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.
“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 have been employed with Always Best Care for almost a year. I have thoroughly”
“As a certified nursing assistant for the past 13 years I am proud to say”
“A great place to work with amazing leadership! Great care for our clients! 5 stars”
“Hats off to the owner of Always Best Care NC. Shawn is a great person”
“The staff at Always Best Care is top notch! The caregivers are very caring and”
“Always Best Care strives for care that goes above and beyond expectations. Your loved ones”
“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 contacted Shawn when my mother returned home from the hospital. There are so many”
“Watching your parents age is an emotional experience. My mother has suffered from emphysema since”
“Other Navigation through the process of finding a Memory Care Facility for my husband. The Owner.”
“Phenomenal services providing peace of mind during difficult times when your elderly loved ones need”
“I could not be happier with this service. I schedule care in 15 minute or”
“I Love Always Best Care, we have an amazing team and I am lucky to”
“I am a past client of this provider Staff helped guide and navigate options for my”
“I am a past client of this provider ABC caregivers took care of my 93 yr”
“ABC caregivers took care of my 93 yr old father from when he came out”
“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 have been employed with Always Best Care for almost a year. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with them. They are a very dedicated and supportive team to work with.”
“As a certified nursing assistant for the past 13 years I am proud to say working with Always Best Care as a CNA and Brain Fitness Coordinator, I could not be part of a more dedicated team of professionals. Our caregivers and staff are truly the best with their heartfelt dedication to our clients as well as the care this agency takes to provide training, support, and employee appreciation. Always Best Care is truly one of the best! Michele SL”
“A great place to work with amazing leadership! Great care for our clients! 5 stars all day long!”
“Hats off to the owner of Always Best Care NC. Shawn is a great person and shows so much compassion for his staff and his clients. I met him at an Always Best Care conference and he is such a stand up guy.”
“The staff at Always Best Care is top notch! The caregivers are very caring and know their job well. Definitely would recommend this agency!”
“Always Best Care strives for care that goes above and beyond expectations. Your loved ones are sure to be well taken care while in the care Always Best Care staff. They assure that your loved ones are happy and healthy, all while keeping their independence as much as possible. If you’re looking for top quality care, you have found the right place!”
“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 contacted Shawn when my mother returned home from the hospital. There are so many options it was confusing for me! Shawn and his team sent me several places to review and then accompanied me to visit independent living facilities. I appreciate the resources and information provided. Shawn, thank you for being focused on our family's needs and sharing your expertise. Your compassion and patience is so very appreciated!”
“Watching your parents age is an emotional experience. My mother has suffered from emphysema since the early 2000s and was diagnosed with dementia in 2018. We've worked with many companies to provide care for her and companionship. Since 2020, as my mother has significantly declined, we've had to make the decision to move her into a facility. For the past three years, Always Best, and more specifically Nancy Newcomer, has provided consistent and quality care for our family. Nancy is always on time, caring, and reliable. We've experienced companies with high turnover and feel blessed to have had Nancy's support for three years. She doesn’t do this solely for a paycheck but also checks on my dad on her days off and genuinely cares. I'd highly recommend this company to help care for your aging loved ones.”
“Other Navigation through the process of finding a Memory Care Facility for my husband. The Owner. Met with my daughter and me. We included my husband. Right away we could hear see and feel this man's compassionate heart. He cared for his own aging family members and can relate. He personally called to check in with us despite the fact that we needed a facility and not home care. Taking it one step further he went on tours with us and we discussed pros and cons without his bias of one over another. Once our loved one was placed this gentleman continued advising at our initiation of calls. He never failed to call back. Highly recommend this man.”
“Phenomenal services providing peace of mind during difficult times when your elderly loved ones need you the most. Highly recommend!”
“I could not be happier with this service. I schedule care in 15 minute or 30 minute visits for 6 visits a day. They make sure that my 96 year old mother takes her meds, walks to meals, they deliver her meals when she is too tired to walk, they water her plants, bathe her, they will help in anyway to provide the best care. Shawn Cothran, the owner, made a personal visit to her room to make sure she had all that she needs. The caregivers; Vera, Jackie, Toni, Elizabeth and many others could not be better. I highly recommend this service.”
“I Love Always Best Care, we have an amazing team and I am lucky to be surrounded by such caring hearts.”
“I am a past client of this provider Staff helped guide and navigate options for my mother. We found a new home for her and the extra attention she is now receiving has given both the family and her comfort and peace of mind. It is a challenging transition and the help was invaluable. Many thanks!”
“I am a past client of this provider ABC caregivers took care of my 93 yr old father from when he came out of the hospital until he passed away 8 months later. The nurse was very fast and efficient and met us at his residence when we arrived from the hospital. Many caregivers were so sweet and careful with him and were helpful to my mother as well. He would be happy to see their smiling faces. They were also very accommodating for schedule and other changes. I would highly recommend them!”
“ABC caregivers took care of my 93 yr old father from when he came out of the hospital until he passed away 8 months later. The nurse was very fast and efficient and met us at his residence when we arrived from the hospital. Many caregivers were so sweet and careful with him and were helpful to my mother as well. He would be happy to see their smiling faces. They were also very accommodating for schedule and other changes. I would highly recommend them!”
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.
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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 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.
Two North Carolina towns are “booming” — and rank among the nation’s hottest suburbs, a new report finds.Cary ranks No. 6 and Wake Forest is No. 9 on a list of places where job growth and desirability are “well above national averages,” according to a Nov. 19 news release from moving and storage resource moveBuddha.The towns, both in the Raleigh area, joined several other Southern citie...
Two North Carolina towns are “booming” — and rank among the nation’s hottest suburbs, a new report finds.
Cary ranks No. 6 and Wake Forest is No. 9 on a list of places where job growth and desirability are “well above national averages,” according to a Nov. 19 news release from moving and storage resource moveBuddha.
The towns, both in the Raleigh area, joined several other Southern cities in the top 10. The region “reigns supreme for its suburbs where people want to move in, and where far fewer residents considering a move-out,” moveBuddha wrote in its report.
To create the list of most popular suburbs, the moving website studied more than 500 cities across the country. It narrowed the places to suburbs, defined as “any city in each metropolitan region that was not the single, primary (first) city listed in a ‘metro’ name,” a spokesperson told McClatchy News via email.
Using search data from its website and figures from the U.S. government, moveBuddha discovered that 43 suburbs met the criteria of having year-over-year job growth “better than the national average” and a high ratio of people interested in moving in compared with those wanting to leave. Each of those suburbs also was evaluated for home values based on Zillow real estate data, results show.
Cary, west of Raleigh, is home to about 180,000 people. With an average home value of over $623,000, it ranked among the nation’s least affordable suburbs but got a boost for attracting potential residents, results show.
Also ranking in the top 10 was Wake Forest, a town north of Raleigh that has roughly 54,000 people. It was found to have an average home value that topped $520,000, the 12th most expensive among the towns considered.
“Relocations to Raleigh suburbs benefit from a metropolitan area with a strong job market,” moveBuddha wrote. “As of Aug 2023 to Aug 2024 job growth was 2.4%, almost a full point higher than the national 1.55% average.”
So, how did other North Carolina towns fare in the rankings? Here’s where they landed:
The results come after Apex, a Raleigh suburb, received a streak of other honors, including being named one of the nation’s best small towns to call home. It also ranked as the state’s No. 1 “boomtown,” based on population, housing and income growth, McClatchy News reported.
This time around, moveBuddha said the nation’s top “job-magnet” suburb was Summerville, South Carolina, near the tourist hot spot of Charleston. Here are the other towns that rounded out the top five:
October 01, 2024 6:30 AM
Turkey is such a staple dish at Thanksgiving gatherings that it has come to symbolize the holiday.But while Americans across the country will be feasting on the bird Thursday, Nov. 28, they won’t all be eating the same kind of bird prepared the same way.Options abound, after all. Before most birds will be fried, roasted or smoked, they will be sourced from a market. And as shoppers search aisles for the crown jewel of the holiday meal, they may see turkeys labeled fresh, frozen, organic, kosher or heirloom, package...
Turkey is such a staple dish at Thanksgiving gatherings that it has come to symbolize the holiday.
But while Americans across the country will be feasting on the bird Thursday, Nov. 28, they won’t all be eating the same kind of bird prepared the same way.
Options abound, after all. Before most birds will be fried, roasted or smoked, they will be sourced from a market. And as shoppers search aisles for the crown jewel of the holiday meal, they may see turkeys labeled fresh, frozen, organic, kosher or heirloom, packaged in a generic or name-brand wrapper.
Triangle residents have access to plenty of grocery stores selling plenty of turkeys ahead of Thanksgiving.
The holiday, for a number of reasons, may cause celebrants anxiety. We at The News & Observer think selecting a turkey shouldn’t exacerbate that — which is why we spent a rainy Wednesday, Nov. 20, visiting 15 grocery stores in Raleigh.
We recorded the per-pound price of available birds to help residents locate the best-value turkeys around.
Here are our results.
Nine grocery stores are selling turkeys for less than $1 per pound. Of those, six have turkeys priced at less than 50 cents per pound:
Several of these deals are part of special promotions.
We visited the following 15 stores in Raleigh on Wednesday, Nov. 20:
The prices recorded reflect the lowest available for turkeys in stock at the time of the visit.
Some prices depend on turkey weight. There may also be requirements to take advantage of those prices, such as having a store loyalty membership, using digital coupons or making additional purchases.
For example, the Butterball Premium All Natural turkey from Lowes Foods is available for $1.29 per pound through Nov. 28 with a digital coupon and an additional $35 purchase.
Weaver Street Market did not have turkeys at the time of our visit, but store employees told The N&O that a few birds will be available in store Monday, Nov. 25. The prices included in this story were taken from the store’s website.
Note: This is not a scientific study, but it is a real reflection of turkey prices at grocery stores in Raleigh this November. We encourage you to take a look at the 2022 Thanksgiving ingredients price check to get an idea of how the grocery landscape has changed in the Triangle over the past few years.
Drew Jackson, The N&O’s food and dining reporter, spoke with some of Raleigh’s top chefs ahead of the holiday to get their bird-prepping tips:
? Give your turkey more rest: “Make everything the day before except the bird. This way all you have to do is heat it up! And leave plenty of time for the turkey to rest. A well-rested turkey will cut and eat way better. If you’re serving at 6 p.m., have that turkey out of the oven by 4 p.m.” - Jeff Seizer, chef of Ponysaurus Brewing
? Don’t brine a small bird: “If you’re cooking a turkey under 14 pounds, don’t bother to brine it. Rub a mixture of salt, a little bit of pepper and a mix of your favorite savory herbs inside the cavity getting mainly towards the breast, and let it sit for a minimum of 36 hours. Rub the outside down with butter, salt, pepper and little bit of Chinese dark soy afterwards and roast.” - William D’auvray, chef of East End Bistrot and Giorgios Epicurean Market
? And if you don’t like turkey... don’t cook one. “You can have Thanksgiving without it. I never dream of Thanksgiving turkey so this year, ... I am going to do something else!” - Angela Salamanca, owner of Centro and Gallo Pelon
This story was originally published November 22, 2024, 12:08 PM.
Hollywood Smothers slipped through the seam in the Georgia Tech defense and took off toward the hostile student section with its waving white towels behind the end zone.Smothers’ 53-yard touchdown run gave N.C. State its first lead of the night with 1:30 remaining. Quarterback CJ Bailey kept the football and galloped back into the end zone for the two-point conversion, putting the Wolfpack ahead by six.That should’ve been enough to win. Until it wasn’t.Twelve days after Duke handed N.C. State a loss on ...
Hollywood Smothers slipped through the seam in the Georgia Tech defense and took off toward the hostile student section with its waving white towels behind the end zone.
Smothers’ 53-yard touchdown run gave N.C. State its first lead of the night with 1:30 remaining. Quarterback CJ Bailey kept the football and galloped back into the end zone for the two-point conversion, putting the Wolfpack ahead by six.
That should’ve been enough to win. Until it wasn’t.
Twelve days after Duke handed N.C. State a loss on Senior Night, the Wolfpack looked in position to return the favor to Georgia Tech, scoring 22 points in the final quarter. Instead, a late-game touchdown from the Yellow Jackets and a missed 58-yard field goal by N.C. State’s Collin Smith ended the game in heartbreaking fashion.
The Yellow Jackets earned the 30-29 win on Thursday night in Atlanta, finishing undefeated at home for the first time since 1999.
Georgia Tech (7-4, 5-3 ACC) scored the first points of the game after picking off Bailey’s pass and returning it for a touchdown, Georgia Tech’s first defensive TD in two years.
In a season during which N.C. State (5-6, 2-5 ACC) has struggled to respond, well, it wasn’t an issue on the following drive. The Wolfpack — with help from a Georgia Tech penalty — scored a 16-yard touchdown after Bailey escaped the blitz. Once out of the pocket, Bailey shifted right and ran into the end zone to tie the game. He added a 28-yard rushing touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, too, cutting the Yellow Jackets’ lead to 16-14.
N.C. State’s defense did everything in its power to put the Wolfpack in a position to win. It did not give up an offensive touchdown until 6:40 in the fourth quarter, despite both Georgia Tech quarterbacks, Haynes King and Aaron Philo, testing the N.C. State defense.
N.C. State’s defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland had arguably the best performance of his career on Thursday. The junior disrupted the Yellow Jackets offense for most of the night, one of his best plays coming late in the first half. Cleveland tipped Philo’s pass and forced a turnover on downs with 1:21 remaining in the second quarter.
Cleveland started every game this season at nose tackle and contributed 25 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss in 10 games. He finished with six tackles and two tackles for loss.
Here are three takeaways from the Wolfpack’s loss:
The television broadcasters called the matchup a game for true football fans, for true “sickos,” because there was little scoring. They were right. Both teams showed stalwart defenses early, setting a tough and physical tone.
N.C. State started the game on defense and forced a punt after Tamarcus Cooley and Bishop Fitzgerald both recorded pass breakups on consecutive plays. The Yellow Jackets went 3-and-out on the next drive. Devon Betty contributed an assisted tackle and one solo on the drive. Later in the second half, Betty wrapped up King for a sack and loss of six yards.
Betty entered the game determined to make a big impact against Georgia Tech.
“I just want to play my best ball. I want to give this team everything I got in my last two (games),” Betty said on Tuesday before the game. “I’ve been here since 2020. It’s only right I go out with a bang; only right I go out playing my best ball, with my best effort for the whole game for the last two.”
On the other side of the ball, the Yellow Jackets intercepted two of Bailey’s passes, forced a pair of 3-and-outs of their own and created a turnover on downs after tipping a pass.
At halftime, N.C. State’s defense had only given up a pair of 40-yard field goals while Georgia Tech allowed the lone touchdown.
There was one major pregame message for the Wolfpack defense: Stop the run. It didn’t completely shut down Tech’s run game, but it slowed it down.
Georgia Tech is one of the best rushing teams in the nation (No. 35) and in the ACC (No. 3), averaging 186.2 yards per game. It averaged 5 yards per carry in its previous 10 games.
Meanwhile, the Wolfpack defense ranked No. 60 in the nation and No. 10 in the ACC for rushing yards allowed (140.3).
The Yellow Jackets went into the locker room at halftime with 59 rushing yards on 21 attempts for an average of 2.8 yards per attempt.
Tech running back Jamal Haynes left the game against Miami due to an injury. He led the team with 681 rushing yards and typically gained 5.4 yards per attempt. N.C. State held Haynes to 31 yards on 10 attempts in the first half.
“It’s really just gonna come down to doing your job, being physical, that’s really it,” DK Kaufman said before the game. “We fit the run good last game. We’ve just got to try to make them beat us over our head.”
The Yellow Jackets finished the game with 119 rushing yards for 3.3 yards per carry.
Running back Kendrick Raphael leapt over a Georgia Tech defender as he evaded the tackle and picked up the first down. It was his second first down of the third-quarter drive for a gain of 19 yards.
Raphael played a huge role in the Wolfpack’s late-game surge, adding a pair of first downs in the third quarter and another six-yard gain.
The sophomore ultimately gave the Wolfpack good enough field position for Bailey to scramble out of the pocket and rush for a 28-yard touchdown.
He added a 25-yard rush late in the fourth quarter, putting the Wolfpack on the 1-yard line. Then, Smothers did big-game things with his epic 53-yard touchdown run.
The offense had struggled for three quarters to move the chains consistently before he elevated N.C. State’s game and gave the team a chance to win.
This story was originally published November 21, 2024, 11:48 PM.
The closure of Interstate 40 through the Pigeon River Gorge after Hurricane Helene has created challenges for some tractor-trailer drivers going between North Carolina and Tennessee.Too many of them are ending up on two-lane mountain roads where they crawl along and sometimes get stuck. Officials from both states are urging through drivers to use only approved truck routes and to not blindly heed their computer navigation systems.“Some trucks are following GPS routes that are programmed for passenger vehicles,” said...
The closure of Interstate 40 through the Pigeon River Gorge after Hurricane Helene has created challenges for some tractor-trailer drivers going between North Carolina and Tennessee.
Too many of them are ending up on two-lane mountain roads where they crawl along and sometimes get stuck. Officials from both states are urging through drivers to use only approved truck routes and to not blindly heed their computer navigation systems.
“Some trucks are following GPS routes that are programmed for passenger vehicles,” said NCDOT spokesman David Uchiyama. “Those are routes that accommodate passenger vehicles. But they’re steep, winding, curvy roads, not built for trucks.”
I-40 has been closed near the North Carolina/Tennessee line since Sept. 27, when flooding from the remnants of Helene washed away more than a mile of the eastbound lanes. The closure severed the busiest link between the two states, which handled more than 25,000 vehicles a day, many of them tractor-trailer trucks.
Since then, both states have tried to warn drivers they need to take alternate routes, using social media, cellphone and truck cab alerts, and numerous electronic signs scattered around the region. DriveNC, NCDOT’s website with the latest information about driving conditions in the state, now includes a “truck closure” icon to highlight roads where vehicles longer than 30 feet are prohibited but have gotten stuck (about two dozen so far).
It hasn’t always worked.
Some Carolina-bound truck drivers head east on I-40 right up to where the road closes near the state line, where they’re forced to retreat, says Lt. Bill Miller of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
“Many truck drivers are ignoring the signs posted on I-40 East daily for one reason or another,” Miller wrote in an email. “They then get turned around and continue to rely on their GPS, and they are routed to secondary roads in Cocke County, such as Big Creek Road and Hartford Road. These roads are small and are not wide enough to accept commercial traffic.”
Wayward tractor-trailers in the mountains are not new. Whenever a snow storm or a crash gums up traffic on I-40 through the gorge, drivers look for alternate routes that sometimes get them into trouble, Uchiyama said.
NCDOT had to put up new warning signs after it found trucks trying to use N.C. 209 between I-40 and Hot Springs, including a stretch through Pisgah National Forest known as The Rattler because of its numerous twists and turns.
But it’s gotten worse since Helene.
The problem is not that mountain roads were somehow rendered less truck friendly by Helene. Trucks are ending up on roads that have always been closed to big trucks, said 1st Sgt. Chris Knox, spokesman for the State Highway Patrol.
State troopers on both sides of the border have tried to discourage drivers from using non-truck routes by ticketing them. In one day last week, the State Highway Patrol issued more than 100 citations to truckers using non-truck routes, a number NCDOT broadcast on a Facebook post directed at trucking groups.
“We don’t want to issue citations,” Knox said in an interview. “But we don’t want to see them stuck or turned around or overturned. That further complicates people navigating those roads who should be on those roads.”
Officials on both sides of the state line say there are fewer trucks on non-truck routes than there were in the weeks after Helene. The partial reopening of Interstate 26 in Erwin, Tennessee, on Oct. 30 gave truckers an alternative to I-40, though traffic will be narrowed to one lane in each direction for the foreseeable future as bridges over the Nolichucky River are rebuilt.
NCDOT anticipates partially reopening I-40 through Pigeon River Gorge around the first of the year. It plans to convert the westbound lanes to two-way traffic by putting a concrete barrier down the middle and reducing the speed limit to 40 mph.
“All drivers need to keep in mind it will be slow going,” Uchiyama said.
In the meantime, NCDOT recommends truckers and others just passing through Western North Carolina use one of two routes to and from Tennessee: I-77 to I-81 or U.S. 74.
This story was originally published November 21, 2024, 2:58 PM.
The founder and CEO of a now-bankrupt education tech startup was arrested Tuesday for lying to investors and embezzling company money for personal purchases.U.S. prosecutors indicted Joanna Smith-Griffin of Raleigh for securities fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, alleging she bilked investors out of millions of dollars through her startup AllHere Education, which promised to improve K-12 student engagement through an artificial intelligence platform.Smith-Griffin, 33, formed AllHere in 2016 while studying at Har...
The founder and CEO of a now-bankrupt education tech startup was arrested Tuesday for lying to investors and embezzling company money for personal purchases.
U.S. prosecutors indicted Joanna Smith-Griffin of Raleigh for securities fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, alleging she bilked investors out of millions of dollars through her startup AllHere Education, which promised to improve K-12 student engagement through an artificial intelligence platform.
Smith-Griffin, 33, formed AllHere in 2016 while studying at Harvard University. In 2021, she was named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 list for education, and more recently, her company entered a contract with the Los Angeles Unified School District to provide an AI chatbot to students in the nation’s second-largest school district.
The United States Attorney’s Office says Smith-Griffin misrepresented AllHere’s financials as early as November 2020 during its Series A funding round. According to the indictment, she told investors her Boston-based company had generated $3.7 million in 2020 and carried $2.5 million in cash reserves. In reality, AllHere made only $11,000 that year and had around $500,000 on hand.
Furthermore, Smith-Griffin informed early investors her startup had contracts with the New York City Department of Education and Atlanta Public Schools. It did not.
Over the next four years, prosecutors say Smith-Griffin continued to misrepresent the company’s revenue, cash reserves, and customer base — up until AllHere filed for bankruptcy this past June and laid off its entire staff. By then, she had obtained $10 million from investors.
Smith-Griffin is accused of using these corporate and fraudulently obtained funds on herself, including the down payment on her North Carolina house and her wedding.
“Her alleged actions impacted the potential for improved learning environments across major school districts by selfishly prioritizing personal expenses,” FBI assistant director in charge James Dennehy said in a statement. “The FBI will ensure that any individual exploiting the promise of educational opportunities for our city’s children will be taught a lesson.”
When investors uncovered discrepancies between AllHere’s actual financial records and what its CEO falsely claimed, prosecutors say Smith-Griffin acted to obscure her crimes. One step involved her creating a bogus email account through which she sent fraudulent documents to the company’s biggest investor.
Smith-Griffin was arrested and appeared in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Her case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force in the Southern District of New York.
Securities fraud and wire fraud each have a maximum prison sentence of 20 years while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison.
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Brian Gordon is the Technology & Innovation reporter for The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun. He writes about jobs, start-ups and all the big tech things transforming the Triangle. Brian previously worked as a senior statewide reporter for the USA Today Network and covered education for the Asheville Citizen-Times.
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