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 Stillwater Lift Bridge, Historic Site 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 Stillwater, 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 Pioneer 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 Domaćin Restaurant & Wine Bar or visit St. Croix Boom Site State Wayside, 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 Stillwater, 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 Stillwater, 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 Stillwater, 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.
Greg Zanon has had a grasp of what’s required to reach the state tournament since taking over as Stillwater’s head boys coach in 2019. Yet it had always eluded Zanon and the Ponies.“Obviously, the state tournament is always the goal, and we haven’t been able to do that,” Zanon said. “We had some good teams along the way, and we had some unfortunate things happen in certain games.”Sometimes it&rsq...
Greg Zanon has had a grasp of what’s required to reach the state tournament since taking over as Stillwater’s head boys coach in 2019. Yet it had always eluded Zanon and the Ponies.
“Obviously, the state tournament is always the goal, and we haven’t been able to do that,” Zanon said. “We had some good teams along the way, and we had some unfortunate things happen in certain games.”
Sometimes it’s a bad bout of puck luck. Other times it’s an injury. Stillwater lost Cooper Wylie, now a key defenseman for St. Cloud State, ahead of the playoffs in 2020 as the then-senior battled stomach ulcers. Other players missed time for various reasons.
The stars often have to align for a deep postseason run, and the Ponies time has finally arrived. Zanon has Stillwater in the state tournament for just the third time ever, and the first time since 2016.
The second-seeded Ponies will meet seventh-seeded Andover in the Class 2A quarterfinals at 11 a.m. Thursday at Xcel Energy Center.
“This year just really unfolded the way we’d hoped,” Zanon said. “Our players need, obviously, the most credit of all. They’re the ones that come every day and listen and put in the time to do what they need to do to make things happen. It’s been one heck of a ride, I’ll tell you that.”
One driven by a deep, talented crop of seniors. The Ponies have six players with 40-plus points this season, the top five of those – Brody Dustin, Trey Fredenberg, Blake Vanek, Matthew Volkman and Luke Myers – are seniors, with the sixth-leading scorer being junior Luca Jarvis.
Zanon said that scoring talent spread across two dynamic lines gives Stillwater “a little bit of an advantage” in that it’s likely at least one will produce on the scoresheet each time out, and it doesn’t matter which.
In Stillwater’s section final upset of Hill-Murray, it was the line of Frederburg, Jarvis and Volkman posting most of the production, with Volkman netting a hat trick, including the winner in the second overtime. But it could very well be the other line’s turn at some point this weekend.
“We’ve talked about this for a month or so – we don’t need one hero,” Zanon said. “Eventually, it turns into one hero, but we need the team playing like a group. One line going out there, and maybe you don’t score, but you’re setting up the next line for a possible opportunity, and just kind of rolling from line to line and making sure that, when you’re out there and it’s on your stick, you can deliver, and that’s what we’ve gotten out of our group this year.”
Zanon and assistant coach Thomas Vanek are both former NHL players, both of whom had stints with the Wild. Yet neither truly knows what to expect this week in St. Paul. The players have attended the tournament as fans, but you don’t get a true feel for the lights until the skates hit the ice.
But an advantage for the Ponies this week as they attempt to win three games in three days to claim the program’s first state title is the team’s adaptability, a likely product of a veteran-laden roster.
“We’re able to watch video on a team and go into a practice before a game and are able to teach them something new that might be able to help them, and we’re able to go and do it right away,” Zanon said. “This group of guys and their ability to adapt to situations and things we throw at them is just amazing.”
He wasn’t sure what to expect from his players at Monday’s practice, just a couple days removed from an emotionally-charged section final victory. Perhaps he shouldn’t have been surprised to find his kids were ready to work.
Zanon noted it was “pure joy” when Volkman potted the game winner on Friday. There was an immediate feeling of “Yes!” But neither he nor Vanek were ecstatic for themselves. They’ve had their own runs of hockey successes.
“(We) wanted it more for the kids than for ourselves, because we know the effort and the work that they’ve put in, and the demand we’ve put on them in practices and off-ice workouts,” Zanon said. “They don’t shy away, and they take everything that we tell them and they try to implement it. The joy that they get out of this is why we do this, is why we try to give back to our community after we played our time.
“Our time is done, and now it’s our job to just give back, and hopefully (the kids) have the greatest weekend of their lives.”
Originally Published: March 5, 2025 at 1:13 PM CST
The Pioneers and Ponies face off in the Class 2A, Section 4 championship gameJon NamystLive score updates: Stillwater vs. Hill-Murray in Minnesota boys high school hockey Section 4AA final (2/28/2025)This is the second matchup of the year between the two schools. Hill-Murray won the first matchup 3-1 on January 25.This game is scheduled to be played at 7 p.m. This page will be updated with information throughout the game.Live score updates: Stillwater vs. Hill-Murray in Minnesota bo...
The Pioneers and Ponies face off in the Class 2A, Section 4 championship game
Jon Namyst
Live score updates: Stillwater vs. Hill-Murray in Minnesota boys high school hockey Section 4AA final (2/28/2025)
This is the second matchup of the year between the two schools. Hill-Murray won the first matchup 3-1 on January 25.
This game is scheduled to be played at 7 p.m. This page will be updated with information throughout the game.
Updates will be placed here.
Player introductions have begun
Puck has dropped at 7:04 p.m
Goal Hill-Murray: Boden Sampair slots one in front of the Pony net 2 minutes into the game
Hill-Murray to the power play
Stillwater now to the power play 11:20 to go first period 1-0 HM
Hill-Murray full strength. It leads 1-0 with 6:50 remaining
Hill-Murray back to the power play with 5:30 left in the first
After one period, Hill-Murray leads 1-0
The puck has dropped for period number two
GOAL STILLWATER: Luca Jarvis squeaks one past the Pioneer goaltender. 1-1 with 13:50 to go
GOAL STILLWATER: Matthew Volkman rips one in from the slot. Ponies lead 2-1 with 11:33 left in the 2nd
Still 2-1 Ponies with 7:30 to go. Hill-Murray has been in its own zone nearly the entire period
GOAL STILLWATER: Volkman gets his 2nd of the night glove side on the Pioneer goaltender. They lead 3-1 with under a minute to go in the second.
After two periods, Stillwater leads 3-1
Puck is down in period number three
13:01 to go in the third, its all Stillwater. It still leads 3-1.
Ponies bleeding the clock, they still lead 3-1 with 8:22 to go.
GOAL HILL-MURRAY: Sampair again. Stillwater leads 3-2 with 5:00 to go.
Hill-Murray to the power play with 3:41 to go down 3-2. Timeout Pioneers.
GOAL HILL MURRAY: Greeder scores on the power play with 2:01 to go in the third. 3-3 game
After three periods, Hill-Murray and Stillwater are headed to overtime
Puck has dropped in OT
Both teams trading chances, 3:50 to go in OT
Both teams getting close. 2:08 to go in OT
One overtime is not enough; we'll resurface the ice and do it again. Instant classic here at Aldrich
Puck has dropped. Overtime period set for 17 minutes if need be
GOAL STILLWATER: Volkman. hat-trick. game.
Published Feb 28, 2025|Modified Feb 28, 2025
Hope House of the St. Croix Valley in Stillwater — a home for people who have HIV/AIDS — has closed following the suspension of its license by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.DHS officials on Friday suspended Hope House’s license, citing an “imminent risk of harm” to the people served by the program.The license suspension, which went into effect at 11:59 p.m. Friday, means Hope House, located in a large two-story Victorian in the North Hill neighborhood, is “prohibited from providi...
Hope House of the St. Croix Valley in Stillwater — a home for people who have HIV/AIDS — has closed following the suspension of its license by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
DHS officials on Friday suspended Hope House’s license, citing an “imminent risk of harm” to the people served by the program.
The license suspension, which went into effect at 11:59 p.m. Friday, means Hope House, located in a large two-story Victorian in the North Hill neighborhood, is “prohibited from providing home and community-based services, including those services in the community residential settings,” according to the DHS.
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DHS investigators on Feb. 5 found a number of issues at Hope House, which was founded in 1993 as a foster care for people living with AIDS.
Among the issues:
• Records for staff and persons served were missing or significantly incomplete;
• Services were being delivered without support plans or support plan addendums;
• Service recipients were not receiving necessary supervision;
• Incidents were not responded to or reported as required;
• Allegations or suspected maltreatment were not reported as required by mandated reporters;
• Staff members were not trained on (home and community-based services) licensing standards and the individual needs of each service recipient.
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Other issues included medications administered incorrectly and/or without appropriate training, oversight, or documentation, service recipients not receiving three nutritionally balanced meals and nutritious snacks, and controlling individuals not being identified to the commissioner and the license holder failing to complete background studies.
“Based on these findings, DHS cannot ensure the health and safety of the persons served by your program at this time,” said Alyssa Dotson, the deputy inspector general of licensing at DHS, in her order. “DHS has determined that the health, safety, and rights of persons in your care are in imminent risk of harm. Therefore, DHS is suspending your license to provide home and community-based services.”
Hope House officials have the right to appeal the order, according to the DHS. Hope House officials did not return phone calls or emails seeking comment.
Casey and Teresa vanderBent founded Hope House in 1991; the first resident moved in in December 1993. Licensed under the Minnesota Adult Foster Care law, it was one of the first Twin Cities foster-care residences for people living with AIDS.
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“It came out of a sense of a spiritual call,” Casey vanderBent told the Pioneer Press in 2018. “We both felt that there was something we were supposed to do.”
When the couple heard about Grace House in Minneapolis, the state’s first adult foster-care home for people living with HIV/AIDS, they knew they had found their calling. The couple formed a task force in 1991 with other parishioners from People’s Congregational Church in Bayport and began looking for a house.
The next year, the group paid $60,000 for a house that needed to be removed for the expansion of St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Stillwater’s South Hill. They then bought a double lot from the Stillwater Area School District — just north of what is now New Heights School — and moved the house across town, vanderBent said in the interview.
vanderBent said he could not comment on the closure.
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