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 Notre Dame- Mary Atop the Golden Dome 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 Notre Dame, IN 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 have worked alongside Always Best Care and they have been amazing. Very quick”
“ABC is a great place to be! Thank you Patti, Stephanie, and Michele for all”
“Best Company I’ve ever encountered. I love how flexible and efficient they are. I love”
“I give always best care of 5 stars. They are caring and have a sincere”
“Always Best Care has been exceptional the four years i’ve worked there. The staff and”
“it is my pleasure to leave a review for the Coffee need that support the”
“I have worked with more home health agencies than I care to remember, both in”
“We used ABC several years ago for my dad, after he had a stroke. I”
“We used ABC several years ago for my dad, after he had a stroke. I”
“I love working for Always Best Care The staff is very helpful, encouraging wonderful, loving”
“Always Best Care gives great encouragement and support to their caregivers during any situation or”
“I love the company I think they really do care about the employee the residents”
“Stephanie Stevens is a great CSD! Thanks for all you do!”
“Always Best care is amazing!”
“Always Best Care is a great company. Not only do they provide the best care”
“We have used Always Best Care two different times for our Mother. Both times the”
“Hi my name is Linda and I've been working with always best care for 2”
“Always best care has always been there when I needed them! They make it convenient for”
“I have used quite a few different providers and ABC is by far the best”
“Great place to work at very professional and appreciative for their staff”
“Overall a great company to work for! They do a wonderful job recognizing caregivers; from”
“They really help people when they need it”
“I've had caregivers for about 5 years now. Only having been disappointed and frustrated. Since”
“Carole is an excellent caring professional. She has been extremely helpful in advising us and”
“They were my mother's caretakers up until we moved away to seek life saving treatment.”
“I have worked alongside Always Best Care and they have been amazing. Very quick to help out patients in need and staff is very polite and professional.”
“ABC is a great place to be! Thank you Patti, Stephanie, and Michele for all you do! You all are Awesome & thank you for the honors of being part of the team also acknowledging myself for Employee of the Month of March! You all are appreciated”
“Best Company I’ve ever encountered. I love how flexible and efficient they are. I love the open door policy. Michelle is my favorite schedule she does an amazing job with communication.”
“I give always best care of 5 stars. They are caring and have a sincere heart I love working with this agency..”
“Always Best Care has been exceptional the four years i’ve worked there. The staff and schedulers, especially Michele, are helpful in finding compatibility for your clients, they’re also flexible in scheduling hours. Great company, great staff.”
“it is my pleasure to leave a review for the Coffee need that support the most I would like Stephanie Kramer for supporting me and helping me get through my work schedules and feel comfortable at my place of employment. I am sad to see that she left Scheduling , but she still tries her best to help everyone even with her new position. Her dedication means everything I would like to Tasha as well for communicating with me so much I also cannot forget Patricia and Michelle as well. You ladies help me so much with my client. I greatly appreciate you ladies. I appreciate all of the hard work and dedication that you ladies have with meeting me halfway when it comes to our job it definitely makes everything much easier. Keep up the great work as well as the rest of the staff thank you ladies for everything that you do and congratulations Monique on your new position.”
“I have worked with more home health agencies than I care to remember, both in GA and MI, when I worked in healthcare; and I have to say that Always Best Care is one of the best home health care agencies that I have found since the early 90's !!! I have been a client with Always Best Care since February 2022 and I have been extremely pleased with the help I have received both from my caregivers and the office staff. All the staff work hard and the quality of care is exceptional!!! The few occasions that I didn't like a caregiver because of either poor work ethic or personality, Always Best Care always took care of finding another caregiver to better meet my needs ASAP!! When I first started with Always Best Care I did get a few caregivers that weren't a good fit. But, within a very short period of time my scheduler learned my specific needs and personality and she found caregivers for me that were a wonderful match!! As in every area of healthcare, the high turnover of employees is to be expected!!! But, Always Best Care has always made sure that I have a new caregiver that matches my needs and expectations!! I have and would, highly recommend Always Best Care for your home health daily care!!”
“We used ABC several years ago for my dad, after he had a stroke. I called a few months ago to set up a care plan for my elderly mom. She had a hip replaced, and lives alone. I knew we would feel better having someone there to help her and visit with her until she could get up and around on her own. ABC works through our scheduling nightmares (mom tends to send people home early, and tell them not to come back)….and they have been SO patient with our ever changing and increasing needs for mom. Their response time and communication are impeccable!!”
“We used ABC several years ago for my dad, after he had a stroke. I called a few months ago to set up a care plan for my elderly mom. She had a hip replaced, and lives alone. I knew we would feel better having someone there to help her and visit with her until she could get up and around on her own. ABC works through our scheduling nightmares (mom tends to send people home early, and tell them not to come back)….and they have been SO patient with our ever changing and increasing needs for mom. Their response time and communication are impeccable!!”
“I love working for Always Best Care The staff is very helpful, encouraging wonderful, loving family. Thank you for the opportunity of serving for your company thank you to Michelle, who is always looking out for me and making sure that I have the hours that I need.”
“Always Best Care gives great encouragement and support to their caregivers during any situation or time of need. The care and dedication to their staff is incredible and I throughly enjoy my time working along side them!”
“I love the company I think they really do care about the employee the residents”
“Stephanie Stevens is a great CSD! Thanks for all you do!”
“Always Best care is amazing!”
“Always Best Care is a great company. Not only do they provide the best care for their clients, but they go above and beyond for their staff as well.”
“We have used Always Best Care two different times for our Mother. Both times the care was excellent. I have referred Always Best Care to several people.”
“Hi my name is Linda and I've been working with always best care for 2 years now and it's a great atmosphere I like coming in to work meeting new people. It's a place that's kind friendly and it makes you feel at home it makes you feel that you're working with people that understand you know you're different needs your different hours and if something come up they are there to help you with anything that you need help with it's a great company I'm so glad I signed up with the company I signed up a little bit after the pandemic and I just needed somewhere that I could really consider myself at home or I find a home and I have I'm amazed at how the people are so nice when you talk to them on the phone how nice they are friendly you can tell this saying it with a smile I enjoy working there I tell people ask me where I work at always best care they like what yeah always best care yes it's a nice company sign up with it you won't regret it I'm glad I do it I'm really glad I did”
“Always best care has always been there when I needed them! They make it convenient for me to take care of my father. I most definitely recommend them!”
“I have used quite a few different providers and ABC is by far the best company. From the office staff to the caregivers, they are doing what they love and it shows.”
“Great place to work at very professional and appreciative for their staff”
“Overall a great company to work for! They do a wonderful job recognizing caregivers; from big recognition like a monthly caregiver award and random drawings, to small recognition such as any time you visit the office you are free to grab snacks, beverages, gear and more often than not there is some type of food they have ordered that is available. They really don’t hold back in this area! There has been quite a bit of changes made in office positions within the last year. Response time, outside of the scheduling department, can be improved upon.”
“They really help people when they need it”
“I've had caregivers for about 5 years now. Only having been disappointed and frustrated. Since Always Best Care came into my life, my worries have ended. I never knew if previous caregivers were going to show up, or do what I needed. Everytime they would complete a task, they would sit down and be on their phone. Kari and Jamisha finish a task and right to the next. No problems. My mind has been put at ease. They are very professional yet so so friendly. They ask, what else they can do for me. I also have my ABC emergency call button. Now I have peace of mind if an emergency should arise. My case coordinator Stephanie Stevens. Stays right on top of my case. Thank you so much for making my life easier. I have recommended your company to others that may need assistance in the future.”
“Carole is an excellent caring professional. She has been extremely helpful in advising us and in scheduling care. With respect to the caregivers, we have no complaints. We want to give a special thank you to Rhona for her time and effort in creating a special bond with our mother.”
“They were my mother's caretakers up until we moved away to seek life saving treatment. It was hard for them at times, because sometimes the homecare aides sometimes called off last minute. One time something came up missing, and the owner personally delivered a replacement. They're not perfect but they try their best.”
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 Governor Joseph Kernan 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 Traditions or visit The Word of Life Mural, 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 Notre Dame, IN, 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 Notre Dame, IN 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 Notre Dame, IN 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.
SOUTH BEND — No Notre Dame women’s basketball season since 2018-19 — when the Irish headed in as defending national champs with four stars back and newly healthy All-American Brianna Turner joining that mix — has been anywhere close to as anticipated as the one teasingly at our doorstep now.It begins with the intriguing blending of two All-American point guards in Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles, is spiced by returning All-Atlantic Coast Conference selections Sonia Citron at wing and eventually M...
SOUTH BEND — No Notre Dame women’s basketball season since 2018-19 — when the Irish headed in as defending national champs with four stars back and newly healthy All-American Brianna Turner joining that mix — has been anywhere close to as anticipated as the one teasingly at our doorstep now.
It begins with the intriguing blending of two All-American point guards in Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles, is spiced by returning All-Atlantic Coast Conference selections Sonia Citron at wing and eventually Maddy Westbeld at forward, is frosted by all-league transfers Liza Karlen and Liatu King arriving, and is topped off by the addition of five-star freshman center Kate Koval.
With those ingredients, Notre Dame (28-7 in 2023-24, 13-5 in the ACC) is aching to go further than the Sweet 16 it’s reached each of the last three years.
Noie on Hidalgo/Miles:Notre Dame women’s basketball begins a new era playing two lead point guards. Can it work?
ND starts with a 7 p.m. home exhibition Wednesday against Division II Davenport, then tips for real on Monday, Nov. 4, when Mercyhurst comes to Purcell Pavilion for a 5 p.m. game.
Ranked No. 5 in the preseason coaches’ poll and No. 6 by the Associated Press, here are five things to know about the Irish.
Noie on Westbeld:How can injury actually help Notre Dame women's basketball forward Maddy Westbeld?
Can it work?
From a talent perspective, and an Irish perspective, it’s already working.
“They’ve been meshing amazingly,” Citron said during the team’s recent media day. “It’s kind of crazy that we have two of the (nation’s) best point guards on the same team. … It’s every wing’s dream to play with two guards like that.”
Hidalgo was a first-team All-American sensation last season as a freshman, when Miles, a second-team All-American the year before as a sophomore, watched all winter while recovering from a February 2023 knee injury.
Thus they never have played together in games, though by now, they’ve practiced together abundantly.
“It’s going to be awesome,” Westbeld promised, adding with a laugh, “I’m just as excited as you guys are. … It can only be a good thing.”
Niele Ivey, the fifth-year Irish coach and ex-Irish point guard charged with making sure it’s a good thing, sounds confident it will be.
“They make each other better and they make (each other’s) job easier,” Ivey said, “because you have two incredible minds on the floor. I mean, personally, as a point guard, I would have loved to have another point guard with me because it takes a lot of pressure off. … They’re going to do a great job flowing off each other and kind of feeling each other.”
With its two deluxe PGs, and with Citron for that matter — is there a better third guard in the country? — ND will be able to create up-tempo chances at an “electric” rate, Ivey says, and in half-court sets present defenses with unusual challenges.
The only other pair to arrive at ND with comparable combined credentials would be forward Jessica Shepard from Nebraska and point guard Lili Thompson from Stanford in 2017.
Shepard went on to help key the Irish to a national title and a national runner-up finish over her two seasons, while Thompson led that first team in assists before being sidelined 14 games in by injury.
Karlen and King are both grad student forwards with one season of eligibility remaining.
King, on her way to ACC most improved player honors, averaged 18.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks, all-team leading figures, last winter at Pittsburgh.
Karlen, an All-Big East first-teamer, averaged 17.7 points, 7.9 boards and 1.2 blocks, all-team leading, while steering Marquette to a 23-9 record and an NCAA Tournament berth.
“She’s no freshman,” Westbeld said matter-of-factly.
A native of Ukraine, the 6-foot-5 Koval is rated the No. 1 post in her class by ESPN and No. 5 overall.
“She is so special,” Westbeld continued, “and you can definitely see that European style where she can do a lot. She’s very mature. Her IQ is unbelievable. Even just the summer workouts, you could see everybody was in awe being able to watch her, just the decision-making that she had.”
“She’s very dominant, she’s very smart, and I’ve learned that her passing ability is just as great as her scoring ability,” Ivey said. “And she’s great defensively. So, she’s been prepared for this level, but I think her confidence is what impresses me the most.”
Most notably, Westbeld, as durable as anybody over the last four seasons, is sidelined while continuing to work back from offseason foot surgery.
“Early conference play,” Westbeld estimated of when she’ll return.
Westbeld, who opted into a fifth season by virtue of the NCAA’s COVID-related allowance, has started 120 of the 121 games that ND has played during her career.
Also out are junior guard KK Bransford, redshirting this season with a lower leg injury, and senior post Kylee Watson, still recovering from the knee injury she suffered in the ACC Tournament that the Irish won last March.
“Not sure,” Ivey said of whether Watson will make it back this winter.
On the flip side, the coach describes junior wing Cass Prosper and sophomore sharpshooter Emma Risch as “full go” after each missed major time last season with injuries.
Fans love it, and it will benefit the Irish at NCAA Tourney time if they do well.
ND will face each of the No. 2 through No. 4 teams from the two major polls, hosting No. 4 Texas and No. 2 Connecticut a week apart on Dec. 5 and 12, besides visiting No. 3 USC on Nov. 23.
The Irish also will encounter TCU and Utah, both barely outside the two polls, at the Cayman Islands Classic on Thanksgiving weekend.
Then there’s the ever-rugged ACC, featuring five teams besides ND each ranked among the nation’s top 19.
Notre Dame Football Live Chat with Eric Hansen is back this week Wednesday at noon (EDT) at insideNDsports.com.You can submit questions for this week’s chat NOW or later — your choice. To do so or to join the chat live, click here or paste this link into your browser: ...
Notre Dame Football Live Chat with Eric Hansen is back this week Wednesday at noon (EDT) at insideNDsports.com.
You can submit questions for this week’s chat NOW or later — your choice. To do so or to join the chat live, click here or paste this link into your browser: https://live.jotcast.com/chat/notre-dame-football-live-chat-oct-30-2024-19483.html
PLEASE remember to include your name and hometown along with your question. NO 17-part questions and NO manifestos. A full transcript will be available at insideNDsports.com late Wednesday afternoon.
Notre Dame Football Live Chat is in weekly mode through the end of the 2024 season.
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French Culture Minister Rachida Dati has suggested a $5 entry fee to pilgrims and visitors to Notre Dame to raise money for France's other churches.Notre Dame de Paris is preparing to reopen its doors for the first time since 2019, when a fire tore through the church and initiated a five-year cleanup and restoration effort. Now the monumental church of France has returned to form, but it has been proposed that Notre Dame should charge an entry fee. While the money could help preserve more churches in the country, Notr...
French Culture Minister Rachida Dati has suggested a $5 entry fee to pilgrims and visitors to Notre Dame to raise money for France's other churches.
Notre Dame de Paris is preparing to reopen its doors for the first time since 2019, when a fire tore through the church and initiated a five-year cleanup and restoration effort. Now the monumental church of France has returned to form, but it has been proposed that Notre Dame should charge an entry fee. While the money could help preserve more churches in the country, Notre Dame's Catholic authorities are firmly against such measures.
In an interview with Le Figaro, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati suggested a $5 fee to visit Notre Dame de Paris. Assuming 15 million visitors in 2025, this could raise around $75 million to preserve and renovate France’s other churches, of which it is estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 are in serious disrepair.
But Catholic leaders in France were quick to decry the notion of charging an entry fee to Notre Dame and listed a number of reasons for its opposition. First and foremost, the free admission to Catholic churches in France is protected under a 1905 law that outlined the boundaries that separate Church and State. While the ownership of French church buildings went to the State, the Church has supreme authority over their function.
In Notre Dame’s response, the Church’s leaders also noted that to charge admittance to a functioning church breaches the fundamental mission of churches: “to welcome unconditionally and therefore necessarily free of charge every man and woman, regardless of their religion or belief, their opinions and their financial means.”
The letter went on to discuss how the Church does not distinguish between pilgrims and visitors, as to do so would require the establishment of different access conditions for one and the other. This, in turn, would separate them from the essence of “Communion between all” and detract from the experience of both:
“This separation would also be extremely complex to put in place on a practical level: given the relative smallness of the place, it would be difficult to distinguish visitors, pilgrims, and the faithful,” Notre Dame’s Catholic leadership wrote.
In their final argument against charging visitors, they noted that the restoration work was “fully financed” by donations from the faithful and visitors all over the world who love Notre Dame. They suggested that charging a fee would be a poor way to honor such a demonstration of “their unwavering attachment to Notre-Dame,” and would require yet another distinction.
“The preservation of religious heritage in France is a subject dear to the hearts of many, believers or not, and deserves concerted reflection, the solution of which cannot be unique. Other avenues can be explored than that of taxing visitors to Notre Dame, for a price that is not anecdotal and would inevitably lead people to give up visiting a cathedral that is by nature open to all.”
It is unclear if Minister Dati will pursue legislation or policy changes to initiate such measures, or if it was a fleeting thought in an interview, but it seems clear that the Church will oppose any movement in that direction.
Read more at The Art Newspaper.
Read also :Sublime face of Christ found on Notre Dame construction site
Read also :Notre Dame prepares to replace bells, home stretch to reopening
Read also :French spirituality’s gift to the Church, and the Pope
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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Nine thoughts on Notre Dame’s 7-1 start that has the Irish in prime position for the College Football Playoff after last weekend’s ...
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Nine thoughts on Notre Dame’s 7-1 start that has the Irish in prime position for the College Football Playoff after last weekend’s 51-14 blowout of Navy:
1. The more I watch Riley Leonard, the more I think about Jack Coan. I get it. This makes no sense. One is Notre Dame’s most efficient rushing threat. The other considered a quarterback sneak to be a trick play. One showed up from Duke and won the job without practicing. The other showed up from Wisconsin and won the job during a training camp competition with Drew Pyne.
But their season arcs at Notre Dame feel closer by the week. The dramatic Week 1 win on the road. Both playing behind revolving offensive lines. The crash to earth against a MAC team a week later. The notion Notre Dame would be better off making a switch. Notre Dame even did bench Coan at Virginia Tech, only to be forced into playing him again after Tyler Buchner’s pick six and injury. Then Coan led a fourth-quarter comeback that saved the season.
Coan never looked back. Did Leonard have his own Virginia Tech moment against Louisville? Because it feels like he’s not looking back either after Stanford, Georgia Tech and Navy. Both grad transfers figured out Notre Dame at about midseason. And Notre Dame figured out both grad transfers at the same time. For Coan, that meant more quick game, less full-on dropback. For Leonard, it’s meant RPOs mixed with moving the pocket.
Both quarterbacks benefited from weak schedules in the season’s second half, but what if Leonard’s story is less about following Sam Hartman and more about following Coan?
Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard, the small-town QB with championship ambitions
2. Good Notre Dame teams beat Navy on offense, not by stonewalling the option. Doing both matters, which is how the final score balloons to 51-14. But it was Mike Denbrock’s call sheet that put the Midshipmen away more than Al Golden. Put the pressure on Navy’s offense with your own and watch the Mids sweat. And yeah, five fumble recoveries helped, too.
3. Whenever the epilogue for this season is written, save a few pages for Pat Coogan. When the Catholic kid from Chicago moved into the starting lineup after Ashton Craig’s knee got rolled at Purdue, it was a good story because Coogan stayed after being beat out. Now it’s a good story because the senior is turning into a better and better center every week.
On Jeremiyah Love’s 64-yard touchdown run, Rocco Spindler and Coogan set Love free. Blocking in concert has rarely sounded better. Coogan might have been a good story when he returned to the starting lineup last month. But he’s a better offensive lineman now. Can Notre Dame convince Coogan to come back in 2025?
4. The first College Football Playoff rankings come out in one week. Maybe you’ll panic about them. Probably you shouldn’t. If Notre Dame wins out — this feels more likely today than it did last week — the Irish will be in. They might even host a first-round game. Our projection model at The Athletic has Notre Dame at 85 percent to make the field and 68 percent to host (the highest of any team on the board, only because the Irish can’t get a first-round bye).
But if Notre Dame isn’t in the first field on Nov. 5, sit tight. Even in the super-conference era in which too many teams don’t face each other in league play, there are still enough good vs. good games among CFP contenders that will knock at least one down in front of Notre Dame.
5. It’s more fun to think about who the Irish could play (and host) in the first round, anyway. Clemson or Tennessee could be great football. Indiana would be a great story. Or maybe LSU upsets Alabama in two weeks, then takes down Florida, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma to finish 10-2. Wouldn’t a trip to South Bend in late December be the perfect reward for Brian Kelly?
Although LSU could face Texas A&M first in the SEC Championship Game if both programs win out. So Kelly back to Notre Dame might have to wait another season.
Are Notre Dame and Texas A&M both heading to the College Football Playoff?
6. Through eight games, these are the top five Notre Dame defenders per Pro Football Focus, among regulars in the lineup:
It’s shocking that four defensive backs are in the top five, only because one of them isn’t Benjamin Morrison, who PFF ranks ninth or 10th among Notre Dame’s first-team defenders, depending on how you view the starting lineup. The common denominator is Mike Mickens, who helped develop Morrison into a future first-round pick after playing him in game one at Ohio State in 2022.
How Mickens has rebuilt the defensive back room can’t be overstated in terms of the quality of work. There was a time when the Irish could barely sign a top cornerback, never mind develop one into an NFL talent. Now Cam Hart is playing for the Chargers, Morrison will be playing somewhere next season and Christian Gray and Leonard Moore feel like next-big-things at corner.
7. Should running back Kedren Young get more carries now or later? Because he’s going to get more carries at some point. There’s too much potential in the freshman for it not to click eventually, even if it’s not this season.
8. On the list of what-if injuries Notre Dame suffered this season, Jordan Faison’s sprained ankle at Texas A&M barely registered at the time. It felt more like a nagging pain than a season-altering incident, but seven games (and at least one re-sprain) later, Faison is only beginning to hit the levels Notre Dame believed were there all along. Faison led Notre Dame in targets (five) and receptions (four) last week, basically matching his season totals (six targets, four receptions) going into the game. He’s still yet to score. His stat line was more impressive in the Sun Bowl than it’s been all season. But Notre Dame wants to keep pushing it with Faison, who has the speed to go deep and the intuition to get open on intermediate routes.
Maybe there’s not a classically great offense at Notre Dame this season. But Faison getting back in the mix can improve what and who the Irish are.
9. According to PFF, Jaylen Sneed just played the best game of his Notre Dame career, tying for the team-high with nine tackles and scoring a defensive touchdown.
The junior has been a hard player to define. Is he a dynamic playmaker at linebacker? Or is he a wild card who struggles to fit into the defense? Sneed might be both, but it’s important Notre Dame sticks with the junior because it’s the only way to get the junior to stick with Notre Dame. Sneed played just 25 snaps against Navy, more than he’s played since Purdue (25 snaps), but also well off Northern Illinois (41) and Texas A&M (31). Maybe this is the new normal for Sneed, rotating in at linebacker every few series. Or maybe there are more peaks and valleys to come.
What happened against Navy doesn’t need to be a breakthrough for Sneed for it to be significant. It just needs to be enough to keep the staff going back to the uber-athletic linebacker when the moment fits, then banking on Sneed to pay back that faith. He held up his end of the bargain against Navy.
(Photo of Riley Leonard: Edward Diller / Getty Images)
247Sports Embed ResourceEight games into the one-year rental of QB-Riley Leonard, his accuracy has improved over time and his success targeting receivers in recent weeks is better, even if he hasn't found an individual pass-catcher he can consistently count on for steady production game after game.The result at the two-thirds mark of the 2024 season is that he, Steve Angeli with his 11 completions on 20 throws, ...
247Sports Embed Resource
Eight games into the one-year rental of QB-Riley Leonard, his accuracy has improved over time and his success targeting receivers in recent weeks is better, even if he hasn't found an individual pass-catcher he can consistently count on for steady production game after game.
The result at the two-thirds mark of the 2024 season is that he, Steve Angeli with his 11 completions on 20 throws, Kenny Minchey with his one toss, and Davis Sherwood with his shovel pass on a fake punt at Georgia Tech have found 18 different receivers, including an unintended one from the offensive line against Stanford.
After two games against Texas A&M and Northern Illinois, Leonard had completed 38-of-64 (.593) for 321 yards with zero passing touchdowns and two interceptions. In the last six games – all Irish victories over Purdue, Miami (Ohio), Louisville, Stanford, Georgia Tech and Navy – Leonard has completed 93-of-134 passes (.694) for 1,039 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception.
His average per completion has gone from 8.4 in the first two games to 11.1 in the last six. His average per attempt has gone from 5.0 to 7.7. After averaging just 160.5 yards passing in the first two games, the Irish are passing for 213.8 yards per outing.
OC-Mike Denbrock has begun to feel better about allowing Leonard to lengthen out the Irish route tree and Notre Dame's pass-catchers have responded. Against Navy, there was a 42-yard reception by Jaden Greathouse, a 25-yarder to Jordan Faison that was negated by penalty, a 26-yarder to Faison that ESPN analyst Greg McElroy called the best past he's ever seen Leonard throw, and a 37-yard touchdown toss to Beaux Collins.
The following are the statistical accomplishments of 19 targeted pass-catchers, including the unlikely ricochet grab by C-Pat Coogan against Stanford.
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