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 Nike Missile Site W92 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 Gaithersburg, MD 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.
“ABC was so helpful, professional and easy to work with when I needed help caring”
“Always Best Care is a wonderful place to work. The staff are kind, thoughtful and”
“Always Best Care has provided my mother and our family with wonderful care and support”
“I highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services in assisting with your search for quality”
“My 97 year old husband on Hospice was cared for by his namesake, another Benjamin”
“This is a follow up about my Mom who is 87 years old recovering”
“We have been using this service for over a year for 24/7 care for my”
“I've had such great experience working with everyone at Always Best Care. They're all amazing”
“I can't say enough about the professionalism and the general overall caring from the top”
“Needed a caregiver for my dad during my son's wedding and we were put in”
“My grandmother needed to go to a skilled nursing facility from the hospital. She was”
“Expert and professional care provided for my loved one.”
“We were very pleased with Always Best Care (ABC). We used ABC following a major”
“We used ABCSS for my Dad. When Mom needed similar care, they were the first”
“At a time when you need help the most. When you don't know what to”
“competent csring staff. always reliable.in Over six months of daily care, there was only one”
“My mother received services from ABC for about 2 years. I reached out to Robin”
“Awesome staff and care givers!!”
“Always Best Care is what their name says -- always the best. We used them for a”
“Great company, great staff, great care.”
“Always Best Care of Mid-Montgomery County lives up to its name! For over 2 years,”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care is what their namesays --”
“I am a current client of this provider Our current caregiver is great. Whenever there has been”
“Always Best Care of Mid-Montgomery County lives up to its name! For over 2 years,”
“I moved my parents, who have dementia, from a large retirement community to a group”
“ABC was so helpful, professional and easy to work with when I needed help caring for my mom. I highly recommend”
“Always Best Care is a wonderful place to work. The staff are kind, thoughtful and the quality of service is above and beyond the norm. I am grateful to have joined such a prestigious organization of women that care about the people and employees they serve. It is extremely rare to find the level of expertise and professionalism that ABC possesses, anywhere else in this industry.”
“Always Best Care has provided my mother and our family with wonderful care and support from her stay in sub acute rehab to assisted living over several years. We have been fortunate to have the same caregiver for the last year and she has been beyond stellar! All other caregivers were always above average. Just an outstanding group of very compassionate and kind people from the office to the caregivers. Our family HIGHLY recommends Always Best Care!”
“I highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services in assisting with your search for quality care for your loved one. I worked with Dena to find a suitable facility that could care for my mother in her condition. They are very knowledgeable as it pertains to the senior care industry, which is overwhelming to those with no experience with this industry. The overall process was very thorough and I felt that worked diligently to find the best type of facility that would suit my mother's needs.”
“My 97 year old husband on Hospice was cared for by his namesake, another Benjamin who was with him daily from 8AM to 8PM. Not only did Benjamin help me survive (I am almost 97 too), but he was so kind, gentle and careful about all that he did. When my husband saw him in the morning, he actually managed a tiny smile. In addition to direct care for his patient, he washed dishes, dusted and vacuumed!! There were also two night shift aides, Emanuel and Bismarck. Each came only once but they were equally competent. Without Robin Henoch and ABC? I don't even want to think about it.”
“This is a follow up about my Mom who is 87 years old recovering from a hip fracture and numerous complications related to being under medicated and over medicated at various inpatient facilities. The 24 hour care team at Always Best Care Rockville has kept us going and cared for my Mom as if they would their own Mom over the past 9 weeks. This team includes outstanding and heroic Day shift care by Suzanne, Roseline and Dorothy and Night shift care by Afua, Ellen, Hawa. An extra 10 star commendation goes to Roseline and Dorothy who spoke up about concerns they had to their nurse managers that resulted in a discovery that my Mom was being overmedicated during day time hours and undermedicated at night. 10 star commendation also go to Ndey Care Coordinator in the office who is always calm, caring and helpful no matter what craziness is going on! Thank you all! This is the highest calling to provide personalized, deeply compassionate care to those who are sick and vulnerable!”
“We have been using this service for over a year for 24/7 care for my 87 year old mother with dementia. A few of the caregivers have been with her over a year. Raheema her weekend, daytime caregiver treats her like family. She is so kind & an advocate for her care. Mom loves Fridays when Vera comes because not only does she take good care of her above & beyond such as putting curlers in her hair & taking her around the block, but she also has lots of energy & jokes around with her which she loves. Ami takes care of Mom a few overnights each week & she is kind, gentle, compassionate & professional. In the office, Ashley spent an extraordinary amount of time with me at the beginning & was friendly & professional & caring. Esther really listens to my concerns & addresses them. I would highly recommend their service.”
“I've had such great experience working with everyone at Always Best Care. They're all amazing and hard working people.”
“I can't say enough about the professionalism and the general overall caring from the top down to my 92 year old mother's care giver Diana. Not only does my mother adore her, her friends say how great Diana is and lastly the facility called me yesterday to say how great Diana is working with my mother. 5 Stars is not enough....”
“Needed a caregiver for my dad during my son's wedding and we were put in touch with Always Best. They did a tremendous job through the whole process including scheduling and making sure our needs were met. The event day caregiver was Sam and he was so great to my dad. On time, friendly, always smiling and ensuing my dad was comfortable at all times. Would use them again for sure”
“My grandmother needed to go to a skilled nursing facility from the hospital. She was scared and we wanted to ensure that she was well taken care of, so we arranged for caregivers there. She went home with 24 hour care. ABC made that process so easy and they were so kind. My grandmother found her caregivers to be dependable, courteous, helpful, compassionate and punctual. She wanted to personally thank Anne Marie Njang, Celestina, and Akosua Atta for being there for her.”
“Expert and professional care provided for my loved one.”
“We were very pleased with Always Best Care (ABC). We used ABC following a major surgery. We needed a CNA for various types of assistance for two people with limited mobility. Our original plan for help, with a different agency, fell apart early in my recovery. ABC had an excellent replacement in our home within 24 hours. The woman who provided most of our care was very good. Based on both responsiveness and quality, we would call ABC first if we need in home care in the future.”
“We used ABCSS for my Dad. When Mom needed similar care, they were the first we called. The need happened very quickly and ABCSS was able to find us a 24/7 sitter for the first night when we called them. They provide caregivers who indeed care about those they serve. Robin and Ashley (owners) are very attentive to our needs and are always looking for ways they can make things easier for us while caring for our loved ones. Highly recommend.”
“At a time when you need help the most. When you don't know what to expect next, other the expectation to be overwhelmed, Always Best Care was a great choice for help when I needed it the most in caring for my elder Father. I was out of my element and really didn't know what to do to properly care for my Father - but Always Best Care knew exactly what to do. When we first contacted Robin she responded immediately, met with us very quickly and was ready to go with as much staffing & care that we needed on Day 1. The caregivers were all experienced and personable, and genuinely nice people. When the time came that we had to shift to Hospice care, the staff already knew what to do with regard to interacting with the Hospice staff. And when the time came that my Father passed away they made sure we were notified immediately and remained with my Father until we arrived. I couldn't have asked for a level of service beyond what we received and I thank Robin and her staff for helping my Father and our family during his final weeks of life so that we could make him as comfortable as possible.”
“competent csring staff. always reliable.in Over six months of daily care, there was only one incident when weather prevented anyone from coming”
“My mother received services from ABC for about 2 years. I reached out to Robin (head of the agency) because Mom was struggling with her memory and other symptoms of dementia. Always Best Care has wonderful caregivers and the staff was always available, kind, hard working and helpful. This refers to not only the caregivers, but their staff of nurses, doctors, receptionists, everyone. I could (and did) call day or in the middle of the night, and someone was always available to help me with my mom's issues. The caregivers were prompt, professional, hard working and really patient and kind. My mom passed away last month with Advanced Alzheimer's disease. I feel good really about the final years of my mom's life, at home with all she loved most, and that includes all that Always Best Care has to offer.”
“Awesome staff and care givers!!”
“Always Best Care is what their name says -- always the best. We used them for a few family members and couldn't have been more pleased. Finding quality care for those you love can be overwhelming and unsettling. Through Robin, Blake and their excellent caregivers, we found not only the high quality care we sought but complete peace of mind. It was clear from the very beginning that they place the needs of their clients and clients' families above all else. They work hard to find the best match for your particular situation, communicate extremely well, and are always ready to help however they can. In short, they are outstanding partners in the care of your loved ones, and I personally am extremely grateful for the care Robin, Blake, and Marie provided my parents. We are fortunate to have found Always Best Care and recommend them enthusiastically and without reservation.”
“Great company, great staff, great care.”
“Always Best Care of Mid-Montgomery County lives up to its name! For over 2 years, our experience was responsive, professional, flexible and involved management and kind, caring, attentive, and utterly reliable caregivers. I highly recommend this senior care firm.”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care is what their namesays -- always the best.We used them for a few family members and couldn't have been more pleased. Finding quality care for those you love can be overwhelming and unsettling. Through Robin, Blake and their excellent caregivers, we found not only the high quality care we sought but completepeace of mind. It was clear from the very beginning that they place the needs of their clients and clients' families above all else. They work hard to find the best match for your particular situation, communicate extremely well, and are always ready to help however they can. In short, they are outstanding partners in the care of your loved ones, and I personally am extremely grateful for thecare Robin, Blake, and Marie provided my parents.We are fortunate to have found Always Best Care and recommend them enthusiastically and without reservation.”
“I am a current client of this provider Our current caregiver is great. Whenever there has been an issue or concern about my parents’ care, Always Best Care has responded immediately and effectively.”
“Always Best Care of Mid-Montgomery County lives up to its name! For over 2 years, our experience was responsive, professional, flexible and involved management and kind, caring, attentive, and utterly reliable caregivers. I highly recommend this senior care firm.”
“I moved my parents, who have dementia, from a large retirement community to a group home. When I realized that the group home did not provide proper care for them, which resulted in both parents coming down with urinary tract infections simultaneously, 2 times in three weeks, I knew they needed to move. My father’s dementia had also escalated significantly and he became fearful of the caregivers, who had no prior experience caring for someone with advanced Alzheimer’s symptoms and their approach was not appropriate. ABC came to my rescue and immediately provided a wonderful male caregiver for my father from 4-8 PM, seven days a week, while she conducted a search to find the right place for my parents to move. She took into consideration our family’s financial limitations as well. Within a short period of time, we were able to move them to their current location where they are getting wonderful care, delicious food and ongoing bus excursions every other week! My father is no longer fearful of the caregivers and my mother is very content, as well. They have had no further urinary tract problems. ABC solved 2 challenges for me: 1) they immediately found the right caregiver for my father and 2) found the perfect location for my parents to be cared for properly. Daughter of E & F Silver Spring, MD”
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 Discovery 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 Ruth's Chris Steak House or visit J A Belt Building, 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 Gaithersburg, MD, 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 Gaithersburg, MD 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 Gaithersburg, MD 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.
Growing up in suburban Maryland, Niraj Suresh didn’t ride bulls. He played football and practiced martial arts.But Sunday afternoon, without telling his parents so they wouldn’t worry, the 23-year-old master’s student slipped on a cowboy hat, a pair of brown leather chaps with red and gold fringe trim and put nearly two years of training to the test. He plopped down on the back of a roughly 1,500-pound bull, hung on tightly and tried not to get tossed to the ground.Suresh was one of 15 bull riders who came fro...
Growing up in suburban Maryland, Niraj Suresh didn’t ride bulls. He played football and practiced martial arts.
But Sunday afternoon, without telling his parents so they wouldn’t worry, the 23-year-old master’s student slipped on a cowboy hat, a pair of brown leather chaps with red and gold fringe trim and put nearly two years of training to the test. He plopped down on the back of a roughly 1,500-pound bull, hung on tightly and tried not to get tossed to the ground.
Suresh was one of 15 bull riders who came from Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and as far as Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York, to compete in a professional rodeo show at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, Maryland, that drew an estimated 900 spectators.
“You have to turn off all fear in your body when you’re bull riding,” said Suresh, whose parents came from Sri Lanka and eventually settled in Rockville. “It’s me, the bull and God at that moment.”
The Sunday rodeo, run by Lucky E Rodeo company of Upstate New York, was a unique event at the county’s fairgrounds, best known for its annual summer fair with 4-H animals and carnival rides. With a strip mall in the backdrop of the rodeo ring, about 70 other participants also competed in “saddle bronc” — in which a person rides a bucking horse — steer wrestling, calf roping and barrel racing.
Bull riding, for many spectators, was the highlight of the event. Riders must grip a rope and raise their other hand in the air as the bull bucks. They have to stay on the bull for eight seconds. Judges rank the riders and the bull, and they earn points based on their skills. The rider is judged for how well they control the bull; the bull for how well it bucks. If the rider falls off before eight seconds or touches the bull or themself with their free hand, they get no points.
“It’s a balance game and a mental sport,” said Dustin Tobin, a professional bull rider from Danby, Vermont, who competed at Sunday’s rodeo. “You can be the strongest guy there is, but you’re still not going to overpower 1,800 to 2,000 pounds of bull muscle.”
Tobin got interested in the sport as a young teenager when his family was living in Florida. A friend’s family raised bulls and introduced him to the sport. He was hooked and now competes in dozens of rodeos a year across the country, while also working full-time as an excavator. Two years ago, he suffered eight broken ribs, internal bleeding and severe damage to his spleen, colon and kidney after he fell off a bull at an Ohio rodeo. He took six months off to recover.
“I love it,” said Tobin, who also serves as the bull-riding director of the American Professional Rodeo Association. “That was my worst one, and I thought about hanging it up, but once I got back on the bull and shook off the jitters, I was ready for it.”
For Tobin and many other bull riders, it’s not just the adrenaline rush that draws them to the sport but also the sense of camaraderie.
“I have a family at home, but the family at the rodeo is like a second family,” Tobin said. “If you get hurt in the arena, we’re all there. If you need help with your gear, someone’s there to help.”
Having 15 riders at the Gaithersburg rodeo came as a welcome surprise to many participants who’ve seen the popularity of the sport ebb and flow in some parts of the country over the decades. Bull riding dates to the 1600s in Mexico when riders showcased their roping and horsemanship skills in charreadas, Mexican rodeos. In the United States, the sport became popular entertainment, particularly in the Southwest, in the 19th century.
“It attracts people who like courageous, down-to-earth athletes and those who appreciate and want to celebrate western values,” said Andrew Giangola, a spokesman for the Professional Bull Riders, the largest bull-riding league, which hosts more than 1,000 riders at 200 events annually in the U.S., Canada, Brazil and Australia. Watching bull riding, he said, is “the wildest eight seconds wrapped into a rock show atmosphere.”
Rodeos in the Northeast used to attract between 30 and 40 bull riders, but now having eight to nine riders is considered a good turnout, according to Tobin.
Some longtime bull riders said there are several factors behind the decline. For starters, the sport is dangerous. Also, over the years, the number of young riders who learned the “art” of bull riding from their fathers or uncles has dwindled, in part, because there are fewer large-scale ranches in the West and Southwest. Bull riding also faces competition with the popularity of video games among teenagers, and it costs a few thousand dollars to get into the sport with the equipment, entry fees and travel costs.
But in the past few years, as interest has grown in extreme sports, bull riding has seen an uptick in fans and participants. And Giangola and other bull-riding promotion groups said cowboy and western culture is now in style.
“Cowboys are in vogue,” Giangola said. And, he said, “Beyoncé putting on a cowboy hat doesn’t hurt.”
Another reason for the boost of bull-riding fans and participants, experts said, is TV shows about Western expansion and cattle ranch life in the U.S. such as “1923” and “Yellowstone.” Tye Eglin, owner of Lucky E Rodeo which puts on about 50 rodeos each summer, said the TV shows have “brought out a big crowd of people”: “It’s not too often you see a 180-pound man get on the back of a bull that weighs 1,800 pounds and try to stay on for eight seconds.”
In the U.S., the sport has also rebounded in the last few years as more Brazilians and Latinos from Guatemala, Honduras and elsewhere have gotten into the highly competitive — and lucrative — professional levels. Bull riding is extremely popular in Brazil because the country is one of the world’s largest beef exporters. There are “a lot of cowboys in Brazil, and bull riding is a cowboy sport,” Giangola said.
Experts said winners at bull riding competitions in the U.S. can earn anywhere from $1,000 for smaller events to $400,000 for big international tours and competitions.
Suresh, who is studying animal science for his master’s degree at the University of Maryland at College Park, started working as a ranch hand at a property near Frederick County and developed an interest in bull riding. He practices about two hours each week at a ranch in Pennsylvania, about two hours from his home, and has now ridden in nine competitive rodeos and done fairly well at three of them.
“It gives me confidence beyond the ring,” he said. “After you’ve done bull riding, nothing else can really faze you or scare you in life.”
On Sunday, only one rider, Carson Richards, stayed on the bull for the required eight seconds. Nicknamed the “Rhode Island cowboy” because he’s often the only rider from that state at competitions he takes part in each year, Carson scored 70 points and took home roughly $1,000 in prize money.
Suresh didn’t score after his bull bucked him into a fence in about two seconds. He was uninjured.
“You never know what you’re going to get,” he said afterward of the bull, named Whiz Kabeefa. “It’s a very unforgiving sport.”
As the Maryland finalizes the budget, some of the big ticket costs will force counties and cities to raise taxes.GAITHERSBURG, Md. — More local taxes for Marylanders?As the state finalizes its budget, to avoid deeper cuts, lawmakers pushed some costs onto local governments.On Main Street in Gaithersburg, Maryland business owners are optimistic but worried...
As the Maryland finalizes the budget, some of the big ticket costs will force counties and cities to raise taxes.
GAITHERSBURG, Md. — More local taxes for Marylanders?
As the state finalizes its budget, to avoid deeper cuts, lawmakers pushed some costs onto local governments.
On Main Street in Gaithersburg, Maryland business owners are optimistic but worried budget cuts could force them to shave off from their bottom line.
“It’s a scary time,” Eric Julius of Royal Cut Kings Barbershop, said.
Julius said he has already noticed how federal cuts have affected his business and make it tough to run a Maryland business in this economy.
“The economy is being affected, because people don't know if they're gonna have a job tomorrow,” Julius said.
“With the things going on right now everybody's tightening their budget,” Gina Goldring of nearby Our Neighborhood Deli said. “Things are slowing down.”
Goldring’s deli serves New York-style sandwiches and a bodega atmosphere. These days she is also serving up some concern.
“We're a regular mom-and-pop small business shop we rely on everyone in the community to come out,” she said.
If the federal cuts aren’t enough, this week Maryland’s General Assembly signaled local counties and cities will have to shoulder more costs next year.
“The legislature is going to put some stuff on us,” Montgomery County Executive Mark Elrich said. “What we asked for is a tax increase that basically covers it.
Marc Elrich said the county had a choice – small property tax increases or cuts.
“I wanted to make sure we could fund as much as possible the services that we provide,” he said.
Last Friday, Elrich visited ‘Our Neighborhood Deli’ highlighting his support for small and women-owned businesses and to hear Goldring's concerns.
“We are going there we want small business to also know that we support them,” Elrich said.
Just down the street, news of potentially more fees and taxes has Eric frustrated about the future.
“These taxes are a real hit to the middle class,” he explained. “When that happens so many people are uncertain, they're unsure. I know that that hits me, ultimately, when it gets passed down from my landlord.”
In a time when the federal issues have hurt mom-and=pop shops, Montgomery County’s chief executive said they will try to shield them from state problems.
“We may be able to reduce the tax increase,” Elrich said. “We may be able to eliminate the tax increase, but I wanted to be sure that going into the budget.”
“We will know more on April 7,” the county executive said.
Silver Spring, MD (April 1, 2025) – Nonprofit developer MHP announced today it will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Gardens of Gaithersburg apartment community in Gaithersburg, a $36 million affordable housing preservation. The ceremony will feature remarks from Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman, MHP President Robert A. Goldman, and other notable speakers.With renovations completed in 2025, this affordable community is a hidden gem in a bustling area wi...
Silver Spring, MD (April 1, 2025) – Nonprofit developer MHP announced today it will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Gardens of Gaithersburg apartment community in Gaithersburg, a $36 million affordable housing preservation. The ceremony will feature remarks from Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman, MHP President Robert A. Goldman, and other notable speakers.
With renovations completed in 2025, this affordable community is a hidden gem in a bustling area with access to many transit connections and job opportunities for residents. Located just off N. Frederick Ave, Gardens of Gaithersburg consists of 78 apartment homes, all reserved for those making 60% of area median income (AMI) or less.
Media Invited! Event Details:
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: 423 N. Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD
Gardens of Gaithersburg houses multiple residential buildings and approximately 5,000 Sq. Ft. of commercial retail space. The property is centrally located near retail, parks, schools, shops, medical resources, County facilities, commuting routes, and more. Amenities include onsite parking, laundry facilities in each building, resident controlled security access, playgrounds, a community picnic area with grills, and an onsite community garden. Outdoor improvements, including a new playground, two new tot lots and numerous accessible paths, offer better amenities for families. The building is now more efficient with upgrades to electrical systems, HVAC systems, windows, roofing, kitchens, flooring, bathrooms, and appliances.
“We know that strong communities start with affordable housing,” said MHP President Robert A. Goldman. “This renovation enhances the community and supports MHP’s comprehensive effort to seek development and preservation opportunities in the DMV area. The renovation of Gardens of Gaithersburg is an important milestone in MHP’s effort to preserve quality affordable housing in Montgomery County and beyond.”
Thanks to funding from a variety of partners, Gardens of Gaithersburg is now a modern, updated property with quality affordable apartments. Investment partners include Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs, State of Maryland, Bank of America, Enterprise, Freddie Mac, and NeighborWorks America.
About MHP
Since 1989, MHP has been preserving and expanding access to quality affordable housing. MHP is a private nonprofit that provides more than 2,800 homes in Montgomery County, MD, and surrounding communities. It accomplishes its mission by housing people, empowering families, and strengthening neighborhoods. Learn more about how MHP is #makinghomepossible at mhpartners.org.
Media Contact
Ilana Guttin
Communications and Volunteer Manager, MHP
(301) 812-4138
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.Gaithersburg|Local EventKristy King, NeighborWed, Apr 2, 2025 at 6:00 PMKentlands Mansion, 320 Kent Square Rd, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878...
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
Gaithersburg|Local Event
Join our lively Line Dancing class, where you'll learn a variety of fun and easy-to-follow dance routines set to your favorite country, pop, and rock songs. Just bring your enthusiasm and get ready to stomp, shuffle, and slide your way across the dance floor. Ages 18+
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