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 Fort Walton Historical Marker 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 Fort Walton Beach, FL 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.
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 Fort Walton Beach Landing 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 Sealand Restaurant or visit The Mound Historic Marker, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Fort Walton Beach, FL, 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 Fort Walton Beach, FL 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 Fort Walton Beach, FL 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.
Fort Walton Beach residents hoping to help their city be named the Cleanest City on the Emerald Coast can grab a trash bag on Aug. 23 and pitch in to pitch out litter and other debris.City council has made beautification one of its priorities, said City Manager Jason Davis, and work is already underway.“You have spoken and we have heard,” the city announced online.One example: City council approved a $12,000 contract to fix the irrigation system in medians on U.S. 98. “Some of the pumps don’t work...
Fort Walton Beach residents hoping to help their city be named the Cleanest City on the Emerald Coast can grab a trash bag on Aug. 23 and pitch in to pitch out litter and other debris.
City council has made beautification one of its priorities, said City Manager Jason Davis, and work is already underway.
“You have spoken and we have heard,” the city announced online.
One example: City council approved a $12,000 contract to fix the irrigation system in medians on U.S. 98. “Some of the pumps don’t work,” Davis said.
“The parks could use some love, too,” he said.
One of the problems is perception. Motorists might drive by signs that indicate they are in the city, but they could be on county, U.S. or state roads. Davis says he is reaching out to those governments to coordinate efforts.
The city has its challenges. It is bordered by the Gulf and Eglin Air Force Base, “which is massive,” Davis said, and Hurlburt Field. The population is 22,000 and has remained so for 30 years.
Big or small, quality matters, city officials say.
The roadside cleanup project will be held Aug. 23 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. from sidewalks along Hollywood Boulevard from Chester Pruitt Park west to Memorial Parkway. The cleanup will begin at the park.
A bigger, more sensitive issue is identifying homeless encampments with their trash and unsanitary conditions.
“The vagrancy situation is unfortunate. Some need help with substance abuse or mental health,” Davis said. One of the goals is to put them in touch with community resources to help them.
The Rotary Club and Keep Okaloosa Beautiful have agreed to partner with the city. A group from Texas is coming for a future paint day to get rid of graffiti.
“Fortunately we don’t have much of that,” Davis said.
A church group has also promised to help.
Fort Walton Beach aims to be the Emerald Coast's cleanest city. Here's how:Future initiatives include a passenger car pickup day, adopt-a-road, furniture collection by city workers and others.
Davis said volunteers can call him, or they can go to city websites.
Businesses and organizations will receive recognition on those websites, city officials say.
The 2025 Florida high school football season continues with a non-conference matchup as the South Walton Seahawks host the Fort Walton Beach Vikings on Friday, August 29, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The game will take place at South Walton High School in Santa Rosa Beach, FL, with both teams looking to make an early-season statement.Game Details? Matchup: Fort Walton Beach (Fort Walton Beach, FL) vs South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach, FL)...
The 2025 Florida high school football season continues with a non-conference matchup as the South Walton Seahawks host the Fort Walton Beach Vikings on Friday, August 29, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The game will take place at South Walton High School in Santa Rosa Beach, FL, with both teams looking to make an early-season statement.
? Matchup: Fort Walton Beach (Fort Walton Beach, FL) vs South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach, FL)
? Date & Time: Friday, August 29, 2025 – 7:00 PM
? Location: South Walton High School, Santa Rosa Beach, FL
? Live Coverage: Follow live scores on MaxPreps
Fans can attend in person by purchasing digital tickets on GoFan or stream the action live on the NFHS Network (subscription: $13.99/month or $79.99/year).
The Vikings enter ranked #5,252 nationally, #315 in Florida, and #47 in their class. After dropping their opener 21-7, Fort Walton Beach showed flashes of competitiveness but struggled to finish drives. They’ll need to improve execution on both sides of the ball to bounce back on the road.
? 2025 Record: 0-1
? National Rank: #5,252
? State Rank: #315 (FL)
? Class Rank: #47
? Strengths: Resilient roster, solid defensive front, motivated to rebound
? Key to Win: Convert scoring opportunities and limit mistakes in key situations
The Seahawks come in ranked #3,355 nationally, #218 in Florida, and #30 in their class. South Walton opened the season with an impressive 35-6 win at home, showing strong balance between offense and defense. They’ll look to protect their home field again and build on their early success.
? 2025 Record: 1-0
? National Rank: #3,355
? State Rank: #218 (FL)
? Class Rank: #30
? Strengths: Balanced offense, stout defense, home-field advantage
? Key to Win: Maintain defensive pressure and continue offensive efficiency
| Team | National Rank | State Rank | Class Rank | Record | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Walton Beach Vikings | 5,252 | 315 (FL) | 47 | 0-1 | 7 | 21 |
| South Walton Seahawks | 3,355 | 218 (FL) | 30 | 1-0 | 35 | 6 |
As JVC Broadcasting prepares to close on its $1.25 million purchase of Magic Broadcasting’s four stations in Panama City FL, a major shakeup of the cluster may fallow.JVC began its changes by making Conservative Talk 101.1 WYOO Springfield part of its “Florida Man Radio” network along with 103.1 WZLB Valparaiso/Fort Walton Beach and 104.9 WYGC High Springs/Gainesville at the start of August. Now Rock “97X” 97.7 WYYX Bonifay will also begin simulcasting one of the company’s Fort Walton Beach stations...
As JVC Broadcasting prepares to close on its $1.25 million purchase of Magic Broadcasting’s four stations in Panama City FL, a major shakeup of the cluster may fallow.
JVC began its changes by making Conservative Talk 101.1 WYOO Springfield part of its “Florida Man Radio” network along with 103.1 WZLB Valparaiso/Fort Walton Beach and 104.9 WYGC High Springs/Gainesville at the start of August. Now Rock “97X” 97.7 WYYX Bonifay will also begin simulcasting one of the company’s Fort Walton Beach stations as it joins with “92.1 The Bone” WBON Destin as “92.1/97.7 The Bone“. New WBOE call letters are pending for WYYX.
The simulcast will start on Friday, August 29 at 9am with ten days of commercial-free music through Sunday, September 7. The WBON lineup of Program Director/morning host Matt Stone, midday host Ski, and afternoon host Mary Jo remain in place, while WYYX morning host Eddy ‘RBG’ Lungs will join for nights and midday host Roxy will host overnights.
JVC Broadcasting owner John Caracciolo said, “92.1 The Bone became a success because we listened to the listeners. They wanted more variety, fewer commercials, and a station that actually feels alive. Bringing The Bone to Panama City Beach wasn’t just a business decision—it was an answer to the audience. The people wanted something different and now they’ve got it.”
The Bone brand launched in Fort Walton Beach last December following a revamp of the former “Rock 92.1” WECQ with a broad playlist of Rock music from the past six decades.
Director of Programming Matt Stone added, “We’ve proven in Fort Walton Beach that creating rock radio for rock music fans works. Listeners are more engaged, they’re passionate, and they’re telling us every day this is what they’ve been waiting for. We can’t wait to share the Bone with Panama City and Southern Alabama.”
John Griffo, who serves as Market Manager for JVC’s stations in both Fort Walton Beach and Panama City followed, “Rock listeners are tired of repetition and endless commercials. At The Bone, we keep the focus where it belongs—on the music. That’s why we run limited commercials and feature three daily 92-minute commercial-free blocks. Since the launch in December our WBON-FM app has thousands of downloads all over the world. This isn’t just another radio station; it’s a movement and now, that movement covers Panama City Beach, too.”
The changes in Panama City may not be done. JVC has applied for call letter changes at the two other stations it is acquiring. Classic Country “Wild Willie 100.1” WWLY Panama City Beach will become WRXB, while heritage CHR “Island 106” 105.9 WILN Panama City applied to become WWVV, which appears to be very close to Variety Hits “102.1 The Wave” WWAV Santa Rosa Beach/Fort Walton Beach.
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. -- Fort Walton Beach officials are looking at big changes for the heavily travelled Hollywood Boulevard.A .9 mile stretch of Hollywood Boulevard could be reduced from four to two lanes from Bay Drive, just past Chestnut Avenue southeast. They're also considering adding a roundabout.Residents WEAR News spoke with are split on the idea. Some say they think it would make the area safer, while others are against the project that has an estimated cost of around $3 million.“It’s a four-lane ...
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. -- Fort Walton Beach officials are looking at big changes for the heavily travelled Hollywood Boulevard.
A .9 mile stretch of Hollywood Boulevard could be reduced from four to two lanes from Bay Drive, just past Chestnut Avenue southeast. They're also considering adding a roundabout.
Residents WEAR News spoke with are split on the idea. Some say they think it would make the area safer, while others are against the project that has an estimated cost of around $3 million.
“It’s a four-lane road right now, so the traffic that we witnessed on it is not conducive with the road." said Daniel Payne, city of Fort Walton Beach's public works and utility director.
Payne says it comes on the heels of a neighborhood study done in 2023. Even though the posted speed limit is 30 miles per hour, the study found speeds ranged from 42 to 50 miles per hour.
To address the issue, the city has put out three options, each maintaining the 30 mile per hour speed limit. It would go from four lanes to two lanes, adding either speed tables or gentle meanders. As for pedestrians, either sidewalks or a shared use path.
"Try to address A) the speeding on the road, and B) other means of transportation, bicycles pedestrians," Payne said.
But one thing they all have in common is a roundabout at the intersection of Ferry Road and Hollywood Boulevard. Some locals are on board.
"Well if people are speeding too much, I think it will help out," a man said.
But others aren't convinced. One woman who doesn't live far from where the roundabout would be is among them.
"That's a bad idea," she said. "Just a bad idea."
"A roundabout? No. That's just gonna confuse people and make it worse," she said. "You're talking about one lane each way? No, that's gonna make everything worse. Traffic worse. Backed up."
Payne says the city has been unsuccessful when trying to receive state funding for construction. So it's looking at other options for the project.
The city anticipates the project being complete in 2027 or 2028. View the project plans in depth below.
The city wants to hear from Fort Walton Beach residents about the project. An open house workshop will be held Tuesday, Aug. 19 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Fort Walton Beach Recreation Center on Jet Drive.
After that open house style meeting, the city will advance a preferred concept to the design phase and seek construction funding.
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