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 Bennett Place 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 Durham, 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.
“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 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 would have to say out of all the places I've work ABC is by”
“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 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 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 Sandy Creek 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 Nanas or visit Duke Homestead, 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 Durham, 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 Durham, 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 Durham, 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.
Here's a list of the Christmas parades and events happening throughout the Triangle and Fayetteville.RALEIGHThe Rink November 23 - January 20The outdoor ice skating rink is located at Red Hat AmphitheaterCheck here for hours of operation and tickets.The DesserteryOpen from No...
Here's a list of the Christmas parades and events happening throughout the Triangle and Fayetteville.
The Rink November 23 - January 20
The outdoor ice skating rink is located at Red Hat Amphitheater
Check here for hours of operation and tickets.
The DesserteryOpen from November 22 through December 23, The Dessertery is a boutique holiday café at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.
Ticket holders get 1 hour of access to all-you-can-eat holiday treats and hot cocoa.
On select nights, Santa will make an appearance and be available for pictures.
Tickets are required for entry.
Durham Christmas Parade
Durham's Holiday Parade: Saturday, December 14. Starts at 10 a.m. rain or shine.
The parade will make its way down Main Street in Downtown Durham.
Chinese Lantern FestivalFrom November 16 to January 12 the Koka Booth Amphitheatre will be lit up for the holidays.
Tickets are required for entry.
Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 14: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The parade starts on E. Chatham Street at Ward St, proceeds down E. Chatham to S. Academy Street, turns left onto S. Academy Street, and ends at Dry Ave in front of the Cary Arts Center.
Fayetteville's annual Christmas parade will be on Dec. 14 at 10 a.m. The parade will begin at Person Street to Market House to Hay St. to Railroad Station
Holly Springs Christmas Parade is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on Dec. 14.
The Town of Clayton will host the 2024 Clayton Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 14. The parade will take place at 3 p.m. in Downtown Clayton on Main Street.
The Elfland Christmas Festival is happening this year on Dec. 6 and 7. The event runs from 6 - 10 p.m. each night at The Barn at Lloyd's Dairy. You'll be able to see holiday decorations, shop, and enjoy other festive traditions.
Tickets are $10 per person. Click here for more information.
The Town of Carrboro is celebrating the holiday season with its annual tree lighting and Chapel Hill-Carrboro Community Holiday Parade
The tree lighting will take place on Friday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. in front of Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St.
The parade will happen on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. It will start at 140 West Franklin Plaza, travel along Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, go to Main Street in Carrboro, and end at Carrboro Town Hall.
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- In an emotional journey bridging nearly two centuries, descendants of enslaved families returned to Durham's Stagville Plantation, marking 180 years since their ancestors were forced to walk 500 miles from North Carolina to Alabama.Arriving in a black tour bus, family members were visibly moved as they set foot on the grounds w...
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- In an emotional journey bridging nearly two centuries, descendants of enslaved families returned to Durham's Stagville Plantation, marking 180 years since their ancestors were forced to walk 500 miles from North Carolina to Alabama.
Arriving in a black tour bus, family members were visibly moved as they set foot on the grounds where their ancestors once worked the wheat plantations. "It is an emotional trip and there are still some things I'm gonna need to break down when I get home," shared Tamia Cannon-Henderson, one of the descendants.
The historic journey, now known by the family as 'The Trek,' began in 1844 when enslaver Paul Cameron ordered 114 enslaved people to walk from Stagville to his newly-purchased cotton plantation in western Alabama. The brutal journey involved crossing rivers on foot, with wagons and children in tow.
The reunion brought together descendants of the Jeffersons, Hargresses, and Cannon families. "I just thought it was amazing to think that people really traveled that far on foot and so many of them," remarked Henrietta Hargess-Davis, reflecting on her ancestors' journey.
Our ancestors had to go through so much.Henrietta Quick, Stagville Descendant
Duke Emeritus Professor of History Sydney Nathans, who spent 40 years researching and documenting the families' story in his book "A Mind to Stay," revealed a remarkable twist in their history. In 1875, following emancipation, the formerly enslaved farm workers purchased the very land in Alabama where they had once been forced to work.
"It's their story that I'm telling. I'm not telling my story. And I think these people are really heroes to me," Nathans said.
Genealogist Myles Caggins, who spent nearly a decade using DNA and historical records to connect modern-day descendants with their Durham ancestry, expressed amazement at the reunion. "I never imagined we could come to this kind of moment in time," he said. "We have this many family members coming to see where their ancestors were purchased; where they grew up; where they worked; and where they left from."
For many descendants, the homecoming sparked both pride and a desire to learn more about their heritage. "Our ancestors had to go through so much and it's just wonderful to be able to say that this is where we were, but this is where we are," Henrietta Quick reflected. Her sentiment was echoed by Cannon-Henderson, who expressed an eagerness to "dig deeper" into her family's history.
The Stagville descendants now live in cities and towns across the country, but their connection to the past remains strong. Much of the hundreds of acres of land their ancestors purchased in Alabama continues to be owned by their families today, serving as a lasting testament to their resilience and determination.
"The story changes from slavery to freedom. And what happens in freedom is yet another story," noted Professor Nathans, highlighting the ongoing legacy of these remarkable families.
Copyright © 2024 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.
North Carolina has the fourth-safest hospitals in the country, bumping up four pegs after earning the No. 8 spot in the spring.The Leapfrog Group — a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers focused on health care safety — released its fall 2024...
North Carolina has the fourth-safest hospitals in the country, bumping up four pegs after earning the No. 8 spot in the spring.
The Leapfrog Group — a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers focused on health care safety — released its fall 2024 Hospital Safety Grades on Friday, Nov. 15, scoring local hospitals with A through F letter grades.
North Carolina’s Leapfrog safety rankings:
This fall, Utah was ranked No. 1 as the state with the highest percentage of A-ranked hospitals in the country. Virginia, Connecticut, North Carolina, New Jersey and California followed respectively.
The Hospital Safety Grade list assigns a letter grade to general hospitals in the U.S. based on how well they prevent medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections that kill or harm patients.
About 30 measures are used to generate these safety grades. The Leapfrog Group reported five patient experience measures have a direct relationship with safety outcomes:
Grades are assigned using publicly available data, and measures’ scores are calculated using patient responses to a national and standardized survey following a hospital visit, Leapfrog said.
Nationally, patient experience scores improved significantly in a few key areas.
The most significant improvements were noted for healthcare-associated infections, such as those associated with central lines and catheters, hand hygiene and medication safety, Leapfrog found.
In total, 92 hospitals in North Carolina received safety grades in Leapfrog’s fall 2024 report.
Here’s how Charlotte and Raleigh-area hospitals stacked up in the new rankings, how the grades are calculated and how grades should be interpreted.
The following Charlotte-area hospitals received A grades in Leapfrog’s Fall 2024 Hospital Safety Grades report:
These Charlotte hospitals received B grades:
The following Triangle hospitals received A grades in Leapfrog’s Fall 2024 Hospital Safety Grades report:
These Triangle hospitals received B grades:
One Triangle hospital received a D grade:
Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grades are assigned biannually — once in the spring and once in the fall. The Hospital Safety Grade program was established in 2012.
? Grades are assigned using letters, with A being the best possible grade and F being the worst.
? The overall grades are based on about 30 evidence-based measures of the basics of patient safety, including handwashing, entering prescriptions through a computer and the availability of highly trained nurses.
? The grades are assigned using data from a variety of public sources, including from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
? Grades are generally assigned to nearly 3,000 hospitals. Any general, acute-care hospital in the U.S. for which there is enough publicly available data is included in the grading list.
? Individual scores that contribute to a hospital’s overall letter grade fall into five categories:
In a video explaining how to use the hospital safety grades, Leapfrog recommends using the Hospital Safety Grades to inform your decision when choosing a hospital, or to simply learn more about hospitals in your area.
? Using Leapfrog’s search tool on the homepage at hospitalsafetygrade.org, you can search for hospitals by hospital name, city and state, just state or by ZIP code.
? When you get to your results page, Leapfrog recommends looking for hospitals with the highest grade.
The overall letter grade for a hospital gives you the “big picture,” Leapfrog says. But you can also see the individual scores that make up the hospital’s grade.
? If there are certain issues or risks you’re concerned about, make sure to check the hospital’s score on that measure. Leapfrog recommends always checking a hospital’s scores on handwashing, blood infections and patient falls.
? Each score the hospital receives is also listed with the best and worst score on that measure by any hospital, as well as the average score for hospitals on that measure.
More information on how to use the Hospital Safety Grades can be found at hospitalsafetygrade.org/your-hospitals-safety-grade/how-to-use-the-grade.
Regardless of a hospital’s safety grade, Leapfrog recommends the following tips to stay safe if you need to receive care at a hospital:
? Bring someone with you when you arrive and when you’re discharged. If possible, also try to have someone visit every day of your stay.
The extra person can make sure that even when you’re groggy or tired, there’s someone there to be alert, ask questions and advocate for your care. Hospitals might have patient advocates on staff who can also provide these resources.
? Be alert and say something. During your stay, you or your companion should take notes to keep track of what’s happening, including if hospital staff and your care team are washing their hands.
? Know your medications. Leapfrog recommends keeping track of which medications you’re taking during your stay and why you’re taking them.
Don’t be afraid to ask your care team for this information. You can also ask that your care team cross-checks your name with your medications before giving them to you in order to prevent possible mix-ups.
Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska’s reporting contributed to this story.
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This story was originally published November 15, 2024, 2:41 PM.
I’m Brian Gordon, tech reporter for The News & Observer, and this is Open Source, a weekly newsletter on business, labor and technology in North Carolina.In a short span, three of the world’s 10 most valuable companies said they were coming to the Triangle.First, Google named Durham one of its five U.S. cloud engineering hubs and projected hiring 1,000 downtown. A month later, in Ap...
I’m Brian Gordon, tech reporter for The News & Observer, and this is Open Source, a weekly newsletter on business, labor and technology in North Carolina.
In a short span, three of the world’s 10 most valuable companies said they were coming to the Triangle.
First, Google named Durham one of its five U.S. cloud engineering hubs and projected hiring 1,000 downtown. A month later, in April 2021, Apple made national headlines when it announced a 3,000-worker campus in Research Triangle Park.
The next year, rumors surfaced that Facebook-owner Meta would establish a “significant presence” in Durham.
“There was excitement, but there was also nervousness in terms of what it would all mean,” said Matt Gladdek of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce. “For a long time, our region has been a powerhouse but a very humble powerhouse, and it was nice to have the recognition of Google, Apple, Microsoft, Meta all locating here.”
This validation, Gladdek said, came with trepidation.
Concerns of gentrification, housing prices, traffic. Was the Triangle big enough to support these companies’ ambitions? Did the Triangle want to be big enough to support these companies’ ambitions?
Such questions haven’t had to be answered, at least not to the degree people were asking them in 2021. Apple has paused its RTP campus plans for four years. Google’s mass layoffs early last year hit its Durham office And Meta’s “significant presence” hasn’t materialized.
To be clear, all three companies are here. None, however, will share to what extent.
Here’s what we do know:
In February 2023, the company confirmed it had an office in Durham’s American Tobacco Campus where it planned to employ 100 engineers. Around that time, Meta had multiple job positions in Durham posted for its Reality Labs division, which focuses on building virtual and augmented reality.
Today, the company lists no jobs on its website with a Durham or Raleigh location. It has not responded to N&O emails to confirm its Triangle office plans or share if it has new ones. Reality Labs continues to lose billions of dollars each quarter. While Meta remains committed to the investment, The Information this summer reported, “Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has canceled the blank check he once reserved for his augmented reality and virtual reality teams.”
Meta currently subleases 18,000 square feet at American Tobacco Campus from Duke University, said Scott Selig, who oversees the university’s off-campus real estate portfolio. “I don’t know a lot more than that,” Selig said.
In its latest yearly filing, Meta said it had begun “shrinking our real estate footprint” to reduce costs.
Of the three, Google has the most local visibility with its sign atop the Durham ID building downtown. Online, it lists 52 open jobs with Durham (and/or Raleigh) as potential locations. A handful of the roles list only Raleigh and Durham as worksites.
Google Cloud is hiring in the area, as is Google Fiber. In an interview earlier this year, Google Fiber’s head of product Nick Saporito said his department had a “significant presence” at Durham ID.
Does Google still plan to hire 1,000 at its engineering hub? The company didn’t respond to my email this week to say.
In its most recent annual filing, the company described taking “office space optimization efforts,” which last year resulted in $1.8 billion in lease exit charges.
This summer, the company said it would postpone its promised $552 million campus in Wake County for four years. No construction had begun. But the Cupertino tech giant has been hiring in the area.
The economic incentive agreement Apple signed with North Carolina in 2021 required the company to have hired at least 126 local workers by the end of 2023 and 378 total positions by the end this year. The state hasn’t released its review of Apple’s hiring progress, yet all indications suggest the company has met its jobs targets so far.
For now, the company leases office space at MetLife’s tech campus in Cary. Apple also leases a four-story, 139,000-square-foot building in Durham, near Raleigh-Durham International Airport, according to multiple sources familiar with that site.
A famously secretive company, Apple has issued only two public statements about its RTP plans: Once when announcing the campus in April 2021 and again this past June when it postponed the campus. Last year, Apple representatives filed site plans that showed a future Triangle campus would include three office buildings, three accessory buildings and a parking garage — totaling close to 900,000 square feet on either side of N.C. 540.
Compared to its tech counterparts, Apple has retained (and even added) more office space amid the rise of remote work. It has also piloted a hybrid return-to-office policy that makes geography important. Perhaps that’s a good sign for its Triangle future.
Overall, tempered local plans of Google, Meta, and Apple might dint the Triangle’s standing as a top-tier tech force, one to rival Boston, Austin and the Bay Area for prestige. But the commutes are more palatable when you’re a humble powerhouse.
Plus, Google, Meta and Apple are small potatoes. The world’s current most valuable company, California’s chipmaker Nvidia, has been hiring in Durham.
Thanks for reading!
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This story was originally published November 15, 2024, 9:31 AM.
The News & Observer
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.
A Washington, DC-based civil rights organization is taking Durham officials to court—for keeping them out of court.Civil Rights Corps (CRC) filed a federal lawsuit against District Court Judge Doretta Walker and Sheriff Clarence Birkhead on Wednesday alleging that the officials have systematically blocked the organization’s staff from monitoring dependency court hearings. In these hearings, a judge may separate children from their parents or terminate parental rights. While several Durham judges preside over dependency hea...
A Washington, DC-based civil rights organization is taking Durham officials to court—for keeping them out of court.
Civil Rights Corps (CRC) filed a federal lawsuit against District Court Judge Doretta Walker and Sheriff Clarence Birkhead on Wednesday alleging that the officials have systematically blocked the organization’s staff from monitoring dependency court hearings. In these hearings, a judge may separate children from their parents or terminate parental rights. While several Durham judges preside over dependency hearings on a rotating basis, the lawsuit singles out Walker.
“Almost every single time that we have tried to observe court proceedings in Judge Walker’s courtroom, we’ve been kicked out without any chance to explain why we’re there, without any justification,” says Elizabeth Rossi, an attorney and the director of strategic initiatives at CRC.
According to the lawsuit, on at least seven occasions when CRC staff have shown up to observe dependency proceedings in Walker’s courtroom, sheriff’s deputies have escorted them out and posted “CLOSED HEARING” signs on the door. The organization’s attempts to obtain transcripts of the orders excluding their staff have been denied, the lawsuit states.
Court watching is the “bread and butter investigative tactic” of CRC’s work, according to Rossi. The lawsuit argues that blocking public access to dependency proceedings violates the First Amendment’s presumption of open courts.
“We’re not asking the federal court to say that as a blanket matter, the public must always be led into every single case,” Rossi says. “We’re asking for a presumptive right of access that can be qualified, that can be balanced against other important interests.”
CRC staff began monitoring Durham courtrooms last year after learning of ongoing issues with the county’s dependency court system. A 2022 report from Emancipate NC and Thrive Tribe NC described dependency proceedings as “slow-moving” and “inefficient,” with “unrelenting continuances.” The INDY has also reported on cases where parents say they’ve been penalized by the court for speaking publicly about their cases or joining protests about DSS policies.
Leading the local push for reform is Amanda Wallace, who spent a decade as a Child Protective Services investigator before founding Operation Stop CPS, a Durham organization that works with families navigating what Wallace calls the “family policing system.” Wallace quit her investigator job in 2020 after she was required to relocate a child she says she knew was safe at home.
“The majority of children coming into custody, it’s because of poverty-related concerns,” Wallace says. “If the public just came and sat inside the courtroom, they’d see—wait, so this child was taken away because the parent didn’t have childcare? Can we not figure that out without giving their child to somebody else?”
For parents in dependency court, Operation Stop CPS has become a source of crucial emotional support. Sharrocka Pettiford discovered the organization last year after leaving a hearing feeling defeated.
“I just remember feeling like it was over. I had nobody else to turn to,” says Pettiford, a Durham mother of seven who has been navigating dependency court proceedings since 2019. For years, she says, she sat through hearings feeling isolated—”in the lion’s den,” with “everyone against me, even my attorney.'”
“When my support is allowed to be there, when my community is allowed to be there, it’s everything,” Pettiford says. “Even though they’re sitting in the audience and I’m over here with my lawyer, I still feel that support and that love, and it means a lot.”
In proceedings over the past year, Pettiford says Walker sometimes closed the courtroom to community supporters for reasons she did not understand.
The lawsuit seeks to require Walker to provide an opportunity for advocates to be heard and make “specific, on-the-record, reviewable findings demonstrating that closure is essential to preserve higher values and is narrowly tailored to serve that interest” before excluding them from the courtroom. The lawsuit also seeks an injunction to stop Birkhead from enforcing what it calls “unconstitutional courtroom exclusion orders.”
Wallace sees the stakes in stark historical terms.
“The courtroom is the new auction block,” Wallace says. “What they’re trying to hide is the evolution of slavery. If you look back, there are pictures of the actual moment of Black mothers reaching their hands out as their children are being taken of them. If that image was happening in 2024, we would have public outrage. People would be upset. And so what they’ve done now is bring it into the courtroom to be able to take children away in private.”
Walker and Birkhead did not respond to the INDY’s request for comment on the lawsuit.
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