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 Bellamy Mansion Museum 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 Wilmington, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“My family’s experience has been wonderful with Always Best Care. They are an exceptional team”
“Always going the extra mile making sure my father is being well taken care of.”
“Always best care is a family oriented agency . I am blessed in my heart”
“I am very grateful to work for Always Best Care since year 2019. All office”
“Wonderful company!”
“Always Best Care Senior Services was exactly what our family needed during a challenging time”
“Wow, the virtual reality dementia training is very eye opening. Gives you an idea of”
“Enjoyed taking this virtual trip through the mind of a dementia.”
“This was a very good experience. It changed my mind on a lot of things”
“I had a great experience”
“Great experience! I think everyone who cares for someone with dementia should have this experience.”
“This experience was great. It gave me a different perspective on dealing with dementia. I”
“It was a great experience and it is a eye opener I loved it”
“Very knowledgeable and informative! Definitely recommend”
“Great training”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care provided excellent, diligent, responsive and”
“They helped me with getting a wheelchair! They didn't want anything but to help me”
“I feel so blessed to be served by such caring and helpful people. I had”
“ABC services do an amazing job. They have helped my 90 year old mother in”
“I cannot recommend this service enough. The owner Shawn was wonderful to speak with.”
“These people are Angels. Kathryn was lightning quick with new solutions everytime things changed,”
“Kind aides who were patient and caring with my Mother. Quality service.”
“Always Best Care goes above and beyond to provide great care for you or your”
“Excellent! Shawn was a Godsend. He found a great, affordable community for my Mom. We”
“I contacted Shawn when my mother returned home from the hospital. There are so many”
“My family’s experience has been wonderful with Always Best Care. They are an exceptional team of caregivers who really care about the well fare of their clients. They go above and beyond taking care of my parents and have been very professional and dependable. I would recommend ABC to anyone who needs a reliable and competent care team. Karen Lussi”
“Always going the extra mile making sure my father is being well taken care of.”
“Always best care is a family oriented agency . I am blessed in my heart to see the services being rendered to clients. Extra miles taken to make sure every client is well taken care, even in unpleasant weather conditions. The CEO and administrators were out in the snow last week picking up workers who were unsure of driving . I was glad to see this commitment, making sure families could sit back and relax. With no fear, I will recommend Always best to any family who needs awesome care for their love ones.”
“I am very grateful to work for Always Best Care since year 2019. All office staff are great people, very helpful and always treat everyone with love and respect. Definitively it is a bless to work for this agency.”
“Wonderful company!”
“Always Best Care Senior Services was exactly what our family needed during a challenging time with our father. It all began with a fall, followed by an ER visit, and soon after, my sister and I found ourselves flying to NC to care for him and plan the next steps. Kathryn from Always Best Care was an absolute lifesaver! She guided us seamlessly through the process of finding the perfect independent senior living community for our father. Her extensive industry knowledge helped us navigate the additional health services he required with ease. Kathryn went above and beyond, consistently checking in and patiently responding to countless texts and emails from us. Thanks to her support, our father is now thriving in a supportive environment and is healthier than ever. We can’t imagine how we would have managed this journey without Kathryn’s expertise and compassion. Truly an incredible experience!”
“Wow, the virtual reality dementia training is very eye opening. Gives you an idea of what someone living with dementia is like. This is such a horrible disease but this helps care givers understand the disease. Thanks so much!!”
“Enjoyed taking this virtual trip through the mind of a dementia.”
“This was a very good experience. It changed my mind on a lot of things . I didn’t know it was that bad for them and it’s very sad , I will always treat them all with care and love no matter what because there dealing with something that’s really hard to deal with .”
“I had a great experience”
“Great experience! I think everyone who cares for someone with dementia should have this experience.”
“This experience was great. It gave me a different perspective on dealing with dementia. I now know what to do differently when working with my residents. I think A all caregivers should experience this training.”
“It was a great experience and it is a eye opener I loved it”
“Very knowledgeable and informative! Definitely recommend”
“Great training”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care provided excellent, diligent, responsive and caring home health assistance to my mother who was recovering from an unexpected surgery. They were able to assist on incredibly short notice and made a difficult situation for our family much better. Each of their carers was exceptionally professional and attentive, especially Lori and Kylie who were incredible. I felt safe leaving my loved one in their care and appreciated that they went above and beyond to meet our needs. They provided regular updates to me and my family and made my mother feel so well attended, especially as she needed extra mobility and personal care help. I would absolutely not work with any other company, should we ever need home health assistance again. Highly recommend.”
“They helped me with getting a wheelchair! They didn't want anything but to help me gain my mobility! They are all super nice and very helpful! Give them your trust, they have mine. If I ever need home help, it'll be through them!”
“I feel so blessed to be served by such caring and helpful people. I had to downsize due to an unexpected illness and Always Best Care (ABC) stepped in to make this possible. Kind, compassion, pleasant, friendly, joyful and talented professionals comprise those providing this service. I literally couldn’t have lived for at my assisted living since I had so many hospital visits each week. I didn’t want to go alone to these appointments and this freed my family from needless distress and worry about my wellbeing when they couldn’t be there. I highly recommend ABC since they are an essential component providing excellent and reliable support.”
“ABC services do an amazing job. They have helped my 90 year old mother in law transition into her new home after moving to Raleigh from Winston Salem. She has dialysis 3x a week and they have worked so hard to coordinate a schedule to make sure everything runs smoothly. Sherry continues to amaze me in how she is able to help figure out schedules and provide customer services in a kind and professional manner. We will continue to look to this wonderful service provider as her needs change and feel blessed to have them on site at Atri”
“I cannot recommend this service enough. The owner Shawn was wonderful to speak with. He was sincerely concerned about my mom and our family. He is an excellent listener and introduced me to Paige who is equally wonderful. Together they found a great place for my mother in a very short time. Paige was always available to speak on the phone and addressed my questions or concerns. I would recommend using this service for your loved one. Laura B of Raleigh”
“These people are Angels. Kathryn was lightning quick with new solutions everytime things changed, and things changed constantly. My dad has a chance to live the rest of his life with dignity and my mom has a chance to live a fuller life because of the help we got from Kathryn and this team. They have a great network and valuable knowledge but what observed that makes them invaluable is that they care...and when you are on this situation I found that this is the quality that matters the most. Cannot thank them enough.”
“Kind aides who were patient and caring with my Mother. Quality service.”
“Always Best Care goes above and beyond to provide great care for you or your loved ones. Always Best Care makes it possible to stay in home, and stay as independent as possible. ABC staff are there to assist in keeping you or your loved ones safe, healthy and happy. If you are looking for top quality care, you have found the right place!”
“Excellent! Shawn was a Godsend. He found a great, affordable community for my Mom. We are very satisfied with his service and professionalism. He took his time and our requirements and found the perfect place. Highly recommend him and Always Best Care!”
“I 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!”
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 Greenfield 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 manna or visit Wilmington Light Infantry Building / John A. Taylor 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 Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, 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.
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The latest business to occupy 143 N. Front St. in downtown Wilmington has announced that they are hosting a “Last Call Party” on Saturday, July 26 to say goodbye and liquidate ingredients. The social media post said that those interested could come out to Chef Joy’s Grocerant for drink specials and live music.“We can smile, reminisce, and know there's something new coming behind every closed door,” the post said. It starts at 8 p.m. “until whenever we close our doors.”The Grocerant is b...
The latest business to occupy 143 N. Front St. in downtown Wilmington has announced that they are hosting a “Last Call Party” on Saturday, July 26 to say goodbye and liquidate ingredients. The social media post said that those interested could come out to Chef Joy’s Grocerant for drink specials and live music.
“We can smile, reminisce, and know there's something new coming behind every closed door,” the post said. It starts at 8 p.m. “until whenever we close our doors.”
The Grocerant is branded as a specialty grocery store and quick-bites social house. It opened in 2024, offering groceries and grab-and-go meals.
The space was also Farmin' on Front, a market that opened in 2016 from the Carolina Farmin’ brand in an effort to bring locally grown produce to downtown residents. That closed in 2018 after Hurricane Florence. It then became a Better Basket store in 2021.
Another health food business nearby, Riverside Greens Salad Bar, closed in June at 106 N. Water St.
STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the area’s latest food news by signing up for the Port City Foodies newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram.
Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at[email protected].
A Grammy-nominated electronic music artist will headline a creator summit hosted by a Wilmington tech company.Deadmau5 (pronounced "dead mouse") will headline the 45Drives Creator Summit in Wilmington, 45Drives president and co-founder Doug Milburn told the StarNews. The summit will take place Sept. 8-12.Deadmau5 is the stage name of Joel Zimmerman, a seven-time Grammy-nominated electronic music artist."Deadmau5 represents the kind of creator who refuses to compromise — and that’s exactly who w...
A Grammy-nominated electronic music artist will headline a creator summit hosted by a Wilmington tech company.
Deadmau5 (pronounced "dead mouse") will headline the 45Drives Creator Summit in Wilmington, 45Drives president and co-founder Doug Milburn told the StarNews. The summit will take place Sept. 8-12.
Deadmau5 is the stage name of Joel Zimmerman, a seven-time Grammy-nominated electronic music artist.
"Deadmau5 represents the kind of creator who refuses to compromise — and that’s exactly who we built 45Studio for," Milburn said. "This isn’t just a partnership; it’s a shared belief that open, scalable hardware should be in the hands of the people actually making things. We’re proud to have built something truly new with him."
Deadmau5 is collaborating with 45Drives on a signature series of ultra-quiet servers built for for digital artists, streamers, producers and other creative professionals. The servers will be built under a new product line called 45Studio, designed to give creators uncompromised control over their workflows and data.
"I’ve always been obsessed with gear that lets me push creative limits — and until now, there just hasn’t been a server built with artists like me in mind," Zimmerman said in a news release. "Working with the crew at 45Drives to make something totally silent, totally overpowered, and totally ours has been insane. Can’t wait to show everyone what we built."
Deadmau5 is a Canadian electronic music producer and DJ. Under the moniker, Zimmerman performs onstage wearing a custom mouse helmet. Zimmerman's music career started in the late 1990s, but gained popularity in the late 2000s with dance hits such as "Ghosts 'n' Stuff."
Deadmau5 has been nominated for seven Grammy Awards, most recently in 2024 for "Kx5" under Best Dance/Electronic Album. In 2012, he was named among the world's highest paid DJs by Forbes.
45Drives is an open-source data storage company for enterprise and mid-sized businesses. In addition to serving aerospace and government institutions, the company offers high-speed storage for video producers managing large files. The company is a division of Protocase, a tech company headquartered in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
In addition to an office in Wilmington's Skyline Center, Protocase and 45Drives launched a production facility for custom computer parts in Wilmington earlier this year. The company is projected to bring over 500 jobs to Wilmington and has partnered with Cape Fear Community College and North Carolina for Military Employment to recruit employees.
45Drives' products are used by creators including independent video editors working on full-scale projects, such as North Carolina-based editor Chris Walldorf. In 2021, Walldorf served as the lead editor for Netflix's "The Night Stalker."
45Drives' third annual Creators Summit will bring together tech creatives for engaging discussions, livestreams and demonstrations. This will be the first time the summit will be held in Wilmington.
Deadmau5's product will be launched live on stage on Sept. 12. The product is the first of the 45Studio division.
The event will be free to attend, but Milburn projects that future iterations of the summit will be ticketed.
Daniel Sheehan covers the city of Wilmington and New Hanover County for the StarNews. Reach him at [email protected].
Rain gardens have been growing in popularity for good reason. They beautify outdoor spaces while providing important environmental and ecological benefits.Oh, and Wilmington is one of the best cities to build one in.A recent article from Lawn Love, a lawn care and landscaping information site, ranked U.S. cities based on their viability for rain gardens.Wilmington came in at number 8 in Lawn Love's rankings of the 500 largest cities in the U.S.Lawn Love’s criteria included the amount of total rainfall in the...
Rain gardens have been growing in popularity for good reason. They beautify outdoor spaces while providing important environmental and ecological benefits.
Oh, and Wilmington is one of the best cities to build one in.
A recent article from Lawn Love, a lawn care and landscaping information site, ranked U.S. cities based on their viability for rain gardens.
Wilmington came in at number 8 in Lawn Love's rankings of the 500 largest cities in the U.S.
Lawn Love’s criteria included the amount of total rainfall in the city, the accessibility of native plants and gardening equipment, and the general public interest in rain gardens.
Here's why these backyard features are aesthetically pleasing, manage stormwater pollution and runoff, and are relatively simple and cost-effective to build.
Lawn Love ranked Wilmington as the eighth best city in the U.S. for rain gardens.
This is partially due to the abundance of rain Wilmington receives each year. According to the National Weather Service, Wilmington gets around 58 inches of rain per year. This is well above the national average of around 30 inches.
The accessibility of garden stores and nurseries to provide local plants was also a factor.
Finally, Lawn Love also weighed public interest in rain gardens.
Three Florida cities are atop the list: Miami, Homestead and Miami Beach. Wilmington is the only North Carolina city in the top 10 with Asheville next from the Tar Heel State at 39th.
If you start to look for them, you may start to notice the large amount of rain gardens around Wilmington.
The city adopted the Bradley and Hewletts Creek Watershed Restoration Plan in 2012 in an effort to improve water quality in both creeks. The plan involves the Heal Our Waterways program, which assists residents in projects to treat polluted runoff.
This includes installing rain barrels, planting trees, rerouting downspouts, and, of course, building rain gardens.
The city has helped to fund and install over 50 rain gardens in the Bradley and Hewletts Creek watersheds.
The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the largest landowner in the Bradley Creek watershed, has rain gardens throughout their campus. According to their website, the network of rain gardens can treat 400,000 gallons of polluted stormwater every time it rains.
The Environmental Protection Agency defines a rain garden as: “a depressed area in the landscape that collects rainwater from a roof, driveway or street and allows it to soak into the ground.”
These gardens are planted with native shrubs, grasses and flowers.
Generally, rain gardens are dug anywhere between 6-12 inches into the ground at their deepest point. The depth depends on the soil type and how quickly it drains water.
Rain gardens also tend to be built at the base of a slight slope so they can collect runoff at a steady pace.
Beyond enhancing the look of a yard, the purpose of a rain garden is to collect polluted runoff from gutters, streets, and sidewalks. When it rains, the water will temporarily pool in the rain garden before slowly soaking into the soil.
This process helps filter out some of the pollutants from the runoff, such as metals and excess nutrients, before they reach lakes, rivers, streams or bays.
They’re designed to drain within 24-48 hours, meaning they shouldn’t attract mosquitoes.
Because of the large number of impervious surfaces in cities, rain gardens are ideal for urban areas. They help reduce the rate and volume of runoff, which can also prevent overflow in heavy storms.
Rain gardens are most praised for their ability to reduce the volume of polluted runoff.
According to the Groundwater Foundation, an organization dedicated to clean and sustainable groundwater, "rain gardens are effective in removing up to 90% of nutrients and chemicals and up to 80% of sediments from the rainwater runoff. Compared to a conventional lawn, rain gardens allow for 30% more water to soak into the ground."
But the benefits don’t stop there.
Rain gardens also provide food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. This is especially important in urban and developed areas, where suitable habitats for these species may be scarce.
The city of Wilmington, in partnership with New Hanover County, offers full funding and installation of rain gardens through their Heal Our Waterways program. The program is available to individual properties within the Bradley Creek and Hewlett watersheds that meet the city’s requirements.
An application form is available on the city of Wilmington website.
The city also offers cost-share rebates up to $10,000 for large-scale projects from developments, businesses, and HOAs. Rebates for large-scale projects are increasing as well, said Anna Reh-Gingerich, the Watershed Coordinator for the program.
If your property isn't located within the Bradley Creek and Hewlett watersheds, a rain garden is still relatively simple to build on your own. Lawn Love also has comprehensive guide to planning and building a rain garden in your backyard.
Charlie Kingree is a reporting intern for the StarNews. You can reach him at [email protected].
People aren’t the only ones flocking to North Carolina's coastal waters in the summer — so are sharks.As beaches fill up with locals and tourists during the warmest season, everyone is thinking more about the ocean. It’s only natural for our minds to drift toward the possibility of sharks in the water with us.With Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week” fast approaching, even more attention is on the finned predators.Just like people, sharks are attracted to warm water, and they tend to be mo...
People aren’t the only ones flocking to North Carolina's coastal waters in the summer — so are sharks.
As beaches fill up with locals and tourists during the warmest season, everyone is thinking more about the ocean. It’s only natural for our minds to drift toward the possibility of sharks in the water with us.
With Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week” fast approaching, even more attention is on the finned predators.
Just like people, sharks are attracted to warm water, and they tend to be more active in the summer months. Many shark species are migratory and make their way up the East Coast as the waters get progressively warmer. Sharks are also drawn in by an increase in food sources near the coast during this time.
The Atlantic sharpnose and sandbar sharks are among the most common sharks in North Carolina waters, according to the North Carolina Sea Grant. These are some of the more moderately sized species. Atlantic sharpnoses tend to reach lengths of about 4 feet, while sandbar sharks can grow up to 8 feet.
Local waters are also home to some more famous species. Great whites, tiger sharks, and hammerheads can all be found off the coast. Some species, including the bull shark, can be found in sounds and estuaries.
The reality is that your risk of being attacked by a shark is incredibly low. Last year, North Carolina only recorded a single attack, according to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), a comprehensive database for shark attacks housed at the Florida Museum for Natural History.
In fact, 2024 was “an exceptionally calm year for shark bites,” ISAF says. Only 47 unprovoked attacks — incidents where the person does not initiate contact with the shark, such as in releasing it from a hook or spearfishing — were recorded worldwide, well below the 10-year average of 70. (ISAF recorded 24 provoked bites as well in 2024.)
North Carolina’s sole attack in 2024 occurred in North Topsail Beach last summer.
Brunswick and New Hanover counties have recorded 18 and 15 attacks respectively since 1935.
Still, your chances of experiencing a shark attack are incredibly low, with even lower odds of one of these rare attacks resulting in a fatality.
For anyone still nervous, ISAF does offer tips for avoiding a shark attack. These include:
Sharks should probably be much more afraid of us than we are of them.
Humans kill upwards of 100 million sharks per year in fishing-related deaths, according to the journal Science. Many are targeted for their fins, often for use in a dish called shark fin soup, which is considered a delicacy in some regions.
Bycatch, where sharks are caught accidently in fishing gear meant to catch other kinds of fish, is also a major contributor to the decline in shark populations
In North Carolina, both commercial and recreational shark fishing is allowed year-round, with some restrictions on certain species and the minimum size allowed.
Many species of shark are considered critically endangered. This includes species that can be found in North Carolina, such as the sand tiger shark and the scalloped hammerhead.
Conservation groups are in an ongoing battle to manage populations and regulate the shark-fishing industry.
Charlie Kingree is a reporting intern for the StarNews. You can reach him at [email protected].
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