AA Learn more about in-home care options for your loved ones
Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
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, sometimes they cannot live independently without someone by their side to provide care. Unfortunately, some 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 in the comforts or their home rather than in an assisted living community. Home care in Oil City, LA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they age. We are proud to have helped tens of thousands of seniors to maintain a higher level of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of 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.
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 care services in Oil City, LA. Always Best Care is here to help.
“Always Best Care feels like a family! We truly care for each of our clients”
Always Best Care feels like a family! We truly care for each of our clients and do everything possible to ensure the best care is provided. We have caregivers available 24/7 as well as a 24/7 phone line in case of emergencies.
“I love working at Always Best Care! Everyone is so welcoming! I would recommend ABC”
I love working at Always Best Care! Everyone is so welcoming! I would recommend ABC to anyone who is in need of a great career choice or care for a loved one!!!
“Always Best Care is a Awesome, Excellent Company to work for .Awesome office workers .Some”
Always Best Care is a Awesome, Excellent Company to work for .Awesome office workers .Some Caring and Awesome Caregivers .I love working for this Company!!
“We love Always Best Care! They have helped a number of our friends and family”
We love Always Best Care! They have helped a number of our friends and family with home health care. We couldn’t be more thankful to Keith, Kim, and their family, as well as the staff! Highly recommend this business to anyone living in or around Shreveport, Bossier, Minden, Natchitoches etc!
“I work with a wonderful group of people in the office. Everyone tries to help”
I work with a wonderful group of people in the office. Everyone tries to help each other and is there for one another. This is a rare thing to find in an office with different personalities. The caregivers and clients care about each other which makes them a joy to interact with and the relationships they form are great for the clients (and caregivers). We just finished our caregiver appreciation days where we had food, games, prizes and fun. We have raffles and a caregiver of the month. The company has been planning events and other things to show how much everyone's hard work mean to us. The client's and their families wellbeing and happiness is important to us all. The clients and their families are appreciated and are given personal attention when needed and the co always has the client's best interests at heart.
“I love working for Always Best Care. The staff is always friendly and very welcoming.”
I love working for Always Best Care. The staff is always friendly and very welcoming. I’d recommend this company to anyone who’s looking for a job or to someone to care for their loved one’s.
“Compassionate, kind and wonderful people to care for loved ones. From the moment they answer”
Compassionate, kind and wonderful people to care for loved ones. From the moment they answer the phone you know they listen and truly care about who they serve!! Thank you wonderful folks!
“Excellent patient care ! management and staff were wonderful!”
Excellent patient care ! management and staff were wonderful!
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Ella T.
Erin R.
Yan S.
Rae A.
Connie. A.
Tracie M.
A Y.
Amy S.
Amanda S.
MEDSOUTH K.
Millen M.
Benjamin &.
Benjamin D.
Amy C.
Shquilla K.
laretta W.
princess A.
Sammy G.
Lauren A.
Steven S.
Sarah M.
Lupe R.
Chante P.
Robin L.
Medsouth
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Ella T.
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“Always Best Care feels like a family! We truly care for each of our clients and do everything possible to ensure the best care is provided. We have caregivers available 24/7 as well as a 24/7 phone line in case of emergencies.”
Erin R.
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“great company and does great things in Shreveport!”
Yan S.
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“I love working at Always Best Care! Everyone is so welcoming! I would recommend ABC to anyone who is in need of a great career choice or care for a loved one!!!”
Rae A.
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“Shifts are flexible and the office staff will answer your questions or get you answers. Both are a big plus for me.”
Connie. A.
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“Always Best Care is a Awesome, Excellent Company to work for .Awesome office workers .Some Caring and Awesome Caregivers .I love working for this Company!!”
Tracie M.
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“We love Always Best Care! They have helped a number of our friends and family with home health care. We couldn’t be more thankful to Keith, Kim, and their family, as well as the staff! Highly recommend this business to anyone living in or around Shreveport, Bossier, Minden, Natchitoches etc!”
A Y.
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“Caregivers truly care about the clients they assist daily. Office staff and caregivers work hand in hand to provide Great care for your loved ones.”
Amy S.
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“I work with a wonderful group of people in the office. Everyone tries to help each other and is there for one another. This is a rare thing to find in an office with different personalities. The caregivers and clients care about each other which makes them a joy to interact with and the relationships they form are great for the clients (and caregivers). We just finished our caregiver appreciation days where we had food, games, prizes and fun. We have raffles and a caregiver of the month. The company has been planning events and other things to show how much everyone's hard work mean to us. The client's and their families wellbeing and happiness is important to us all. The clients and their families are appreciated and are given personal attention when needed and the co always has the client's best interests at heart.”
Amanda S.
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“Wonderful In Home Care with certified caregivers. Guarantee the services”
MEDSOUTH K.
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“This is a wonderful company to work for and service! Our caregivers are full of compassion.”
Millen M.
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“Best. Staff... And .caregivers available.... Who work around the clock for you. A service that is 24 hours... Can always reach them. ...”
Benjamin &.
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“Best. Staff... And .caregivers available.... Who work around the clock for you. A service that is 24 hours... Can always reach them. ...”
Benjamin D.
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“24/7 hour services..... and the best staff. n caregivers..”
Amy C.
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“I recommend this place for anyone that would like to get services here or even just working for them is great! Very professional”
Shquilla K.
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“I love working for Always Best Care. The staff is always friendly and very welcoming. I’d recommend this company to anyone who’s looking for a job or to someone to care for their loved one’s.”
laretta W.
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“Absolutely love working here. To work with other peopps that share the same interest in helping people like i do is a blessing.”
princess A.
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“Top-notch care and facilities with friendly staff.”
Sammy G.
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“Professional, safe, & reliable. If you are looking for the perfect caregiver-client relationship then this is who you need to call. A+++++”
Lauren A.
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“I'd efinitely recommend Always Best Care”
Steven S.
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“ABC is the best! Their caregivers are very professional and caring. They are CPR certified and have training.”
Sarah M.
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“Compassionate, kind and wonderful people to care for loved ones. From the moment they answer the phone you know they listen and truly care about who they serve!! Thank you wonderful folks!”
Lupe R.
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“The,Best decision that I,made choosing Always Best Care Senior Staffing to take care of my Aunt.”
Chante P.
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“Always Best Care provider of exceptional care for your loved ones. Going above and beyond to assist with care and meeting family expectations.”
Robin L.
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“Excellent patient care ! management and staff were wonderful!”
Medsouth
How does In-home Senior Care in Oil City, LA work?
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's 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 ages, 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:
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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 or Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Eating
Mobility Issues
Incontinence
Bathing
Dressing
Grooming
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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
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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 activities and hobbies while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
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 other activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress helps reduce the risks of caregiver burnout.
When it comes to non-medical home care, 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.
Advanced Healthcare Technology
Benefits of Home Care in Oil City, LA
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.
Age in Place
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.
Peace of Mind
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 senior family member is in expert hands.
Socialization
Unlike many senior care facilities 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.
Personalized Care Plan
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our care plans are 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 clients 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.
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.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, 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:
Comfort
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, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Oil City, LA, 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.
Healthy Living
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.
Independence
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 an assisted living community. 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.
Cost and Convenience
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 to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be 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 in Oil City, LA 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.
Empowers Seniors
Affordable Care Plans
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:
Veteran's Benefits
Aid and Attendance benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Long-Term Care Insurance
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.
Private Insurance
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.
Life Insurance
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.
During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.
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 Oil City,LA 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.
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 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:
An assessment of your senior loved one
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An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home
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Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs
03
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
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.
Los Angeles had oil wells pumping in its neighborhoods when Hollywood was in its infancy, and thousands of active wells still dot the city.These wells can emit toxic chemicals such as benzene and other irritants into the air, often just feet from homes, schools and parks. But now, after nearly a decade of community organizing and studies demonstrating the adverse health impacts on people living nearby, Los Angeles’ long history with urban drilling is nearing an end.In a ...
Los Angeles had oil wells pumping in its neighborhoods when Hollywood was in its infancy, and thousands of active wells still dot the city.
These wells can emit toxic chemicals such as benzene and other irritants into the air, often just feet from homes, schools and parks. But now, after nearly a decade of community organizing and studies demonstrating the adverse health impacts on people living nearby, Los Angeles’ long history with urban drilling is nearing an end.
In a unanimous vote on Jan. 24, 2023, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to ban new oil and gas extraction and phase out existing operations. It followed a similar vote by the Los Angeles City Council a month earlier. The city set a 20-year phaseout period, while the county has yet to set a timetable.
As environmental healthresearchers, we study the impacts of oil drilling on surrounding communities. Our research shows that people living near these urban oil operations suffer higher rates of asthma than average, as well as wheezing, eye irritation and sore throats. In some cases, the impact on residents’ lungs is worse than living beside a highway or being exposed to secondhand smoke every day.
Oil was abundant and flowed close to the surface. In early 20th-century California, sparse laws governed mineral extraction, and rights to oil accrued to those who could pull it out of the ground first. This ushered in a period of rampant drilling, with wells and associated machinery crisscrossing the landscape. By the mid-1920s, Los Angeles was one of the largest oil-exporting regions in the world.
Oil rigs were so pervasive across the region that the Los Angeles Times described them in 1930 as “trees in a forest.” Working-class communities were initially supportive of the industry because it promised jobs but later pushed back as their neighborhoods witnessed explosions and oil spills, along with longer-term damage to land, water and human health.
Tensions over land use, extraction rights and subsequent drops in oil prices due to overproduction eventually resulted in curbs on drilling and a long-standing practice of oil companies’ voluntary “self-regulation,” such as noise-reduction technologies. The industry began touting these voluntary approaches to deflect governmental regulation.
Today there are over 20,000 active, idle or abandoned wells spread across a county of 10 million people. About one-third of residents live less than a mile from an active well site, some right next door.
Since the 2000s, the advance of extractive technologies to access harder-to-reach deposits has led to a resurgence of oil extraction activities. As extraction in some neighborhoods has ramped up, people living in South Los Angeles and other neighborhoods in oil fields have noticed frequent odors, nosebleeds and headaches.
Closer to urban oil drilling, poorer lung function
The city of Los Angeles has no buffers or setbacks between oil extraction and homes, and approximately 75% of active oil or gas wells are located within 500 meters (1,640 feet) of “sensitive land uses,” such as homes, schools, child care facilities, parks or senior residential facilities.
Despite over a century of oil drilling in Los Angeles, until recently there was limited research into the health impacts. Working with community health workers and community-based organizations helped us gauge the impact oil wells are having on residents, particularly on its historically Black and Hispanic neighborhoods.
The first step was a door-to-door survey of 813 neighbors from 203 households near wells in Las Cienegas oil field, just south and west of downtown. We found that asthma was significantly more common among people living near South Los Angeles oil wells than among residents of Los Angeles County as a whole. Nearly half the people we spoke with, 45%, didn’t know oil wells were operating nearby, and 63% didn’t know how to contact local regulatory authorities to report odors or environmental hazards.
Next, we measured lung function of 747 long-term residents, ages 10 to 85, living near two drilling sites. Poor lung capacity, measured as the amount of air a person can exhale after taking a deep breath, and lung strength, how strongly the person can exhale, and are both predictors of health problems including respiratory disease, death from cardiovascular problems and early death in general.
We found that the closer someone lived to an active or recently idle well site, the poorer that person’s lung function, even after adjusting for such other risk factors as smoking, asthma and living near a freeway. This research demonstrates a significant relationship between living near oil wells and worsened lung health.
People living up to 1,000 meters (0.6 miles) downwind of a well site showed lower lung function on average than those living farther away and upwind. The effect on their lungs’ capacity and strength was similar to impacts of living near a freeway or, for women, being exposed to secondhand smoke.
We found evidence that oil-related contaminants, including toxic metals such as nickel and manganese, are getting into the bodies of the neighbors. This indicates contamination may be getting into the community.
People living near Los Angeles oil wells have less lung strength and capacity than average for the region, on par with living near a freeway, researchers found. The study involved 747 people living within 1,000 meters of an oil well. The chart shows how far below average each group was.
Downwind less than 200 meters
Downwind 200-1000 meters
Upwind less than 200 meters
Lung strength
Lung strength is how strongly a person can exhale. Lung capacity, shown here as the difference in forced vital capacity compared to average, is the amount of air a person can exhale after a deep breath. The average forced vital capacity for a healthy man is about 4,800 milliliters, and about 3,700 ml for a healthy woman.
When oil production at a site stopped, we observed significant reductions in such toxins as benzene, toluene and n-hexane in the air in adjacent neighborhoods. These chemicals are known irritants, carcinogens and reproductive toxins. They are also associated with dizziness, headaches, fatigue, tremors and respiratory system irritation, including difficulty breathing and, at higher levels, impaired lung function.
The city’s timeline for phasing out existing wells is set for 20 years, leaving concerns about continuing health effects during this period. We believe these neighborhoods need sustained attention to reduce the existing health effects, and the city needs a plan for a just transition and cleanup of the oil fields as the areas transition to new uses.
This updates an article originally published Feb. 3, 2022.
La Cocina moves closer to new east-side Casper location, set to open late summer
Dan Cepedahttps://oilcity.news/community/city/2023/02/07/la-cocina-moves-closer-to-new-east-side-casper-location-set-to-open-late-summer/
CASPER, Wyo. — La Cocina owners Jim and Andrea Childs can feel the decades-long connection their restaurant has earned in the Casper community. In fact, they can often see it right in the dining room.“I was in the dining room, and people are eating here still that were dating, have gotten married, had children and now have grandkids,” Jim said. “We’ve been open a long time.”La Cocina Mexican Kitchen started in the mid-’90s, when Jim and Andrea rented a tiny kitchen in a Mills bar, selli...
CASPER, Wyo. — La Cocina owners Jim and Andrea Childs can feel the decades-long connection their restaurant has earned in the Casper community. In fact, they can often see it right in the dining room.
“I was in the dining room, and people are eating here still that were dating, have gotten married, had children and now have grandkids,” Jim said. “We’ve been open a long time.”
La Cocina Mexican Kitchen started in the mid-’90s, when Jim and Andrea rented a tiny kitchen in a Mills bar, selling Mexican food based on Andrea’s family recipes. They soon moved across the street into a former BBQ before buying a North Casper building in 2001. In 2012, they moved to a former Denny’s location at 321 East E St. Now, after nearly three decades, they’re in the process of starting from the ground up with their own custom build in the growing The Compass development.
In every move since the start, Jim said they’ve essentially been putting a round peg into a square hole, dealing with a building’s existing layout and kitchen.
“We’re super excited to have a kitchen that we’ve designed,” he said. “We’ve put pen to paper to design something that’s going to flow very nicely.”
Jim describes the kitchen as a “cannon” design, where prep starts at one end and ends up straight down at the other. The kitchen would be open, facing the dining area.
“We can feel connected to the people we serve and they can be more connected to us and see the kitchen and the pride in what we do, and how we like to make people happy,” he said.
The finished building will measure out at around 3,800 square feet, which is smaller than their current building but eliminates wasted space. They’ll seat the same number of people, around 108, and be better prepared for the growing takeout and delivery demands.
“We’ll also have a patio that seats another 30 to 40, and of course a full bar,” he said.
They plan on keeping the current location open until the new one is ready, which they expect to be sometime in August. An earlier March goal was scrapped due to various weather and construction delays, but he now says the building is right on schedule.
Jim and Andrea are getting help with the business from two of their kids. Their daughter Abigail runs social media and marketing, and their son James is their kitchen manager. Jim says Abigail — who has a political science degree from the University of Wyoming — has committed to work through the transition, but might decide to head back to school at some point.
“They sky’s the limit,” he said. “I’ve never wanted our dream to be their dream.”
The new design and concept could end up as the blueprint and seed for further expansion down the road, including potentially opening La Cocina restaurants in other communities.
For the time being, though, Jim said the thrill of opening their first-ever custom-built restaurant is itself a dream come true.
Los Angeles bans new oil wells, will shut old ones down by 2042
The Los Angeles City Council has voted 12-0 to ban new oil wells within the city and to phase out all current oil wells within 20 years or less.Los Angeles may not be famous nationally for oil, as that industry is typically associated with other states, and California is thought to be an environmental leader. While the state does push forward environmental policy, there is actually a long history of oil production in Southern California, with the state at one point making up 38% of the entire US national supply of oil, largely due to ...
The Los Angeles City Council has voted 12-0 to ban new oil wells within the city and to phase out all current oil wells within 20 years or less.
Los Angeles may not be famous nationally for oil, as that industry is typically associated with other states, and California is thought to be an environmental leader. While the state does push forward environmental policy, there is actually a long history of oil production in Southern California, with the state at one point making up 38% of the entire US national supply of oil, largely due to production from these fields in LA.
But California’s oil industry has been in decline from its early dominance. As the state moves away from fossil fuels (while other states don’t), tens of thousands of wells have gone idle statewide, and the companies operating them often do not have the money to close them down properly, leaving a potential multibillion-dollar problem for the state going forward.
The oil fields in LA are often situated directly in dense areas of the city, with consequent health effects on the populations nearest to them. And importantly, these areas of the city tend to have higher concentrations of Black and brown residents, meaning the negative health effects of oil drilling are felt in a racially disproportionate manner.
Beyond the global climate and air pollution effects of burning oil, oil drilling has negative local effects on human health. It causes cancer, liver damage, immunodeficiency, neurological problems, respiratory issues, congenital disorders, and the list goes on.
LA county’s oil wells have been called the largest system of urban oil production in the country due to their proximity to dense housing. Currently, there are 26 oil and gas fields and 5,000 wells in the city, not all of which are active, and two drill sites on city-owned properties. The highest concentration of them is in the Harbor region, near the Port of Long Beach.
The push to ban these wells was largely led by local political groups like Stand Together Against Neighborhood Drilling, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, and Communities for a Better Environment. They have been working for decades to stop oil drilling in the city.
Los Angeles city’s new move not only bans new oil wells but also directs all oil companies operating in the city to plan to shut down in a maximum of 20 years. Beyond that, the city will conduct its own studies to determine whether individual companies operating in the city can recoup their investments in less than 20 years. If they can, they may be forced to shut down even sooner.
The vote was opposed by the California Independent Petroleum Association, which represents independent oil and gas producers in California and threatened to explore legal avenues to block the move. They incorrectly claimed that oil production does not have detrimental health effects, even though it does.
They also suggested that this would result in increased imports of oil into Los Angeles and, therefore, more associated pollution from oil tankers in the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach. Finally, they pointed to a 2020 study by a consulting group that claimed that the oil industry is responsible for $250 million in tax revenue for the city. This number represents about 2% of LA’s budget, or about as much as the city spends annually on public parks.
I’ve seen and driven past these oil fields many times, and they sure do contribute to a sense of blight in the city. In fact, when I went up to test drive the electric Arcimoto FUV at a nice urban park, we didn’t realize this park was right next to a massive oil field, which led to an ironic juxtaposition in the background of one of our rolling shots:
But that’s just aesthetics. The real issue here is the health of the residents. And while it will take a while for that to turn around, the earlier we start, the better.
In particular, the fact that the city will conduct independent studies to determine how long it will take companies to recoup investments is hilarious to me. I love the idea that the city will shut down wells as soon as they become profitable.
Of course, I’d rather they shut them down immediately and let the oil companies lose money, as they deserve to for harming people and lying for so long, but at least it’s one step better than letting them continue to profit for decades.
The oil companies’ objections to this are also ridiculous, as most oil industry statements are. First, they start with a lie stating that oil drilling doesn’t harm human health, as we’re used to hearing from them.
But then they turn around and claim that shutting down oil production will actually be bad for the environment because then Los Angeles will have to import more oil from dirty polluting oil tankers. So… you’re saying oil is the problem, then? Well, good point! Maybe we should shut it down then! Thank you, California Independent Petroleum Association – good suggestion!
‘It’s the Best Feeling’: La Cocina revives community Thanksgiving dinner
Dan Cepedahttps://oilcity.news/community/2021/11/09/its-the-best-feeling-la-cocina-revives-community-thanksgiving-dinner/
CASPER, Wyo. – As the youngest daughter of busy restauranteurs, Abigail Childs spent a lot of time inside the family restaurant.She has memories of being home sick from school, sleeping in the office while her parents worked. She started helping with the family business around age 12.“I grew up in this restaurant,” she said on a recent morning, sitting inside an empty La Cocina dining room before opening for the day. “It is like my second home.”The “second home” was her first hom...
CASPER, Wyo. – As the youngest daughter of busy restauranteurs, Abigail Childs spent a lot of time inside the family restaurant.
She has memories of being home sick from school, sleeping in the office while her parents worked. She started helping with the family business around age 12.
“I grew up in this restaurant,” she said on a recent morning, sitting inside an empty La Cocina dining room before opening for the day. “It is like my second home.”
The “second home” was her first home when it came to family Thanksgivings.
Her parents, Jim and Andrea Childs, opened La Cocina, which literally means “The Kitchen,” in the mid-’90s serving Mexican food right out of a small kitchen in a Mills bar.
Soon they bought an old BBQ joint across the street and established a restaurant. In 2001, they purchased a building in North Casper, which is now Little House of Burgers. They moved to their current location at 321 E. E St. in 2012.
Thankful for Casper’s support, Jim and Andrea decided to start serving free community Thanksgiving meals in 2001, the year of their North Casper move.
Abigail was a 1-year-old baby at the time, so for her, the family Thanksgiving was always spent at their restaurant.
“It just became a tradition,” she said. “After we served the guests, we’d have our own Thanksgiving feast and a lot of people would stay.”
“I just remember my mom and my brother talking to people who had no place to go,” she said. “They can come here and it’s warm and the food’s good, everyone’s so nice. It’s just the best feeling.”
For her father, Jim, childhood Thanksgivings weren’t nearly so warm.
As a kid, Jim lived in California with his mother. The two had a difficult relationship, he said.
“She sought religion, so she changed churches all the time, and she was always dragging me to singles groups.”
“For Christmas I’d come here to be with my dad and grandparents at their house, but for Thanksgiving, the start of the holiday season, I was always at some stranger’s house.”
Although Jim never experienced a happy family Thanksgiving at home, he and Andrea eventually decided their children deserved one, so they stopped serving community meals at the restaurant.
Jim says they spent the holidays at home or in Torrington with her mom’s family, where Abigail got to experience Mexican-American Thanksgivings.
The children eventually moved on, including Abigail, who finished her degree in political science at the University of Wyoming this year. While deciding on her next life step, she’s returned to the family restaurant and helps manage staff, among other things.
While she appreciated her parents’ intent with their Thanksgiving decision, she still deeply missed her childhood tradition.
It’s with her urging, and her hands-on help, that the Childs have decided to revive the community feast this year. She’s now leading the charge, in part by organizing a new base of volunteers to help on the big day.
Jim says during their first Thanksgiving he served 92 dinners. This year they plan to serve 660. It’s a traditional house-made turkey and mashed potato feast, using supplies he’s ordered from his usual rep, he says.
Jim’s excitement is impossible to hide as he describes the Thanksgiving recipes and techniques.
“It’s a Martha Stewart recipe with garlic, rosemary, butter and broth,” he says. “I use two electric knives and I cut them until I can’t hold onto that knife, then I use the other one and keep going.”
Abigail says the staff gets the day off, so she’s looking for volunteers and will take monetary donations to help cover some of the food costs.
Meals are served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., but volunteers should show up from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., she said. Windy City Delivery will also volunteer time to deliver meals as well.
Jim talks openly about his struggles with addiction over the years, as well as finally reaching sobriety.
“All that happened while running this place and working, and restaurants are stressful,” he said, “but we got through that, our family got through that.”
“So we have a lot to be thankful for.”
He’s also thankful his youngest daughter, who grew up in her parent’s restaurant and has rebooted their real family Thanksgiving tradition.
“She’s gonna change the world,” he said.
La Cocina is located at 321 East E Street. Free Thanksgiving meals will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone wanting to volunteer can call 307-439-5795.
L.A. County takes first steps to end urban oil drilling
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has taken the first steps to phase out oil production in unincorporated areas, including the Inglewood Oil Field — a move that environmental justice advocates celebrated as historic after decades of fighting.On Wednesday, the board unanimously voted to ban new oil wells and evaluate the status of existing ones while changing their zoning to “nonconforming.”The envi...
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has taken the first steps to phase out oil production in unincorporated areas, including the Inglewood Oil Field — a move that environmental justice advocates celebrated as historic after decades of fighting.
On Wednesday, the board unanimously voted to ban new oil wells and evaluate the status of existing ones while changing their zoning to “nonconforming.”
The environmental impacts of oil drilling in L.A. County have fallen disproportionately on people of color.
Supervisor Holly Mitchell, who wrote two of the drilling-related motions that passed Wednesday, said 73% of county residents who live near an oil well are people of color.
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According to one of Mitchell’s motions, proximity to oil drilling can increase the risk of asthma and heart disease, as well as the chance of low birthweight babies.
The Inglewood Oil Field, one of the largest contiguous urban oil fields in the country, has averaged 2.5 to 3.1 million barrels a year for the last decade, according to its website.
“In addition to this equity issue, which should concern all of us, oil and gas drilling is contributing to the climate crisis, which we are collectively bearing witness to every single day,” said Mitchell, whose district includes the Inglewood Oil Field.
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Existing oil wells cannot legally be shut down until owners recoup the costs of drilling.
Under a motion the board passed Wednesday, the county will conduct an amortization study to see whether costs have been recouped for each site.
The “nonconforming use” designation approved by the board would then allow the county to revoke drilling permits.
Environmental justice advocates celebrated the move.
“We are grateful to the L.A. [County] Board of Supervisors for this important first step toward protecting frontline communities from toxic air in their neighborhoods, and bringing about a future free from fossil fuels that we all deserve,” said Martha Dina Arguello, co-chair of STAND-LA, in a statement.
Leaders in the fossil fuel industry argued that L.A. County residents will rely more on imported oil, resulting in more tankers entering the ports and more trucks on highways.
Oil production in unincorporated parts of the county totaled 2.4 million barrels in 2019, according to the California Independent Petroleum Assn.
“Los Angeles residents consume nearly a half million barrels of oil every single day,” Rock Zierman, chief executive of the petroleum association, said in a statement. “Why any supervisor would want to get that oil from supertankers from Saudi Arabia and Iraq into L.A.’s crowded ports instead of from California workers is a mystery.”
One of the motions approved Wednesday requires the county to develop a plan for cleaning up idle oil wells, which number more than 600, in unincorporated areas.
Tim Jones has lived in Baldwin Hills Estates, close to the Inglewood Oil Field, since 1989.
He has advocated for a drilling ban for years and is frustrated that the supervisors are only taking action now, as South L.A. is being gentrified by white families.
He is skeptical that the measures passed Wednesday will force an end to drilling. He also fears that idle oil fields will create a new environmental hazard.
“The only thing that I think is worse than having that oil field in proximity of my home right now would be to have it completely abandoned,” he said. “That would cause the biggest disaster of all. Now I’ve got a multimillion-dollar home across the street from a toxic waste site.”
Times staff writer Sammy Roth contributed to this report.
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