It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Cathedral Building 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 Oakland, CA 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.
“Excellent service. Bill explained all the details about in-home care thoroughly and accurately. My 2”
“Very nice,friendly and professional. Fairly new with this care and will update after about a”
“I live in Texas and my Mom was in California, so communication was key to”
“My nickname for Bill is Clarence the Angel from "It's a Wonderful Life". At the”
“I would be more than happy to recommend the care services of Always Best Care”
“I am forever grateful for the compassionate care provided by Always Best Care to my”
“We chose Always Best Care because their staff is extremely personable, responsive, and caring. We”
“I would be more than happy to recommend the care services of Always Best Care”
“Bill is representative of his professional, reliable, kind-hearted staff. There is an over abundance of”
“I am a current client of this provider I have two aging family members that have”
“I am a current client of this provider I am very appreciative of the amazing service”
“We are very happy with the service we have received from Always Best Care. They”
“I would happily recommend Always Best Care to anyone looking for quality in-home care for”
“I always wanted my parents to live in their own house as they grow old.”
“I really want to thank Always Best Care for dealing with my grandmother with great”
“I would like to acknowledge the contributions to my father’s well being made by the”
“My mother was a very active senior, but when her back pain became too great,”
“Always Best Care supported me when I was in utmost need. They provided me &”
“We feel very fortunate to have Edwin Sterling as our caregiver. He is very dependable,”
“I am very grateful to Always Best Care for providing such great In-Home Care services.”
“I would like to recommend Always Best Care to all those looking for professional care”
“I would happily recommend Always Best Care to anyone looking for quality in-home care for”
“I would happily recommend Always Best Care to anyone looking for quality in-home care for”
“I am a current client of this provider I would happily recommend Always Best Care to”
“Always Best Care has been a godsend. When I got sick I needed more care”
“Many Thanks for the compassionate care and attention your caregivers provided us at a very”
“Many Thanks for the compassionate care and attention your caregivers provided us at a very”
“Excellent service. Bill explained all the details about in-home care thoroughly and accurately. My 2 main caregivers, Kangou and Beth, were very professional and competent and treated me well, and were very nice people to work with.”
“Very nice,friendly and professional. Fairly new with this care and will update after about a month”
“I live in Texas and my Mom was in California, so communication was key to me in knowing how my Mom was doing, and what she might need. ABC did all the right things; from setting up an online portal that would allow my siblings and I to see what each caregiver was doing during her in-home care, to billing questions, medication requirements, etc. Everything was transparent, and that's so important when it comes to caring for an older family member. Their office staff is outstanding as well. From billing questions to change requests, they never made me feel like I was asking for too much, or that they didn't have time to make sure my Mom was always taken care of. Always Best Care took the time and effort to make sure my mom was taken care of in the best possible way, and for that I will be eternally grateful. Highly recommend their service!”
“My nickname for Bill is Clarence the Angel from "It's a Wonderful Life". At the worst possible time, in the middle of a pandemic, my elderly mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. I had 1 week to find a place for her to live and set up hospice care. In addition I had no other family support. That is when I found Bill/ABC. What a joy! He listened to my needs, concerns, budget and general stress all with great patience and concern. He guided me through the process, set up home tours and advised me what to look for while interviewing prospects. Within 1 week we were able to place my mom in a wonderful home where she can spend her remaining days happy and cared for. The relief I feel cannot be measured and I will be forever grateful to Bill and team.”
“I would be more than happy to recommend the care services of Always Best Care to anyone looking for a good caregiver. They have the best team of caregivers who are trained, experienced, and highly knowledgeable in every aspect of senior care. I highly recommend Always Best Care to anyone who often feels overwhelmed while caring for a senior family member. I have been through this and know how difficult it can get at times. But thanks to Always Best Care, I am now able to better manage my time at work and home. I would still have been struggling with a lot of things if I didn’t have their amazing caregivers to help me take care of my ailing aunt.”
“I am forever grateful for the compassionate care provided by Always Best Care to my grandparents. Their caregivers are experienced and can work under any situation. Both my grandparents had not been keeping well for a long time, especially my grandma who was recently diagnosed with dementia. The caregivers took care of all her needs, including her diet, exercise routine, etc. Thanks again to the whole team of Always Best Care.”
“We chose Always Best Care because their staff is extremely personable, responsive, and caring. We know that we can call them anytime for anything. They are very flexible and always ready to make the required changes in the care plan.”
“I would be more than happy to recommend the care services of Always Best Care to anyone looking for a good caregiver. They have the best team of caregivers who are trained, experienced, and highly knowledgeable in every aspect of senior care. I highly recommend Always Best Care to anyone who often feels overwhelmed while caring for a senior family member. I have been through this and know how difficult it can get at times. But thanks to Always Best Care, I am now able to better manage my time at work and home. I would still have been struggling with a lot of things if I didn’t have their amazing caregivers to help me take care of my ailing aunt.”
“Bill is representative of his professional, reliable, kind-hearted staff. There is an over abundance of non-medical Homecare companies in the Contra Costa Area and Always Best Care makes my top three list because I trust them implicitly. Their hearts are in the right places when it comes to providing great care and truly helping people. They are very responsive, dependable, and I never worry about anything falling through the cracks. Absolutely recommend their services.”
“I am a current client of this provider I have two aging family members that have currently needed some extra help. My wife and myself have full time jobs and cannot provide all the extra help that our loved ones need. Always Best has filled that need and has allow both family members to remain in their homes and still feel in control of their lives. Always Best is just that. They are flexible with their schedules and both relative's have enjoyed the extra help and company.”
“I am a current client of this provider I am very appreciative of the amazing service Always Best Care has been providing to my grandmother. The caregiver assigned for her care is professional, honest, and patient. Thank you so much for everything.”
“We are very happy with the service we have received from Always Best Care. They have the best aides with the all the knowledge, experience, and training needed for senior care. We would highly recommend them to anyone in need of professional care for a senior loved one.”
“I would happily recommend Always Best Care to anyone looking for quality in-home care for a senior loved one. I was very satisfied with the care provided to my dad. The caregivers easily adapted to his changing needs over time. Their team always kept in touch to check on how everything was going. They were always quick to respond to my concerns and kept me involved in the whole process.”
“I always wanted my parents to live in their own house as they grow old. I am glad I found a reliable agency like Always Best Care that has been helping seniors age in place for so many years. Their excellent care services have greatly helped my parents live their senior years in the healthiest and happiest way. Thank you so much Always Best Care for referring Sarah to us. She is very sweet and knows her work. My mother enjoys her company and waits for her every morning. They are soon planning to start doing Yoga at home. I am sure it is going to be a lot of fun. Sarah is more like a family to us now.”
“I really want to thank Always Best Care for dealing with my grandmother with great care and dedication when she needed it the most. The decision of sending her to a senior living facility was a quite difficult one to execute but then the team assured us about her security and safety in such a manner that we could not resist availing their services. I am so glad that we took the decision.”
“I would like to acknowledge the contributions to my father’s well being made by the wonderful staff of Always Best Care. Not only did they arrange for his care on a very short notice, but also sent the best caregiver to help him with difficult tasks.”
“My mother was a very active senior, but when her back pain became too great, we were looking for a caregiver for her because her pain was getting out of control day by day. Then I called up Always Best Care and they helped me with everything. I am very satisfied with their work. Thank you Always Best Care!”
“Always Best Care supported me when I was in utmost need. They provided me & my family with the best care possible. Thank you Always Best Care!”
“We feel very fortunate to have Edwin Sterling as our caregiver. He is very dependable, courteous and has a lot of patience.”
“I am very grateful to Always Best Care for providing such great In-Home Care services. My mom can remain in her home with dignity and respect – the way she always wanted. Things wouldn’t be this easy without the support of your wonderful caregivers. Thanks a lot.”
“I would like to recommend Always Best Care to all those looking for professional care giving services for their aging love done at home. They have the best team of caregivers who ensure to provide compassionate services. Well done guys!”
“I would happily recommend Always Best Care to anyone looking for quality in-home care for a senior loved one. I was very satisfied with the care provided to my dad. The caregivers easily adapted to his changing needs over time. Their team always kept in touch to check on how everything was going. They were always quick to respond to my concerns and kept me involved in the whole process.”
“I would happily recommend Always Best Care to anyone looking for quality in-home care for a senior loved one. I was very satisfied with the care provided to my dad. The caregivers easily adapted to his changing needs over time. Their team always kept in touch to check on how everything was going. They were always quick to respond to my concerns and kept me involved in the whole process.”
“I am a current client of this provider I would happily recommend Always Best Care to anyone looking for quality in-home care for a senior loved one. I was very satisfied with the care provided to my dad. The caregivers easily adapted to his changing needs over time. Their team always kept in touch to check on how everything was going. They were always quick to respond to my concerns and kept me involved in the whole process.”
“Always Best Care has been a godsend. When I got sick I needed more care than my family could provide. The staff at the skilled nursing facility recommended Always Best Care. Bill Kammerer visited and explained how they could help me recover and stay safe and healthy. Bill is very easy to work with, extremely knowledgeable, and patient. He asked me questions, listened to my responses, suggested solutions, and developed a care plan that meets my needs perfectly. In addition, Always Best Care’s caregivers have been fantastic. They are polite, hardworking, reliable, professional, congenial, and well trained. I whole-heartedly recommend Always Best Care.”
“Many Thanks for the compassionate care and attention your caregivers provided us at a very difficult time-period in our lives. I would recommend your services to anyone in need of care for a loved one.”
“Many Thanks for the compassionate care and attention your caregivers provided us at a very difficult time-period in our lives. I would recommend your services to anyone in need of care for a loved one.”
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 Joaquin Miller Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local The Wolf or visit Oakland Museum of California, 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 Oakland, CA, 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 Oakland, CA 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 Oakland, CA 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.
OverviewAbout 20 percent of the City’s land area, including most of Oakland’s shoreline, has historically been used for industrial purposes. An important theme that emerged from environmental justice working group conversations in Phase 1 was the need to envision a cleaner and greener future for these areas. Many of Oakland’s industrial properties have undergone minimal reinvestment over time and are currently dominated by uses with relatively low job densities (meaning that they h...
About 20 percent of the City’s land area, including most of Oakland’s shoreline, has historically been used for industrial purposes. An important theme that emerged from environmental justice working group conversations in Phase 1 was the need to envision a cleaner and greener future for these areas. Many of Oakland’s industrial properties have undergone minimal reinvestment over time and are currently dominated by uses with relatively low job densities (meaning that they hold a disproportionately small share of the City’s overall jobs relative to the amount of land they use). Densifying these areas with cleaner uses while protecting heavier industrial uses in places where they are more appropriate could support local job growth, reduce pollution, and provide opportunities to increase public access to the shoreline.
Option C: Midtown Waterfront District responds to these considerations by proposing a wholesale transformation of the old industrial land along the Central Estuary into a new neighborhood about the same size as Downtown. This new area, tentatively called “Midtown,” would stretch between Foothill Blvd and the Central Estuary shoreline from 14th to High Street. A possible variation on this would be to extend the new Midtown center all the way to connect with Downtown along the shoreline. It would bring investment further east, build on the energy of nearby Fruitvale Village, and take full advantage of Oakland’s waterfront by transforming it into an accessible place where people can live, work, and spend time outdoors. Parks, paths, and public spaces along the shoreline would offer new places for the community to gather. Next to the Midtown, a large (100 acre) new waterfront R&D center, spanning the South Estuary from 42nd Avenue to the Coliseum, would be a major new employment hub.
New homes, businesses and large parks/open spaces would be developed through reuse of aging commercial and industrial properties. New development would be built with the future in mind – new buildings near the water would be designed to handle rising sea levels and a continuous linear park along the shoreline would use green infrastructure strategies to protect low-lying neighborhoods from coastal flooding while reconnecting communities with the waterfront.
A new BART shuttle (a pilot for a new BART station) would run between San Antonio at East 12th Street and 14th Street to Brooklyn Basin, the new shoreline neighborhoods, a new South Estuary R&D hub, and the Lake Merritt and Fruitvale BART stations. Over time, the shuttle could eventually be replaced by an infill BART station and would act as a pilot that demonstrates sufficient ridership demand to merit the investment for BART.
To prevent potential gentrification and displacement that could otherwise result from changes at the Estuary, Option C would also see substantial new affordable housing development in the nearby Fruitvale and San Antonio neighborhoods. This idea is rooted in lessons learned from recent development in Fruitvale, where major housing developments have been built at Fruitvale Village and transit improvements around the Fruitvale BART Station have been made, the neighborhood has largely preserved its socioeconomic and cultural characteristics. Contributing factors include an increased overall housing supply, significant affordable housing developments, and involvement of local community development organizations, all of which have helped to largely keep residents and businesses in place. Policies to protect artists and businesses in Jingletown would also be developed as part of the planning process.
A revitalized waterfront would become one of Oakland’s biggest attractions, shaping a new image for the City and creating a lively, scenic destination for residents and visitors alike. While Midtown would bring major change to the Central Estuary, the benefits would reach far beyond. Property and sales taxes from new homes and businesses would help fund community priorities across the City, from cleaner streets to better-maintained parks and public spaces.
Fig 3-19 Key:
Note: This figure illustrates areas of significant change. However, all parts of the City will be affected by the General Plan.
Option C envisions several areas where major land use changes will occur:
In this Option, jobs growth in addition to the baseline is concentrated within a new waterfront R&D campus, in the mixed-use portion of the Midtown, and along Hegenberger Road, where high sales tax generating businesses such as auto dealerships and big box stores would be strengthened through policies that make this corridor a more attractive and inviting gateway into the City, and that support complementary small businesses such as restaurants and experiential retail.
Figure 3-20 key:
As a community that shares its boundaries with the Bay, Oakland is vulnerable to the effects of rising sea levels. Sea level rise considerations will be an important component of redevelopment in this area. Notably, even under extreme long-term sea level rise scenarios (i.e., 5.5 and 6 feet) the Central and South Estuary are projected to have limited exposure to coastal flooding. However, planning for new development in this area offers an opportunity to proactively incorporate features that will protect not just the Midtown, but also low-lying communities on the other side of I-880 from rising tides. Appropriate preventative measures for new development in the Central Estuary area would include building at elevated foundations, setting critical infrastructure back from the immediate shoreline, and incorporating landscaping features such as berms, living shorelines, and floodable open spaces throughout the area to increase flood resiliency. In addition to providing protection from sea level rise, these design features would also increase Oaklanders’ access to the waterfront.
The major transportation focus of Option C is to better connect Oakland’s shoreline neighborhoods to the rest of the City. Strategies include:
Continuous public access to the shoreline would also be a guiding factor of new development in this area. To facilitate these connections, the City would undertake infrastructural improvements to better connect existing streets in the Central Estuary. Shown in the diagram below, Alameda Avenue would be phased out and replaced with an extension of 42nd Avenue.
The key parks strategy in this Option is to expand linear park space along Embarcadero and the Central Estuary shoreline, strengthening this path as Oakland’s primary destination for waterfront recreation and active mobility. Additional parks would be constructed to support population growth around the new San Antonio transit hub, in Fruitvale, and along International Boulevard. As vacant and underutilized properties are redeveloped, expanding and widening open spaces and the San Francisco Bay Trail will be prioritized. Any redevelopment must protect the broader estuary ecosystem. OPRYD will work in collaboration with East Bay Regional Parks and other stakeholders as well as community members to ensure environmental and community needs are satisfied.
This Option also supports a new greenway running from the hills to the Estuary along Sausal Creek. Parts of Sausal Creek are “daylit” (i.e., run above ground), while other portions flow underneath Oakland’s streets. Policies would seek to activate and enhance access to the daylit portions of the creek, while creating connectivity and awareness along the undergrounded portions. Possible strategies for maintaining ecological awareness of the creek’s undergrounded reaches include site-specific art and informational signage that identifies where the creek is running underground. This greenway would bring foot traffic into the new Midtown, and provide an opportunity for trail-focused economic development in Central East Oakland.
Option C buildout would result in 97,090 new housing units and 120,420 new jobs. These estimates include shared growth that is anticipated to occur across all three Options. Figures 3-23 and 3-24 display heat maps showing where overall housing and jobs growth will take place in Option C.
Reflection Questions: Which features of Option C do you like or dislike? Overall, how much do you support Option C?
With a new grant, the Oakland Museum of California hopes to welcome tens of thousands more students through its doors over the next few years for lessons in California art, science, and history.Museum leaders announced Thursday that OMCA will offer free field trips for all Oakland Unified School District schools over the next three years. As part of this effort, the museum will double its transportation scholarships, which pay for buses or transit fares.“This is about lowering every barrier we can for every Oakland studen...
With a new grant, the Oakland Museum of California hopes to welcome tens of thousands more students through its doors over the next few years for lessons in California art, science, and history.
Museum leaders announced Thursday that OMCA will offer free field trips for all Oakland Unified School District schools over the next three years. As part of this effort, the museum will double its transportation scholarships, which pay for buses or transit fares.
“This is about lowering every barrier we can for every Oakland student and teacher to come to the museum for an experience here,” said Lori Fogarty, the museum’s executive director. “What we try to do here is lift up those stories that may not be in the textbooks, may not be in other museums, and reflect what is so special about Oakland and California.”
Museum staff had consistently heard from schools that their biggest obstacles to visiting the museum were costs and transportation, Fogarty said. The museum typically charges around $200 for a class tour.
Oakland public school teachers can now choose from several free guided tours, mostly aimed at elementary and middle school students, about California’s natural environment, the state’s history and shifting demographics, or how artists make creative choices to convey ideas. Educators can also opt for self-guided tours, available to all grades, to craft their own experience at the museum. The annual Dia De Los Muertos field trip is already fully booked, said senior director Mary Ann Bonet Guardia, but reservations will be available soon for Black history performances in the spring.
More than 22,000 students, teachers, and chaperones visited the Oakland Museum last year on field trips. Title I schools outside of OUSD — schools with higher populations of low-income students — receive 50% off of regular field trip fees.
When Oakland public school students visit the museum with their class, they’ll receive guest passes so they can come back for a visit with their families.
“Having these opportunities to acknowledge and have a connection with the museum that discusses Oakland’s history, the community’s history, the diversity of this beautiful city, and the diversity of California is awesome,” said Denise Saddler, OUSD’s interim superintendent.
This month is OMCA’s 56th anniversary, marking the merger of the former Oakland Public Museum, the Oakland Art Museum, and the Snow Museum of Natural History. The pandemic allowed museum staff time to reflect on how the institution could be a better resource for schools and educators, especially those in their own backyard, Fogarty said.
The expansion of student access was funded by the Daryl Lillie Fund for Oakland Students, supported by longtime museum volunteers John and Daryl Lillie, as well as other donors. The effort includes providing additional support to educators, including curriculum resources, teacher nights in the fall and spring, and a teacher summer camp at the museum where a cohort of teacher fellows can develop curricula.
The Oakland Museum’s newest exhibition, “Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain,” is on view through February.
Faster Approval for Housing & Mixed-Use Projects!Getting approval for your housing or mixed-use project just got a whole lot faster. Oakland needs more housing — and lots of it — to meet our city's goals and help make living here more affordable for all. To help review projects more quickly and objectively, we've created a new Ministerial Design Review process, which reviews projects based on Objective Design Standards.We're cutting approval times and streamlining the application process — called "m...
Getting approval for your housing or mixed-use project just got a whole lot faster. Oakland needs more housing — and lots of it — to meet our city's goals and help make living here more affordable for all. To help review projects more quickly and objectively, we've created a new Ministerial Design Review process, which reviews projects based on Objective Design Standards.
We're cutting approval times and streamlining the application process — called "ministerial" review — for market-rate single family homes to multifamily buildings, along with a range of affordable or mixed-income housing projects. Find your project type below to get started today!
Ready to apply? First, make sure you register and activate your account through our Online Permit Center. For instructions, please visit our Planning & Building Video Tutorials webpage. Then review the project types below to get started.
Objective standards for building design make it easier to apply for and get faster approval for most residential and mixed-use projects. Learn more about what projects are eligible, and how to apply below. Click here to see all of the checklists for the various types of Objective Design Standards.
Recent state laws and local ordinances have made it quicker and easier to apply for and get approval for various housing projects.
Once we receive your application and have created it in our system, we will review your plans. If your plans require corrections or if we need further information, we will contact you. If your plans are approved, we will contact you to around next steps for your permit(s). For the latest processing estimates, please see our Average Permit Processing Turnaround Times webpage.
Call (510) 238-3911 or schedule an appointment with our friendly Permit Counter staff during open hours.
Ministerial: Ministerial means a process for project approval involving little or no subjective judgment by a public official or commission.
Planning Code 17.136.038 Ministerial Design Review.
A. Applicability. The following projects shall be subject to the Ministerial Design Review process specified in Section 17.136.038(B):
B. Procedures for Consideration—Ministerial Design Review. The Director of City Planning, or their designee, shall consider an application for Ministerial Design Review according to the following process.
C. Design Review Criteria—Ministerial Design Review. The City shall not exercise subjective judgment in deciding whether and how to carry out or approve the project. A Ministerial Design Review approval shall be granted for proposals that conform with the property development standards and objective design standards applicable to the underlying zoning designation and any combining zones, including, but not limited to the S-13 and S-14 Combining Zones, if applicable. The City shall maintain a list of publicly available applicable objective design standards that may be amended from time to time.
Oakland By Right: "By Right Residential Approval". “By Right Residential Approval” shall mean a ministerial approval process for specified residential projects in which the City shall not exercise subjective judgment in deciding whether and how to carry out or approve the project and shall apply property development standards and objective design review standards applicable to the underlying zoning designation and the S-13 and S-14 Combining Zones, if applicable.
State By Right: local government's review of project may not require a conditional use permit, planned unit development permit, or other discretionary local government review or approval.
MINISTERIAL DESIGN REVIEW PROJECTS LOG This spreadsheet(XLSX, 19KB) contains the list of Ministerial Design Review projects under review by the City of Oakland's Planning Bureau. The purpose of this log is to keep you informed of new ministerial projects proposed with addresses so you can easily find them. While these projects are not subject to public comment or review and they are not appealable, we've created this log to keep you informed so you're aware of projects that are proposed near you. This log is records submittals only. You can follow the project along as it progresses by visiting the Oakland Accela Citizen Access webpage and searching by the Planning case number. You'll also be able to review the plans and any other submitted documents on that portal. Please note that since these projects are ministerial, the city can and will take action on them at any time without prior notice.
Overview: Options for How We Stabilize and GrowAs part of Phase 2 of the General Plan Update, we've released Oakland for All: Options for How We Stabilize and Grow.This new report explores big-picture ideas for how Oakland could stabilize and grow over the next 20 years – such as choosing where new homes, jobs, parks and open space, and transportation might go.Much of our work on the General Plan Update so far, including community engagement and background research, has focus...
As part of Phase 2 of the General Plan Update, we've released Oakland for All: Options for How We Stabilize and Grow.This new report explores big-picture ideas for how Oakland could stabilize and grow over the next 20 years – such as choosing where new homes, jobs, parks and open space, and transportation might go.
Much of our work on the General Plan Update so far, including community engagement and background research, has focused on the question: where are we going? This stage of the planning process now asks: how will we get there?
The Options for How We Stabilize and Grow are three big-picture ideas for how and where Oakland should stabilize (invest in the wellbeing of current residents and prevent displacement) and grow (plan for new homes, jobs, parks, and transportation in the next 20 years).
The Options are a tool to help the community consider tradeoffs and preferences for Oakland’s future. They are represented with maps, descriptions, and images. A full report on the Options for Stabilization and Growth is available on the General Plan Update.
It includes summary background on past and current planning efforts, key data about the City's future, and several big-picture options for what growth might look like. These options are shaped by community priorities and technical research, and the report compares each option across a range of goals and considerations.
“Community voices are essential in deciding how we grow, invest in our neighborhoods, and make sure every Oaklander can build a good life here,” Mayor Barbara Lee said. "Oakland’s strength has always come from its people, and this plan is about shaping our future together.”
Options for How We Stabilize and Grow. will be available for public comment from July 30 to September 24.
We want to know what you like and don't like about each of the three big-picture Options for where and how Oakland might add new housing, jobs, and community services over the next 20 years. Your feedback will be used to shape a land use and transportation strategy for the General Plan. Keep in mind that parts of the three Options may be combined in the final plan.
We recommend you as you review the Options or after you’ve done so.
The Options Survey will be open from July 30 to September 24
Join us August 13, from 6-7:30pm for an online town hall to review and discuss the Options for How We Stabilize and Grow. Register now.
U.S. News data scientists analyze reams of objective data using a methodology refined through consultation with industry experts to provide best-in-class information for people making critical healthcare decisions.Patient ExperienceBased on surveys from October 2023 to September 2024Scores are based on surveys given to patients after leaving the hospital. The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey is required of most hospitals and asks patients to rate their hospital stay. Each hospital...
U.S. News data scientists analyze reams of objective data using a methodology refined through consultation with industry experts to provide best-in-class information for people making critical healthcare decisions.
Based on surveys from October 2023 to September 2024
Scores are based on surveys given to patients after leaving the hospital. The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey is required of most hospitals and asks patients to rate their hospital stay. Each hospital receives an overall score in each category.
U.S. News evaluates hospital performance across socioeconomic groups by analyzing data on historically underserved patient populations.
See how we collect and evaluate socioeconomic data
The percentage of patients treated by the hospital for elective procedures compared to the community. County and state percentages were not included in the calculation of hospital scores.
How successful hospital is in enabling Black patients to live at home during their first 30 days of recovery, with no time or minimal time spent in a hospital, ER or nursing home, compared to White patients at that hospital. May indicate effective inpatient care, follow-up care, and communication of discharge self-care instructions.
Certain data used for socioeconomics was provided by Arcadia CareJourney and the Dartmouth Atlas Data website.
Elements of the Outcome Disparities were developed by Arcadia CareJourney using data accessed securely through the CMS Virtual Research Data Center (VRDC).
U.S. News Best Hospitals are divided into two types of evaluations: 15 specialty rankings (11 for Children’s Hospitals) and 22 procedure and condition ratings.
The specialty rankings are for patients looking for a hospital that excels in treating more serious cases. Hospitals are ranked from 1 to 50 in each specialty. Hospitals not in the top 50 but in the top 10% of all hospitals evaluated are rated “high performing.” Rankings in 12 of the specialties rely largely on objective, publicly available data, such as Medicare claims, and focus on patient outcomes, such as survival rate and the rate at which patients were able to return home rather than needing additional care; patient experience; care-related factors, such as the level of nurse staffing and patient services; and expert opinion based on three years of surveyed specialists who named hospitals to which they would refer their sickest patients. The final three specialties rely only on the expert opinion survey, as much of the care is provided on an outpatient basis and outcomes are not related to survival but rather management of symptoms. The data for Best Children’s Hospitals was collected via an extensive hospital data submission survey as these data are not available in Medicare claims.
The 22 commonly needed procedures and conditions are rated as ‘high performing,’ ‘as expected’ or ‘evaluated.’. We analyzed data from multiple sources, including Medicare and Medicare Advantage claims, to assess the hospital's risk-adjusted outcomes, such as 30-day survival, 30-day readmission and length of stay. These measure how well the hospital performed at the time of care and its ability to prevent an unplanned repeat visit to the hospital. We also factored in variables linked to quality of care, including the number of patients treated, nurse staffing & communication, and participation in public data registries. Patient satisfaction scores from a nationally-administered survey of patients, known as HCAHPS, were factored into the ratings for all procedures and conditions. Expert opinion is not part of these ratings.
To determine the U.S. News Honor Roll, we used both rankings and ratings to identify the 20 top-performing hospitals nationally (10 for Children’s Hospitals). We also recognized about 500 facilities that provide top care in their states, cities and regions as Best Regional Hospitals based on their performance in single-focus care. For more details, read our full methodology description.
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