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 Waterford Historic Bridge in Northfield, MN 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 Northfield, 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 Riverside Lions Park in Northfield, MN 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 Ole Store Restaurant or visit Historic Ames Mill, 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 Northfield, 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 Northfield, 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 Northfield, 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.
NORTHFIELD, Minn. — As farmers struggle to afford insurance, many of the hospitals they rely on in rural areas also are struggling to survive.Minnesota received $193 million for the year through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. Medicaid.gov says the $50 billion program included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act "empowers states to strengthen rural communities across America by improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes by transforming the healthcare delivery ecosystem." During an Aug. 25 visit t...
NORTHFIELD, Minn. — As farmers struggle to afford insurance, many of the hospitals they rely on in rural areas also are struggling to survive.
Minnesota received $193 million for the year through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. Medicaid.gov says the $50 billion program included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act "empowers states to strengthen rural communities across America by improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes by transforming the healthcare delivery ecosystem." During an Aug. 25 visit to Northfield Hospital and Clinics, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., said the money should help the state find new ways to expand rural access. But she said it falls far short of what hospitals stand to lose.
"As much money as that is, it is dwarfed by the amount of money that rural hospitals will lose because of the cuts to Medicaid," Smith said.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in July 2025, also cut federal funding for Medicaid by 15%, or $1 trillion, over 10 years. The National Rural Health Association says rural residents are enrolled in Medicaid at higher rates than their urban counterparts, making the impact on rural hospitals and health centers particularly acute.
"Continuing existing Medicaid funding is critical for sustaining access to care in rural communities. Rural hospitals and clinics are not sustainable without this critical funding. Medicaid makes up a larger portion of rural residents’ insurance coverage, making rural hospitals and clinics more vulnerable to cuts in these programs," the NRHA wrote in April 2025, months before the OBBB act was passed.
About half of mothers giving birth in Minnesota and nationally get their insurance through Medicaid, Smith said.
She said farmers face the squeeze from both sides.
"Farmers are dealing with headwinds on so many different fronts, and many of them have to have off-farm jobs in order to get health insurance," Smith said.
For those buying on the exchanges, she said, cuts to the premium tax credit mean "money out of farmers' pockets for health care."
Asked whether rural health belongs in the farm bill, Smith said she has supported farm bill provisions to expand rural health access.
"Sometimes, if you live in a small town or a rural community, it feels like the only part of the federal government that's really paying attention to you is the Department of Agriculture," she said.
Northfield Hospital in Northfield, Minnesota, is independent and larger than most small rural hospitals. It delivers more than 800 babies a year, Smith said, with families traveling up to 100 miles.
Zander Abbott, the hospital's president and CEO, said Northfield qualifies for rural transformation dollars and plans to use them for specialty services, including telehealth. But he said the pressure is building.
"As we're looking at the reductions to Medicaid happening next year, we anticipate further reductions in how much money is coming into our organization," he said.
When revenue drops, hospitals have to match expenses to it, he said. Northfield is focused on growth, but other rural communities face tough decisions.
That pressure already shows up in obstetrics. A rural community south of Northfield ended its obstetric services earlier this year, sending 100 to 200 more families to Northfield to deliver, he said.
He said many of the hospital's patients come from farm families. "You look at our hospital here; we're in the middle of a cornfield," he said.
Patients are increasingly worried about insurance costs, copays and what's in network, he said.
Lily Vanderpol is a registered nurse and an internal organizer for SEIU, representing health care workers at facilities including the Sanford hospital in Worthington. She said the workers she represents worry about wages, retirement and their own coverage.
"Rural facilities are hit pretty hard with staffing turnover because there's just not enough community members that have the training or have the experience to fill these roles," she said.
Many facilities have turned to outside agencies, and some nursing homes have cut staffing as their census declined, she said. When local services aren't available, she said, the workers she represents travel an hour or more for care.
Lily is also concerned about hospital consolidation, including a proposed Allina-Sutter merger. She said six hospital systems control 70% of Minnesota's hospital beds.
"If you're having a heart attack, you should not have to shop around with hospitals," she said.
She said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison set restrictions on a Sanford merger earlier this year and wants similar conditions on any merger now.
The City of Northfield has been recognized by the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program for achieving Steps 4 and 5 in the statewide sustainability initiative, highlighting the community’s ongoing efforts to conserve resources, increase efficiency, and prepare for future environmental challenges.Northfield is among 156 participating cities and Tribal nations in the voluntary challenge, assistance, and recognition program, which helps communities implement sustainable practices and improve quality of life.“This award sh...
The City of Northfield has been recognized by the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program for achieving Steps 4 and 5 in the statewide sustainability initiative, highlighting the community’s ongoing efforts to conserve resources, increase efficiency, and prepare for future environmental challenges.
Northfield is among 156 participating cities and Tribal nations in the voluntary challenge, assistance, and recognition program, which helps communities implement sustainable practices and improve quality of life.
“This award shows community members and other cities across Minnesota that the City of Northfield is continuing to advance energy and resource conservation, sustainability, and innovation,” said Sara Pabich, the city’s sustainability coordinator and GreenStep program lead.
According to city officials, Northfield’s sustainability work aligns with the core principles outlined in its Comprehensive Plan: economy, environment, and equity. The city also uses the framework of its Climate Action Plan to guide efforts aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving efficiency, and protecting natural resources.
Participation in the GreenStep Cities program allows Northfield to collaborate with peer communities across Minnesota while implementing best-practice strategies designed to strengthen long-term financial health and environmental resilience. City leaders say those efforts help reduce energy consumption, conserve resources, and better prepare residents for the impacts of a changing climate.
Pabich said the recognition reflects both local commitment and statewide collaboration.
“This award is a great achievement for the City of Northfield,” she said. “By participating in this program, Northfield and communities across Minnesota are sharing ideas and implementing solutions that help our cities thrive while preparing for the future.”
Minnesota GreenStep is a free, continuous-improvement program based on 29 sustainability best practices tailored to Minnesota cities and Tribal nations. The program provides guidance, resources, and recognition to communities working toward sustainability and quality-of-life goals.
More information about Northfield’s sustainability initiatives is available through the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at [email protected]
After nearly a decade away from the stage, Northfield-based band Furia is reuniting for a pair of performances this weekend at the Northfield Arts Guild Theater.Furia, made up of Meredith Fierke, Steve McKinstry and newest member Aiden Gersky, will perform Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. The concerts mark the group’s first performances in roughly eight years and will combine new material with reworked versions of songs from earlier in the band’s history.The musical partnership between Fierke and McKinstry stretches ba...
After nearly a decade away from the stage, Northfield-based band Furia is reuniting for a pair of performances this weekend at the Northfield Arts Guild Theater.
Furia, made up of Meredith Fierke, Steve McKinstry and newest member Aiden Gersky, will perform Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. The concerts mark the group’s first performances in roughly eight years and will combine new material with reworked versions of songs from earlier in the band’s history.
The musical partnership between Fierke and McKinstry stretches back nearly two decades. Fierke first connected with McKinstry through his son Dylan, who was accompanying her for a Martin Luther King Day performance. While rehearsing at McKinstry’s studio, the elder McKinstry joined them on pump organ, beginning a collaboration that has continued for about 15 years.
The partnership soon attracted attention beyond Northfield. An early performance at Cities 97’s Studio C led to Furia’s “Train Song” being selected for the station’s Cities 97 Sampler.
The band’s music is built around experimentation. Fierke said she generally begins with lyrics, melodies and basic song structures before working with McKinstry to develop arrangements designed around the emotions and imagery of the songs. That process can involve conventional instruments or something considerably less conventional, including high-strung guitar, mandola, pump organ, MIDI keyboards and prepared piano. At times, the musicians have created their own instruments or unconventional playing techniques to produce a particular sound.
Aiden Gersky brings another dimension to that approach. McKinstry met him through Gersky’s sister and quickly discovered a shared interest in experimenting with instruments and sound. After the band had tried several musicians to replace Dylan McKinstry, who had moved to the East Coast, Gersky proved to be the right fit.
For the comeback shows, Furia has polished older material, sometimes adding new instrumentation, while also preparing new pieces. The performances represent both a return and a new phase for a group whose music has continued evolving even while it was away from public sight.
Furia will perform at the Northfield Arts Guild Theater Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets are available through the Northfield Arts Guild website at northfieldartsguild.org.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at [email protected]
The Northfield City Council voted Monday to continue exploring a citywide curbside composting program, signaling growing support for a service that city leaders say could help reduce landfill waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions and advance the community’s environmental goals.The discussion was the latest chapter in a conversation that has been underway for more than a year. Composting was previously considered during negotiations over the city’s waste management contract, when curbside composting was ultimately separated...
The Northfield City Council voted Monday to continue exploring a citywide curbside composting program, signaling growing support for a service that city leaders say could help reduce landfill waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions and advance the community’s environmental goals.
The discussion was the latest chapter in a conversation that has been underway for more than a year. Composting was previously considered during negotiations over the city’s waste management contract, when curbside composting was ultimately separated from broader garbage service discussions.
City Administrator Ben Martig said the proposal aligns with priorities identified in Northfield’s Climate Action Plan and reinforced through recent community engagement efforts tied to the city’s comprehensive planning process. Those efforts found strong public interest in environmental stewardship and reducing the community’s impact on the environment.
Food waste and other compostable materials represent a significant opportunity, city officials said. When organic waste is buried in landfills, it can produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Diverting those materials to composting facilities not only reduces emissions but also creates a reusable product for landscaping and agricultural purposes.
The discussion also comes as officials look ahead to the long-term capacity of the Rice County landfill, which is projected to reach capacity in roughly 10 to 12 years. Reducing the amount of waste entering the landfill could help extend its lifespan and potentially reduce future costs.
Northfield already has an optional curbside composting service operated by a local worker cooperative. According to city staff, participation has leveled off at about 15% of households. Council members reviewed information suggesting that a universal program, in which service is available to all residents, could lower monthly costs through economies of scale while increasing participation.
The council voted 6-1 to direct staff to gather additional information, conduct further research and develop a request for proposals for composting services. Council Member Chad Beumer cast the lone dissenting vote, maintaining concerns he has previously raised about requiring residents to pay for a service they may not use and preferring a voluntary approach.
Staff estimates suggest a universal service could cost about $5 per month per household, compared with roughly $15 to $16 per month for residents currently paying for optional service.
City officials expect to return to the council within the next one to two months with additional details. If the project continues moving forward, implementation could begin as early as next year.
RIch Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at [email protected]
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