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 Indian Hills Park 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 Circle Pines, MN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Center 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 Rusty Cow Family Restaurant or visit Golden Lake 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 Circle Pines, MN, 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 Circle Pines, MN 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 Circle Pines, MN 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.
CIRCLE PINES — The Circle Pines flower garden situated between City Hall and the Centennial Library will undergo maintenance this spring as part of the city’s Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 26.Gwyn Yuhanna, founder of local crochet group Whimsical Wigs, noticed that the garden was not in great shape when attending a Whimsical Wigs meeting at the library last July.“Whimsical Wigs meets at Centennial Library. We go around the Circle Garden, and I noticed one time, I am like, ‘That’s all weeds. What&r...
CIRCLE PINES — The Circle Pines flower garden situated between City Hall and the Centennial Library will undergo maintenance this spring as part of the city’s Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 26.
Gwyn Yuhanna, founder of local crochet group Whimsical Wigs, noticed that the garden was not in great shape when attending a Whimsical Wigs meeting at the library last July.
“Whimsical Wigs meets at Centennial Library. We go around the Circle Garden, and I noticed one time, I am like, ‘That’s all weeds. What’s going on there?’” she explained. “And the next time we were there I was like ‘This is a public garden, what’s going on with it?’”
Yuhanna then called the city and asked if there was a garden group that worked on the garden. The city got Yuhanna in contact with Janis Taramelli, Circle Pines Mayor Dave Bartholomay’s wife.
“I contacted her, and I said ‘I am interested in helping out. Is there a group that is getting together to work on the garden?’ She said ‘no,’ and explained that they were kind of in transition,” Yuhanna said. “They had people who had been leading it for years decide to take a break … it was kind of all up in the air.”
Shortly after speaking with Janice, Yuhanna reached out to Whimsical Wigs members to see who would like to help maintain the garden. Whimsical Wigs members Nancy Ehrich and Sandy Wesely agreed to join in the effort.
Yuhanna explained that the group mainly took out weeds, put in new red mulch and planted a few new plants. She also added yard ornaments.
“When we were doing the garden cleanup, a lot of people rolled down their window and said, ‘Hey, thanks for taking care of the garden.’ Or ‘Hey, your garden looks really good.’ It was rewarding to hear that feedback,” she said.
Now, the City of Circle Pines, Anoka County Master Gardeners (ACMG) and the Centennial Library are coming together to transform it into an educational garden.
“We’re looking to do a refresh,” said Bartholomay. “So, what we are going to do is maintain the garden in 2025 and then plan to reconstruct, transform, next year.”
Bartholomay said that he has been working with city staff for a year or two about what to do with the garden and came up with the idea to bring in the master gardener program and involve community members to help with the project.
When the fall comes, Bartholomay said they are planning to pull out any plants they do not want to keep in the garden and put fresh dirt down.
Over the winter, Pat Stapleton, the city’s parks superintendent, along with a few master gardeners and citizens will come together to plan the garden layout and what plants should go in when springtime hits.
The Centennial Library, with the help of the ACMG, will develop educational programs that go hand-in-hand with the garden.
“It would be maintained by a combination of our community volunteers that are already involved in maintaining the garden or people who would like to get involved in maintaining the garden, and the Anoka County Master Gardeners,” Bartholomay explained. “I love the idea of mixing community volunteers, with an interest in gardening, with Master Gardeners who have done some educational stuff to become very aware ….getting them to work together would be great.”
The garden cleanup will take place from 9 a.m. to noon. The event is in partnership with the citywide Cleanup Day taking place at the public works building located behind City Hall. At the garden, there will be master gardeners to help with the cleanup efforts and share information about plants with cleanup volunteers. Bartholomay said that the cleanup will mainly involve pulling weeds and raking.
“The idea is to have it be beautiful and educational, rather than just a flower garden,” said Bartholomay. “There is a lot of pieces to do. But we know we have the commitment for the funding. We know we have the commitment from the Master Gardeners program to help our local volunteers. We want to grow more local volunteers, so they can come (help).”
“If you make nature more accessible so that people can actually get to it, people will start to appreciate it more,” he added, “which means they’ll take better care of it. “
The garden is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2026. The Centennial Library is located at 100 Civic Heights Circle in Circle Pines. Circle Pines City Hall is located at 200 Civic Heights Circle.
Editor Madeline Dolby can be reached at 651-431-1226 or [email protected].
Lino Lakes staff and City Council continue to discuss the possibility of moving to an even-year election schedule.
In December, city staff requested that the council consider the option of moving to even-year elections to improve voter engagement and to reduce costs. The council provided direction for staff, recommending the city attorney research the legal steps to move to an even-year election for municipal officers.
“Voter engagement is one of the most important pieces when looking at going to even-year elections,” said City Clerk Roberta Colotti at a recent City Council work session.
According to Colotti, the number of registered voters in Lino Lakes on Election Day in 2024 was 15,322. Out of that total, 1,785 voters participated in the last odd-year municipal election in 2023 and 14,135 voters participated in the 2024 general election.
“There are four different ways that the city can go through the process that has a charter like Lino Lakes does,” Colotti explained. “One would be the City Council takes the action and we place it on the ballot. Another is the Charter Commission proposes it and then the City Council reviews it and then it’s adopted. Or the Charter Commission can propose it and put it on the ballot.”
The fourth option would be a possibility of the public being interested in switching to even-election years, but Colotti said the city is not there yet.
“We’re looking at either the City Council initiates this or the Charter Commission,” she said.
The cost to run an election is primarily covered by the city, with county and state costs part of the total public cost to run and election. The budget for the 2025 municipal election is approximately $21,367.
“Now some of that money is an annual expense that we would have anyway,” Colotti said. “We did make the decision to keep all of our polling sites open for 2025, so that has a little bigger expense within this budget. So, if we hold the election in 2025, it would be a little less than the $21,000.” Absentee voting would be administered by Anoka County.
According to the Secretary of State, there are 18 cities and one township remaining in the state that have odd-year elections. Those cities include Circle Pines, Lino Lakes, Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake and more, along with White Bear Township. There are a total of 856 cities in the state that offer even-year elections.
“I know that it is something that other city clerks have brought up to the council or to the Charter Commission to talk about this, and it’s just kind of faded away,” said Colotti. “I’m bringing it back… and again, making that recommendation.”
There are options for the city to consider in moving to an even-year election regarding the terms of office and maintaining the staggered terms of office.
According to Colotti, if the amendment is made effective this year, the city would not hold a 2025 election. The terms of office of incumbents would be extended by one year. However, if the amendment is set to become effective for a future date, then the terms of those elected in the first cycles would be adjusted to maintain the staggered dates.
For example, if the change becomes effective in 2028, November 2028 would be the first time the city holds an even-year election. The charter amendment could specify that council members elected in the November 2025 election will hold their seats through 2028, and council members elected in the November 2027 election will hold their seats through 2030, each scenario allowing the elected member to serve a three-year term.
The city attorney has stated that one possible way to address this would be to set the effective date of change further out in the future so voters in the next municipal election(s) can account for a varied term length when voting for their elected officials.
Council Member Michael Ruhland shared his thoughts about the city moving to an even-year election schedule.
“To me, with the odd-year (election), it is people that are engaged in the local politics, that are familiar with the problems that the city’s facing, anything that we have upcoming. They know the candidate’s stance and that is why they’re going out to the polls,” Ruhland said. “I am not necessarily in favor of going to the even-year election. I wouldn’t be opposed, either, to putting it up to a ballot question in in a future election.”
Council Member Tony Cavegn said he was in favor of moving to an even-year election schedule for various reasons.
“I am strongly in favor in moving forward with this,” Cavegn expressed. “I think that cost savings, the extended turnout, I think it is worth the risk of having more people weigh in on who they want to represent them than having less. I don’t see negatives in this.”
“If I were to lose my election because more people came out, I see that as a good thing. More people are weighing in on what they want and what they want from the city,” he added.
Cavegn said that the scenario that makes the most sense to him is to have elected officials serve three-year terms for the next two election cycles because it gives residents the opportunity to understand that they are voting for a three-year term, not a four-year term.
“With the general election, you got everybody taking up the front page. We become the judge on the back page as elected officials for the city,” said Mayor Rob Rafferty. “The people (who vote) on the odd-year elections, they’re the ones that are putting the time in to understand, ‘What are the issues?’ That’s why they’re going and voting. That is why 14,000 to 15,000 people aren’t voting, because it’s not important to them.
“I am in favor of the idea of pursuing the idea, but at the same time I’m plenty fine with it staying just where it is and being the odd-year election,” Rafferty added.
The council did not take any formal action. It was discussion only.
Editor Madeline Dolby can be reached at 651-431-1226 or [email protected].
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