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Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

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 St. Mary's, IN

Home Care St. Mary's, 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, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Bloody Bridge 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 St. Mary's, IN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care St. Mary's, IN

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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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TESTIMONIALS

“best people at there”

Shelly L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Great staff!! Caring people!”

Lissa W.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I think it’s one of the best companies there’s always someone ready and willing to go help people with great attitudes! Anyone that wants to live at home but needs a little extra help should definitely get someone from this company at your home to help out!”

Brandi S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Working for Always Best Care has been very rewarding for me to help others in need. Whatever my questions may be or any help I need as a health care provider for my client they have always came through with help.”

Diana W.
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“Very compassionate caregivers!”

Kendall A.
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“Great staff. Well trained and kind people.”

Amanda N.
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“The Beache’s Family are great people and I would trust my mom’s well- bean in their hands”

Isabella G.
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“Natalia has experience taking care of people with Alzheimer and I would be very trust my dad’s safety if they taking care of him.”

Eugene K.
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“They offer a wide range of services with professional, organized individuals willing to help care for members of your family.”

Nathan E.
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“Exceptional staff and very caring. I know my loved ones are taken care of which gives me a peace of mind. Definitely recommend!”

Robin
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TESTIMONIALS

“Mr. and Mrs. Beach are the owners of this location, and they are some of the most caring and dedicated people I have ever met. They truly want to help people get the best care for their loved ones. My grandmother would have loved to have care like this.”

Thomas H.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in St. Mary's, IN?

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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 St. Mary's, IN

Types of Elderly Care in St. Mary's, IN

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 St. Mary's, IN
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 St. Mary's, IN
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 Memorial 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 St. Mary's, IN
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 Locals Dockside or visit Memorial Park, 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 St. Mary's, IN

Benefits of Home Care in St. Mary's, IN

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 St. Mary's, IN, 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 St. Mary's, IN

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 IN'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 St. Mary's, IN

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 St. Mary's, IN 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 St. Mary's, IN

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 St. Mary's, IN

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:

  • Otterbein St Marys SeniorLife Community
  • Grande Lake Healthcare Center
  • Heritage At St Mary's Assisted
  • Vancrest of St Marys
  • Silver Creek Terrace
  • Magnolia Manor of St Marys
Home Care St. Mary's, IN

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 St. Mary's, IN

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 St. Mary's, IN 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 St. Mary's, IN

Latest News in St. Mary's, IN

Lights Out: Campbell, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s fly over Country Day, 49-0

BEVERLY HILLS – With both teams absent their starting quarterbacks, Friday’s contest between Detroit Country Day and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s could have been a battle of fractured offenses.But as it was last season when they won the D2 state title, the top-ranked Eaglets had a capable backup — and again, one with good bloodlines — waiting in the wings.Freshman Case Campbell, starting in place of junior Jabin Gonzales, tossed six touchdowns despite not playing a lick of the second half. Though by the...

BEVERLY HILLS – With both teams absent their starting quarterbacks, Friday’s contest between Detroit Country Day and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s could have been a battle of fractured offenses.

But as it was last season when they won the D2 state title, the top-ranked Eaglets had a capable backup — and again, one with good bloodlines — waiting in the wings.

Freshman Case Campbell, starting in place of junior Jabin Gonzales, tossed six touchdowns despite not playing a lick of the second half. Though by then, the Eaglets were already 49-0, and that’s the way the game ended, albeit 8:43 earlier than planned.

The game was called prematurely after a set of lights turned off at that point early in the fourth quarter. Coaches and players convened following a delay, and when it was determined that it would take an additional five minutes before they would come back on, the parties agreed to call the contest, which had already been a running-clock affair post-intermission.

Three of the scoring plays for Campbell and St. Mary’s came in the final four minutes of the first half. Following a catch by junior Brandon Adams — who had already found the end zone — that got the Eaglets inside the 10-yard line, Keith Smith’s reception made it a 35-0 game with 3:21 left in the second quarter.

Less than two minutes later, Campbell hit Lorenzo Barber about 20 yards down the field, and Barber fought through an attempted tackle by Jerry Dixon and reached across the pylon for a 43-yard touchdown, his third of the night, making it 42-0 with 1:33 on the clock.

Derrick Williams ripped off a 30-yard run to give Country Day hopes of getting on the board before intermission, but instead the Eaglets recovered a fumble on the following snap. The play after that, Campbell hooked up with Chad Willis, who scampered 56 yards on the final score of the night about 30 seconds after the prior one.

“It was awesome,” said Campbell, whose father Mark was an All-State standout at Bishop Foley, a tight end on Michigan’s 1997 National Championship team and an eight-year NFL vet. “This is my first varsity start, I’m a freshman … This was something else.

“I didn’t have any nerves really. I went out here and played Case Campbell football. That’s what it’s about. It’s a game, right? You’re supposed to have fun. But it was awesome. I really love this school and I really love this program.”

Without junior quarterback James Torain, who completed 75% of his passes for nearly 250 yards in last week’s 41-26 loss at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, the Yellowjackets (2-4) deployed Anthony Cartwright in his place. The 6-foot-5 junior playmaker, a four-star tight end prospect with offers that include Florida, Michigan and Ohio State, was effective at times with his legs, but the Eaglets’ defense tackled soundly to secure the team’s second shutout of the season.

“I expect (what Case did), we see it in practice,” St. Mary’s head coach Jermaine Gonzales said. “One thing I told him today before the game was the best thing about (him being in this situation) is you go against the best defense in the state every practice … The defense flies around. They’re a tough defense when we’re playing fast and physical and all the things I know they can do. I know the were a little down, and it’s tough when you don’t have their starting quarterback. They had to play Cartwright at quarterback, who’s normally a guy that they can get the ball to on the outside, and it limited them a bit, but he’s still a helluva player to try and defend against.”

After a 3-0 start, including a pair of blowout Catholic League wins against Toledo St. John's Jesuit and Warren De La Salle, the Eaglets were set back by a 29-14 loss at Detroit Catholic Central that had them motivated heading into Beverly Hills.

"We've been practicing hard and had a bad feeling in our system from the last game, and just had to show out today," said Barber, who scored three times altogether in the win.

While Barber called it frustrating that the Eaglets couldn't wash the taste the taste of defeat out of their mouths as quick as possible, a bye week between the loss to the Shamrocks on Sept. 19 and their date with Country Day only eased the preparation for Campbell to start in place of Jabin Gonzales (1,008 passing yards, 14 total TDs), who is dealing with a hamstring strain but will return for the team's next game.

"All that stuff helped, I think," Jermaine said. "Getting younger guys and guys who're probably not starters (time). We had multiple guys out today, not because anything major, but just getting their bodies back ready, and we were fortunate enough to not have to be forced to play any of those kids, and now they can get extra rest and ready for Toledo CC next week."

Speaking further about the play of Campbell, he added, "You just see him progressively getting better. He's gonna be a special player for us."

Country Day will seek to get closer back to .500 next week with a trip to winless Detroit U-D Jesuit.

100 Buildings: Modern meets medieval at St Mary's NS Limerick

On King’s Island, the heart of medieval Limerick, is one of the city’s earliest Modernist buildings. A national school, at the forefront of contemporary design, is weaved into the centuries’ old fabric of the city. The young architect who designed it, Andy Devane (1917-2000), gifted the insights of his mentor, America’s Frank Lloyd Wright, to the city that raised him.King’s Island takes its name from King John’s Castle and contains other medieval gems such as St Mary’s Cathedral and the remain...

On King’s Island, the heart of medieval Limerick, is one of the city’s earliest Modernist buildings. A national school, at the forefront of contemporary design, is weaved into the centuries’ old fabric of the city. The young architect who designed it, Andy Devane (1917-2000), gifted the insights of his mentor, America’s Frank Lloyd Wright, to the city that raised him.

King’s Island takes its name from King John’s Castle and contains other medieval gems such as St Mary’s Cathedral and the remains of several friaries. St Mary’s national school on Bishop Street was built c.1870, originally part of St Mary’s Convent, founded by the Sisters of Mercy. The demands on the school increased after the city slum clearances started in 1932 in parts of Irishtown. This saw the bizarre construction of Corporation housing in the courtyard of King John’s Castle and, three years later, the Corporation estate St Mary’s Park on the north end of King’s Island, built by G&T Crampton.

The Mercy Order commissioned Devane (1917 – 2000) of Robinson Keeffe and Devane Architects (today RKD Architects) in 1949 to carry out additions and an extension to the nineteenth century school (1). The building contractor was Murphy Bros. Ltd, from Cork. Devane had just returned from a two-year scholarship studying under the great US Architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867 – 1959) at Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona. He returned to Ireland in 1948, enthusiastic to bring Wright’s 'Usonian’ (his word for US-derived) style of architecture to RKD and to use as a template for post-war construction in Ireland. As Peter Carroll, Head of Architecture, University of Limerick points out, ‘This school represents one of the first design commissions Devane received on returning to practice in Ireland in 1948’.

Devane grew up in Newtown Pery, at the heart of Limerick’s Georgian grid on the other side of the river from Englishtown. One can only wonder what Devane made of the challenge of infilling a new generation of structures into the narrow medieval streets rather than designing a stand-alone building. The nineteenth-century national school is a seven-bay, two-storey building with limestone walls and polychrome brick dressing and a pitched slate roof. It was originally a girls’ school but today is co-educational with c.140 pupils.

Devane used fair-faced blockwork in a stack bond, broken up by large windows topped with elegant concrete over-sailing eaves and canopies. The façade cranks with the curve of the narrow, medieval Bishop Street. His new school entrance confidently terminates a street, in the warren of streets on the island. The economic use of materials continues inside with terrazzo on the stairs and toilet plazas. Circular roof lights in the corridors bounce natural light across these polished surfaces.

Concrete shelters lined with seating divide the school yards to protect against the rain. These are filled with cross-ribbed glass bricks, again in a stack bond bringing more light to these spaces. Wright, too, often used glass brick refraction to bring light into previously unlighteable spaces. Devane thought of every detail, such as the raised concrete plant beds and raised drain covers to create seats at child-level. There is a striking similarity between the draughting studio of Taliesin West and the auditorium of St Mary's with its exterior 'knuckles’ and soaring ceiling line. As a true disciple of Wright, Devane wanted to showcase concrete as the perfect building material.

On the 2 September 1951, the new St Mary’s national school was opened by the Minister for Education, Seán Moylan, the Bishop of Limerick Dr P. O’Neill and Mayor of Limerick Stephen Coughlan (2). The final cost of the building work came to £90,000.

Peter Carroll eloquently sums up the success of Devane's additions to St Mary’s National School: ‘This is a school that continues to stand the test of time. Like an integral part of a city’s fabric, you do not notice it. Its architecture is silent. Yet it delights on so many levels in its lively conversation with Limerick City and beyond’.

Thanks to Peter Carroll for sharing his images, his research and his time.

[1] Tender invited for carrying out the building work went out in 1948 as appeared in the Irish Builder No.90, 13 November 1949, p.934.

[2] The Irish Examiner 4 September 1951

Football roundup: Schmidt gets St. Marys past Van Wert

St. Marys 42, Van Wert 35ST MARYS — Caleb Schmidt – 42 rushes, 315 yards, 6 TDVAN WERT — Zach Crummey – 27/40, 461 yards, 4 TD, INT Micah Cowan – 17 catches, 330 yards, TD Keaten Welch – 4 catches, 66 yards, 3 TDColumbus Grove 34, Fort Loramie 0COLUMBUS GROVE — Landon Best – 15/25 219 yds, 2 TDs Gavin Baxter – 4 receptions, 86 yds, 2 TDs Trevon Baxter – 7 receptions, 84 yards Trenton Wynkoop – 11 carries, 37 yds, 2 ...

St. Marys 42, Van Wert 35

ST MARYS — Caleb Schmidt – 42 rushes, 315 yards, 6 TD

VAN WERT — Zach Crummey – 27/40, 461 yards, 4 TD, INT Micah Cowan – 17 catches, 330 yards, TD Keaten Welch – 4 catches, 66 yards, 3 TD

Columbus Grove 34, Fort Loramie 0

COLUMBUS GROVE — Landon Best – 15/25 219 yds, 2 TDs Gavin Baxter – 4 receptions, 86 yds, 2 TDs Trevon Baxter – 7 receptions, 84 yards Trenton Wynkoop – 11 carries, 37 yds, 2 TDs

FORT LORAMIE — Ray Hoying – 20 carries, 75 yards

Elida 45, Celina 21

ELIDA — Jonan Snyder – 17/29 296 yds, 3 TDs, 2 INTs; 2 rushing TDs Dalton Shaffer – 5 receptions, 82 yards, TD Elisha Reddick – 2 receptions, 32 yds, TD

CELINA — Parker Wynk – 12/35 183 yds, 2 TDs Parker Bertke – 17 carries, 77 yds, TD Trey Anderson – 3 receptions, 79 yds, TD Brodee Arnold-Schulte – 4 receptions, 43 yds, TD

Coldwater 42, Delphos St. John’s 7

COLDWATER — Karsyn Homan – 10/19, 232 yards, 4 TD; 9 rushes, 137 yards, TD Cadin Obringer – 2 rushes, 47 yards, TD; 2 catches, 56 yards, TD John Pohlman – 65-yard TD catch Caleb Schroer – 3 catches, 41 yards, 2 TD

DELPHOS ST. JOHN’S — Christian Young – 9/14, 79 yards, TD Riley Mueller – 13 rushes, 57 yards Austin Shafer – 4 catches, 39 yards, TD

Marion Local 41, Fort Recovery 7

MARION LOCAL — Brennan Hess – 7/12 130 yds, 2 TDs Kamden Eifert – 9 carries, 104 yds, 3 TDs Brayden Mescher – 4 receptions, 89 yds, TD Cale Nagel – 2 receptions, 27 yds, TD; 26-yd rushing TD

FORT RECOVERY — Reece Wendel – 13 carries, 87 yds, TD

Ada 51, Riverdale 10

ADA — Blake Zoldaz – 5/6 106 yds, 2 TDs; 11 carries, 77 yds Kolton Dystert – 10 carries, 58 yds, TD Kayleb Hickman – 2 receptions, 58 yds, 2 TDs

Leipsic 32, McComb 14

LEIPSIC — Marc Kirkendall – 14/22 329 yds, 4 TDs Aaron Hazelton – 16 carries, 79 yds, TD; 3 receptions, 62 yds, TD Marquis Williams – 3 receptions, 165 yards, 2 TDs Avery Paris – 5 receptions, 71 yds

Perry 57, Cory-Rawson 14

PERRY — Cody Vanbuskirk – 5/8, 91 yards, 2 TD Wyatt Taviano – 31 rushes, 268 yards, 4 TD

Toledo Christian 21, Upper Scioto Valley 0

UPPER SCIOTO VALLEY — Ryan Roberts – 14 carries, 72 yards.

Liberty-Benton 42, Pandora-Gilboa 9

Waynesfield-Goshen 32, Elgin 30

Ridgemont 34, Hardin Northern 6

Defiance 43, Kenton 42

Minster 27, New Bremen 16

St. Henry 56, Parkway 7

Anna 35, Versailles 7

LCC 41, Delphos Jefferson 7

Bath 35, Ottawa-Glandorf 17

Allen East 56, Spencerville 6

Shawsheen secures comeback victory over St. Mary’s

LYNN – Even when it feels like things just aren’t going one’s way, one should never give up on the task at hand.The life lesson has been a staple for Shawsheen Tech’s football team in tough games before, and the Rams never faltered Friday night.Senior quarterback Adam Caruso connected with sophomore Nathan Smith for a game-clinching 44-yard touchdown pass in the waning moments, as the Rams (5-0) continued their historic winning streak (19 in a row) with a stunning 14-7 victory over St. Mary’s at Ma...

LYNN – Even when it feels like things just aren’t going one’s way, one should never give up on the task at hand.

The life lesson has been a staple for Shawsheen Tech’s football team in tough games before, and the Rams never faltered Friday night.

Senior quarterback Adam Caruso connected with sophomore Nathan Smith for a game-clinching 44-yard touchdown pass in the waning moments, as the Rams (5-0) continued their historic winning streak (19 in a row) with a stunning 14-7 victory over St. Mary’s at Manning Field.

“Our kids just fought the whole game,” said Shawsheen coach Al Costabile. “Time and time again, we were frustrated. It was a frustrating, rock-fight of a game. Our defense, time and time came up in the red zone. The offense found a way to make a big play. This is something that can really catapult us for the remainder of the season and into our league schedule.”

St. Mary’s (2-3) was attempting to regain momentum after dealing with injuries early on in the season. Meanwhile, Shawsheen was riding in hot, averaging nearly 31 points per game with two consecutive shutout victories.

Playing on their home turf, the Spartans threw the game’s first punch. With his team running on seven of its first eight plays, senior quarterback Yaniel Belliard slipped loose off of a keeper, taking off for a 32-yard touchdown rush to provide St. Mary’s a 7-0 lead 5:34 into play.

The score would hold until early in the second quarter, when Shawsheen responded with a long drive. Sophomore Cameron Banda shed a tackle, then jogged three yards into the end zone for a score. The ensuing extra point attempt was blocked, however, and the Rams were still trailing 7-6 with 8:38 remaining in the half.

Every single time it felt like the Rams had something going offensively in the second half, they were soon stymied by the Spartans’ defense. The trend carried on into the final frame, with St. Mary’s still clinging to a one-point edge. At that point, it appeared Shawsheen’s reign of success might be in jeopardy.

With 4:40 to play, the Rams were given one final gasp, as they set up at their own 33-yard line, needing a miraculous drive to keep hopes alive. Thanks to some untimely penalties, they were pushed back multiple times.

With just under two minutes remaining, Caruso hit Smith for a 15-yard gain, which was ruled a first down after further discussion from the referees.

Costabile called a timeout, looking to gather his troops with 1:42 left on the clock, his team at the St. Mary’s 44.

On the next sequence, Caruso scrambled to his right, looking to make a play. Then, he spotted Smith again, sprinting down the sideline. The senior fired up a prayer.

“I felt pressure on my left side, so I had to roll out to the right,” Caruso said. “Smitty was on an audible because they were pressed up on him. So he ran a streak down the field. I saw him break off the defender, and I just threw it up.”

Smith proceeded to haul in the pass inside the red zone, then spun away from two would-be tacklers before sprinting home for the go-ahead score, stunning the crowd. Jake Banda added a two-point conversion rush, and the Rams were up 14-7 with 1:31 to go.

“I beat the defender, caught the ball,” said Smith. “Saw another kid coming. I knew I had to fight for that extra yardage, and get into that end zone.

The game wasn’t over just yet, but the Rams finished the job. On the ensuing kickoff, they forced a fumble, and recovered to seal the deal.

Caruso finished 6-for-10 passing with 128 yards to go with his game-winning touchdown toss to Smith. J. Banda added 169 yards rushing on 23 carries.

Since the end of 2023, Shawsheen has not lost a game.

“It feels great,” Costabile said. “I’m so proud of these guys. I’m so proud of the way they fought. St. Mary’s gave us all we could handle, and we were up for the challenge. I couldn’t be more proud of a group of guys.”

Xavier flag football takes down St. Mary's to remain undefeated

One of the biggest adjustments that first-year coach Matt Reum made after settling into his new role as coach of the Phoenix Xavier Prep flag football team was to deploy the versatility of his roster. Senior defensive back Imani Campbell was one of those players, with Reum giving her much more time at wide receiver than previously.Five games into the season, that switch has proven a catalyst for the Gators' turnaround. Campbell was a driving force in a 47-0 win over Phoenix St. Mary’s on Oct. 2. She scored on touchdowns of 70, 5...

One of the biggest adjustments that first-year coach Matt Reum made after settling into his new role as coach of the Phoenix Xavier Prep flag football team was to deploy the versatility of his roster. Senior defensive back Imani Campbell was one of those players, with Reum giving her much more time at wide receiver than previously.

Five games into the season, that switch has proven a catalyst for the Gators' turnaround. Campbell was a driving force in a 47-0 win over Phoenix St. Mary’s on Oct. 2. She scored on touchdowns of 70, 50 and 20 yards, while also collecting three interceptions on defense.

“We’ve been utilizing some players on both sides of the ball and leveraging their athleticism,” Reum said. “That’s been a huge plus for us. It really shows up on the field, on the scoreboard. And it shows up in the way these girls come out and play and lift each other up.”

Xavier moves to 5-0 on the season while St. Mary’s, which went undefeated and won the 4A championship last year, drops to 0-4.

Campbell got the game started with an interception on the second play from scrimmage, which led to a touchdown from freshman wide receiver Evie Maas.

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“She’s a phenomenal athlete,” Reum said. “She is an absolute dog on offense and on defense. She stays locked in. She does not let any mistakes that she makes get to her or limit her ability to come back on the very next play and make a huge difference. We saw that tonight. She impacts the game every play she’s on the field.”

Xavier also scored on two pick-sixes, from senior safeties Ava Portillo and Cooper Hidalgo. Hidalgo kicked a field goal as well and senior rusher Isa Ady had a sack-safety. For the game, Ady had three sacks to add to her state-leading 15 entering the game.

Senior quarterback Ana Matuz, in her first season at the position, tossed four touchdowns after her record-breaking performance last week against Mesa Westwood. Matuz broke the state record with 10 passing touchdowns in a single game.

It’s early on, but Xavier is shaping up to be the dark horse 6A contender for the 2025 season. That may seem odd for a school that has more state titles than any other high school in the United States, but the Gators finished 5-7 last season and missed the playoffs.

Reum, the former defensive coordinator at Chandler Valley Christian, has quickly made his imprint at Xavier.

“He changed the whole thing,” Matuz said. “It’s a different team, you can tell. He really made this team for the better. I love coach Matt.”

Alongside Reum, assistant coach Marino Lee has made a big impact, with the development of Matuz in his offensive system.

At 5-0, the Gators have already matched last season’s win total. The team is gaining confidence. The next test is the Fiesta Bowl Copper State Invitational, an in-season tournament that will allow Xavier to measure itself and its progress against some of the state’s best. Then it’s time for region play.

“We’re on our way,” Reum said. “We’re certainly not the complete team that we have the capacity to be. We’re not where we want to be. We’re not where we can be just because of the number of opportunities that we have had a chance to take advantage of that we haven’t.”

For St. Mary’s, it’s another tough loss in what has been a hard season following last year’s magical undefeated run. There were seven seniors on that roster.

Coach Chris Horn departed, making the transition even tougher for the Knights. St. Mary’s has played one of the state’s hardest early-season schedules, with games against Prescott, Queen Creek Crismon and Mesa Eastmark. Looking ahead, the schedule lightens up.

“I told the girls, that part of our schedule is over with,” coach Michael Espinoza said. “Now we get into it. We’re Knights. We’re not going to give up regardless of who we play.”

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Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at [email protected] or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:.

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