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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 Prior Lake, MN

How does In-home Senior Care in Prior Lake, 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 Prior Lake, 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 Prior Lake, 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 Prior Lake, 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 Prior Lake, 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 Prior Lake,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 Prior Lake, 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 Prior Lake, MN

Prior Lake residents frustrated over construction on Fish Point Road

PRIOR LAKE, Minn. -- Construction season is underway in cities all across the state. Prior Lake is investing more than $11 million in improvements over the next six months, but not everyone is happy about the work.Darren Dickenson says getting to and from his home off of Fish Point Road in Prior Lake has been a challenge for the last month."Mostly, it's the mud pit in the road," said Dickenson. "The construction has created a situation where people have been getting stuck. Emergency vehicles have...

PRIOR LAKE, Minn. -- Construction season is underway in cities all across the state. Prior Lake is investing more than $11 million in improvements over the next six months, but not everyone is happy about the work.

Darren Dickenson says getting to and from his home off of Fish Point Road in Prior Lake has been a challenge for the last month.

"Mostly, it's the mud pit in the road," said Dickenson. "The construction has created a situation where people have been getting stuck. Emergency vehicles haven't been able to get through."

The City of Prior Lake says that section of road has needed the work, with the original utilities installed in the early 70s showing their age in recent years.

"There have been many years where things have not been happening and now we're playing catch-up to a little bit of a degree. So, focusing on getting streets improved and seeing these improvements get done so that they don't have potholes and they don't have sidewalks with cracks," said Prior Lake City Manager Jason Wedel.

As part of the planning process, the city says it has worked with community partners to lessen the impact of the total road reconstruction project.

"We are working with mail delivery, we're working with the school district for bus stops, we're working with the garbage companies to help with garbage pickup. We do as much as we possibly can to minimize those inconveniences," Wedel said.

But Darren says the short-term pain is just too much.

"People have to live. People have to come and go and be able to do things. You can't just shut down, for a week, a road chunk and expect that person to not be able to work and so on and so forth," Dickenson said.

The City of Prior Lake says once those improvements are complete, they won't be back for a while.

The construction work is expected to last anywhere from 50 to 75 years.

Allen Henry

Allen Henry is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who joined WCCO as a reporter in August 2022.

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Million-dollar renovation gives Prior Lake VFW military look, new mission

PRIOR LAKE, Minn. (FOX 9) - This Memorial Day marks the end of an era at one of the older Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts...

PRIOR LAKE, Minn. (FOX 9) - This Memorial Day marks the end of an era at one of the older Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts in Minnesota.

The Prior Lake building is getting renovated starting Tuesday and FOX 9 got a sneak peek at the plans and the purpose.

Post-parade in Prior Lake on Memorial Day, VFW Post 6208 became the social center of the city. The brick building has been a hub for veterans and friends for more than 60 years — whether it’s Memorial Day or Halloween or Christmas.

"It has been weddings and funerals and community events and chicken fries for raising money for the fire department and just about anything and everything," said Post 6209 Commander Dave Thompson.

Over the decades, they added a couple of wings to the dining area-slash-dance floor, but the place started to look like a salute to a bygone era.

(FOX 9)

"We want to give it a new look," said Post 6208 member Leroy Seuer.

Now they’ve come up with plans for updating the 11,000-square-foot building. Those plans point to one especially big change in the ceiling.

"This lay-in tile is going to be gone and it’s going to be almost like a metallic look with the lights in between every four foot, the whole length of it," said Seuer.

The idea is to make the inside of the building resemble a military hangar.

"Walking into something that kind of reminds them of military life, that gives them a little normalcy or a little remembrance for our old timers, I think it’s important," said Thompson.

They’re also hoping a more modern look could serve as a recruiting tool for a post where the average member’s age is about 70.

"The point of this is to give the post a new look for the post-9/11 veterans, so they feel more comfortable coming in with their family and friends," said Seuer.

The rifle case and POW table will stay put, but some of the decor from older wars will go into storage.

The renovation comes at a cost of about $1.1 million, and it’s mostly paid for with proceeds from the bar as well as charitable gaming and a loan. They still need to raise about $250,000, but after years of planning, construction won’t wait.

"We’re super excited that Tuesday, tomorrow, we’re actually, you know, things are going to start happening," said Thompson.

The post will stay open during construction, so you can still support the veterans by buying food or drinks or even a plaque memorial they’ll place at the brand-new bar.

Prior Lake issues water restrictions to conserve more water

In an effort to conserve more water, Prior Lake, along with other cities throughout the state, have implemented summer watering restrictions.Christina Watson, public works coordinator, said the purpose of having water restrictions is to not only promote water conservation but to help ensure there's adequate supplies of drinking water and and enough water for emergency drought situations."The purpose is to distribute the demand on the water distribution system more evenly so that the maximum capacity of the system is not ex...

In an effort to conserve more water, Prior Lake, along with other cities throughout the state, have implemented summer watering restrictions.

Christina Watson, public works coordinator, said the purpose of having water restrictions is to not only promote water conservation but to help ensure there's adequate supplies of drinking water and and enough water for emergency drought situations.

"The purpose is to distribute the demand on the water distribution system more evenly so that the maximum capacity of the system is not exceeded, and also to help promote water conservation," Watson said.

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Watson also said Prior Lake residents use up to 6 million gallons of water a day during the summer season.

On average, Prior Lake consumes about 800 million gallons of water each year. In the winter, water demand is about 1.5 million gallons per day. In the summer, demand can reach up to 7 million gallons per day due to excessive irrigation.

"The maximum peak day demand so far this year was 6.25 million gallons on June 23, compared to a typical winter day average of 1.5 million gallons," Watson said.

According to the city, all irrigation and nonessential use of the municipal water supply system is restricted to odd/even days before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m. daily, May 1 to Oct. 1. Nonessential use of municipal water supply includes watering lawns, washing cars, and other outdoor activities.

Single-family homes with addresses ending in an even number may water lawns before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m. only on even numbered days. Single-family homes with addresses ending in an odd number may water lawns before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m. only on odd numbered days, according to the city.

"Multi-family properties and homeowner associations are restricted to every other day based on their location in the city," added Watson.

Also according to the city, hand watering of gardens, flower pots and hanging baskets, as well as car washing and general use of power washers are always exempt from the odd/even and time-of-day watering restrictions (no permit required). Exceptions are made for new landscaping and new seed/sod within the first thirty 30 days of placement, as well as for pumping from the lake or a private well. To qualify for an exception, you must fill out a sprinkling permit form.

Watson said municipal water customers who violate this ordinance are subject to warnings and increased fines.

"The first offense is a warning, usually via door hanger with date/time of the violation," Watson said. "Second offense is $50 added to water bill. Third offense is $100 added to water bill and the fine doubles for each subsequent offense for the same property owner within the same calendar year."

The city also stated that residents are now required to have rain sensors on all newly installed sprinkler systems in Prior Lake per Minnesota statute. A rain sensor detects when it's raining and shuts off the sprinkler system. It's estimated that a rain sensor will save at least 1,225 gallons of irrigation water per household on every rainy day.

Prior Lake-Based Pool Company Banned From Doing Business In MN

The pool company scammed more than a dozen Minnesota families out of $1.1 million, according to Attorney General Keith Ellison.PRIOR LAKE, MN — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Friday announced that he obtained a default judgment in Scott County District Court against Prior Lake-based pool in a deceptive pool construction scheme.Workman scammed more than a dozen Minnesota families out of $1.1 million before fleeing the state, according to Ellison's office.The court judgment permanently bans Charlie Wor...

The pool company scammed more than a dozen Minnesota families out of $1.1 million, according to Attorney General Keith Ellison.

PRIOR LAKE, MN — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Friday announced that he obtained a default judgment in Scott County District Court against Prior Lake-based pool in a deceptive pool construction scheme.

Workman scammed more than a dozen Minnesota families out of $1.1 million before fleeing the state, according to Ellison's office.

The court judgment permanently bans Charlie Workman and his company, MN Crete Pools, from the residential construction industry in Minnesota. Workman and his company must pay $1.1 million in restitution and $1.1 million in civil penalties.

"Mr. Workman turned people’s dreams of having a swimming pool for their family to enjoy into a nightmare," Ellison said in a news release.

"He lied to them at every step to get them to pay him in advance, and then disappeared with their money without providing the pools he promised. Let this be a warning to any contractor even thinking about defrauding people: I will not tolerate this kind of predatory behavior."

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The attorney general's office filed his lawsuit against Workman in August 2022. According to Ellison, MN Crete Pools used a deceptive sales model to lure consumers into signing expensive pool installation contracts.

Workman got business by misrepresenting to consumers that his company had only one more opening to build a pool and falsely promising to start, according to the lawsuit.

Workman also claimed he would complete projects within timelines that were much sooner than his competition, Ellison said.

Workman also deceived consumers into making advanced payments for pool equipment or pool installation services that he failed to provide or complete, according to the lawsuit.

Ellison said that when consumers contacted Workman about the lack of progress on their project, he offered all kinds of false excuses, including:

Workman even acknowledged to a few consumers that he had not lived up to his end of the contract and promised to refund money to them, but never did. In the end, Workman scammed more than a dozen Minnesota families out of $1.1 million before fleeing the state.

"I want to thank the families Mr. Workman defrauded for coming forward and contacting my office. This result was made possible because they shared their stories with us," Ellison continued.

"If you’ve been scammed by a contractor, don’t feel ashamed and don’t stay silent. My office and I will continue to hold unscrupulous contractors accountable."

Prior Lake Association returns with festive Fourth of July boat parade and fireworks show

The Prior Lake Association’s annual Fourth of July Boat Parade and fireworks extravaganza is back and ready to light up the lake in red, white and blue this Independence Day.The popular event is set to kick off at 1 p.m. on the Upper Lake near the docks at Charlie’s on Prior, 3950 Green Heights Trail SW. After a brief judging period, the sheriff’s boat will lead the parade under the Hwy 21 bridge, through the channel and to the lower lake.Adam Proehl, PLA president, said he and other club members are looking f...

The Prior Lake Association’s annual Fourth of July Boat Parade and fireworks extravaganza is back and ready to light up the lake in red, white and blue this Independence Day.

The popular event is set to kick off at 1 p.m. on the Upper Lake near the docks at Charlie’s on Prior, 3950 Green Heights Trail SW. After a brief judging period, the sheriff’s boat will lead the parade under the Hwy 21 bridge, through the channel and to the lower lake.

Adam Proehl, PLA president, said he and other club members are looking forward to the clever themes contestants come up with this year.

According to PLA, the contest had 26 entrants last year including three “Top Gun” themes, a unique Candy Cove tribute, a Minions-inspired Laker Pride float, a loon-themed float, a pirate ship and numerous patriotic displays.

“We’re just excited to see what kind of floats show up. Every one of those floats is a lifetime memory for families or a group of friend and neighbors,” Proehl said. “It doesn’t matter how elaborate or simple the float decoration is. It’s just great to see everyone out there every year.”

Proehl said the event is so popular every year because residents and spectators get really into the spirit of America’s birthday.

“It’s the Fourth of July on the lake on a hot summer day,” Proehl said. “There’s no better place to be with a few of your closest friends.”

Proehl added that judging starts promptly at 1 p.m. on the Upper Lake near the docks at Charlie’s on Prior. The sheriff boat will lead the boats around the judge’s boat which should be completed by 1:30 p.m. The sheriff’s boat will then lead the parade under the bridge through the channel to the Lower Lake. The parade will end just past Watzl’s Beach.

“Don’t worry about anyone else’s entry. Just focus on your own and make some memories with friends and family by getting a little creative and taking part in the day,” he said. “Unfortunately, not everyone can win the prizes and everyone always has their own individual thoughts about who the top entries are every year.”

The grand prize is $500, with second ($250) and third ($100) places also winning cash prizes. Winners of the Most Patriotic and Best Laker Pride categories will also win $250 apiece. To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/2p9ca238.

Fireworks showLater in the evening, the 57th annual Fourth of July Fireworks Show, which is also sponsored by PLA, will be lighting up the sky at 10:15 p.m. and will be launching from Watzl’s Beach.

This year’s display cost $25,000, same as last year, thanks to generous donations from several local businesses, organizations and community members.

“We lucked out this year. After last year’s fireworks, our supplier informed us we’d likely have to pay substantially more for this year’s show due to inflation and shipping cost pressures,” Proehl said. “Thankfully, that never came to pass and we’re getting the same level of show this year that we did last year.”

Proehl also said the association’s is very close to reaching its fundraising goal to cover the fireworks show.

“We’re very close to our fundraising goal, and we’re hoping to get over the top by the Fourth,” he said. “No amount is too small and the fireworks don’t happen without the support of the community.”

Proehl said residents and businesses who wish to sponsor can do so at https://www.priorlakeassociation.org/.

Lastly, Proehl said there’s only one rule during the patriotic holiday festivities.

“Have fun and be safe. The Fourth is one busy, busy day out on the lake and you will encounter a lot of inexperienced boaters,” he said. “We do what we do because we love Prior Lake and we couldn’t do it without the community behind us.”

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