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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 Modesto, CA

Home Care Modesto, CA

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 Modesto Arch 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 Modesto, CA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Modesto, CA

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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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“Highly Experienced #Caregivers provide everything in levels one and two, plus knowledgeable assistance to help seniors who are suffering from a chronic illness, who are bed-bound, and those who are on hospice.”

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“In retirement years, many #elders start to feel lonely and depressed with the lack of a social life. Hire #caregivers from Always Best Care of Fresno to reduce your senior’s loneliness and ensure their care.”

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“Worrying about senior’s care and #health in Assisted Living is common. Well, you can stop fretting now. Contact Always Best Care of #Fresno and find the best Assisted Living communities near you.”

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What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Modesto, CA?

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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 Modesto, CA

Types of Elderly Care in Modesto, CA

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 Modesto, CA
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 Modesto, CA
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 Moose 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 Modesto, CA
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 Dewz Restaurant or visit McHenry Mansion Visitors Center, 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 Modesto, CA

Benefits of Home Care in Modesto, CA

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 Modesto, CA, 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 Modesto, CA

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 CA'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 Modesto, CA

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 Modesto, CA 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 Modesto, CA

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 Modesto, CA

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:

  • Orangeburg Memory Care
  • Sisters Assisted Living
  • The Gardens of Modesto
  • Dale Commons
  • El Rio Memory Care Community
  • Bethel Retirement Community
Home Care Modesto, CA

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 Modesto, CA

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 Modesto, CA 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 Modesto, CA

Latest News in Modesto, CA

Bryson DeChambeau reveals major investment in California hometown after $125M LIV Golf move

Bryson DeChambeau has revealed that he has been able to buy 200 acres of land as part of a project to expand his hometown in California after signing a lucrative deal with LIV Golf.The American superstar, who is a two-time U.S. Open winner, became the latest high-profile player to pen an agreement with bre...

Bryson DeChambeau has revealed that he has been able to buy 200 acres of land as part of a project to expand his hometown in California after signing a lucrative deal with LIV Golf.

The American superstar, who is a two-time U.S. Open winner, became the latest high-profile player to pen an agreement with breakaway circuit in 2022. Signing a four-year $125 million contract, he plies his trade in the Saudi Arabian league alongside household names such as Brooks Koepka , Dustin Johnson , Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm .

The 31-year-old has now opened up on his decision to give something back to the community where he grew up amid plans for his town of Modesto, California to expand by 30 percent. During an eye-opening exchange on "The Joe Pomp Show", DeChambeau updated fans on the blueprint behind the "mega project".

READ MORE: LIV Golf beats PGA Tour at it's own game with latest signing weeks before 2025 season

READ MORE: Brooks Koepka’s brother set for shock return 15 months after being dumped from LIV Golf

The man nicknamed "The Scientist" divulged that the scheme has been underway for a couple of years now, with plans in place for building work to take place once permits are obtained. "We are doing a mega project. It’s been in the works for a couple of years now, and we’re at the place where we are getting permits to build.

"People know about it now. We have acquired massive amounts of land in my hometown, and it’s a three-phase process to build a whole community and increase the size of where I grew up by 30%. It’s a full-scale plan, fully thought out. It’s not only to bring golfers to the game but also to bring people to the central valley."

Alongside his aforementioned hopes that the project will enable new golfing talent to emerge in the area, DeChambeau is also determined to see people flock to his hometown in the hope of a better life. He continued: "You build a community around a multisport complex center.

"It’s going to take 12-15 months to get the permits approved for the full scope. It’s over 200 acres of land what we have right now. It’s going to be a multisports complex center — driving range, golf course, residential community center, the whole thing."

Speaking about the role his earnings from LIV have had in the delivery of the project to date, he added: "A lot of the reason why I have been able to do this is because of LIV. They gave me the economic viability to do these things and the platform to be able to do it, growing on YouTube,"

Previously, DeChambeau spoke openly about having zero regrets about joining the breakaway league in the Gulf State in a defiant rebuttal to his critics. He told Fox News Digital : "There’s always risk associated to that. But, from my perspective, it was focused on entertainment.

"We can talk about politics. That’s a whole different conversation, something that I was not trying to do on my YouTube channel. It was solely on providing great entertainment."

How gas prices have changed in Modesto in the last week

Maridav // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Modesto in the last week After several weeks of declining fuel prices in the latter part of 2024, costs at the pump are beginning to rise in the new year, averaging $3.10, around an 8-cent increase compared to a month ago. States in the South and Midwest are seeing the lowest average gas prices in the U.S., with prices dropping as low as $2.67 in Mississippi."While the national average dipped below $3 per gallon for a few days in recent weeks, those days are l...

Maridav // Shutterstock

How gas prices have changed in Modesto in the last week

After several weeks of declining fuel prices in the latter part of 2024, costs at the pump are beginning to rise in the new year, averaging $3.10, around an 8-cent increase compared to a month ago. States in the South and Midwest are seeing the lowest average gas prices in the U.S., with prices dropping as low as $2.67 in Mississippi.

"While the national average dipped below $3 per gallon for a few days in recent weeks, those days are likely behind us," GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan said in a recent statement. De Haan noted that oil prices have gone up to $74 per barrel, the highest in months.

Increased demand due to shifting economic conditions in China combined with U.S. sanctions against Russia and Iran are contributing to higher oil prices, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump is angling to reverse an offshore oil and gas drilling ban along U.S. coastlines, a policy recently implemented by the Biden administration, as soon as he takes office in late January.

Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in Modesto, CA metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of January 16.

Modesto by the numbers- Gas current price: $4.17--- California average: $4.42- Week change: +$0.05 (+1.2%)- Year change: -$0.14 (-3.2%)- Historical expensive gas price: $6.31 (6/15/22)

- Diesel current price: $4.89- Week change: +$0.04 (+0.9%)- Year change: -$0.30 (-5.7%)- Historical expensive diesel price: $6.98 (6/22/22)

Metros with the most expensive gas#1. Lihue (Kauai), HI: $5.17#2. San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, CA: $4.66#3. Hilo, HI: $4.65

Metros with the least expensive gas#1. Lubbock, TX: $2.52#2. Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, TX: $2.59#3. Tyler, TX: $2.60

This story features writing by Tim Bruns and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 371 metros.

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What did Modesto residents Google in 2024? See top searches for music, sports and more

What did Modesto-area residents Google in 2024?The popular search engine recently released its Year in Search results for the year, including the top-searched person, actor, movie and television show in the United States for 2024.Google also singled out trending topics for local markets, including the area that includes ...

What did Modesto-area residents Google in 2024?

The popular search engine recently released its Year in Search results for the year, including the top-searched person, actor, movie and television show in the United States for 2024.

Google also singled out trending topics for local markets, including the area that includes Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto.

One thing’s for sure: Modesto fell in love with Kendrick Lamar’s hit song “Not Like Us.”

According to Google Trends, the chart-topping diss track aimed at Canadian rapper Drake was the No. 1 searched song in the Modesto area in 2024, as well as California overall.

In the Golden State, Los Angeles had the most searches for Lamar’s chart-topping diss track aimed at rapper Drake.

These were some of the other local Google trends in 2024:

According to Google’s Local Year in Search data, Modesto-area residents had voting in mind in 2024.

Three of the most popular “near me” searches in the region were related to elections.

These were the top five “near me” searches for the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto area in 2024:

The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris provided a chance for sports fans across the globe to root for their favorite athletes.

Gymnast Simone Biles, who earned three gold medals at the Summer Olympics, was the most popular Olympian among Modesto-area residents, based on local Google searches.

According to Google, these were the Olympic athletes Modesto-area residents searched for most in 2024:

Which sporting event was the most sought-out in Modesto in 2024?

It wasn’t a Modesto Nuts baseball game or the San Francisco 49ers’ Super Bowl appearance.

Instead, former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson’s match against social media influencer Jake Paul took the top spot.

These were the top five trending “versus” searches of the year in the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto area:

Modesto-area residents couldn’t get enough of Kendrick Lamar’s music this year.

“Not Like Us” took the top spot on Google’s list of the most searched-for songs in the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto area, while another Lamar song, “Meet the Grahams,” came in third place.

According to Google, these were the top five trending song searches of the year:

According to Google, there were similarities between the Modesto area’s top searches in 2024 and those across the United States — and some noticeable differences.

President-elect Donald Trump was the No. 1 searched person in the nation, according to Google’s Year in Search report.

R&B singer Usher, who headlined the Super Bowl half-time show in February, was the No. 1 trending musician in the nation in 2024.

“Not Like Us” was the top searched song in the United States for the year, Google said, and the “Sweat” tour featuring Charli XCX and Troye Sivan was the music tour with the most searches.

Mike Tyson was the No. 1 trending athlete in the country in 2024.

The top trending sports team was the New York Yankees.

Here are some of the other things U.S. residents were searching for in 2024, according to Google Trends:

What do you want to know about life in Modesto? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email [email protected].

This story was originally published December 31, 2024 at 8:31 AM.

Marcus D. Smith

The Sacramento Bee

916-321-1755

Marcus D. Smith is The Sacramento Bee’s Elk Grove reporter. He joined The Bee in 2020, covering Black communities for the Equity Lab. Prior to The Bee, Smith covered high school sports at the Citrus Heights Sentinel. He received his journalism degree from Texas Southern University.

Did you know President Jimmy Carter came to Modesto? Here’s what The Bee’s archives reveal

The following is based on recent interviews and coverage of President Jimmy Carter’s visit to Modesto from The Bee’s archives.On a hot 4th of July weekend in 1980, hundreds of people gathered on the lawn of a suburban home in Modesto to catch a glimpse of President Jimmy Carter.His visit was absolutely no surprise to anyone that lived near Wycliffe Drive. The United States Secret Service had been combing and prepping the area for weeks — searching homeowners’ garages for anything suspicious....

The following is based on recent interviews and coverage of President Jimmy Carter’s visit to Modesto from The Bee’s archives.

On a hot 4th of July weekend in 1980, hundreds of people gathered on the lawn of a suburban home in Modesto to catch a glimpse of President Jimmy Carter.

His visit was absolutely no surprise to anyone that lived near Wycliffe Drive. The United States Secret Service had been combing and prepping the area for weeks — searching homeowners’ garages for anything suspicious.

The “mini-visit” to Modesto was part of Carter’s ultimately unsuccessful reelection campaign against California native and former-Governor Ronald Reagan.

The lawn everyone was standing on in anticipation belonged to homeowner Frank Damrell Jr. — a local lawyer and Democratic party strategist with political connections that went all the way up to the White House. Damrell would later serve as a Bill Clinton-appointed federal judge in California’s Eastern District.

“I was thrilled, I was excited.... I was honored,” said Damrell. “It was a pretty big deal. It was the Fourth of July, President Carter was going to be present, his wife was there, his children were there. It was very very important.”

Asked why his Wycliffe Drive home was selected as the location for the omelet brunch fundraiser, Damrell said the entire Central Valley visit was organized by then U.S. Rep. Tony Coelho. He said the visit to his home was not the first time he’d met Carter — having visited the White House in the past.

Carter had just held a town hall at Merced College before he was helicoptered to Sipherd Elementary School. Carter said as a farmer, “You don’t now how it makes me feel to fly over this beautiful country.” From there he was taken to the Damrell home via motorcade.

Greeting Carter were a number of the area’s dignitaries — Gary Condit, former Governor Pat Brown (father of former Governor Jerry Brown who was also a frequent guest at the Damrell home), Bob Gallo and Marie Gallo. Marie wasDamrell Jr.’s sister. Then-Modesto Mayor Peggy Mensinger and several other city, county and Democratic Party officials were also in attendance.

The brunch was prepared by local volunteers, which included the Damrell family — who also personally prepared the home for the president’s arrival. Frank Damrell lll, who was 18-years-old at the time, said it was remarkable experience and that Carter had an unforgettable charm.

Damrell lll said high-school friend Roger Miller was able to meet the president and introduce himself three times — once at Sipherd, another when Carter showed up to the Damrell home and another when he left. On their third meeting, Carter remarked with a chuckle “Roger, for the third time, great to speak with you today.”

“I just thought that was hilarious, Carter meeting with members of [the Gallo Family] and different people of note in our community, but he remembers Roger’s name.... I just thought that was pretty cool.”

Everything at the brunch, which was sold at $500 a plate, had a local touch. The eggs came from Rebecca Farms in Ripon, the fruit was grown locally and pastry desserts came from the kitchen of Modestan Joann Nunes.

Carter’s comments at the brunch were used as an opportunity to speak on immigration — particularly those coming to the Central Valley escaping communism. The Soviet Union’s recent invasion of Afghanistan was making headlines at the time and was an issue that surrounded the election.

“Hundreds of thousands of people are trying to escape communism. Nine hundred thousand people are trying to escape Soviet communism from Afghanistan,” Carter said. “Our country is so attractive to them. It is like the promised land. In our nation, we have people that relate to every other country on earth, not just because they’re interested but because of blood kinship.”

Carter, the longest living former president, whose term was marred by the Iran hostage crisis and rampant inflation but went on to build a humanitarian legacy that was recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize, died Sunday. He was 100.

This story was originally published December 31, 2024 at 4:00 PM.

The Modesto Bee

(209) 287-9972

Trevor Morgan covers accountability and enterprise stories for The Modesto Bee. He earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism at California State University, Northridge. Before coming to Modesto, he covered education and government in Los Angeles County.

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