abc-logo
Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

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

phone-number412-639-8339 lm-right-arrow

Please submit form to schedule a

Personal Care Consultation

Local Magic Personal Care Consultation

Please submit this form below and we will chat shortly!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
SUBMIT REQUEST

Home Care In Pittsburgh, PA

Home Care Pittsburgh, PA

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 Fort Pitt Block House 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 Pittsburgh, PA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care Pittsburgh, PA

care-serviceHome Care Services

location Service Areas

Read More
Elderly Care Pittsburgh, PA Request More Information vector

The Always Best Care Difference

Since 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.

Hear from Our Clients
Richard for Melissa A.
551
Facebook

“I love working for these guys. Pretty flexible and my bosses are understanding that life”

I love working for these guys. Pretty flexible and my bosses are understanding that life happens. They go out of their way to help their caregivers and their elderly clients. Best company to work for! Love you guys.
Read full testimonial
Hear from Our Clients
Richard for Erin P.
551
Facebook

“The Best Care !�”

The Best Care !�
Read full testimonial
Hear from Our Clients
Richard for Izzy S.
551
Facebook

“I work for always best care of Fox Chapel I meet the greatest people. I”

I work for always best care of Fox Chapel I meet the greatest people. I have the best boss and I absolutely would refer anybody who has a Caring Heart to be an employee of this company. I also refer anyone who needs someone of the Caring Heart in their life to help them with their daily living needs. Always best care is there for you I'm happy to be working for this company.
Read full testimonial
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I love working for these guys. Pretty flexible and my bosses are understanding that life happens. They go out of their way to help their caregivers and their elderly clients. Best company to work for! Love you guys.”

Melissa A.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“The Best Care !�”

Erin P.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I work for always best care of Fox Chapel I meet the greatest people. I have the best boss and I absolutely would refer anybody who has a Caring Heart to be an employee of this company. I also refer anyone who needs someone of the Caring Heart in their life to help them with their daily living needs. Always best care is there for you I'm happy to be working for this company.”

Izzy S.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Pittsburgh, PA?

lm-check

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.

lm-check

When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

lm-check

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.

lm-check

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.

Request More Information
Senior Care Pittsburgh, PA

Types of Elderly Care in Pittsburgh, PA

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal 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:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming
Request More Information
Respite Care Pittsburgh, PA
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

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:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
Request More Information
Caregivers Pittsburgh, PA
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

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 West End Overlook Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Request More Information
Home Care Pittsburgh, PA
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

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 Altius or visit Rivers of Steel Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark, 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.

Request More Information
In-Home Care Pittsburgh, PA

Benefits of Home Care in Pittsburgh, PA

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:

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 vector

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

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.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

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 Pittsburgh, PA, 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.

Elderly Care Pittsburgh, PA

Affordable 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:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your PA's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
Senior Care Pittsburgh, PA

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

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 Pittsburgh, PA 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.

Assisted Living Referral Services

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.

Respite Care Pittsburgh, PA

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:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
Caregivers Pittsburgh, PA

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:

  • Fair Oaks Senior Living
  • Senior Care Authority Pittsburgh
  • Vincentian Schenley Gardens
  • Henderson HousePersonal Care
  • Whitetail Springs Memory Care Community
  • Evergreen Assisted Living Inc
Home Care Pittsburgh, PA

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.

In-Home Care Pittsburgh, PA

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

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

lm-right-arrow
01

A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

lm-right-arrow
02

Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

lm-right-arrow
03

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 Pittsburgh, PA 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.

Request More Information vector
Elderly Care Pittsburgh, PA

Latest News in Pittsburgh, PA

Here's the Pirates' Spring Breakout roster

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates are the only team with four pitchers on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects list.On March 14, three of those pitchers will get to suit up together in what could be a preview of what a future Pirates rotation will look like, in Major League Baseball’s inaugural Spring Breakout game.The contest between the Pirates’ and Orioles’ best prospects will take place at LECOM Park. Leading the way for the Bucs are their collection of starting pitching prospects: ...

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates are the only team with four pitchers on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects list.

On March 14, three of those pitchers will get to suit up together in what could be a preview of what a future Pirates rotation will look like, in Major League Baseball’s inaugural Spring Breakout game.

The contest between the Pirates’ and Orioles’ best prospects will take place at LECOM Park. Leading the way for the Bucs are their collection of starting pitching prospects: No. 3 overall prospect Paul Skenes, No. 82 prospect Anthony Solometo and No. 93 prospect Bubba Chandler. The game is a way for teams to show off some of their top prospects and offer fans a glimpse of what the future holds.

For the Pirates, that includes Skenes’ 102 mph fastball, Solometo’s funky mechanics and Chandler showing why he skyrocketed up prospect boards after a dominant second half of last season.

“It’s kind of a glorified back field game, which is cool,” Chandler said earlier this spring.

While it has already been decided that the trio is not going to make the Pirates’ Opening Day roster, they may not be too far away. All three were promoted to Double-A Altoona last season, and it’s reasonable to assume they will move higher in 2024. In Skenes’ case, that could potentially mean the Majors, which would be a rapid rise after being taken with the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s MLB Draft.

They also all got a good look at Major League Spring Training this year, giving them time to acclimate to a big league environment. All three received good feedback from their team in camp, too.

“The nice thing about being here and being in the locker room is this is a team that we’re going to win a lot of games with, hopefully,” Skenes said. “So that’s the goal, to win a lot of games with them for a long time.”

The top of the Pirates’ farm system is stacked with pitching, including Nos. 6 and 7 prospects Thomas Harrington and Braxton Ashcraft, both of whom will also participate in the game. General manager Ben Cherington often says that a team can never have enough pitching, but it looks like there should be talented young arms on the way in the next couple years.

They’ll be given quite a task against the Orioles’ lineup, which will feature some of the top prospects from the highest-ranked farm system in the game. The much-hyped Skenes vs. Jackson Holliday matchup has already happened, but there should be plenty of Top 100 vs. Top 100 at-bats in this game.

It should be an external challenge after this group of young pitchers has been pushing each other to get better.

“For all of us, we’re all just doing the same thing, pushing each other,” Solometo said. “It’s good to have 1-1s and other picks, but it’s nice to see the guys we drafted put in that effort. It sets the runway for everyone else.”

How to tune in: MLB Network, MLB Digital (MLB.TV, MLB.com, MLB App), SportsNet Pittsburgh, ESPN+ Gameday

What is Spring Breakout? MLB Spring Breakout is a four-day event showcasing baseball’s future: the current stars of Minor League Baseball. The inaugural edition will be held from March 14-17 at Grapefruit and Cactus league stadiums during Spring Training. A series of 16 exhibition games will be played between teams comprised of each MLB organization’s top prospects, creating a new touchpoint on the baseball calendar that celebrates our sport’s budding talent.

Here is the Pirates' Spring Breakout roster with MLB Pipeline's rankings:

PITCHERS Paul Skenes, RHP, No. 1 (MLB No. 3) Anthony Solometo, LHP, No. 4 (MLB No. 82) Bubba Chandler, RHP, No. 5 (MLB No. 93) Thomas Harrington, RHP, No. 6 Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, No. 7 Hunter Barco, LHP, No. 14 Patrick Reilly, RHP, No. 23 J.C. Flowers, RHP, NR David Matoma, RHP, NR Tyler Samaniego, LHP, NR

Get the Latest From MLB

Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball.

CATCHERS Omar Alfonzo, C, No. 29 Abrahan Gutierrez, C, NR Axiel Plaz, C, NR

INFIELDERS Termarr Johnson, 2B, No. 2 (MLB No. 44) Mitch Jebb, SS, No. 8 Tsung-Che Cheng, SS, No. 9 Jack Brannigan, 3B, No. 10 Yordany De Los Santos, SS, No. 17 Garret Forrester, 1B, No. 19 Jesus Castillo, 3B/1B, No. 25 Jhonny Severino, SS/3B, No. 26 Tony Blanco, 3B, NR

OUTFIELDERS Lonnie White Jr., OF, No. 12 Shalin Polanco, OF, No. 16 Jase Bowen, OF/1B, No. 21 Estuar Suero, OF, No. 27 Tres Gonzalez, OF, No. 28

Hurricanes acquire F Guentzel from Penguins for F Bunting, prospects, picks

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jake Guentzel's arrival in the NHL seven years ago helped propel the Pittsburgh Penguins to the franchise's fifth Stanley Cup.The Carolina Hurricanes are wagering the gifted goal scorer can do the same a little fu...

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jake Guentzel's arrival in the NHL seven years ago helped propel the Pittsburgh Penguins to the franchise's fifth Stanley Cup.

The Carolina Hurricanes are wagering the gifted goal scorer can do the same a little further south.

The Penguins traded the high-scoring forward to the Hurricanes on Thursday night in exchange for forward Michael Bunting, prospects Ville Koivunen, Vasili Ponomarev and Cruz Lucius and conditional first- and fifth-round picks in this year’s draft.

The first-rounder becomes Philadelphia’s second-rounder if the Hurricanes don’t reach the final, and Pittsburgh only gets the fifth if Carolina wins it all for the second time in franchise history.

“The decision to trade Jake Guentzel, with his contract set to expire this offseason, was one of the most difficult decisions that I have had to make in my time in management," first-year general manager/director of hockey operations Kyle Dubas said, adding that Guentzel had become a pillar in the community and a fan favorite. “Jake’s competitiveness, tenacity and spirit, combined with his talent have produced some of the greatest moments of this era of Penguins hockey.”

The 29-year-old Guentzel gives the Hurricanes a proven goal scorer who thrives in the postseason spotlight. Guentzel has reached the 40-goal plateau twice in eight seasons and has 58 points (24 goals, 34 assists) in 58 playoff games. His 13 goals during the 2017 playoffs led the league and helped the Penguins become the first team in nearly 20 years to win back-to-back Stanley Cups.

Guentzel has 22 goals in 50 games this season for Pittsburgh. He's currently on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body injury suffered in a loss to Florida on Feb. 14, though he's eligible to come off Sunday. Guentzel had been skating with the Penguins in recent days. He participated in the team's pre-game skate on Thursday wearing a black jersey, indicating he has been cleared for contact.

His departure could be one of several moves made by Dubas by Friday afternoon's deadline. Pittsburgh is languishing near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division with five weeks left in the regular season and was drilled 6-0 by rival Washington just hours before Guentzel was dealt.

The return is the first wave of what is likely to be a significant youth movement in the coming months for the NHL’s oldest roster.

That didn't make it easy for the players who watched Guentzel evolve from a somewhat unheralded and publicly reticent prospect into a vital contributor and important voice on one of the league's marquee teams.

“He’s a great player, a great teammate,” Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said. "A friend. I think he did everything he possibly could in his time here. Just a privilege to play with him for the course of that time. Great memories and that’s all I can say.”

While a little undersized at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Guentzel’s hockey intelligence and knack for finding open ice made him a perfect complement to Crosby almost from the moment Guentzel arrived in the NHL during the 2016-17 season. The duo joined Bryan Rust to form the “Sid and the Kids” line that helped power the Penguins past Nashville in the Stanley Cup finals.

It was hardly a fluke. Guentzel leaves Pittsburgh with 219 goals, eighth-most in the history of a franchise that boasts more than its fair share of talented scorers. Guentzel has for the most part been highly durable despite often playing in high-traffic areas of the ice. He has played in at least 90% of Pittsburgh’s games five times in his seven full seasons, the only exceptions being 2019-20 when a shoulder injury ruined an All-Star campaign and this year, when offseason wrist surgery had him miss a handful of games to start the season followed by the upper-body injury on Valentine's Day in a loss to Florida.

Guenztel is beloved in Pittsburgh and there are typically lines out the door at a local milkshake chain that offers half off Guentzel’s signature flavor the day after he scores. Yet with his asking price in free agency figuring to be outside Pittsburgh’s budget, Guentzel joins the likes of other franchise fixtures with close ties to their Cup runs like goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, forward Phil Kessel and defenseman Brian Dumoulin that have headed elsewhere in recent years for various reasons.

Bunting, 28, has 13 goals and 23 assists for the Hurricanes and has topped 20 goals in a season twice in his five-year career. Bunting also reunites with Dubas, who signed Bunting as a free agent with Toronto in 2021.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Pittsburgh Penguins trade Jake Guentzel to Carolina Hurricanes

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded winger Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes.In a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the Penguins announced the blockbuster deal. The in-division trade was reportedly finalized during a call after both the Penguins and Hurricanes' games on Thursday."The decision to trade Jake Guentzel, with his contract s...

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded winger Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes.

In a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the Penguins announced the blockbuster deal. The in-division trade was reportedly finalized during a call after both the Penguins and Hurricanes' games on Thursday.

"The decision to trade Jake Guentzel, with his contract set to expire this offseason, was one of the most difficult decisions that I have had to make in my time in management," Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas said in a team-issued release on Thursday night.

Who was Jake Guentzel traded for?

Jake Guentzel and defenseman Ty Smith are headed to the Hurricanes in exchange for forwards Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius and conditional 2024 first- and fifth-round picks from Carolina, the Penguins announced.

Placed on injured reserve in mid-February with an upper-body injury, the 29-year-old Guentzel will finish his 2023-24 Penguins campaign with 22 goals and 52 points in 50 games played.

The Minnesota native is leaving the Penguins after eight seasons with the team. He made his NHL debut on Nov. 21, 2016, against the New York Rangers, scoring two goals on his first two shots.

Selected by the Penguins in the third round (No. 77 overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft, he quickly established himself as a productive playoff performer, notching 13 goals in 25 playoff games during the Penguins' Stanley Cup-winning run of 2016-17.

Guentzel became the first Penguins rookie to score a playoff hat-trick, and only the second rookie in NHL history to score a hat-trick and overtime goal in the same game of the playoffs, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Guentzel recorded 21 points during the 2016-17 playoffs to tie the NHL rookie record and scored five game-winning goals to set an NHL rookie mark.

Then-general manager of the Penguins, Jim Rutherford, gave Guentzel a five-year, $30 million contract extension in December 2018.

He leaves the Penguins as the 11th-leading scorer in franchise history, tallying 219 goals and 466 points in 503 career games. He tallied 40-goal seasons in 2018-19 and 2021-22.

Guentzel is set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2023-24 season.

The NHL trade deadline is Friday at 3 p.m.

5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: March 8-10

It’s the weekend. If you are not attending the opening weekend of the Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show at the David Lawrence Convention Center, here are some other ways to spend it.Pierogi contestThe St. Practice Day Pierogi Contest and Charity Crawl starts at 2 p.m. on Saturday on the South Side. More than two dozen restaurants will be offering $1 pierogies a...

It’s the weekend. If you are not attending the opening weekend of the Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show at the David Lawrence Convention Center, here are some other ways to spend it.

Pierogi contest

The St. Practice Day Pierogi Contest and Charity Crawl starts at 2 p.m. on Saturday on the South Side. More than two dozen restaurants will be offering $1 pierogies and participants can vote for their favorite pierogi.

The event benefits Pittsburgh Action Against Rape’s Last Call program, which provides education in the service industry for staff, managers and owners of local bars and restaurants to prevent sexual harassment and violence in the workplace. Organizers expect 500-700 people. This event is 21+ only.

Tickets are $15, $10 in advance.

Registration locations are at Archie’s at 2328 E. Carson St., and Twelve Whiskey BBQ at 1222 E. Carson St.

Details: eventbrite.com

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Yelp Pittsburgh (@yelppittsburgh)

Lauren Daigle

Lauren Daigle brings her “The Kaleidoscope Tour” to PPG Paints Arena, Uptown at 7 p.m. on Friday. The special guest is Blessing Offor, a Nigerian-born artist who combines soul, pop, R&B and African styles.

Daigle, the American contemporary Christian music singer from Lafayette, La., was awarded the New Artist of the Year at the 2015 GMA Dove Awards. She is known for songs “How Can It Be” and ”Hold On To Me.”

Tickets for Daigle start at $14.

Details: ppgpaintsarena.com

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lauren Daigle (@lauren_daigle)

Book sale

The C.C. Mellor Memorial Library is hosting a fundraiser Friday through Sunday at the Edgewood Club on Pennwood Avenue in Edgewood. Books, movies and music will be for sale.

The C.C. Mellor Memorial Library provides library services to Edgewood, Forest Hills, Churchill, Braddock Hills and Wilkins. Proceeds from the event benefit the library. For $20, guests can attend a preview night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday.

Admission is $20. The main sale will be held from 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Details: ccmellorlibrary.org

“Grease”

Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s production of “Grease” is on stage at 7 :30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Byham Theater, Downtown.

Leading the cast is Maya Santiago as Sandy and Davis Wayne as Danny. The show will also feature Chris Laitta as Miss Lynch, David Toole as Teen Angel/Vince Fontaine, Zanny Laird as Rizzo, and Brecken Newton Farrell as Kenickie.

Tickets start at $19.50.

Details: pittsburghmusicals.com

Associated Artists Pittsburgh

An opening reception is being held for the newest exhibition from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday at the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh’s office in Lawrenceville. The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh’s 2023–2024 exhibition features a diversity of work by Lauren Braun, Nancy McNary Smith, Sandra Bacchi, Cheryl Capezzuti, Ulric Joseph, Ben Schonberger, Ling-lin Ku, Jessica Alpern Brown, Lisa Bergant Koi, Paul Roden, Molly Davis and La Vispera.

Each artist is nominated and voted on by the Associated Artists’ Exhibition Committee after a review of their work.

Details: aapgh.org

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by AAP (@aap_pgh)

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people and a weekly column about things to do in Pittsburgh. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at [email protected].

Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.

Get Ad-Free >

Categories: AandE | Downtown Pittsburgh | Edgewood | Editor's Picks | Lawrenceville | Local | Pittsburgh | South Side | Top Stories | Wilkinsburg

Pittsburgh Glass Center instructor enters Netflix's 'Blown Away' hot shop

You can always count on the Pittsburgh Glass Center to make an appearance on “Blown Away.”In season 2, executive director Heather McElwee briefly popped up on the Netflix glassblowing competition series as a guest judge. The third season of “Blown Away” that debuted in July 2022 featured both director of operations Chris Clarke as a guest ...

You can always count on the Pittsburgh Glass Center to make an appearance on “Blown Away.”

In season 2, executive director Heather McElwee briefly popped up on the Netflix glassblowing competition series as a guest judge. The third season of “Blown Away” that debuted in July 2022 featured both director of operations Chris Clarke as a guest judge and former Pittsburgh Glass Center studio manager John Sharvin as a top-three finisher.

Its fourth season premiered Friday. Some Western Pennsylvanians may recognize Leana Quade, a local glass artist and part-time Pittsburgh Glass Center instructor, among the cast of 10 glass professionals from all over North America vying for a $100,000 grand prize and the title of “best in glass.”

“The show has opened up the eyes of the world to glass, which I think is amazing,” Quade told the Post-Gazette earlier this week. “If they keep the show and they keep going with seasons — we don’t have enough teachers at this point. It’s a good thing!”

Quade is a Cleveland native who has been working with glass since 2000. She fell in love with that “mesmerizing, amazing material” while attending an Ohio community college. The 2003 Cleveland Institute of Art graduate went on to earn a master’s degree in sculpting from Alfred University in Alfred, N.Y.

She was living near Philadelphia when the Pittsburgh Glass Center came calling. Quade has been living in Pittsburgh for almost two years now and has no regrets about joining the glass center, which is expected to complete an ongoing and expansive renovation project this summer.

“I’ve worked in quite a few glass studios all over the country,” she said. “This was the most family-oriented one. I feel like this is my second family now, because everyone is so nice.”

The “Blown Away” team contacted the Pittsburgh Glass Center to find out if any resident artists would be interested in (and capable of) applying for the show’s fourth outing, according to Quade. After completing the initial questionnaire and a Zoom interview, Quade made the final cut and spent much of May and June 2023 shooting “Blown Away” season four in Hamilton, Ontario.

“Blown Away” gives contestants all the necessary tools and raw material with which to complete a series of time-sensitive challenges in the show’s fully functioning hot shop. Before leaving for Canada, Quade picked Sharvin’s brain on what it was like to make so much glass art in rapid succession and under such sweltering conditions.

“It was a big blur, honestly,” she said. “It was intense, because there were no days off.”

(Netflix)

Quade’s specialty is glassblowing, but she has been known to occasionally dabble in sculpting. It wasn’t necessarily ideal for Quade that the “Blown Away” season 4 prompts were “very sculpture-heavy,” but she still found ways to display her glassmaking prowess.

As far as Quade’s concerned, competing on “Blown Away” is “the craziest thing I’ve ever done.” Tears were shed and friendships were forged as she did her best to deliver “bigger and bolder” pieces. Quade made a point to leave her comfort zone and take risks with her artwork — some of which paid off more than others.

“I went outside my skill level and pushed myself,” she said. “I’m proud of myself for doing that and not taking the easy road.”

Despite knowing everything she would do differently, Quade enjoyed her “Blown Away” experience and “would do it again in a heartbeat.” She loves “sharing that passion” for glass and will take any opportunity to help others discover the joys of glassmaking.

Pittsburgh-area “Blown Away” fans can hang out with Quade and fellow season 4 contestants Jonathan Capps and Ryan Thompson on April 5 as part of a free Pittsburgh Glass Center “Blown Away Hot Jam.” Quade will also be teaching a five-session introductory course on “glassblowing, fire and fun” from May 27-31.

“Support your local artists!” Quade urged. “I love teaching. Come take a class with me!”

Joshua Axelrod: [email protected] and X @jaxelburgh.

First Published March 8, 2024, 2:30am

Disclaimer:

This website publishes news articles that contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The non-commercial use of these news articles for the purposes of local news reporting constitutes "Fair Use" of the copyrighted materials as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law.