It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Little Rapids Fur Post Historical Marker gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Chaska, MN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care comes in to help my”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Firemen's Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local India Bar & Grill or visit Chaska Historical Society, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Chaska, MN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Chaska, MN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Chaska, MN 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.
New Prague’s girls’ swimming team enjoyed a solid week of competition in its past two meets, with team wins and strong performances against Mankato West and Chaska.After Tuesday’s meet against TCU in Montgomery, the Trojans will be back in the water tonight, Thursday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m., against Chanhassen at Pioneer Ridge Middle School in Chaska. Tuesday, Sept. 30, 6 p.m., NP will host Benilde-St. Margaret’s at the New Prague Aquatic Center.New Prague 102, Mankato West 83The Trojan...
New Prague’s girls’ swimming team enjoyed a solid week of competition in its past two meets, with team wins and strong performances against Mankato West and Chaska.
After Tuesday’s meet against TCU in Montgomery, the Trojans will be back in the water tonight, Thursday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m., against Chanhassen at Pioneer Ridge Middle School in Chaska. Tuesday, Sept. 30, 6 p.m., NP will host Benilde-St. Margaret’s at the New Prague Aquatic Center.
New Prague 102, Mankato West 83
The Trojans opened the Sept. 16 meet in New Prague with a win in the 200-yard medley relay and never looked back.
The quartet of Zoe Junker, Aspen Schieffer, Ava Koloc and Taylor Bassett won in 1:58.69.
Koloc finished second in the 200-yard freestyle in 2:14.17. Teammate Devyn Yender took third in 2:21.97.
In the 200-yard individual medley, Schieffer smoked the field, winning in 2:17.33 – 15-plus seconds ahead of West’s top entry. NP’s Junker finished third in 2:40.92 and Nicole Serie finished fourth in 2:51.19.
Bassett won the 50-yard freestyle in 25.06 seconds. Brooklyn Sticha finished third for the Trojans in 28.88 seconds. Isla Jung took fifth for NP in 31.58 seconds.
The Trojans took the top three spots in diving. Karly Ophus (171.50 points), Maddyn Anderson (161.30) and Ava Otteson (154.60) finished well ahead of Mankato West’s top diver.
NP’s Koloc (1:09.21) finished second in the 100-yard butterfly. Molly Sticha took third in 1:35.49.
Bassett finished second in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 58.84 seconds, just behind the winning time of 54.55 seconds. Junker took third in 1:01.17.
The Trojans took secondand third-place points in the...
To see more on this story pick up the September 25, 2025 print edition of The New Prague Times.
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.?GE Designs Will Host the 4th Annual GE Fam Fest from September 10 – 13. The main event is a big tent sale on Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.(Chaska, MN) – Summer is a time of year when festivals of all kinds happen nearly every day in Minnesota. For those who are into quilt making, an entire week of fun and celebration is planned in Chaska.GE FamFest 2025 will be held both inside and outside the GE Designs headqua...
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
(Chaska, MN) – Summer is a time of year when festivals of all kinds happen nearly every day in Minnesota. For those who are into quilt making, an entire week of fun and celebration is planned in Chaska.
GE FamFest 2025 will be held both inside and outside the GE Designs headquarters building from September 10 to 13, 2025. GE Designs is a leading quilting brand and creative studio owned and operated by Gudrun Erla. The company is located at 125 Columbia Court North, Chaska, MN 55318.
“Since we are mostly online, but also have a brick-and-mortar location, we came up with the idea for the festival a few years ago to bring together our local, national and international customers. This event has grown from a one-day tent sale into what it is today,” said Atli Einarsson, 32, GE Designs’ Chief Operating Officer.
GE FamFest 2025 will be a four-day festival featuring classes, demonstrations, a tent sale and a few surprises. Most of the events are ticketed, but the tent sale on Saturday, September 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is free. Discounted merchandise will be available for purchase.
GE FamFest 2025 officially kicked off on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, with a full day of quilting classes offered by GE Designs founder Gudrun Erla.
Planned for Thursday, September 11, 2025, is a half-day of classes. Between 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., students will be able to participate in a fun, fast-paced activity led by Gudrun Erla. The class will be tailored in such as way that both beginners and expert quilters can participate. Advance sign-up is required.
Also on Thursday, between 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., Gudrun’s husband, Kirk Johnson, who is known as Mr. HP, will be leading quilters on a tour of Prince’s Paisley Park. Johnson was the musician’s longtime drummer and producer.
“Kirk was the person who started the setup of the museum with Prince (when he was alive) and got it open with the Estate. During the tour, he is going to share personal stories of his time working with Prince,” said Gudrun, who added that the tour has been sold out pretty much since the day tickets became available.
On Friday, September 12, 2025, beginning at 10 a.m., there will be a VIP tour offered of the GE Designs warehouse. Plus, a free viewing party at Noon for Gudrun’s weekly online quilting show that is filmed at GE Designs’ Chaska headquarters.
Also planned for Friday, the GE FamFest Gala. The event goes from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and will feature a dinner, live music by Men of Motown, raffles, show & tell, demonstrations and Bingo hosted by Mr. HP. Sign-up is required and there will be limited seating.
Then on Saturday, September 13, GE FamFest wraps up with its signature event: the annual tent sale, which features discounted quilting supplies and fabric, demonstrations and exclusive product unveilings on the stage. The tent sale will be held between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., is free and anyone is welcome to attend. There will be food trucks set up in the parking lot throughout the day, and live music up on the stage.
“People who are semi-interested in quilting, semi-interested in the community aspect of a festival, and looking for something fun to do on a Saturday morning or afternoon are going to have a great time at GE FamFest. There will live music and food. We hope a lot of people will come and check us out,” said Einarsson.
GE FamFest 2025 is just one of the many events GE Designs puts on for the community each year. During the holiday season, volunteers are invited to come to the company’s headquarters and spend a day in the classroom making quilts that are donated to those in need.
GE Designs donates all the materials and tools for the project, including access to state-of-the-art sewing machines. “Our holiday project benefits the CAP Agency and the Salvation Army’s Harbor Light Center in Minneapolis,” said Gudrun, who has been donating her own personally made quilts to the latter organization for years.
For more information about GE FamFest 2025, go to Gequiltdesigns.com/collections/ge-famfest
About GE Designs
Since opening its doors in 2020, GE Designs has been selling quilting tools and supplies to quilting enthusiasts in Minnesota and around the world. The company also offers both online and in person instruction for quilters at all skill levels.
For more information about GE Designs, go to Gequiltdesigns.com
About Gudrun Erla
Gudrun Erla, 52, started making quilts when she was a teenager living in Iceland. In 2000, she started up the first online quilting shop in Iceland. It was so popular, she opened two brick-and-mortar stores there soon after.
Just three years later at the urging of a salesman from America who liked her designs, she decided to move to Minnesota to grow her career as a designer. Soon, she was traveling around the world lecturing and teaching her techniques and patterns.
In 2014, a tool Gudrun had created to make cutting strips out of fabric easier got the attention of Creative Grids Rulers, and the company began manufacturing the Stripology Ruler. The long, transparent, acrylic ruler has a non-slip back and slits that help cut fabric quickly and accurately.
The ruler's markings allow users to cut strips of fabric in different widths without moving the ruler or measuring each time. Stripology rulers come in three different sizes, including the Stripology XL, which is the largest.
Once the ruler became available, Gudrun began incorporating its use into the lectures and demonstrations she was doing around the world. “When Covid hit, everything shut down,” and we pivoted the business,” said Gudrun.
With the help of her husband, Kirk Johnson, who used to work as a music producer for Prince, Gudrun began offering online classes in 2020. “Our business really took off during the pandemic,” she said.
By 2023, the company had started offering fabric as well and needed more space, so they moved into a warehouse in Chaska, Minnesota. The warehouse provides not just the room needed for storage and production, but a classroom and showroom as well.
“Our showroom is a lot different than other quilting shops where you walk in and see rolls of fabric, then must go to a salesperson and get it measured out and cut. What we do is curate all the fabric for you. So, if you buy a bundle of fabric, you’ll get pre-cut fabric that goes together,” said Einarsson.
In addition to their curated bundles, GE Designs also sells a wide variety of fabrics from the United States and around the world in pre-cut sizes: 1/2-yard, 1-yard and 3-yard cuts. “It really makes a difference for us as an e-commerce platform to have the fabric pre-cut. Typically, orders are shipped out the same day they are placed or the next day, so customers can get to their sewing faster,” said Gudrun.
GE Designs also sells quilt backings, Stripology Rulers, GEasy Ruler Stickers, GEasy Point Trimmers and copies of the 27 quilting books Gudrun has written. Her latest title, “Panel Mash-Up!”, is a collaboration with Minnesota quilt designer Doug Leko. The book was officially released earlier this year.
Copies of all of Gudrun Erla’s books will be sold during GE FamFest 2025. Go to GEquiltdesigns.com/collections/books-downloads-patterns to see all the books available.
Schedule for GE FamFest 2025
Thursday, September 11, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
A half-day Lil’ Patterns Class will be offered. The fun, fast-paced activity will be led by Gudrun Erla, and is perfect for both beginners and expert quilters. Advance sign-up is required.
In addition to the class, on Thursday from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., an exclusive guided tour of Paisley Park will be offered. The tour of Prince’s legendary home will be led by his longtime drummer and producer, Kirk Johnson. This event is already sold out.
Friday, September 12, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
There is a lot to see at the headquarters of GE Designs Iceland. A VIP warehouse tour and studio watch party is planned for Friday, September 12, 23025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests will be part of a live Tipsy Tuesday-style taping! Sign-up is required.
Also planned for Friday, the FamFest Gala. The event goes from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and will feature a dinner, live music, raffles, show & tell, demonstrations and Bingo hosted by Kirk Johnson, a.k.a. Mr. HP. Sign-up is required and there will be limited seating.
Saturday, September 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
GE Designs Iceland’s annual Tent Sale featuring huge discounts on fabric, kits, tools and much more will be held on Saturday, September 13 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The event will feature live stage demonstrations, presentations, live music, and special guests. Come Shop, snack and stay a while. There will be food trucks on site.
The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?
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