Learn more about in-home care options for your loved ones

Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

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“Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the”

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.
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TESTIMONIALS

“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.”

Gloria285054
In-Home Care Inver Grove Heights, MN

How does In-home Senior Care in Inver Grove Heights, MN work?

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one ages, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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Senior Care Inver Grove Heights, MN

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

Comfort
Comfort

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them? A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Inver Grove Heights, 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.

Healthy Living
Healthy Living

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors. Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

Independence
Independence

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like an assisted living community. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

Cost and Convenience
Cost and Convenience

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care in Inver Grove Heights, MN gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Empowers Seniors

Affordable Care Plans

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

Veteran's Benefits
Veteran's Benefits

Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.

Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance

Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.

Private Insurance
Private Insurance

Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.

Respite Care Inver Grove Heights, MN

During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Inver Grove Heights,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.

Caregivers Inver Grove Heights, MN

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

An assessment of your senior loved one

01

An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home

02

Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs

03

Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

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Latest News in Inver Grove Heights, MN

Radium levels continue to be concern for Inver Grove Heights drinking water

Radium levels in the drinking water continue to be a concern for the city of Inver Grove Heights.Radium, a naturally occurring radioactive metal, can be found in small amounts in Minnesota’s groundwater, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. When levels exceed the standard set by ...

Radium levels in the drinking water continue to be a concern for the city of Inver Grove Heights.

Radium, a naturally occurring radioactive metal, can be found in small amounts in Minnesota’s groundwater, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. When levels exceed the standard set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, treatment is required.

Drinking water that has radium in it exposes people to “very low doses of radiation,” the Minnesota Department of Health reports in general data about radium in community water systems. “You have a higher risk of getting cancer if you drink water with radium in it every day for many years,” the health department states in the data report.

The Minnesota Department of Health first notified Inver Grove Heights on Jan. 30 that the radium levels in the city’s water were out of compliance. The problem is attributed to filters at the water treatment plant that are due for replacement.

More recent testing continues to document elevated levels.

“The latest tests of water at the Inver Grove Heights Water Treatment Plant show a modest increase in the recent radium levels over previous tests taken this spring,” the city reported in an update posted on its website on Monday.

The city reports that water samples taken on June 20 by the Minnesota Department of Health as part of the 2023 first quarter testing cycle resulted in a combined radium reading of 6.2 picoCuries per Liter (pCi/L).

The test brings the city’s “rolling annual average” for combined radium up to 5.4 pCi/L, which is the maximum level allowed by the EPA, according to the city.

Residents do not need to take any special precautions, the city says, unless individuals have been otherwise advised by their medical providers.

“The water is safe to drink and there isn’t any need for alarm,” says Amy Looze, communications manager for the city of Inver Grove Heights.

Due to issues including supply-side challenges as well as the need to work around community water usage peaks during the summer months, city officials say the planned upgrades and improvements to the city’s water treatment facility are not expected to begin until the fall of 2024, with completion by the spring of 2025.

In the meantime, tests will continue to be conducted every three months and shared with the public.

“The Minnesota Department of Health keeps testing, we share it when we get it to be transparent,” says Brian Connolly, public works director for the city of Inver Grove Heights. “We know there’s an issue, we’re trying some things in the interim while we move forward with an upgrade to our water treatment facility.”

For more information, go to ighmn.gov/1463/Water-Notice.

Elevated radium levels found in Inver Grove Heights drinking water

On Jan. 30, Minnesota Department of Health informed the city that samples indicated higher radium levels than what is allowable in its drinking water.INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. — The City of Inver Grove Heights has notified residents that elevated radium levels were detected in its drinking water supply.On Jan. 30, 2023 Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) informed the city that quarterly samples showed higher radium levels than the state's allowable standards. Test samples revealed the combined radium level was at 6.0 pi...

On Jan. 30, Minnesota Department of Health informed the city that samples indicated higher radium levels than what is allowable in its drinking water.

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. — The City of Inver Grove Heights has notified residents that elevated radium levels were detected in its drinking water supply.

On Jan. 30, 2023 Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) informed the city that quarterly samples showed higher radium levels than the state's allowable standards. Test samples revealed the combined radium level was at 6.0 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L), above the allowable level of 5.4 pCi/L.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines radium as "a naturally occurring radioactive metal. Radium is a radionuclide formed by the decay of uranium and thorium in the environment." All isotopes of radium are radioactive, and decay to produce radon gas.

"Although we are all exposed to radium that occurs naturally in our environment, large doses of radium over many years may increase the risk of developing cancer for some people," the city explained in a public notice sent to residents.

That is especially concerning to Kim Mathes, who moved to Inver Grove Heights three years ago.

"The most concerning would be that radium does cause lung cancer and bone cancer," said Mathes who has several health problems. "I think the older you get the more health conditions you have and when you first read that it’s kind of a shock."

The notice says city utilities staff have taken steps to combat the higher-than-allowable levels, including "modified pumping and chemical treatment techniques" in the city's water treatment plant in order to bring the radium levels down. Water testing frequency has also been increased.

"This really is a single source thing which really does help us target our treatment efforts," said Public Works Director Brian Connolly. "We feel really confident about what we’re doing."

Sand filters are said to be the most effective way to remove radium from water but the city's filers are older and less effective than when new. They are due to be replaced in a project scheduled for 2024.

Inver Grove Heights officials emphasize that this is not an emergency situation, and are advising residents to continue using the drinking water as normal. Those with health concerns are advised to speak with their healthcare professional on how to proceed.

"It is my responsibility, and the staff here at City Hall, to build that confidence and that trust in us and we recognize it is difficult," said Connolly.

Residents with questions or concerns about their home water treatment systems should contact their systems manufacturer.

"Residents might want to make a change themselves," said Mathes. "All the cooking and baking I do, I feel like I may have just poisoned people on my floor."

For more information, visit this website.

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Inver Grove Heights holds meeting on elevated levels of radium in water

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. (FOX 9) - The Minnesota Department of Health and ...

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. (FOX 9) - The Minnesota Department of Health and Inver Grove Heights Public Works Department hosted a community meeting on Tuesday night, to discuss high levels of cancer-causing radium in the town’s drinking water.

"Every time I go to the sink now I’m like do I really want that drink?" one woman said at the meeting. "Because I’m worried about what I’m putting into my body."

Local officials say Dakota County and other parts of Minnesota have had radium in their drinking water for some time. But recently, the levels in Inver Grove Heights have risen to unsafe amounts.

Residents filled most of the seats in the room on Tuesday to voice their concerns over water quality, after receiving these letters in the mail.

"I’m wondering why it took them so long to let us know if it’s been in there for months already, and we’re just finding out now?" Kimberly Mathes said of the letters.

The city says technical difficulties at a MDH laboratory delayed the radium test results by at least one month, until January. Then, another 16 days passed before letters were mailed to warn more than 8,000 customers. Since being alert, Public Works has made in-house adjustments to its water treatment process that may address the problem in the short term.

"I can’t say that unequivocally, but we feel very positive about the changes we’ve made in the system that would put us back to a level that would put us into compliance," Public Works director Brian Connolly told residents. In the long term, he plans to install new filters in the system by January 2024. The upgrade would replace aging infrastructure that has never been replaced, at a cost of about $2.8 million.

"I admit it, I will fall on the sword, it is my responsibility as Public Works director to say that we screwed up and should’ve done this sooner," Connolly finished. "We have a violation and we want to try to get your trust back."

Inver Grove Heights next radium test is scheduled in April, and results will be posted on the city’s public works webpage.

Inver Grove Heights reports elevated radium levels in city water

Officials in Inver Grove Heights say they’re taking steps to address elevated levels of radium detected in the city’s drinking water.In a notice sent to residents of the southeast Twin Cities suburb last month, city officials said it’s not an emergency situation, and that residents can continue drinking city water while efforts to reduce radium levels continue. The city said there&...

Officials in Inver Grove Heights say they’re taking steps to address elevated levels of radium detected in the city’s drinking water.

In a notice sent to residents of the southeast Twin Cities suburb last month, city officials said it’s not an emergency situation, and that residents can continue drinking city water while efforts to reduce radium levels continue. The city said there’s no need to boil water, or rely on bottled water.

The city said testing by the Minnesota Department of Health, reported to the city in January, found the level of combined radium at the city’s water treatment plant was 6.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The allowable standard for drinking water is 5.4 pCi/L.

“City staff have been working over the past month with our partners at the Minnesota Department of Health, our treatment chemical suppliers, and several engineering consulting firms to understand the cause of this issue, and to apply operational adjustments to address and correct this issue,” Inver Grove Heights Public Works Director Brian Connolly said in a statement — noting that he “will continue to drink city water every day.”

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Connolly said the city has increased its water sampling and testing — and also is planning to replace its water treatment plant filters in 2024.

The water treatment plant, built in 1998 and expanded in 2006, “was one of the first in the Twin Cities to be designed and built to treat for radium removal,” the city reported in its message to residents. But its sand filtration system becomes less effective over time, and is due for replacement.

The city said residents with specific health concerns should contact their doctor or health care provider.

The state Department of Health said radioactive materials, including radium, “occur naturally in Minnesota and can be found in small amounts in Minnesota’s groundwater.” Large doses of radium over time can increase the risk for cancer, but levels found in Minnesota groundwater generally are not high enough to cause concern.

In 2014, MDH said, nine municipal water systems in Minnesota — just over 1 percent of the total — had levels of radium above federal standards.

Inver Grove Heights officials created a web page with more information about the water quality issue, and also answered questions from residents at a Tuesday meeting.

Town Square Television video of Inver Grove Heights city meeting on water:

MDH finds elevated levels of radium in Inver Grove Heights water supply

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. -- Health officials are concerned about the safety of drinking water in Inver Grove Heights, after a routine test revealed higher levels of radium than the acceptable standard.An October 2022 test revealed 6.0 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) of radium types 226 and 228, while the maximum contaminant level is 5.4 pCi/L."The Department of Health started to do quarterly tests instead of annual tests just to see if they could nail down a little better perhaps if that was just an anomaly...

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. -- Health officials are concerned about the safety of drinking water in Inver Grove Heights, after a routine test revealed higher levels of radium than the acceptable standard.

An October 2022 test revealed 6.0 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) of radium types 226 and 228, while the maximum contaminant level is 5.4 pCi/L.

"The Department of Health started to do quarterly tests instead of annual tests just to see if they could nail down a little better perhaps if that was just an anomaly or if it was actually a trend," Public Works Director Brian Connolly said.

The city says they are "acting urgently to mitigate" the problem but there is no immediate risk. Residents do not need to use alternative sources of water, nor do they need to boil their water before using it.

"It said the levels were a little bit higher than normal and so it wasn't all that concerning to me," Darin Hider, an Inver Grove Heights resident said. "I've curtailed some of my water usage for drinking the tap water. But other than that, I'm not overly concerned."

The city has planned a water treatment plant filter replacement in 2024, with the design coming soon. Until then, city staff have modified the pumping and chemical treatment techniques at the water treatment plant to reduce radium concentration.

Officials are confident those levels will go down, especially after changing the filters at the water treatment plant, some of which have been there since day one.

"So our oldest filters in our system are approaching almost 25 years in age, while the youngest filters are almost 17," Connolly said.

Large doses of radium have been linked to cancer.

For more information about the water in Inver Grove Heights, click here.

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