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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

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Home Care In Fort Walton Beach, FL

Home Care Fort Walton Beach, FL

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.

 In-Home Care Fort Walton Beach, FL

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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.

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“I’ve been with Always Best Care for 6 months and Jermey has been consistent with showing he TRULY cares for his clients and his employees. Would highly recommend his company if you’re looking for a job in the healthcare field or to any client looking for a company to take care of a loved one .”

Ki’ara W.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Fort Walton Beach, FL?

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

 Senior Care Fort Walton Beach, FL

Types of Elderly Care in Fort Walton Beach, FL

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

Respite Care Fort Walton Beach, FL
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
 Caregivers Fort Walton Beach, FL
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 Fort Walton Beach Landing 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
Home Care Fort Walton Beach, FL
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 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.

 In-Home Care Fort Walton Beach, FL

Benefits of Home Care in Fort Walton Beach, FL

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.

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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 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.

 Elderly Care Fort Walton Beach, FL

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 FL'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 Fort Walton Beach, FL

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 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.

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 Fort Walton Beach, FL

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 Fort Walton Beach, FL

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:

  • Bay Port of Fort Walton Beach
  • Belvedere Commons of Fort Walton Beach
  • Meridian at Westwood
  • Brookdale Fort Walton Beach
  • Westwood Retirement Resort
  • Westminster Manor
Home Care Fort Walton Beach, FL

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 Fort Walton Beach, FL

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

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

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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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.

 Elderly Care Fort Walton Beach, FL

Latest News in Fort Walton Beach, FL

Where is the SS United States now? How to track ship's route along Florida's Gulf coast

The SS United States, the world's fastest ocean liner dubbed "America's Flagship," is taking its final voyage, destined to become the world's largest artificial reef off Florida's Gulf Coast.The long-retired, 990-foot liner was ...

The SS United States, the world's fastest ocean liner dubbed "America's Flagship," is taking its final voyage, destined to become the world's largest artificial reef off Florida's Gulf Coast.

The long-retired, 990-foot liner was purchased by Okaloosa County in Florida's Panhandle in October.

On Feb. 20, the ship left Pennsylvania, where it had been docked for nearly 30 years, guided by four tugboats.

After a stop in Mobile, Alabama for cleaning and renovation, the vessel will be sunk off Destin-Fort Walton Beach in Florida.

? Graphics: How SS United States, bigger than Titanic, will become world's largest artificial reef

Sighted off Palm Beach County's coast Wednesday, the ship was located off the Florida Keys Thursday.

Here's how you can track the liner's journey as it heads into the Gulf and to its destination:

Walt Disney, Marilyn Monroe among famous passengers on SS United States

In service from 1952 to 1969, the USS United States saw its share of famous passengers, including:

Where will SS United States be sunk?

After a remediation process in Mobile expected to take about a year, SS United States will be towed south of Destin-Fort Walton Beach to be sunk. A date and location have not been revealed.

"Before her deployment in the Gulf waters, all of the environmentally unsafe materials will be removed. This includes all non-metal items, wiring and fuel. She will have holes strategically cut around the ship to ensure she lands upright as she is submerged. Passages will also be opened allowing for marine life to thrive in and around the ship. All of the preparations in Mobile are in close collaboration with multiple environmental agencies including the Department of Environmental Protection and Environmental Protection Agency," Destin-Fort Walton Beach's website states.

Track SS United States route, current location off Florida, Gulf

USS United States left Philadelphia Feb. 14, traveled down the Delaware River to Delaware Bay and out to the Atlantic. The estimated two-week journey takes the liner down the East Coast and into the Gulf on the way to Mobile, Alabama where it will be readied for its final move south of Destin-Fort Walton Beach to be sunk.

You can track the SS United States live. An interactive map provided by Okaloosa County, showing the liner's current location, can be found here.

Support local journalism by subscribing to a Florida news organization.

SS United States is making its way to Alabama. Where is it now?

Sailing from Delaware Bay, the SS United States is completing its final journey to sink off Florida's Gulf Coast to become "the world's largest artificial reef.""Once deployed off Destin-Fort Walton Beach, at nearly 1,000 feet long, the SS United States will be a home for a diverse range of marine life and attract divers and anglers from aroun...

Sailing from Delaware Bay, the SS United States is completing its final journey to sink off Florida's Gulf Coast to become "the world's largest artificial reef."

"Once deployed off Destin-Fort Walton Beach, at nearly 1,000 feet long, the SS United States will be a home for a diverse range of marine life and attract divers and anglers from around the world," according to the Destin-Fort Walton Beach website.

Exactly where the ship will be sunk hasn't been determined yet, but it's expected to lie about 20 nautical miles south of the Florida Panhandle in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area.

As it sails down the Atlantic, the historic 1952 SS United States will pass along Florida's east coast. Will it be visible to people on the Treasure Coast as it sails down? Here's what to know.

Why Florida?:Massive, historic 'America's flagship' must leave Philadelphia port. But where can it go?

What to know:Fastest ocean liner to cross Atlantic, SS United States, coming to Florida.

Will you be able to see the SS United States off the Treasure Coast?

It is unclear if the SS United States will be visible off the Treasure Coast since it is unknown how far offshore the Treasure Coast ship will be sailing.

If it stays in the Gulf Stream, it likely won't be seen from the Treasure Coast. The average person can see about 3 miles until the horizon line, according to Warby Parker.

On the Treasure Coast, here's about how far the Fort Pierce, Sebastian and St. Lucie inlets are from the Gulf Stream, according to the National Weather Service.

What is SS United States?

Here are facts about the SS United States, a 20th-century ocean liner:

Will the SS United States be sunk?

Yes, it will be sunk to create the world's largest artificial reef off Destin-Fort Walton Beach in Florida Panhandle.

It began its journey south to Mobile, Alabama, where it will be cleaned before going to the coast of Okaloosa County, Florida. The journey to Alabama will take about two weeks, and the ship is being pushed by four tugboats since its engines are no longer operable.

The underwater ship will be turned into an "immersive experience" for divers, according to the tourism website. There are also plans to build a land-based museum for the ship.

Is the SS United States bigger than the Titanic?

Yes, the SS United States is bigger than the Titanic by 100 feet. At 990 feet, it remains the largest passenger ship ever built in America, according to its website.

Where is the SS United States?

You can follow along with the ship's journey using this tracker.

The Giant Bubble Show - Fort Walton Beach FL

Circus Pop! The Giant Bubble Show is coming to the NWF Fairgrounds in Fort Walton FL for the first time on February 25th! Witness America's only nationally touring bubble show. Your whole family will be amazed as Logan Jimenez creates giant 20-foot long bubbles, builds a bubble snowman that floats over the audience, balances swords, eats fire, and creates a bubble volcano that erupts bubbles . Show times are at 5:00 and 7:30 on Feb 25th. All shows are expected to sell out so get your tickets before they are gone. There are only 100 tickets a...

Circus Pop! The Giant Bubble Show is coming to the NWF Fairgrounds in Fort Walton FL for the first time on February 25th! Witness America's only nationally touring bubble show. Your whole family will be amazed as Logan Jimenez creates giant 20-foot long bubbles, builds a bubble snowman that floats over the audience, balances swords, eats fire, and creates a bubble volcano that erupts bubbles . Show times are at 5:00 and 7:30 on Feb 25th. All shows are expected to sell out so get your tickets before they are gone. There are only 100 tickets available per show! Online Prices: General Admission: Children (Ages 3-12) - $7 Seniors (Ages 65 and up) - $10 Adults - $13 - Tickets at the door are $2 more per ticket VIP - Only available online Children (Ages 3-12) - $22 Seniors (Ages 65 and up) - $25 Adults - $28 * You can mix and match ticket types. For example you can buy a VIP ticket for your child and a general admission ticket for yourself* Get your tickets at: giantbubbleshow.com today!

Date and time

Location

NWF Fairgrounds, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, United States

About this event

Circus Pop! The Giant Bubble Show is coming to the NWF Fairgrounds in Fort Walton FL for the first time on February 25th! Witness America's only nationally touring bubble show. Your whole family will be amazed as Logan Jimenez creates giant 20-foot long bubbles, builds a bubble snowman that floats over the audience, balances swords, eats fire, and creates a bubble volcano that erupts bubbles . Show times are at 5:00 and 7:30 on Feb 25th. All shows are expected to sell out so get your tickets before they are gone. There are only 100 tickets available per show!

Online Prices: General Admission: Children (Ages 3-12) - $7 Seniors (Ages 65 and up) - $10 Adults - $13 - Tickets at the door are $2 more per ticket

VIP - Only available online Children (Ages 3-12) - $22 Seniors (Ages 65 and up) - $25 Adults - $28 * You can mix and match ticket types. For example you can buy a VIP ticket for your child and a general admission ticket for yourself*

Get your tickets at: giantbubbleshow.com today!

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Pulliam chokes up as he addresses team for first time as Fort Walton Beach head coach

FORT WALTON BEACH — Josh Pulliam prepared a list of talking points for his first speech Thursday as head football coach at Fort Walton Beach.None of that materialized."Oh man, I choked up and got teary eyed," he laughed. "Things like that don't happen to me. This is my first opportunity. I've held every other position as coach, but I've never had "Head" before it. So we go to meet the players on the Viking head (at Steve Riggs Stadium) and all the administration is there and Mrs. Smith addresses t...

FORT WALTON BEACH — Josh Pulliam prepared a list of talking points for his first speech Thursday as head football coach at Fort Walton Beach.

None of that materialized.

"Oh man, I choked up and got teary eyed," he laughed. "Things like that don't happen to me. This is my first opportunity. I've held every other position as coach, but I've never had "Head" before it. So we go to meet the players on the Viking head (at Steve Riggs Stadium) and all the administration is there and Mrs. Smith addresses them and introduces me. I had things I wanted to say and I didn't get to because It just hit me hard in that moment."

"To get my moment, I'm super thankful to my family and Fort Walton believing in me."

What he did say to the players represented his love for them and their future.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

"My message to the guys was I want them to shine. I want them to shine in any way possible," Pulliam said. "I've said this to you before when I was named wrestling coach of the year, my thing is making sure my players leave this program as better people. I've been blessed to work with a lot of good players but even better human beings. My job extends well beyond football."

Big hire:Vernon welcomes former Niceville offensive coordinator as head coach

Pulliam is unapologetically loud. He's animated. He's got a notoriously big personality, but he has an even bigger heart.

His love for football shined at Choctawhatchee High, where he graduated as a dual-sport scholar athlete in 2003. It shined at Greensboro College, where he was a standout offensive lineman. And it shined when he returned to the Sunshine State and embraced humility as he became a jack-of-all-trades coach indispensable to multiple position camps.

As a grad assistant at the University of South Florida, he entered any position meeting that would have him. That, along with cutting his teeth of going the extra mile of changing weights and getting the small grunt work done, earned him a role with running backs, linebackers, the defensive line and the strength and conditioning program. It's at USF he and his wife, high school sweetheart Allison, established a tradition of hosting the players he coached for a big dinner during fall camp.

No one was more happy for Pulliam than Allison, a 2005 FWB graduate and the mother of his two sons: 10-year-old Harvey and 4-year-old Gibson.

"Allison is more jacked up than I've been," said Pulliam, who plans to return to that dinner tradition this fall after it was halted because of the pandemic. "She's loving all of this."

Pulliam segued that college experience into a strength and conditioning role for three Tampa-area schools in Braden River, Sarasota and Palmetto before running into former Choctaw principal Cindy Gates at a dance competition for his niece in Orlando. That fortuitous meeting led him back to Choctaw in 2011, where he coached wrestling, weightlifting and became one of Greg Thomas' most trusted coaches on the gridiron, coaching the freshman team and working with both lines as Choctaw celebrated a Final Four berth in 2014.

Pulliam then made the move to Fort Walton Beach in 2018 and worked with the defensive line, eventually becoming Chip Petree's right-hand man in an era defined by the pandemic and the Vikings' propensity to schedule tough programs.

Throughout it all, Pulliam had dreamed of helming his own program one day.

That opportunity came when Bobby Clayton left for Pensacola Catholic following an 8-12 tenure with the Vikings. Fifty-two coaches applied, and Pulliam and E.G. Green made the final cut. When Green decided to stay at Destin High, Pulliam was the answer to lead Fort Walton back into the spotlight, back into the news.

"Head coach was always been in the back of my mind when you apply for jobs every year," Pulliam said. "At my age, quality of life really means a lot. This is good as it gets. Fort Walton Beach has it in them to be great. It's been there. It's my job to make our kids shine as best as possible. It's what they deserve and it's what the community and fans deserve.

Of course this job presents its obstacles. Never has the transfer portal been so open, and that was represented as the Vikings brought in a slew of transfers in 2023 only to lose East Carolina signee Eddie Love, Division-I bound JJ Lewis and Ole Miss bound Dante Core to rival schools.

"It's one of those things that if you build it, they will come," Pulliam said. "If you're having fun and working hard and your players believe in you and what you got going on, it'll translate to players wanting to play here."

As for wins and losses, the Vikings are coming off a 3-7 campaign despite breaking its rivalries with Niceville and Navarre and having a 2.0 strength of schedule, the bottom half of 4A schools. For reference, 5A Niceville a 8.14 SOS, 5A Crestview a 7.71 SOS and 4A Choctaw a 6. 92 SOS, and as we learned the FHSAA exceedingly rewards schools for their SOS rather than wins against lowly opponents.

Pulliam couldn't say whether or not the Niceville rivalry will return, but he understands there's a middle ground to scheduling between the Petree mindset of "to be the best, you got to beat the best" and the last couple of years of more winnable games.

'We want to be as competitive as possible," Pulliam said. "Our focus is on our guys, what we going on, and if we do that it should take care of itself. The schedule is something we have to look at and put our kids in the best position to compete, but we also have to recognize what is going on with the FHSAA standings. I'm going to do my best to put them in that competitive environment against area programs."

He also recognizes the offense has to score more points. Last year's 114 total points over 10 games were sadly a continuation of offensive struggles dating back more than a decade. The last time the Vikings averaged 30 or more points was in 2012, so hiring an offensive coordinator will be high priority. Pulliam said he understands that and will be networking through all his contacts, but for now he's just excited to ramp up the strength and conditioning and get his players prepared for spring football.

"We have to hit the ground running and keep up with the Joneses," Pulliam said. "We're ready to put in the work and and get everyone on the same page."

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