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 Redondo Beach Historical 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 Redondo Beach, CA 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.
“Carrie is amazing. Very knowledgeable about Senior living, lifestyle, and care. Super responsive and phenomenal”
“Always Best Care was there for us after my wife's surgery. We had a caregiver”
“Loli demonstrated a level of professionalism that stood out, and her service and follow through”
“My dad came home from the hospital, then to hospice care for 4 months, then”
“Excellent service. Professional staff and wonderful caregivers.”
“I would highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Servicesto help you navigate the care of”
“I would highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Servicesto help you navigate the care of”
“Loli is very caring, worked with us to get the best caregiver match for my”
“We are deeply grateful to Loli and to two of the ABC caregivers in particular,”
“I needed to find an assisted living community for my dad in a hurry, and”
“Always Best Care was an excellent caregiving service for the short time they tended to”
“reliable with excellent oversight”
“We have had 24/7 care for my mother with ABC for over 2 years. The”
“Loli Ramezani and her staff are top notch when it comes to the service they”
“Loli was excellent to work with. She really took the time to understand my father”
“This was a wonderful experience. The care giver did a fantastic job taking care of”
“Loli and the staff at Always Best Care were very professional, compassionate, and resourceful in”
“Outstanding service. I would recommend Manhattan Beach Always Best Care to anyone who needs to”
“I needed to find someone for taking care of my poor mom without being worried.”
“Loli truly cares about her clients and their families ! , She is compassionate professional”
“I needed to find someone for taking care of my mom without being worried. When”
“Always Best Care and Carrie Bianco go above and beyond the call of duty to”
“I can't say enough good things about Always Best Care! Carrie is so professional.”
“What a pleasure to meet Carrie and be introduced to her at Always Best”
“Carrie truly cares about her clients and their families. She is compassionate professional”
“Carrie is amazing. Very knowledgeable about Senior living, lifestyle, and care. Super responsive and phenomenal follow up. An incredible resource for all things "Senior".”
“Always Best Care was there for us after my wife's surgery. We had a caregiver come each day for two weeks to help bath, feed, walk, and tidy the house during working hours so that my wife was not alone. Our caregiver Naomi was a God sent and so delightful. I often overheard my wife and Naomi singing together. What a joy! Thank you Loli and ABC Senior Services for making this service available to Beach Cities.”
“Loli demonstrated a level of professionalism that stood out, and her service and follow through made our experience with Always Best Care Senior Services stress free. We had a unique situation that required a specific type of caregiver and Loli was able to make a great match! Overall a great experience.”
“My dad came home from the hospital, then to hospice care for 4 months, then passed at home. Loli helped our family during multiple transitions of his care. She is professional and efficient, but also compassionate and empathic. She was a core contact for our family from in- and out-of town, and always responded quickly to calls, emails or txts. Dad's caregiver needs and schedules were ever-changing and Loli was always able to adjust, helping us to coordinate needs from hospice and family. We are so thankful Dad was able to spend his last months at home. We continue to use Loli's services for our mom. The caregivers are trained well and often became friends to my folks. I highly recommend Loli's services.”
“Excellent service. Professional staff and wonderful caregivers.”
“I would highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Servicesto help you navigate the care of your loved ones in their senior years of need. We called them when we found out my 92 year old mother in law was due to be released from the hospital but clearly not able to care for herself upon her release. It was a stressful situation but Loli new exactly the right questions to ask and heard our needs and pointed us in the right direction with all that needed to be done. She set up a call with hospice who arranged for all necessary equipment to be delivered in less than a 24 hour period. She also set up 3 very competent experienced care givers to be at the home in that same 24 hour period. The speed and professionalism in which this all happened could not have handled any better in my opinion. Working with Loli at Always Best Care Senior Services put our minds at ease and got everything set up for us to care for my mother in law. Loli was hands on in meeting with us and introducing the care givers and involved with speaking to doctors and hospice and everyone involved with my mother in laws care. She made a highly stressful time much more manageable and guided us every step of the way. She also followed up and made sure all that was supposed to be done was being taken care of. You are in good hands when calling on them for your loved ones care. I am happy to speak to anyone directly if you would like to ask any questions I give my permission for Always Best Care to give my personal phone number out to speak to anyone who is considering using their services.”
“I would highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Servicesto help you navigate the care of your loved ones in their senior years of need. We called them when we found out my 92 year old mother in law was due to be released from the hospital but clearly not able to care for herself upon her release. It was a stressful situation but Loli new exactly the right questions to ask and heard our needs and pointed us in the right direction with all that needed to be done. She set up a call with hospice who arranged for all necessary equipment to be delivered in less than a 24 hour period. She also set up 3 very competent experienced care givers to be at the home in that same 24 hour period. The speed and professionalism in which this all happened could not have handled any better in my opinion. Working with Loli at Always Best Care Senior Services put our minds at ease and got everything set up for us to care for my mother in law. Loli was hands on in meeting with us and introducing the care givers and involved with speaking to doctors and hospice and everyone involved with my mother in laws care. She made a highly stressful time much more manageable and guided us every step of the way. She also followed up and made sure all that was supposed to be done was being taken care of. You are in good hands when calling on them for your loved ones care. I am happy to speak to anyone directly if you would like to ask any questions I give my permission for Always Best Care to give my personal phone number out to speak to anyone who is considering using their services.”
“Loli is very caring, worked with us to get the best caregiver match for my parents, was able to schedule someone when we needed a caregiver on short notice and she always made suggestions to us to help make things better and more comfortable for my parents.”
“We are deeply grateful to Loli and to two of the ABC caregivers in particular, María Flores and Soledad, for their professionalism, dedication and superb service over the course of nearly two years. They provided coverage on evening shifts on weekends and some weekdays —as well as on occasional overnight shifts— for my mother who was in the early-to-moderate stages of Alzheimer’s. (We recently moved her into an assisted living facility.) Because our need for ABC's services was sporadic and variable, Loli and her staff often had to juggle quite a bit to accommodate us — for which we are grateful. Occasionally we’d be assigned a caregiver who wasn’t the best fit but Loli was always responsive to our concerns and would work with us to find a different caregiver. We also appreciate the “added value” that Loli brought to the table — her overall expertise on elder care, knowledge about related resources, and guidance on how to make our home safer for my mother. We are pleased to highly recommend Loli and ABC for your in-home eldercare needs.”
“I needed to find an assisted living community for my dad in a hurry, and knew that I didn't have as much time as I'd like to do all of the research on my own. I was very relieved when I found Loli to help us as a consultant for our search. She was very detail-oriented in acquiring the necessary info from us, and helped us to find a few places with availability that we could visit. I very much appreciated her knowledge of so many various communities, her professionalism, her efficiency, and the wide range of items that she suggested we consider, that we may not have thought of on our own. I would highly recommend her placement services.”
“Always Best Care was an excellent caregiving service for the short time they tended to my ailing mother, a late-stage pancreatic cancer patient. She passed away shortly after we began the caregiving service. In the short time that Always Best Care tended to my mother, the caregiver Maria demonstrated excellent experience. She tended well to my mother and assisted in any other way that she could. Thank you Maria and Always Best Care for your service. I wish you all the kindness and wellness in the world. Colin”
“reliable with excellent oversight”
“We have had 24/7 care for my mother with ABC for over 2 years. The care and compassion they showed for her really touched my heart. I have had to ask for last minute help when another caregiver (not from ABC) could not show up for a shift, Loli and staff always came through for me. She has always been available to work out problems and last minute requests, I can't say enough about how important that has been to me when I live out of state.I have really been able to rely on their judgement once they got to know my moms likes and needs, they always tried to match her with a caregiver that she would also feel comfortable with personally.The caregivers were long term, they did not come and go, mom really became attached and appreciated them. The caregivers speak highly about Loli as their employer, they have mentioned to me they really feel like she cares and looks after them as well. Touches like Loli dropping by for a visit to chat with mom, or remembering her birthday with a bunch of flowers was so great. I would definitely recommend!”
“Loli Ramezani and her staff are top notch when it comes to the service they provide. They are very accommodating on all levels from helping you think things through from start to finish, as well as remaining flexible through each process with the ultimate changes that always seem to arise. I highly recommend them and will be using them again if/when the need presents itself”
“Loli was excellent to work with. She really took the time to understand my father in-law and the family's needs. We had a wonderful caregiver for my father in-law and when it came time to move him from our home, Loli was instrumental in finding a Room and Board that was a great fit. We had used a different service and we can tell you Always Best Care is MUCH higher quality.”
“This was a wonderful experience. The care giver did a fantastic job taking care of my mother. I would recommend them to anyone. The care giver was kind, helpful, and provided all the help we needed. Their service was instrumental in my mother being able to get her independence.”
“Loli and the staff at Always Best Care were very professional, compassionate, and resourceful in providing in home care for my Mom. Loli was responsive when I needed to talk to her about changes or adjustments to my Mom’s care. With her experience and knowledge in the field of senior care she always had recommendations and resources to reach out to when we needed to consider options and alternatives for my Mom’s care. Loli was very compassionate and respectful of my Mom’s wants and needs. I would highly recommend Loli and Always Best Care for senior care services.”
“Outstanding service. I would recommend Manhattan Beach Always Best Care to anyone who needs to have care for a family member. I've had personal experience with Carrie’s organization and was very impressed with her and her caretakers.”
“I needed to find someone for taking care of my poor mom without being worried. When I talked to Loli I got the feeling she understood and she went through A to Z on everything with me. Care and quality care is truly what she delivers.”
“Loli truly cares about her clients and their families ! , She is compassionate professional”
“I needed to find someone for taking care of my mom without being worried. When I talked to Carrie I got the feeling she understood and she went through A to Z on everything with me. Care and quality care is truly what she delivers.”
“Always Best Care and Carrie Bianco go above and beyond the call of duty to really find the perfect fit for your loved one at a price that is affordable. Their customer service and attention to detail is unparalleled.”
“I can't say enough good things about Always Best Care! Carrie is so professional. She was able to find a great caregiver for my Grandmother on very short notice. The communication has been outstanding as well. When it comes to family, you want to know that they are being taken care of by someone that you can trust. We are so happy to have found Always Best Care.”
“What a pleasure to meet Carrie and be introduced to her at Always Best Care Senior Services. Rarely have a met someone that offered so much warmth, care, and genuine concern for the well-being and happiness of her clients. Carrie will be my first call when my family members need assistance.”
“Carrie truly cares about her clients and their families. She is compassionate professional”
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 Veterans 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 Chart House or visit Old Salt Lake Historical Marker, 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 Redondo Beach, CA, 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 Redondo Beach, CA 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 Redondo Beach, CA 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.
The mysterious creature known as Velella velella? has been washing up recently in Manhattan Beach. Here's what you need to know about them. REDONDO BEACH, CA — It floats like a butterfly across the ocean, but its sting most closely resembles that of a jellyfish.The mysterious creature known as Velella velella has been washing up on South Bay beaches this month, and here's what you need to know about the jellyfish-like creature, according to marine experts.The Velella velella, commonly referred to as "by-the-...
REDONDO BEACH, CA — It floats like a butterfly across the ocean, but its sting most closely resembles that of a jellyfish.
The mysterious creature known as Velella velella has been washing up on South Bay beaches this month, and here's what you need to know about the jellyfish-like creature, according to marine experts.
The Velella velella, commonly referred to as "by-the-wind sailors" due to the sail-like structure that makes up the top of their body, are not jellyfish despite their close resemblance. But they pack a similar punch.
"The sail is very buoyant and sticks up above the surface of the water where the wind can push it along," Roundhouse Aquarium's Program and Operations Director Marissa Wu told Patch. "The triangular-shaped sail is diagonal to the soft tissue that surrounds it like a sailboat, allowing the animal to effortlessly glide along the surface of the ocean."
Wu says the blue creature is weird and unique even by ocean standards. They have a lifespan of one year, during which they go through two phases: a polyp stage, where most people see them in their sail-like phase, and a medusa stage, where they look like a jellyfish.
But despite having a medusae stage, it is not considered "true" sea jelly because Velellas are colonial hydroids with individual male and female polyps that serve different roles within their colony.
"Their polyp stage is a floating hydroid colony of feeding/reproductive polyps and defense polyps that are all connected to each other via vascular canals," Wu said. "They are really cool animals!"
Sightings of this creature are pretty common along South Bay beaches in late spring to early summer as currents change and bring in planktonic organisms, Wu said. Experts say unsuspecting swimmers, surfers or people walking along the sand might often confuse their sting with that of a jellyfish.
Although the Velella possesses stinging cells, just like jellyfish and other cnidarians, that help it feed in open water and protect itself, they're not powerful enough to penetrate human skin, Wu said.
Still, the sting can cause mild skin irritation that can spread by touch if not washed off with a mild soap, Wu said.
"They can sting more when they are floating in the water and less so when they've been thrashed in the surf before beaching onto the coarse sand," Wu said. "Then the Velella velella tend to be worn out and quite harmless by the time folks discover them among the beach wrack."
Wu recommends anyone looking to pick one up to examine it, do so by the top of their clear sail.
Velellas are an important part of the ocean's ecosystem as both a predator and prey, according to Wu.
They use their tentacles to feed on zooplankton larva, copepods, krill, fish eggs (from spawning events), and other small floating organisms, Wu said.
It has few predators, including Mola Mola fish, also known as sunfishes, purple snails, and a colorful sea slug known as the blue dragon, which gains the Velellas' stinging abilities upon consumption, Wu said.
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More than 60 students and community leaders planned promising futures at the annual Defying the Odds Black History Month? celebration.Patch StaffMANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Black History month in the South Bay culminated with a celebration of nearly 60 local Black students and mentors at the seventh annual Defying the Odds Black History Month hosted by the Kinecta Federal Credit Union.The Feb. 25th event offered hands-on opportunities for young men from the Centinela Valley Union, Long Beach Unified, Redondo Beach Unif...
Patch Staff
MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Black History month in the South Bay culminated with a celebration of nearly 60 local Black students and mentors at the seventh annual Defying the Odds Black History Month hosted by the Kinecta Federal Credit Union.
The Feb. 25th event offered hands-on opportunities for young men from the Centinela Valley Union, Long Beach Unified, Redondo Beach Unified, and Manhattan Beach Unified school districts along with students from El Segundo High School, Environmental Charter High Schools, and Verbum Dei High School to work with mentors and accomplished professionals for help plotting their own futures.
Twenty mentors from small businesses, public service, education and the corporate world gathered to help the students create vision boards and map out steps to take to establish their career goals.
“The Defying the Odds event is more than just a gathering—it’s a movement,” said Latrice McGlothin, Community Executive Director at Kinecta Federal Credit Union. “Empowering young Black men with knowledge, mentorship, and tangible resources is essential in helping them navigate today’s society. By bringing together professionals who have overcome challenges and achieved success, we hope to inspire the next generation to dream bigger, work smarter, and build strong foundations for their futures.”
The students heard life and career advice from a doctor, engineer, finance expert, police chief and school principal among other local leaders.
Dr. Doug A. Webber, Director of Palliative Care, Glendale Memorial Hospital opened the event, discussing the importance of finding purpose. Next Tony Magee, principal engineer at Aerojet Rocketdyne, urged the students to set ambitious goals for themselves.
“You can’t shove a great life into a small dream," he said.
The panelists shared their own career experiences and stories of resilience, decision-making and growth.
Redondo Union High School Principal Marvin Brown, urged the students to prioritize their own education with a session called "The Power of Eductaion."
The Speakers included:
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Celebrate your deep love of math with pizza and pie deals on Pi Day!Patch StaffLOS ANGELES, CA — You don’t have to be a mathematical whiz to calculate the savings Angelenos can score on pizzas and pies on Pi Day, which will be observed Friday to commemorate the mathematical constant pi.While you don’t have to understand pi to claim the deals, it does help to understand what Pi Day — an unofficial holiday celebrating the ancient mathematical constant by people who enjoy math and science that fall...
Patch Staff
LOS ANGELES, CA — You don’t have to be a mathematical whiz to calculate the savings Angelenos can score on pizzas and pies on Pi Day, which will be observed Friday to commemorate the mathematical constant pi.
While you don’t have to understand pi to claim the deals, it does help to understand what Pi Day — an unofficial holiday celebrating the ancient mathematical constant by people who enjoy math and science that falls on Albert Einstein’s birthday — has to do with discounts on some of our favorite indulgences in California
Pi represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Combined with the circular shape of pies and pizzas, the same-sounding pronunciation of “pi” and “pie,” and sameness in the value of pi, 3.14 and the expression of March 14 as 3/14, Pi Day has turned into a major marketing event.
These deals are good on Friday only, unless otherwise noted. As always, it’s a good idea to call ahead to make sure locations in California are participating.
7-Eleven: A large pizza costs $3.14 at 7-Eleven, as well as Speedway and Stripes locations.
Blaze Pizza: Buy an 11-inch pizza and get a second pizza for $3.14.
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse: A full-sized Pizbookie costs $3.14 with the purchase of one at regular price. The offer is for dine-in customers only.
The Brass Tap: Pizzas are $12 on Pi Day.
Burger King: A Hershey’s Pie is free with a $3.14 or more purchase.
California Pizza Kitchen: Rewards members can get one one pepperoni, cheese or The Original BBQ Chicken pizza for $3.14 with a dine-in or take-out purchase of $25 or more on both Thursday and Friday
DoorDash: The delivery service is offering Pi Day deals at Pizza Hut ($6 off orders of $30 or more); Sbarro ($7 off orders of $25 or more on Thursday and Friday and $8 off $25 or more for DashPass members); and Hungry Howie’s (a free bread on orders of $30 or more).
Famous Dave’s: The barbecue chain is celebrating Pi Day with a free slice of Baker’s Square pie with purchases of $10 or more. The offer is good on online, in-app and in-store orders.
Goldbelly:: The gourmet food chain is offering a 31.4 percent discount on pizzas and pies.
Harry & David Pies: Use the promo code HD50 on food items at the gourmet food vendor, including pies, for savings of $10 on a purchase of $89-$128.99; $20 off a purchase of $129-$198.99; and $50 off a purchase of $199 or more.
Laredo Taco Company: Restaurants are offering savory quesadillas for $3.14.
Marco’s Pizza: A medium, one-topping pizza costs $3.14 with the purchase of any extra-large, menu-priced pizza with the code PIDAY. The offer is available for online and app orders only.
Milk Bar: Order a pie at Milk Bar at regular price and get 25 percent off with the promo code PIDAY at checkout.
Mountain Mike’s Pizza: Mountain Rewards members a free mini pizza with the purchase of a 20-ounce bottled beverage.
Papa Murphy’s: Regular-priced items are 31.4 percent off with the prompt code PIDAY25 at checkout, either online or using the app.
Pieology Pizzeria: Rewards members can earn double Perks points on a purchase of a Create Your Own Pizza, Calzone or salad.
Pizza Hut: In this buy one, get one offer, use the code FREE PIZZA at the checkout when ordering online.
The Pizza Press: A Signature Pizza costs $3.14 on in-app orders (limit one per customer).
Polly’s Pies: Dine-in customers who order an entrée get a free slice of pie (rewards members get a free slice with no purchase necessary); or buy a special Pi Day Apple Pi with the Greek letter π cut into the top crust for $17.99.
Round Table Pizza: Royal Rewards members can get a personal pizza with a choice of one topping for $3.14, with the purchase of any large or extra-large pizza The deal is valid for Royal Rewards Members who have signed up for the rewards program prior to March 14.
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