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 Griffith Morgan House in Merchantville, NJ 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 Merchantville, NJ 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.
“I am a current client of this provider My brother is getting service from Always Best”
“Always Best Care is a great co host to a beautiful summer celebration at Artis”
“Very easy to work with and set up care plan for my mother.”
“The service is excellent. The staff is really great. I love Working with Always Best”
“Fabulous team to work with. The best care senior service to work with. Especially Kendra,”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care has provided 24 / 7”
“Always Best Care is a great co host to a beautiful summer celebration at Artis”
“Always Best Care is a great co host to a beautiful summer celebration at Artis”
“Always Best Care is a great co host to a beautiful summer celebration at Artis”
“Always Best Care is a great co host to a beautiful summer celebration at Artis”
“Fabulous team to work with. The Best of the Best...... We know that when we”
“They are phenomenal!! Took great care of my not so easy Mom. They have ur”
“Great team to work with!!”
“I would like to recommend Always Best Care Senior Services of Greater South Jersey.. a”
“I am a current client of this provider My brother is getting service from Always Best Care of Jersey South. So far, they've been good and responsive. The way that we have the care set up, they come two hours in the morning and two hours at night. There aren't many care providers that do the split hours, but it's necessary for our situation and they've done that. The cost is comparable, they all seem to be charging the same amount. In the three weeks, there were two times that the provider came at the last minute. There was a car accident, it happened twice, and in both situations, they found a replacement to come out.”
“Always Best Care is a great co host to a beautiful summer celebration at Artis Senior Living of Evesham”
“Very easy to work with and set up care plan for my mother.”
“The service is excellent. The staff is really great. I love Working with Always Best Care because they take care of their employees. They work with you to see what hours you could work. When ever I have a emergency and I can not make it they find coverage. They give cases that are most of the time good with you. They work around my schedule. I love Working with ABC.”
“Fabulous team to work with. The best care senior service to work with. Especially Kendra, she is always available and always willing to help anyway she can and will go out of her way to make the patient and family’s experience 100x better. When our families are looking for additional care I know I can count on Always Best Care, to always give their very best. Big thank you to Kendra, Kerry and staff.”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care has provided 24 / 7 Live in care for my mother. They have taken very good care of my mother and I look forward to them continuing my mother’s care.”
“Always Best Care is a great co host to a beautiful summer celebration at Artis Senior Living of Evesham”
“Always Best Care is a great co host to a beautiful summer celebration at Artis Senior Living of Evesham”
“Always Best Care is a great co host to a beautiful summer celebration at Artis Senior Living of Evesham”
“Always Best Care is a great co host to a beautiful summer celebration at Artis Senior Living of Evesham”
“Fabulous team to work with. The Best of the Best...... We know that when we refer our families to this "Wonderful" Company that they will take exceptional care of our clients.... Thank you Tammi, Kerri, Kendra and staff..”
“They are phenomenal!! Took great care of my not so easy Mom. They have ur back!!”
“Great team to work with!!”
“I would like to recommend Always Best Care Senior Services of Greater South Jersey.. a Veteran and Woman owned Company.”
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 Wellwood park in Merchantville, NJ 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 Park Place Café & Restaurant or visit Pennsauken Historical Society, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Merchantville, NJ, 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 Merchantville, NJ 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 Merchantville, NJ 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.
Three Merchantville residents are running for three available three-year terms on the Merchantville School District Board of Education. We invited them to share a bit about themselves with voters ahead of Election Day. Here's how they responded.Every election season, NJ Pen invites candidates running for local office to tell voters a bit about themselves and their priorities before the ballots are cast.We produce these profiles in the public interest, but our journalism is possible only th...
Three Merchantville residents are running for three available three-year terms on the Merchantville School District Board of Education. We invited them to share a bit about themselves with voters ahead of Election Day. Here's how they responded.
Every election season, NJ Pen invites candidates running for local office to tell voters a bit about themselves and their priorities before the ballots are cast.
We produce these profiles in the public interest, but our journalism is possible only through small, regular contributions from our readers — so if you’re reading this for free, it’s because other readers have made it possible for us to offer it to you.
To support our ability to keep doing this work year-round, please become a subscriber.
Three Merchantville residents are running for three available three-year terms on the Merchantville Public School District Board of Education: incumbents Melanie Gaskins, Kristina Kroot, and Mitch Larson.
All three candidates have been invited to reply to the same set of prompts, telling voters about themselves, their priorities, and their views of the current state of affairs in their community. Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
A resident journalist's perspective on suburban Camden County, delivered right to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time.
Sign me up!
Kristina Kroot is a seven-year Merchantville resident who works as a communications consultant for technology and health organizations and writes on AI policy and ethics.
Kroot holds an MBA and a master’s degree in developmental psychology, and also operates her own business specializing in architectural and interior photography.
A married mother of two school-aged children, Kroot enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, gardening, concert-going, and volunteering.
What is your philosophy of education?
Every student walks in with a different mix of strengths, worries, and questions, and a school’s job is to meet each of them where they are.
I believe the best education leaves kids curious enough to keep learning after the bell rings. That takes a supportive, stimulating environment where creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving get real practice.
A balanced curriculum matters to me. Arts, sports, and extracurriculars sit alongside math and reading because kids grow across all of them, and the real world will ask for all of them.
Students do their best work when they feel known and safe, and when they can see that what they’re learning connects to something beyond the classroom. My job on the board is to protect those conditions so that every child in our district has them.
What personal and professional experiences would you bring to the table as a school board member?
I’ve served on this board for six years, so I know how our district runs, from budgets and staffing to policy and the follow-up after a hard incident.
My career has been spent in communications and clinical psychology research, and I’m now in the Public Affairs and Community Development program at Rutgers-Camden, where I study how policy decisions play out in communities.
My experiences have taught me three things I use on the board.
First, to think critically and read the evidence before acting, asking what a claim rests on before accepting it.
Second, to listen to everyone a decision touches, from teachers and staff to parents and students, before the vote happens.
Third, to stay steady and keep children at the center even when a decision is hard.
My volunteer work as a court-appointed advocate for children and as a crisis counselor shapes how I think about student safety and well-being, and as a parent of two students in our district, I see the effects of our decisions firsthand.
Why are you running for office?
I’m running for a third term because I believe a school’s job is to serve the whole child. Academics matter, and so does a child’s safety, health and well-being, sense of belonging, and a chance to discover what they’re good at.
Every decision the board makes, from budget to staffing to policy, should be tested against one question: is this what’s best for our students?
Six years on the board have taught me how much of that work happens in the details, and I want to keep doing it so every child in our district is known, supported, and challenged, and every family can see how and why decisions get made.
What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
A small district must make careful choices with limited resources. Insurance premiums have risen substantially, and that’s a cost we don’t control, but must plan around. Our job is to absorb those costs responsibly while protecting what students experience in the classroom.
State funding is uncertain, and leadership and staffing transitions affect students directly. We also need to keep communication open so families hear about decisions from us, not second-hand, and keep students safe and supported, handling harassment, intimidation, and bullying concerns well.
Finally, students are growing up surrounded by digital tools and AI, and our schools have to teach digital and critical thinking literacy so they can question what they see, use technology with judgment, and stay in charge of their own thinking.
What are three key issues on which you will focus if elected?
Mitch Larson is the Assistant Dean at the Rutgers University-Camden Graduate School who lives in Merchantville with his wife, Alexandria, and daughter, Juliette.
Larson is pursuing a Ph.D. in childhood studies, with an interest in children’s literacy and genre fiction, and film (specifically, horror).
He is the secretary for the Young Friends Board of the Philadelphia Film Society, and was named to the recently formed Merchantville Arts Council.
What is your philosophy of education?
I believe that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to education. Every child needs something different to put them in the best possible position to grow and succeed.
It’s up to the Board of Education to make sure that our Chief School Administrator (CSA), together with our district’s faculty and staff, has everything they need to give our children the tools they need to be successful.
What personal and professional experiences would you bring to the table as a school board member?
When I was a child attending school, I had an IEP, and received pull-out services starting in first grade. My school wasn’t always responsive or supportive of my accommodations, and it required my family to advocate on my behalf to ensure I had the accommodations and services I needed to be as successful as possible.
I’ve carried those experiences with me, and I want to be able to step up and advocate for our families in Merchantville the same way my family did for me, especially for our special-education students and families.
I was also a child who had undiagnosed ADHD and depression, both of which I’ve dealt with now for most of my life. I am keenly aware of the ways in which mental health can impact children at school every day.
Professionally, I’ve spent my life working in higher education, which allows me to bring a totally different perspective on education to the board. The early part of my career was focused on enrollment management, working in undergraduate admissions, first at Rutgers and then at Penn.
Eventually, I moved over to student affairs, and I’ve spent the past half-decade supporting and advocating for graduate students at Penn and Rutgers.
Why are you running for office?
Merchantville is a special place. I am a firm believer that our district can and should be a place where every student can grow academically, emotionally, and socially in a caring, sensitive, and supportive environment.
I want to do everything I can to make that possible for our families, and I want to ensure that our CSA and every faculty and staff member in the district have what they need to meet our students’ needs.
Like many members of our community, I’ve spent the past couple of years doing some real soul-searching about how I can help be a force for good locally.
How can I show up for my community and advocate for our families and community members who need the support? How can I help?
For me, this is one way that I know I can help.
What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
Our interim CSA is approaching the end of his second year, and we need to find a permanent replacement. It’s crucial to me that the Board finds someone who is culturally sensitive and can meet the needs of families in a district as diverse as ours.
We need to find someone who is kind and empathetic, someone who can lead by example while prioritizing the growth of our students academically, emotionally, and socially. We also need to find someone who is knowledgeable about emerging technologies, curriculum, and best practices.
What are three key issues on which you will focus if elected?
856-574-4308
