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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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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 Maple Plain, MN

How does In-home Senior Care in Maple Plain, 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 Maple Plain, 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 Maple Plain, 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 Maple Plain, 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

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

Long-Term Care Insurance
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 Maple Plain, 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 Maple Plain,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 Maple Plain, 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.

Latest News in Maple Plain, MN

Maple Plain announces plans for Spring Clean-up Day

Do you live in Maple Plain and have junk you need to get rid of?If so, than mark Saturday, May 20, down on your calendar.That is the date of the City of Maple Plain’s annual spring cleanup day.The spring clean up day will run from 8 a.m. to noon and is open to Maple Plain residents only. The city asks that you follow the provided map when dropping off items, and that visitors don’t block any residents driveways when in line.The city will give residents an opportunity to dispose of their broken and unwa...

Do you live in Maple Plain and have junk you need to get rid of?

If so, than mark Saturday, May 20, down on your calendar.

That is the date of the City of Maple Plain’s annual spring cleanup day.

The spring clean up day will run from 8 a.m. to noon and is open to Maple Plain residents only. The city asks that you follow the provided map when dropping off items, and that visitors don’t block any residents driveways when in line.

The city will give residents an opportunity to dispose of their broken and unwanted electronics, appliances, and miscellaneous junk, which the city will collect and properly discard. The Spring Clean-Up Day will occur regardless of weather, rain or shine. Bring your items ready for disposal to the Maple Plain Public Works Building, located at 1645 Pioneer Ave (behind the Maple Plain Fire Station).

Maple Plain city staff will be on hand to assist residents with moving large or heavy items as needed. Some items may be subject to a disposal charge. In order to participate in this event, a valid ID must be presented to verify residency in the City of Maple Plain.

Items that will be collected free of charge include: scrap metal, vehicle and household batteries, fluorescent bulbs, mowers, power tools, equipment, snow blowers, BBQ grills, phones, cameras, and camcorders.

Electronics - such as computers, laptops, scanners, printers, monitors, radios, stereo, CD players, TVs, VCRs, DVDs, paper shredders, power supplies, and electric typewriters - will cost $12 each with TV larger then 32 inches costing $20 each.

Appliances - such as air conditioners, water softeners, full size refrigerators or freezers, stoves, and dishwashers - will cost $20 each, with microwaves, toaster ovens, mini fridges, and wine coolers costing $10 each.

Other items - like carpet, shelving, lawn furniture, garden tools, mattresses, furniture, toys, sports equipment, boards, moldings, concrete, doors, sheetrock, brick, windows, fences, and tile - will cost $30 per cubic yard, while tires and propane tanks are $5 each.

Items not accepted at the clean up event include: Timbers, treated lumber and shingles, caulking tubes, recyclables that are collected curbside, barrels or drums that are not completely empty and do not have the ends cut out, yard waste (leaves, grass, brush), water softener zeolite tanks, and hazardous wastes (paint, cleaning chemicals, pesticides, petroleum products).

For more information on how to recycle or properly dispose of these items visit www.co.hennepin.mn.us/environment.

More Minnesotans, including children, succumbing to fentanyl-related deaths

MINNEAPOLIS —The fentanyl crisis doesn't discriminate. It touches the youngest Minnesotans and its hold spans across demographics.Fentanyl poisoning and overdose deaths skyrocketed in the last few years. Some of the victims are children.It's making headlines in Minnesota. Two charged in the fentanyl-related death of a 17-month-old in Ramsey County. A Maple Plain mother charged with manslaughter after her 6-year-old son chewed on a drug-tainted dollar bill. A 7-year-old in St. Paul dead from fentanyl poiso...

MINNEAPOLIS —The fentanyl crisis doesn't discriminate. It touches the youngest Minnesotans and its hold spans across demographics.

Fentanyl poisoning and overdose deaths skyrocketed in the last few years. Some of the victims are children.

It's making headlines in Minnesota. Two charged in the fentanyl-related death of a 17-month-old in Ramsey County. A Maple Plain mother charged with manslaughter after her 6-year-old son chewed on a drug-tainted dollar bill. A 7-year-old in St. Paul dead from fentanyl poisoning. A 1-year-old in Minneapolis.

Every year, calls of kids exposed to fentanyl to Minnesota Poison Center climbs. Dr. Travis Olives is an ER doctor at Hennepin Healthcare. He's also the associate medical director of the Minnesota Poison Control System.

RELATED: WCCO investigates the fentanyl crisis in Minnesota

"To be clear, opioids in children, it's a deadly mix. If there are any kids, even one kid exposed to fentanyl, it's a big problem. We need to keep these substances out of sight and out of reach of kids that are cruising," Olives said. "They get into anything they can, and their natural inclination is to get it in their hand and put it in their mouth."

Olives warns time is critical with any exposure.

"The way opioids cause people to die is by stopping them from breathing, and we have both naloxone or Narcan which treats that very well if it's given in a timely fashion," Olives said.

He says performing rescue breathing while waiting for help can also save a life.

"This is a very time-sensitive treatment, where we know that if we can keep somebody breathing or restore their breathing, their likelihood of doing well increases exponentially," Olives said.

Dr. Andrew Baker sees the other side of things, when help doesn't arrive in time.

"The drug market is just getting flooded with fentanyl. It is the number one driver of our increased caseload in our medical examiner's office," Baker said.

Baker became the Hennepin County Medical Examiner nearly 20 years ago. He's witnessed the meteoric rise of fentanyl. With four fentanyl-rated deaths in 2013 to a historic 440 last year.

"All of these deaths are, at some level obviously preventable," Baker said. "The other thing that concerns me is there doesn't appear to be any end in sight to this epidemic."

His office had to increase staff from physicians and techs to investigators and support personnel. And the crisis caused them to curtail autopsies on apparent natural cause deaths, which Baker calls a public service and good for public health data.

RELATED: The families left behind by the fentanyl crisis

"Which is really a tragedy because the only reason you go into this line of work is because you want to help families. You want to give them the answers," Baker said.

Baker says the fentanyl crisis touches us all. He may see it more than most, delivering toxicology reports to often unsuspecting families. That's not lost on him.

"One of those things you think about when you make those calls is there but for the grace of God, I could be on the other end of this call," Baker said.

Another drug mixed with fentanyl is making it even deadlier. Narcan doesn't work on the sedative Xylazine.

Jennifer Mayerle

Jennifer Mayerle happily returned to Minnesota and WCCO, where she began her career as an intern. The Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist joined WCCO as a reporter in May 2014. She also anchors "WCCO Saturday Morning" from 8-9 a.m.

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Herc-U-Lift celebrates 50 years

At the Maple Plain City Council meeting on Monday, June 25, the council recognized the 50th anniversary of local company Herc-U-Lift. The company was founded in 1968 by Les and June Nielsen, who moved to town in 1961.Headquartered in Maple Plain, Herc-U-Lift sells, rents and services material-handling equipment like forklifts, cherry pickers and railcar movers; the business has grown to include eight locations in Minnesota, Iowa and North and South Dakota.At the meeting, Maple Plain Mayor Julie Maas-Kusske read a proclamation i...

At the Maple Plain City Council meeting on Monday, June 25, the council recognized the 50th anniversary of local company Herc-U-Lift. The company was founded in 1968 by Les and June Nielsen, who moved to town in 1961.

Headquartered in Maple Plain, Herc-U-Lift sells, rents and services material-handling equipment like forklifts, cherry pickers and railcar movers; the business has grown to include eight locations in Minnesota, Iowa and North and South Dakota.

At the meeting, Maple Plain Mayor Julie Maas-Kusske read a proclamation in recognition of the company’s achievement and longstanding place in the community.

“Herc-U-Lift has provided jobs to residents of Maple Plain and set an example of a model business,” Maas-Kusske said. “Herc-U-Lift has played an integral role in serving Maple Plain and its surrounding communities…Herc-U-Lift’s dedication to service and the community is unprecedented; Herc-U-Lift has a long history of donating countless resources for community events, private companies and individuals.”

She continued, “the City of Maple Plain announces with great pleasure that Monday, June 25, 2018, [will] be known as Herc-U-Lift’s Day.”

She then invited Les and June Nielsen up to the podium to address the council.

“It’s quite an honor for us,” June Nielsen said. “We have been thankful for the community.”

Les Nielsen, who currently serves as the company’s CEO, noted that the business recently had a 50th anniversary celebration and extended an invitation to the council for a private tour of Herc-U-Lift’s facility.

He also spoke about the early years spent building the company. He said that in the early ‘60s, he was working for a salad company in town; he and June lived in a trailer house for three years on the property where Tri-K Sports is now located. Though the couple now reside in Plymouth, the company has kept them rooted in the Maple Plain community.

“Thank you, June and Les; it’s because of great businesses like yours that make Maple Plain such a great city,” Maas-Kusske said.

Council member John Fay mentioned that he had attended Herc-U-Lift’s 50th anniversary event.

“It was a beautiful day with great food and I ran in to a lot of people,” he said. “We’re glad to have them, a long-term business partner, in town.”

In other business news, the council approved a first amendment to the Downtown Developers Agreement to grant the developer of city-owned property at 5230 Main Street, 5220 Main Street, 1620 Maple Avenue and 5249 Highway 12 additional time to complete the developer’s due diligence process.

The development agreement between the City of Maple Plain and GJ Property Management was signed in June 2017 and provides for the purchase and commercial development of the downtown properties, which include the former site of Olson’s Market.

The development agreement gave the developer until June 30 to complete due diligence steps and determine if the project would move forward. The amendment grants the developer an extension to June 30, 2019.

“The EDA, earlier this month, did hear a proposal from the developer, and with that was a recommendation from the Economic Development Authority [to] give them another year to complete the project and to move forward with the plans that they’ve been submitting, to kind of narrow that down and hopefully get something in the ground pretty soon,” said City Administrator Robert Schoen.

Showers at times Sunday; recap of weekend rain totals

Most of Minnesota was either abnormally dry or in drought on the U.S. Drought Monitor report that was posted last Thursday.We had some welcome rain in parts of Minnesota Saturday and Saturday night. Here’s the rainfall map from 7 a.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday:Some areas received between 1 and 3 inches of rain, with a few higher reports in northwestern Minnesota.Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airp...

Most of Minnesota was either abnormally dry or in drought on the U.S. Drought Monitor report that was posted last Thursday.

We had some welcome rain in parts of Minnesota Saturday and Saturday night. Here’s the rainfall map from 7 a.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday:

Some areas received between 1 and 3 inches of rain, with a few higher reports in northwestern Minnesota.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport tallied 43 one-hundredths (.43) of an inch. I had 71 one-hundredths (.71) of an inch in St. Paul. Park Rapids in central Minnesota came in with 1.91 inches and Fairmont in southwestern Minnesota reported 1.58 inches.

The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, a volunteer observer network, posted this 24-hour rainfall plot:

It shows 24-hour rainfall totals of 1.2 inches in Minneapolis, 1.84 inches in Plymouth and 2.64 inches in Watertown. Maple Plain came in with 2.03 inches. You can pan and zoom the map at the linked site to get info for your area.

Isolated thunderstorm chance Sunday

A low-pressure system to our east will move slowly away Sunday, so the best chance of thunderstorms will shift into parts of Wisconsin.

We’ll have areas of wrap-around showers in Minnesota Sunday with an isolated thunderstorm also possible. It won’t be raining all day but it will be raining at times.

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the MPR News network. You can find the latest radar here.

You can also check these National Weather Service sites for updated weather info: Twin Cities, Duluth, La Crosse, Wis., Sioux Falls, S.D., Grand Forks, N.D.

Monday rain chance is lower

Any rain in Minnesota on Monday will be more spotty than Sunday’s showers.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale (NAM) forecast model shows the potential rain pattern from 4 a.m. Monday to 9 p.m. Monday:

NOAA’s High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model shows a similar rain pattern for that same time span:

Temperature trends

The average June 25 Twin Cities high temperature is 82 degrees. Metro area highs will probably stall out in the lower 70s this Sunday afternoon. Much of north-central and northeastern Minnesota will have Sunday highs in the 60s, mainly 70s elsewhere.

Monday highs will be primarily in the 70s, but a few spots in far western Minnesota could top 80 degrees:

Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to be in the lower 80s Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, then around 80 on Friday and Saturday.

The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center shows a tendency for above-normal temps next Sunday and into the following week:

Air quality alert up north

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for northern Minnesota that will continue until 9 a.m. Monday:

Here are details of the alert, from the MPCA:

Air quality alert expanded due to wildfire smoke for northern Minn. through Monday, June 26 at 9 a.m.

Air quality is expected to reach orange in northern Minn., which is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for northern Minn. for fine particulate, effective Saturday, June 24, through Monday, June 26, at 9 a.m. The affected area in northern Minn. includes Bemidji, East Grand Forks, International Falls, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, Roseau, and the tribal nations of Red Lake, Leech Lake, Grand Portage, and Fond du Lac.

Northerly winds are bringing smoke from wildfires north of the Canadian border in Ontario into northern Minn. This batch of smoke will be heavier and more persistent closer to the Canadian border, while the southern portion of the alert area may see occasional smoke. Smoke will continue over northern Minn. through early Monday. People should keep windows shut to prevent smoke from entering. Smoke will circulate around the northern periphery of a low-pressure area heading eastward through Minn. Some smoke may linger on Monday, but concentrations should fall below orange.

Fine particle levels are expected to be in the orange AQI category, a level that is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. In the orange area, sensitive groups should avoid prolonged time outdoors.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:39 a.m., 9:39 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. today.

Men's Golf Finishes Second at Minnesota Golf Classic

MAPLE PLAIN, Minn. — The Gustavus men's golf team finished second overall at the Minnesota Golf Classic in Maple Plain. The Gusties fielded two teams at the tournament, with the Gustie A Team carding a 294-291-292-877 for second, 12 strokes behind winner Bethel, while the Gustie B Team finished tied for 12th with a 311-308-303-922.Thanks to a strong performance on day two, Wyatt Carlson (Wayzata, Minn.) led all the Gusti...

MAPLE PLAIN, Minn. — The Gustavus men's golf team finished second overall at the Minnesota Golf Classic in Maple Plain. The Gusties fielded two teams at the tournament, with the Gustie A Team carding a 294-291-292-877 for second, 12 strokes behind winner Bethel, while the Gustie B Team finished tied for 12th with a 311-308-303-922.

Thanks to a strong performance on day two, Wyatt Carlson (Wayzata, Minn.) led all the Gusties, tying for fourth in the tournament with a 76-71-71-218. Carlson posted four birdies in round two and three in his final round to lead the way. Teddy Kaste (Apple Valley, Minn.) was next for the Gusties with a 78-71-74-223, including seven birdies on the second day. Pelayo Perez Crespo (Sotogrande, Spain), Jack Reinardy (Andover, Minn.), and Chris Gutuza (Johannesburg, South Africa) all tied, shooting a 224 (+8) through three rounds. Perez Crespo and Reinardy each tallied six birdies through the final two rounds, while Gutuza posted three of his own. Blake Forrest (Maple Grove, Minn.) led the Gustie B Team with an 82-71-76-229, followed closely by Cameron Longie (Hutchinson, Minn.) (70-77-83-230).

"It was a big finish for our guys this weekend. A great team effort - everyone contributed! We rallied this morning to get within four shots of the lead which was awesome," said Head Coach Scott Moe. "We had a shaky start, allowing a couple of teams to close the gap, but we held tough and beat down some very good teams. It feels good to get all five guys to post good scores. Wyatt was fantastic in his first top-five event, posting a +2 to lead the way. Each guy up and down the line had a big round for us - I would say it was the ultimate ham and egg situation. We look forward to having our top team head to Massachusetts this coming weekend and our second team at the Saint John's Invite. Excited to see what lies ahead for this group!"

The Gusties' top team will journey out east next weekend, heading to the Williams Invitational in Williamstown, Mass. Saturday and Sunday.

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