park, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Falls Church, VA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Falls Church, VA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Falls Church, VA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
[Episcopal News Service] The Rev. Kevin Laskowski’s road to “Jeopardy!” fame, as he tells the story, began in a moment of grief. It was February 2023, and he had recently lost his father to leukemia.Up late one night and “in my feelings,” he recalled his childhood love of “Jeopardy!” and how his parents had told him he ought to be on the show. At 2 a.m., he decided to stop “doomscrolling” on his phone and instead took the online test that is the first step toward becoming a contest...
[Episcopal News Service] The Rev. Kevin Laskowski’s road to “Jeopardy!” fame, as he tells the story, began in a moment of grief. It was February 2023, and he had recently lost his father to leukemia.
Up late one night and “in my feelings,” he recalled his childhood love of “Jeopardy!” and how his parents had told him he ought to be on the show. At 2 a.m., he decided to stop “doomscrolling” on his phone and instead took the online test that is the first step toward becoming a contestant on the popular quiz show.
Within the next few months, he received a reply from the show asking him to take another test and then an invitation to a Zoom audition. In September 2024, he was at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Centreville, Virginia, where he serves as priest-in-charge, when he got the final call. He didn’t recognize the number, but it came from California. It was the show, asking him to fly out to compete in front of a studio audience for an upcoming episode.
“I went from a casual fan to actually hoping to win a few games and now I’m heading to the Tournament of Champions,” Laskowski, 44, told Episcopal News Service in a phone interview this month.
Laskowski, who lives in Falls Church, took home $53,000 from his three-game win streak in November, enough to qualify for the show’s annual tournament. He will compete against two other “Jeopardy!” champions in an episode scheduled to air Jan. 31.
No surprise, Laskowski is sworn to secrecy about the outcome of that match. He told ENS that in general “the competition gets fierce” at the show’s Tournament of Champions. “You already are part of an incredibly thoughtful group of people, and the Tournament of Champions just ramps that up.”
In such a potentially stressful setting, host Kevin Jennings had the ability to put everyone at ease. “He’s a former competitor, so you just get the sense that he’s in it with you,” Laskowski said. “He was just an awesome person, a terrific host.”
This is the second straight year – more happenstance than divine intervention – that an Episcopal priest has appeared in the Tournament of Champions. The Rev. David Sibley, who serves a parish in Walla Walla, Washington, was good enough at providing his responses in the form of questions that “Jeopardy!” invited him to compete in last year’s tournament. (Sibley won his first match but lost in the semifinal round.)
Previously, the Rev. Kit Carlson, a priest in East Lansing, Michigan, appeared on the show in September 2008, and the Rev. Scott Russell was a contestant in December 2011. Russell, then a chaplain at Virginia Tech, is now a chaplain at New Jersey’s Rutgers University.
Laskowski hadn’t yet talked to those past clergy competitors, but he said their TV appearances gave him the confidence to wear his own clergy collar proudly during tapings of his episodes. And though the show doesn’t provide much opportunity for evangelism, he hoped that his participation was a signal to the audience that “priests are people too.”
Contestant priests like Laskowski also have demonstrated they know a little bit about a lot of things, in addition to their faith. In one of his November episodes, for example, Laskowski picked up $4,800 in a category about rap music by giving three correct responses, earning the label “rap fan” from Jennings. He also knew that Tennessee was the state whose “15 official state songs include two that mention moonshine & 3 played in 3/4 time.”
Laskowski describes himself as a voracious reader with a good memory. “You pick up different things along the way,” he said, “and I just happened to remember them.” Some of his talent with trivia derives from his experiences before becoming a priest.
A lifelong Virginia resident, Laskowski studied political science in college, earning a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University in Fairfax. For much of his adult life, he worked in the philanthropic sector, including with an organization that counseled affluent families on maximizing the positive impact of their charity giving. He later worked with philanthropists on social justice advocacy and engagement.
He recalls initially feeling called to ordained ministry as far back as his teenage years, but he grew up in the Roman Catholic Church. Pursuing a path to the priesthood as an adult conflicted with his desire to be a husband and father.
At that time, he recalled, “I told God, no.”
He was introduced to The Episcopal Church after meeting and marrying his wife, Allison, whose mother is an Episcopal priest. The Laskowskis now have three sons, and after the family began attending Episcopal services, Kevin Laskowski’s childhood interest in ordained ministry returned.
In 2014, he enrolled at Virginia Theological Seminary, graduating in 2017. He was ordained into the priesthood in 2022 by the Rt. Rev. Jennifer Brooke-Davidson, then assistant bishop of the Diocese of Virginia. He has served at St. John’s since March 2023.
Laskowski’s congregation doesn’t know yet how well Laskowski did in the Tournament of Champions, though observant parishioners could have picked up early signs that he had been invited to compete on the show.
For the regular episodes that aired in November, Laskowski used vacation time to travel to California for the tapings. Then back at St. John’s, he organized for the congregation what presumably was a pre-Thanksgiving potluck gathering – which also happened to coincide with the airing of his first “Jeopardy!” victory. A TV was set up in the parish hall for everyone to watch together.
Then for the tournament, he took off more time to fly to California – leaving his church at the beginning of a certain festive liturgical season.
Could this have been “Jeopardy!” calling again? “When I said I have to leave the first week of Advent for another trip, everyone knew,” Laskowski said. After he got back, he invited the congregation to another gathering on Jan. 31, which he described only as a “midwinter potluck.”
No need to read between the lines. “I think my entire congregation has figured it out,” he said. “It’s a ‘Jeopardy!’ watch party.”
Laskowski doesn’t have grand plans for spending his winnings. Mostly, he said, extra family income gets put away for his sons’ future college bills. The family also used some of his November winnings to plan “a little bit of travel,” including a trip to see his sister in Texas.
For a “Jeopardy!” champion who is introduced on the show as “an Episcopal priest from Falls Church, Virginia,” ENS couldn’t end the interview without asking about Laskowski’s struggles with a category that presumably was in his wheelhouse.
In “Quoting the King James Bible,” Laskowski responded correctly twice but was stumped by two other clues, including one about God forming man by breathing “this phrase” – the breath of life – “into his nostrils.”
Laskowski defended himself with a kind of verbal shrug. He may just have been overthinking the clues, he told ENS.
And besides, he added, “I’m a New Revised Standard Version guy.”
– David Paulsen is a senior reporter and editor for Episcopal News Service based in Wisconsin. He can be reached at [email protected].
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