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 North Carolina Executive Mansion 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 Raleigh, NC 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.
“My family’s experience has been wonderful with Always Best Care. They are an exceptional team”
“Always going the extra mile making sure my father is being well taken care of.”
“Always best care is a family oriented agency . I am blessed in my heart”
“I am very grateful to work for Always Best Care since year 2019. All office”
“Wonderful company!”
“Always Best Care Senior Services was exactly what our family needed during a challenging time”
“Wow, the virtual reality dementia training is very eye opening. Gives you an idea of”
“Enjoyed taking this virtual trip through the mind of a dementia.”
“This was a very good experience. It changed my mind on a lot of things”
“I had a great experience”
“Great experience! I think everyone who cares for someone with dementia should have this experience.”
“This experience was great. It gave me a different perspective on dealing with dementia. I”
“It was a great experience and it is a eye opener I loved it”
“Very knowledgeable and informative! Definitely recommend”
“Great training”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care provided excellent, diligent, responsive and”
“They helped me with getting a wheelchair! They didn't want anything but to help me”
“I feel so blessed to be served by such caring and helpful people. I had”
“ABC services do an amazing job. They have helped my 90 year old mother in”
“I cannot recommend this service enough. The owner Shawn was wonderful to speak with.”
“These people are Angels. Kathryn was lightning quick with new solutions everytime things changed,”
“Kind aides who were patient and caring with my Mother. Quality service.”
“Always Best Care goes above and beyond to provide great care for you or your”
“Excellent! Shawn was a Godsend. He found a great, affordable community for my Mom. We”
“I would have to say out of all the places I've work ABC is by”
“My family’s experience has been wonderful with Always Best Care. They are an exceptional team of caregivers who really care about the well fare of their clients. They go above and beyond taking care of my parents and have been very professional and dependable. I would recommend ABC to anyone who needs a reliable and competent care team. Karen Lussi”
“Always going the extra mile making sure my father is being well taken care of.”
“Always best care is a family oriented agency . I am blessed in my heart to see the services being rendered to clients. Extra miles taken to make sure every client is well taken care, even in unpleasant weather conditions. The CEO and administrators were out in the snow last week picking up workers who were unsure of driving . I was glad to see this commitment, making sure families could sit back and relax. With no fear, I will recommend Always best to any family who needs awesome care for their love ones.”
“I am very grateful to work for Always Best Care since year 2019. All office staff are great people, very helpful and always treat everyone with love and respect. Definitively it is a bless to work for this agency.”
“Wonderful company!”
“Always Best Care Senior Services was exactly what our family needed during a challenging time with our father. It all began with a fall, followed by an ER visit, and soon after, my sister and I found ourselves flying to NC to care for him and plan the next steps. Kathryn from Always Best Care was an absolute lifesaver! She guided us seamlessly through the process of finding the perfect independent senior living community for our father. Her extensive industry knowledge helped us navigate the additional health services he required with ease. Kathryn went above and beyond, consistently checking in and patiently responding to countless texts and emails from us. Thanks to her support, our father is now thriving in a supportive environment and is healthier than ever. We can’t imagine how we would have managed this journey without Kathryn’s expertise and compassion. Truly an incredible experience!”
“Wow, the virtual reality dementia training is very eye opening. Gives you an idea of what someone living with dementia is like. This is such a horrible disease but this helps care givers understand the disease. Thanks so much!!”
“Enjoyed taking this virtual trip through the mind of a dementia.”
“This was a very good experience. It changed my mind on a lot of things . I didn’t know it was that bad for them and it’s very sad , I will always treat them all with care and love no matter what because there dealing with something that’s really hard to deal with .”
“I had a great experience”
“Great experience! I think everyone who cares for someone with dementia should have this experience.”
“This experience was great. It gave me a different perspective on dealing with dementia. I now know what to do differently when working with my residents. I think A all caregivers should experience this training.”
“It was a great experience and it is a eye opener I loved it”
“Very knowledgeable and informative! Definitely recommend”
“Great training”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care provided excellent, diligent, responsive and caring home health assistance to my mother who was recovering from an unexpected surgery. They were able to assist on incredibly short notice and made a difficult situation for our family much better. Each of their carers was exceptionally professional and attentive, especially Lori and Kylie who were incredible. I felt safe leaving my loved one in their care and appreciated that they went above and beyond to meet our needs. They provided regular updates to me and my family and made my mother feel so well attended, especially as she needed extra mobility and personal care help. I would absolutely not work with any other company, should we ever need home health assistance again. Highly recommend.”
“They helped me with getting a wheelchair! They didn't want anything but to help me gain my mobility! They are all super nice and very helpful! Give them your trust, they have mine. If I ever need home help, it'll be through them!”
“I feel so blessed to be served by such caring and helpful people. I had to downsize due to an unexpected illness and Always Best Care (ABC) stepped in to make this possible. Kind, compassion, pleasant, friendly, joyful and talented professionals comprise those providing this service. I literally couldn’t have lived for at my assisted living since I had so many hospital visits each week. I didn’t want to go alone to these appointments and this freed my family from needless distress and worry about my wellbeing when they couldn’t be there. I highly recommend ABC since they are an essential component providing excellent and reliable support.”
“ABC services do an amazing job. They have helped my 90 year old mother in law transition into her new home after moving to Raleigh from Winston Salem. She has dialysis 3x a week and they have worked so hard to coordinate a schedule to make sure everything runs smoothly. Sherry continues to amaze me in how she is able to help figure out schedules and provide customer services in a kind and professional manner. We will continue to look to this wonderful service provider as her needs change and feel blessed to have them on site at Atri”
“I cannot recommend this service enough. The owner Shawn was wonderful to speak with. He was sincerely concerned about my mom and our family. He is an excellent listener and introduced me to Paige who is equally wonderful. Together they found a great place for my mother in a very short time. Paige was always available to speak on the phone and addressed my questions or concerns. I would recommend using this service for your loved one. Laura B of Raleigh”
“These people are Angels. Kathryn was lightning quick with new solutions everytime things changed, and things changed constantly. My dad has a chance to live the rest of his life with dignity and my mom has a chance to live a fuller life because of the help we got from Kathryn and this team. They have a great network and valuable knowledge but what observed that makes them invaluable is that they care...and when you are on this situation I found that this is the quality that matters the most. Cannot thank them enough.”
“Kind aides who were patient and caring with my Mother. Quality service.”
“Always Best Care goes above and beyond to provide great care for you or your loved ones. Always Best Care makes it possible to stay in home, and stay as independent as possible. ABC staff are there to assist in keeping you or your loved ones safe, healthy and happy. If you are looking for top quality care, you have found the right place!”
“Excellent! Shawn was a Godsend. He found a great, affordable community for my Mom. We are very satisfied with his service and professionalism. He took his time and our requirements and found the perfect place. Highly recommend him and Always Best Care!”
“I would have to say out of all the places I've work ABC is by far the best place I've worked our boss and staff are everything.????????????????????????????????????????????????????”
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 Pullen 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 The Capital Grille or visit Mordecai House, 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.
Request More Information
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 Raleigh, NC, 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 Raleigh, NC 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 Raleigh, NC 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.
Within North Carolina’s flavorful food scene, several local restaurants are taking center stage along with the country’s top dining spots.This week, foodie film crews were in the Triangle area to feature four popular dining spots for America’s Best Restaurants, a media company known for telling the stories of popular locally-owned independent restaurants.Nearly ...
Within North Carolina’s flavorful food scene, several local restaurants are taking center stage along with the country’s top dining spots.
This week, foodie film crews were in the Triangle area to feature four popular dining spots for America’s Best Restaurants, a media company known for telling the stories of popular locally-owned independent restaurants.
Nearly one hundred North Carolina restaurants have been highlighted on the social media “road show” — now including The Flame Prime Steakhouse, Fonda Lupita, The Pickled Onion and Ruckus Pizza.
Location: 109 Carbonton Rd, Sanford, NC 27330
The Flame Prime Steakhouse is a family-owned steakhouse about 40 miles outside of the state capital in Lee County. The decades-old restaurant, which opened in 1973, serves hand-cut steaks, seafood, soups, salads and more, including dressings and sauces made in-house.
“It [The ABR feature] gives you a lot of social media weight, it gives you a lot of validation, and you can reach customers normally you would have a hard time reaching,” Steve Brewer, the restaurant owner, said in a release. “Any way that you can share with people that this is our restaurant, see it, feel it; with [this] show you can feel the restaurant; it’s just a great honor.”
Location: 905 W Main St Suite 21A, Durham, NC 27701
Location: 1952 S Horner Blvd, Sanford, NC 27332
Fonda Lupita, which previously got national recognition as one of the best new restaurants, specializes in homemade family recipes capturing the flavors of Queretaro, Mexico. The local restaurant, which opened in 2020, expanded to Durham last year to serve up its fresh hand-made corn tortillas and gorditas, salsas, burritos, tacos and more.
“Talk about true home style Mexican cooking,” Ashley Dawn, host of “America’s Best Restaurants,” said. “I loved the atmosphere of the vibrant colors and exposed brick. I’m looking forward for their episode to air so everyone can hear their story. It’s so heartwarming.”
February 02, 2022 6:00 AM
Location: 10750 Wakefield Commons Dr. Suite 109, Raleigh, NC 27614
Location: 8511 Cantilever Way, Raleigh, NC 27613
Location: 8440 Louisburg Rd, Raleigh, NC 27616
The Pickled Onion is a family-friendly sports bar with multiple locations around the Triangle and two more opening soon. All locations have a long list of popular bar bites including wings, nachos and burgers along with beer, wine and cocktails. The Louisburg Road location, where the “America’s Best Restaurant” team filmed, also has more than 50 big screen TVs so diners can cheer on their favorite college and professional teams.
“This place is awesome. Open 365 days a year is unheard of, how cool?” Dawn said. “Their food is delicious and the staff was so friendly. I am going to have to come back once the Container Bar is open.”
Location: 1055 Pine Plaza Dr, Apex, NC 27523
Location: 2233 Avent Ferry Rd, Raleigh, NC 27606
Location: 1101 Market Center Dr, Morrisville, NC 27560
Location: 8111 Tryon Woods Dr, Cary, NC 27511
Ruckus Pizza, Pasta & Spirits, a popular pizza place with locations across the Triangle, originally opened its doors in 1999. Designed to be a family-friendly restaurant, but with “the vibes of your favorite college bar — just with better food, better beer, good wine and bigger TVs” — its menu has a lot of sweet and savory offerings including starters, salads, sandwiches, wraps and burgers, pastas, sushi and more.
“I’ve never been to a pizza place where you can get sushi. Such a cool concept and it was delicious. We also tried the chopped salad, nachos and the double pepperoni hot honey pizza. Yum,” Dawn said. “We loved this place and the owners. Their story truly reflects that hard work pays off.”
According to the team behind “America’s Best Restaurants,” dining spots are found through customer nominations, internal vetting or by restaurant applications and selected by customer reviews, menu items, social media presence, and level of community involvement.
Each of the local restaurants’ episode premiere dates will be announced and later featured on Facebook and America’s Best Restaurants’ website (americasbestrestaurants.com).
February 02, 2022 6:00 AM
This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 11:56 AM.
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Will Wade stood on stage, hearing the applause from supporters enthralled with his vision of turning the tradition-rich NC State men's basketball program back into a consistent Atlantic Coast Conference winner.The appreciation was mutual. Three years had passed since Wade's firing at ...
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Will Wade stood on stage, hearing the applause from supporters enthralled with his vision of turning the tradition-rich NC State men's basketball program back into a consistent Atlantic Coast Conference winner.
The appreciation was mutual. Three years had passed since Wade's firing at LSU over allegations of money-fueled recruiting violations, which came amid a federal corruption investigation into the sport that had coincidentally entangled NC State among multiple programs nationally.
Now, he's back in a power-conference job, this time in a very different college landscape.
"I'd be lying if I told you I thought three years ago that I knew an opportunity like this would come again," Wade said Tuesday. "I did not, I did not. I'm thankful."
There's never been any questioning the coaching chops of the 42-year-old Wade, who became the Chattanooga Moccasins' head coach at 30 and totaled seven NCAA tournament bids in stops at VCU, LSU and McNeese. His ouster at LSU, however, offered baggage that made him a pariah as he sat out of coaching for a year, then served a 10-game NCAA suspension to start his McNeese tenure.
In that regard, there were two elements that stood out Tuesday for Wade, who wore a gray suit and a red-and-white striped tie to go with a Wolfpack lapel pin. There was still brash confidence and the promise of next-year success.
There were also offerings of humility and contrition. He thanked McNeese for taking "a chance" on him. He promised a passionate approach here "without all the arrogance that got me in trouble," adding NC State would "get the best version of me."
During a later interview with The Associated Press, Wade also refused to use today's changed climate in the sport -- with the alleged payments tied to Wade's LSU ouster essentially legal now with college athletes allowed to profit from their fame -- as a pass.
"That to me is a cop-out," Wade told the AP. "When I was doing that, it was illegal. Just because it's legal now doesn't mean it was the right thing to do then. And I think that's the way that some people rationalize some things, but that's not the reality of what it was. It wasn't right to do then and, you know, I paid for it."
Specifically, suspicions of wrongdoing had followed Wade since 2019 reports about leaked excerpts of an FBI wiretap that captured Wade speaking with a person convicted of funneling illegal payments to the families of recruits. In transcripts, Wade discussed presenting a "strong" offer to an apparent third party who represented then-LSU player Javonte Smart.
Wade said during his news conference that the LSU aftermath forced him to have "some hard conversations" with himself. Wolfpack athletic director Boo Corrigan needed to hear about those, too, when he met with Wade in Houston during the search.
"To hear him be repentant for what occurred, to hear him own what occurred, to hear him talk about what he's learned," Corrigan told the AP. "Think about it: how hard is it when you're 35 years old, you're making millions of dollars, you've never lost and everyone's on you saying how great you are. Imagine your ego gets bigger and bigger and bigger.
"I think it's one of those [things] that he's learned it's not him; it's what he does and everyone around him. ... He was just really, really good when we were there."
Regardless, Wade's self-belief remains intact.
"You've still got to have the same confidence, but it's not a cockiness or an arrogance to the sense of you're never going to get caught or nothing's ever going to [happen]," Wade told the AP. "That's where the line is."
The Wolfpack announced Wade's hiring Sunday, a day after his McNeese team fell to Purdue in the second round of the NCAA tournament after a first-round upset of Clemson. It completed a smooth search process for the Wolfpack and Corrigan, who replaced the fired Kevin Keatts with a coach with a vocal top-choice backing from NC State fans on social media -- down to it's-meant-to-be mentions of the fittingly named Wade Avenue running right by the Wolfpack's home arena in Raleigh.
NC State had three NCAA trips in eight seasons under Keatts and was positioned for another before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA tournament. And Keatts last season directed the wildest of rides, with NC State improbably winning its first ACC tournament title since 1987 and its first Final Four trip since the late Jim Valvano's "Cardiac Pack" did it in an improbable 1983 NCAA title run.
But this season was a 12-19 crash-out, continuing the trend of the program being unable to sustain consistent success. And it comes within the tough-neighborhood dynamic of building a winning program in the Triangle region in North Carolina, where UNC, Duke and NC State -- boasting a combined 13 NCAA championships -- share the 919 area code and are all within a half-hour's drive of one another.
Wade isn't deterred by that challenge.
"Everybody's singing from the same sheet of music," he said during his news conference. "When that happens at NC State, there's going to be a reckoning for the ACC, there's going to be a reckoning for college basketball. And it's coming. And it's coming soon.
"I want to be very clear: This is not a rebuild. We're going to be in the top part of the ACC next year, and we're going to the NCAA tournament."
Supporters broke into immediate applause and yelps of glee. Then Wade pounced on the chance to double down.
"Make sure you got that on camera," he said.br/]
Copyright © 2025 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.
One is never far from a Dollar General in most North Carolina towns.North of Durham, for example, the Vance County seat of Henderson has six stores within a four-mile radius. The Granville County seat of Oxford and its 9,000 residents support four Dollar Generals, while Roxboro in neighboring Person County has a smaller population but still five stores within 10 miles.South of Fayetteville, the city of Lumberton has 10 Dollar General stores for less than 20,000 people. In the Blue Ridge foothills, the 10,600-person city of Moun...
One is never far from a Dollar General in most North Carolina towns.
North of Durham, for example, the Vance County seat of Henderson has six stores within a four-mile radius. The Granville County seat of Oxford and its 9,000 residents support four Dollar Generals, while Roxboro in neighboring Person County has a smaller population but still five stores within 10 miles.
South of Fayetteville, the city of Lumberton has 10 Dollar General stores for less than 20,000 people. In the Blue Ridge foothills, the 10,600-person city of Mount Airy is saturated with 11 locations. And Dollar General hasn’t stopped building across the Tar Heel state.
The largest U.S. dollar store chain today operates 45 more North Carolina locations than it did last March, according to Dollar General’s latest annual report, which the company released Friday. That’s a new Dollar General on average every eight days, surpassing last year’s expansion pace (which was one every nine days).
There are now 1,121 stores in North Carolina, the third most in any state behind Texas and Georgia. Roughly one for every 10,200 residents. Despite local opposition and new fiscal challenges, more black-and-yellow logos are coming; the dollar store chain this month told investors it plans to open 575 U.S. locations throughout 2025.
“As long as North Carolina continues to grow, they will not run out of places to put stores,” said Rick Niswander, an emeritus accounting professor at East Carolina University who studies discount retail chains.
Subtracting from its growth, however, is the empty former Dollar General storefront in the center of Raleigh. In December, the company shuttered its only downtown Raleigh location, a DGX, as part of a “real estate portfolio optimization review” that closed 96 stores nationwide.
“(The closures) were predominantly in urban and metro settings where it has become very, very difficult to run a profitable store for a lot of different reasons that obviously have been out in the news for many years,” Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos told investors during a March 13 earnings call.
Vasos did not elaborate on those reasons, but security and inventory theft have long been significant concerns at Dollar Generals. In July, the company agreed to pay the U.S. Department of Labor a $12 million fine and implement stronger safety protocols following years of employee and customer complaints.
Expensive real estate and abundance of both brick-and-mortar and online sellers also contribute to low-margin discount stores struggling in cities said Mehmet Altug, director of the Center for Retail Transformation at George Mason University.
“Essentially, you have faced higher cost and less revenue potential,” he said. “The competition becomes more fierce.”
City blocks aren’t traditionally where Dollar Generals have proliferated. While Family Dollar and Dollar Tree, which are owned by the same Virginia-based parent company, focus on urban and suburban neighborhoods, Dollar General says that around 80% of its stores are in communities with fewer than 20,000 residents (Dollar Tree announced this week it is selling Family Dollar to a pair of private equity firms for around $1 billion.)
“A Dollar General is the kind of store you’re going to drive two to three miles for, not 10 miles,” Niswander said. “It’s not like a Costco that you’ll go for as a destination. They are for quick items.”
Fueling Dollar General’s spread in North Carolina is the state’s swelling population and large rural presence. Only Texas has more rural residents than North Carolina. And with average store footprints around 7,500 square feet, both land-use and construction costs are contained.
Yet, Dollar General has faced new headwinds. While it isn’t closing hundreds of stores like Dollar Tree and Family Dollar are in the process of doing, the company did record 30% lower annual profits, down from $2.4 billion to $1.7 billion. And its share price over the past 12 months has fallen 45%. Compared to two years ago, its stock is now close to a third lower.
Revenue keeps rising, but margins are tight. Dollar General defines its “core customer” as someone from a low and fixed-income household, a demographic its CEO predicted will face “continued economic pressure” in 2025.
Last May, the company released a statement titled “Back to Basics,” in which it outlined changes to its retail approach, including scaling back self-checkouts in order to lessen theft. Vasos told investors Dollar Generals anti-theft efforts, which in retail is known as shrink mitigation, will help offset any cost increases created by Trump Administration tariffs.
Competition from Walmart and its robust delivery network inspired Dollar General to recently introduce same-day delivery, which Vasos hopes to be available in 10,000 stores by the end of the year.
The spread of Dollar Generals in small towns has also prompted local protests, from Transylvania County in Western North Carolina to Mount Airy to the tiny White Cross area in southern Orange County. Pushback has centered around the chain’s effect on public and employee safety, architectural aesthetics, and its competition with grocery chains and mom-and-pop shops.
In 2021, the city of Wilmington considered banning new discount variety stores from opening in “food deserts”, low-income neighborhoods that lack traditional grocery stores. Two years later, community opposition in Orange County helped narrowly defeat a proposed Dollar General in the White Cross community.
“Who wants a Dollar General store in their community?” said White Cross resident Lynne Jaffe. “This is a rural area, and there’s a lot of small businesses that serve in that location.”
Dollar General also routinely pays fines to the North Carolina Consumer Services’ Standards Division for “price-scanning errors,” where customers are charged more at the register than the listed prices display. In January, the state fined two Dollar Generals for overcharging on 14% of 50 purchased items. In early 2022, North Carolina fined the company for excessive price-scanning errors at 13 locations, with overcharge rates ranging from 6% to 24%. A few months later, Dollar General was found to have price-scanning errors at 15 locations in Central and Eastern North Carolina.
Family Dollar and Walmart have also been subjected to these types of state fines. But Dollar General has been accused of excessive price-scanner errors elsewhere too; in 2023, the chain settled a price discrepancy lawsuit from the Ohio attorney general for $1 million.”
“Dollar General is committed to providing customers with accurate prices on items purchased in our stores, and we are disappointed any time we fail to deliver on this commitment,” the company said in a statement to The News & Observer. “When a pricing discrepancy is identified, our store teams are empowered to correct the matter on the spot for our customers.”
Scanner errors are most prevalent when item costs quickly fluctuate, like during recent periods of rapid inflation, said Chad Parker, manager of the North Carolina Consumer Services’ Standards Division, which is part of the state agriculture department.
“In my opinion, I wouldn’t say it’s malicious,” Parker said. “It’s just they’re not doing the job correctly. They’re not changing prices like they should be.”
Dollar Generals have multiplied in North Carolina since the Great Recession of the late 2000s, doubling from 467 locations in 2008 to over 1,110 today. The chain now faces more uncertainties than perhaps at any other time during this period. Falling stock. Thinning profits. A shift away from city locations. Local pushback. Tariff worries. Fines. Walmart competition.
But despite the unknowns, one thing about Dollar General seems likely this time next year: North Carolina will have more of them.
This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 5:15 AM.
Wearing an N.C. State red and white striped tie, Will Wade addressed alumni and university supporters at Reynolds Coliseum. The new men’s basketball coach was succinct and upfront in sharing his goals.N.C. State will consistently be in the top four of the ACC, he said. It will be a regular NCAA Tournament team. And it will happen immediately.“This is not a rebuild,” Wade said Tuesday. “We’re going to be in the top part of the ACC next year, and we’re going to the NCAA tournament. This is not ...
Wearing an N.C. State red and white striped tie, Will Wade addressed alumni and university supporters at Reynolds Coliseum. The new men’s basketball coach was succinct and upfront in sharing his goals.
N.C. State will consistently be in the top four of the ACC, he said. It will be a regular NCAA Tournament team. And it will happen immediately.
“This is not a rebuild,” Wade said Tuesday. “We’re going to be in the top part of the ACC next year, and we’re going to the NCAA tournament. This is not something that’s going to take a while.”
Wade is excited and confident to face this next challenge and opportunity. He said N.C. State has everything necessary to attract the nation’s top players. It’s committed to supporting the program through expected revenue sharing; name, image and likeness funding; facilities; fan support and administrative support.
He fully believes N.C. State will be a regular contender in the Triangle, the league and the nation in less than a year. It may not immediately win a national championship — sometimes the brackets don’t work in a team’s favor, he admits — but the expectations are high.
Wade complimented former head coach Kevin Keatts, with whom he’s had a relationship for more than a decade, for his work with the program and the 2024 ACC championship and Final Four run. Except Wade wants that to happen more regularly. He wants his teams to be more like the women’s program; a regular championship threat and staple in the AP Top 25. Wade mentioned Wes Moore’s consistent success with the women’s basketball program and hopes to learn from the veteran head coach.
“It’s like winning the lottery. The more ping pong balls you put in there, the better chance you’ve got to win the thing,” Wade said when touting the importance of consistency. “We’re trying to continually put deposits in there where we’re competing at that level, and eventually it’ll happen. My charge is to build a consistent program and a consistent winner that is not reliant on crazy runs and that sort of thing. We need to be consistently and reliably in the top portion.”
N.C. State athletic director Boo Corrigan said the search committee specifically wanted a current head coach. He also noted Wade’s interest in the job, while still devoting his attention and efforts to his McNeese team.
Corrigan said there were numerous candidates with significant interest, but he clicked with Wade.
“He understands the expectations of the program, and he knows what it means to compete in the ACC,” Corrigan said. “N.C. State men’s basketball has the resources we need for the future. We don’t just want to compete. We want to win, and we want to win consistently, and we want to win big. It didn’t take me long to be convinced that Will Wade is the person to lead us there.”
Wade called the ACC one of the “premier” college basketball conferences and, if the ACC is going to be good, the Wolfpack needs to be good.
The better N.C. State men’s basketball is, the better the conference will be.
“I know we’ve got some bully neighbors and that sort of thing, but we’re not worried about them,” Wade said. “If we worry about ourselves, all that other stuff will take care of itself. … We want them to turn around and be chasing us, so that’s the focus.”
Wade comes to the program after two seasons at McNeese State in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He led the Cowboys to a 57-10 record in his two seasons and two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. This season, he guided the program to its first-ever March Madness win, a 69-67 triumph over Clemson.
His resume also includes stops at LSU, VCU and Chattanooga.
“I think I’ve grown and gotten better from VCU to LSU. Certainly from LSU, to being fired, to McNeese,” Wade said. “I’ll be better from McNeese to here. N.C. State’s getting the best version of Will Wade right now.”
Wade thanked McNeese athletic director Heath Schroyer and university president Wade Rousse for hiring him two years ago, noting they took a risk on him. The 42-year-old arrived at McNeese after LSU fired him for violating NCAA rules regarding illegally paying recruits. This is no longer illegal with relaxed NIL rule changes.
Wade acknowledged by his own volition the mistakes he made at LSU and personal improvement he’s made in the years since. The Wolfpack will get the same competitive fire, he assured everyone, but he plans to do things “without all the arrogance that got me in trouble.”
“This is going to be done,” Wade said of the program’s turnaround. “This will be done the right way, and this is going to be done quickly. We are here to win. We’re here to win the right way.”
Wade said his experience at LSU and getting fired gave him perspective. He understands basketball isn’t “life or death” and if his program doesn’t land a recruit, they can find someone else. Winning is important — he made that clear — but he’s not cutting corners. There are always different ways to achieve a goal.
He doesn’t want the program to back down from any other program, but, to him, that’s confidence. Not cockiness. And it’s different from how he used to be.
“We’re not going to blur any lines,” Wade said. “We’re not going to think that we’re invincible and that everything’s just going to work out.”
Corrigan said he and Wade spent a long time discussing this topic during the interview process. The athletic director asked difficult questions and spoke to references.
He believes in Wade’s character development and coaching abilities.
“I think we’re about second chances,” Corrigan said. “As everyone’s heard here today, that’s what it’s about. It’s about, ‘What can we do to bring this program back on a consistent basis and win?’”
The new head coach has already begun prepping for the upcoming season and provided an estimated timeline. Wade hopes to have a handful of core staff members hired by the end of the week or early next week and the rest of the staff completed shortly after the Final Four. However, he acknowledged that the university is a public institution and has to follow certain protocols. Once the primary assistants are in place, he plans to spend the next four to six weeks hiring
Wade arrived in Raleigh at 3 p.m. Monday and met with the team an hour later. Several players have already entered their names in the transfer portal, but Wade plans to meet with everyone individually and is open to those players returning.
“I’m not one of those, ‘Once your name’s in the portal, you can never come back,’” Wade said. “One of our best players at McNeese (Christian Shumate) put his name in the portal when I got the job. Came back. He was the two time Defensive Player of the Year in the Southland. What an idiot I’d be to just cast him off.”
When he knows which players, if any, are returning, the staff will seek players in the transfer portal. From there, it will set a schedule. The goal is to have the program fully operational again by May 14, right before the start of summer school, pending any extenuating circumstances.
From that point forward, Wade plans to be an active participant on campus and in Raleigh. He will encourage his players to do the same.
“I think if you’re accessible and you’re out there, I think people are more likely to come to the games and people feel like they’ve got a stake in the game,” Wade said. “That’s that’s really, really important to me.”
Wade said the Wolfpack’s home opener will be on Nov. 3, and he wants fans to sell out Lenovo Center.
“We need to send a message,” Wade said. “We need to let the state, the ACC and the nation to know the Pack is back, and we are not to be messed with.”
This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 3:13 PM.
The News & Observer
"I want to be very clear: this is not a rebuild. We're going to be in the top part of the ACC next year, and we're going to the NCAA tournament."RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Will Wade stood on stage, hearing the applause from NC State supporters enthralled with his vision of turning a tradition-rich men's basketball program back into a consistent Atlantic Coast Conference winner.The appreciation was mutual. Three years had passed since Wade's firing at LSU over allegations of money-fueled recruiting violations, which came ...
"I want to be very clear: this is not a rebuild. We're going to be in the top part of the ACC next year, and we're going to the NCAA tournament."
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Will Wade stood on stage, hearing the applause from NC State supporters enthralled with his vision of turning a tradition-rich men's basketball program back into a consistent Atlantic Coast Conference winner.
The appreciation was mutual. Three years had passed since Wade's firing at LSU over allegations of money-fueled recruiting violations, which came amid a federal corruption investigation into the sport that had coincidentally entangled NC State among multiple programs nationally.
Now, he's back in a power-conference job, this time in a very different college landscape.
"I'd be lying if I told you I thought three years ago that I knew an opportunity like this would come again," Wade said during his introductory news conference Tuesday. "I did not, I did not. I'm thankful."
WATCH: Full news conference introducing Will Wade
There's never been any questioning the coaching chops for the 42-year-old Wade, who started as Chattanooga's head coach at 30 and has seven NCAA bids through eight tournaments in stops at VCU, LSU, and McNeese. His ouster at LSU, however, offered baggage that made him a pariah as he sat out of coaching for a year, then served a 10-game NCAA suspension to start his McNeese tenure.
The school announced the hiring Sunday, coming a day after Wade's McNeese team lost to Purdue in the second round of the NCAA tournament after a first-round upset of Clemson.
Will Wade and family walking into Valvano Arena for the first time. pic.twitter.com/R7od7xSNmm
— Travon Miles (@TrayABC11) March 25, 2025
In that regard, two elements stood out Tuesday for Wade, who stood on the Reynolds Coliseum stage in a gray suit sporting a red-and-white striped tie to go with a Wolfpack lapel pin. There was still brash confidence, sure, with promises of next-year success.
ALSO SEE | Fans, donors energized as NC State introduces Will Wade as basketball coach: 'Our time is now'
There were also offerings of humility and contrition. He thanked McNeese for taking "a chance" on him. He promised a passionate approach here "without all the arrogance that got me in trouble," adding N.C. State would "get the best version of me."
Will Wade calling for NC State fans to pack out Lenovo in their season opener in November. pic.twitter.com/iSkW3wSPx1
— Travon Miles (@TrayABC11) March 25, 2025
It completed a smooth search process for the Wolfpack, who replaced the fired Kevin Keatts with a coach with a vocal top-choice backing among N.C. State fans on social media - down to its meant-to-be mentions of the fittingly named Wade Avenue running right by the Wolfpack's home arena in Raleigh.
N.C. State had three NCAA trips in eight seasons under Keatts and was positioned for another before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA tournament. And Keatts last year directed the wildest of rides, with NC State improbably winning its first ACC championship since 1987 and making its first Final Four trip since the late Jim Valvano's "Cardiac Pack" did it in a magical 1983 NCAA title run.
OFFICIAL: Will Wade named NC State’s next men’s basketball coach. A six-year agreement is pending approval by NC State BOT. Wade will be formally introduced on Tuesday.
— Kate Rogerson (@KateRogersonTV) March 23, 2025
But this year's season was a 12-19 crashout, a continuing trend of the program being unable to sustain consistent success. And it comes within the tough-neighborhood dynamic of building a winning program in the Triangle region in North Carolina, where Duke, NC State and UNC - boasting a combined 13 NCAA championships - share the 919 area code and are all within a half-hour's drive of one another.
Wade isn't deterred by that challenge. And when it came to on-court topics, Wade had the select group of Wolfpack donors and supporters attending the news conference downright bubbly.
"Everybody's singing from the same sheet of music," he said during his news conference. "When that happens at NC State, there's going to be a reckoning for the ACC, there's going to be a reckoning for college basketball. And it's coming. And it's coming soon.
“The fan base is a huge reason why we’re here….i think everybody is hungry for a consistent winner.”- Will Wade, NC State head coach pic.twitter.com/LaG7m2xdNT
— Travon Miles (@TrayABC11) March 25, 2025
"I want to be very clear: this is not a rebuild. We're going to be in the top part of the ACC next year, and we're going to the NCAA tournament."
Supporters broke into immediate applause and yelps of glee. Then Wade pounced on the chance to double down.
"Make sure you got that on camera," he said.
OFFICIAL: Will Wade, Head Coach, NC State Men’s Basketball. pic.twitter.com/czLEXyLWpA
— NC State Men's Basketball (@PackMensBball) March 23, 2025
McMurray Family Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan finally got his man -- his first major revenue sport coaching hire at NC State.
"Will told me that he believes that he can win at NC State ... and 'win big,'" Corrigan said in a statement from the school. "It didn't take me too many conversations with him to believe it too."
The 42-year-old Wade has a track record that includes eight 20-win seasons in his 11 years as a head coach.
Will Wade says NC State will be in the top half of the ACC and in the NCAA Tournament next year.Book it. pic.twitter.com/dINdzgBoHg
— Travon Miles (@TrayABC11) March 25, 2025
"I am beyond excited and honored to be chosen to lead the Wolfpack basketball program," Wade said in a statement. "N.C. State's rich tradition, passionate fan base, and location in one of the best cities in the country make this a destination job, and I can't wait to get started."
During a later interview with The Associated Press, Wade also refused to use today's changed climate in the sport - with allegations of payments tied to Wade's LSU ouster essentially legal now with college athletes allowed to profit from their fame - as a pass.
"That to me is a cop-out," Wade told the AP. "When I was doing that, it was illegal. Just because it's legal now doesn't mean it was the right thing to do then. And I think that's the way that some people rationalize some things, but that's not the reality of what it was. It wasn't right to do then and, you know, I paid for it."
Specifically, suspicions of wrongdoing had followed Wade since 2019 reports about leaked excerpts of an FBI wiretap capturing Wade speaking with a person convicted of funneling illegal payments to the families of recruits. In transcripts, Wade discussed presenting a "strong" offer to an apparent third party who represented then-LSU player Javonte Smart.
Wade said during his news conference that the LSU aftermath forced him to have "some hard conversations" with himself. Corrigan needed to hear about those, too, when he met with Wade in Houston during the search.
"To hear him be repentant for what occurred, to hear him own what occurred, to hear him talk about what he's learned," Corrigan told the AP. "Think about it: how hard is it when you're 35 years old, you're making millions of dollars, you've never lost and everyone's on you saying how great you are. Imagine your ego gets bigger and bigger and bigger.
"I think it's one of those (things) that he's learned it's not him, it's what he does and everyone around him. ... He was just really, really good when we were there."
Regardless, Wade's self-belief remains intact.
"You've still got to have the same confidence, but it's not a cockiness or an arrogance to the sense of you're never going to get caught or nothing's ever going to (happen)," Wade told the AP. "That's where the line is."
ABC11's Travon Miles and The Associated Press contributed.
Copyright © 2025 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.
910-213-3800
