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 Museum of North Carolina Traditional Pottery 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 Ceramic, NC 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.
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“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home”
“During an unexpected hospital stay, Joanne provided much needed assistance. She provided excellent care and”
“If you are looking for attentive, quality home care look no further than Joanne and”
“I bn with this company for Abt a year and I love working for them . They work with you,they care about ur personal life/ problems, really good at matching you with good clients..”
“I cannot say enough good things about this company and the caregivers they provided after my mom's recent accident and stay in a rehab facility. The staff were constantly in communication with us keeping us abreast of any little or big updates. Their attitudes were always helpful and they seemed to genuinely care. The caregivers they sent to sit with and take care of mom were EXCELLENT. I'm not sure how many different caregivers she had over the few weeks of her stay but there wasn't a single one that wasn't kind and extremely helpful. It took a tremendous load off of everyone in our family knowing that she was being well cared for when we couldn't be there. Thank you to Brandi, Joanne, Gina, and anyone I'm missing for everything you all did for us from the beginning of the process all the way to my mom's release today. Hopefully, we won't need your services again, but if we do, I know who I will be calling!”
“This company is TOP-NOTCH! Incredibly helpful and super friendly. If you’re looking for a part-time in caregiving, this is it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”
“Sandy is very knowledgeable of assisted living options in the Winston Salem area. She helped with a family member’s search with care and consideration. We highly recommend.”
“I highly recommend Sandy Bowen with Always Best Care. I called her with a very tight timeframe to find a suitable memory care facility for my family member. She asked a lot of questions about my loved one to try and get to know her as much as possible. She worked very fast and lined up several appointments for us to tour places within a matter of days. She explained the process to me every step of the way and made sure we stayed on track. She attended the appointments with me and asked questions that I would never think to ask. I can’t thank her enough.”
“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home care for themselves or loved ones”
“These folks are so helpful! They care about their clients and it shows in the service! I highly recommend ????”
“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home care for themselves or loved ones”
“During an unexpected hospital stay, Joanne provided much needed assistance. She provided excellent care and supportive advocacy. It made dealing with the discomfort more bearable and gave me a safeguard to decipher the complicated choices to resolve health issues. I highly recommend this service.”
“If you are looking for attentive, quality home care look no further than Joanne and her team. A passion for excellence is driven for from this team. Family oriented and willing to work with all families.”
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 Homestead 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 Melting Pot or visit Ceramic, 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 Ceramic, NC, 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 Ceramic, NC 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 Ceramic, NC 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.
Pottery is an art form I've admired for years but never pursued. It all stemmed from a scene in the movie, "Ghost," with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. Yes, that one!Seeing that my daughters also have an interest, I now have chances to indulge after all. We were especially thrilled to watch experts at work when we visited Randolph County.Seagrove, NC is a pottery lover's dream and that's exactly what it's known for. “The ...
Pottery is an art form I've admired for years but never pursued. It all stemmed from a scene in the movie, "Ghost," with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. Yes, that one!
Seeing that my daughters also have an interest, I now have chances to indulge after all. We were especially thrilled to watch experts at work when we visited Randolph County.
Seagrove, NC is a pottery lover's dream and that's exactly what it's known for. “The Handmade Pottery Capital of the United States” is such a charming town and only takes a few minutes to drive through. However, you'll meet some of the best and most talented people.
We made a beeline for Crystal King Pottery and Folk Art Studio. I met Crystal on The Heart Of NC's 2023 "See For Yourself Fam Tour." During conversation, I learned about her business and promised to stop by whenever I was in town.
Crystal is known for her unique face jugs and other sculptural works. She was recently a featured artist for Charlotte's Art in the Garden tour. You can also find handmade soaps, candles, and beautiful mugs in her shop.
As an added bonus... ask her to share her heartwarming story of taking over the family business. Crystal proudly carries the torch of her parents, Terry and Anna King.
We had the privilege of taking a behind the scenes tour of her sacred workspace. It was fascinating to see where all of the magic happens. Just hearing about the process and temperatures involved in woodfiring was mindblowing. So much goes into the work that potters do!
Crystal was kind enough to offer us advice on getting started with pottery. When possible, we're definitely making our way back to Seagrove for events or classes at her studio. If this is also an interest of yours, you should, too.
Visit the website to make purchases and be informed about future happenings. If the timing is right, you may be able to participate in an activity during your trip.
Eck McCanless Pottery was our final stop in Seagrove. Another potter extraordinaire and an incredible musician/songwriter. Eck has been featured in many publications, magazines, and even an award winning film.
His specialty is Agateware. This is a process of turning various colors of clay on the wheel simultaneously, creating a spiral. It is later carved to reveal patterns. We watched a demo of this in the studio. Demonstrations are held daily and something you don't want to miss. Calling ahead is suggested if you plan to visit and desire to see Eck at work. His skills are amazing.
Eck is a second generation potter who I found to be extremely generous with what he knows. Add to that a fun sense of humor, down-to-earthness, and you've found a most inviting place to be.
If that isn't enough, we were later surprised with an impromptu vocal performance and absolutely floored. What a voice and guitar skills! Information about his band (The Radio), pottery, and upcoming events can be found on the website. Many of the performances are held in Pittsboro.
Eck credits so much of his success to the love, support and brilliance of his wife, Rhonda. The two have been married for 27 years. It was a pleasure to meet her as well. She was so nice and answered any questions we had about items sold in the shop or the local area.
There are over 100 potters in the Seagrove area with studios and/or items for sale. Pottery festival weekend is held here, too, and welcomes people from all over. Find out more information and plan your trip!
HighlightsAbstractSurface-dependent nonradical oxidation of N-doped carbon (NC)-based peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system features high stoichiometric efficiency and target degradation selectivity. However, these are severely limited by the ineffective mass transfer of organics and PMS to NC surface. Herein, we utilize membrane confinement to enhance the interaction between organics/PMS and NC catalyst, and propose the synergy mechanism of surface reaction and membrane confinement towards organics removal. The NC catalyst layer ...
Surface-dependent nonradical oxidation of N-doped carbon (NC)-based peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system features high stoichiometric efficiency and target degradation selectivity. However, these are severely limited by the ineffective mass transfer of organics and PMS to NC surface. Herein, we utilize membrane confinement to enhance the interaction between organics/PMS and NC catalyst, and propose the synergy mechanism of surface reaction and membrane confinement towards organics removal. The NC catalyst layer is firstly uniformly loaded throughout the ceramic membrane (NC@CM) via an innovative simultaneous polymerization-coating method. As expected, NC@CM/PMS system significantly expedites the surface reaction dominant oxidation in the filtration-through mode, and its kinetics constant for bisphenol A removal is 3700 times higher than that of NC powder/PMS system. Moreover, it has high selectivity in removal of targeted organics such as BPA (81–100 % removal rate) under various interferences (anions, NOM, water sources) due to the corporation of surface reaction and membrane sieving effect. Mechanism study reveals that the synergy of membrane confinement and surface reaction of NC@CM/PMS system removes large size disturbance and reinforces mass transfer process of reactive species towards target organics, and promotes the generation and transformation of reactive species on the NC surface. Our system can selectively and efficiently remove targeted micropollutants with strong anti-interference capability, which is of great significance in practical application.
Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation is perceived as a potential advanced oxidation process (AOP) for remediation of emerging toxic micropollutants (e.g., bisphenol A) in surface and ground water [1], [2], [3], [4]. Various PMS-activation catalysts, as core component in this process, have been explored for promoting electron transfer and reactive species production from PMS precursors [5], [6]. Compared to the homogeneous catalysts which employ dissolved transition metals as benchmark in PMS activation, heterogeneous metal catalysts have advantages of simple separation, low cost, and absence of sludge generation [7], [8], [9]. Nevertheless, some obstacles still limit their widespread applications: (i) the inevitable leaching of toxic metal ions leads to the secondary pollution risk; (ii) the inferior tunability of the coordination structure of metal atoms hinders the exploitation of catalytic activity [10].
Recently, N-doped carbon (NC), typical heteroatom doped carbonaceous materials, have become emerging heterogenous catalysts to overcome the mentioned drawbacks of traditional metal-based catalysts [11]. The introduction of N dopant can effectively regulate the spin density and charge distribution within the conjugated carbon network, inducing outperformed activity while ensuring safety of the treatment process [12]. Moreover, owing to the unique band structure of sp2 carbons tailored by electron-rich N dopants, the N-doped carbon catalyst is demonstrated to primarily mediate a surface reaction pathway in PMS activation, where organics are degraded via an electron-transfer pathway over the conducted carbon surface [13], [14]. This feature remarkably boosts specific selectivity of the target organics and stoichiometric efficiency of the reaction system, which makes NC a particularly promising catalyst in PMS activation for water treatment [3]. However, the surface reaction dominant AOPs is restricted by mass transfer among PMS, organics and NC in heterogeneous reactive system because the attachment of organics and PMS from bulk aqueous phase onto NC surface is extremely slow [15].
One strategy to enhance mass transfer process of surface dominant reaction is to confine the reactive substances in a spatial space, where the reaction occurs with concentrated reactive substances and short transfer paths [16]. Loading nanocatalysts into the membrane is a simple construction method of confinement reaction system, which has attracted great attentions [17], [18]. This catalytic membrane reactor highly accelerates the performance of heterogeneous catalysts in AOPs for selective removal of organic micropollutants [19]. However, the existing preparation methods for NC-based catalytic membrane reactor, such as blending or surface coating of bulk nanocatalysts inevitably cause the destruction of membrane structure, blockage of inner pores and uneven distribution of catalysts, leading to unsatisfactory performance for both permeation and catalytic activity [17], [19], [20], [21]. Furthermore, although the effect of spatial confinement on radical reaction has been well studied [16], [22], the promoting mechanism of spatial confinement has not been clearly studied on surface reaction dominant AOPs of NC-based catalytic membrane reactor, in which spatial condition has greatly influences on the surface reactive species [23].
Based on above analysis, we propose an innovative simultaneous polymerization-coating method to prepare N-doped carbon modified ceramic membrane (NC@CM) with uniform catalyst layer and adequate active sites inside of the membrane. Dopamine is used as a NC precursor, as it can fully infiltrate into membrane pores and gradually polymerize into a uniform coating layer of polydopamine (PDA), thus constructing a well-structured NC-based membrane reactor after being annealed [13]. The catalytic performance and mechanism of NC-based membrane reactor are explored for PMS activation to degrade BPA in a filtration-through mode. Meanwhile, the promoting mechanism of integrating membrane confinement with surface reaction dominant AOPs for micropollutant removal is systematically studied and proposed. Finally, the NC@CM/PMS system is evaluated to selectively and efficiently remove the micropollutants under various interferences, which highlights the critical roles of membrane confinement and surface reaction in practical application.
Dopamine hydrochloride (C8H11NO2·HCl, >98 %), Tris-buffer, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline (DMPO, >99.0 %), 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinol (TEMP), furfuryl alcohol (FFA), and bisphenol A (BPA) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Co. Ltd. Peroxymonosulfate (2KHSO5·KHSO4·K2SO4, PMS), absolute methanol (MeOH, 99.5 %), t-butanol (TBA, 99 %), ammonia solution (NH4OH, 25 %), potash dichromate (K2Cr2O7), and polyethylene oxide (PEO, Mw = 50–500 kDa) were supplied by Aladdin Co. Ltd. The Suwannee River NOM
Seen from Fig. 1b and c, the color of the NC@CM changes from white to brownish black after NC is loaded. The NC layer is smooth and compact (pointed by the red arrow), and no obvious difference is observed in the structural characteristic between CM and NC@CM, indicating the even and thin NC coating throughout the surface of CM. Meanwhile, according to the EDS-mapping (Fig. 1d and e), the N and C elements are evenly scattered on the membrane cross-section of NC@CM, again suggesting the uniform
This study systematically investigates the availability of integrating surface dominant AOPs with membrane reactor for selectively efficient degradation of micropollutants. Firstly, an innovative simultaneous polymerization-coating method is employed for preparation of the N-doped carbon modified ceramic membrane (NC@CM). Characterization studies show that a uniform NC catalyst layer is loaded throughout the membrane. This feature guarantees adequate exposure of active sites in the limited
Yufei Zhen: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing – original draft. Zhiqiang Sun: Writing – review & editing, Conceptualization. Hang Qie?Visualization, Investigation. Yixuan Zhang: Data curation, Software, Visualization. Caihong Liu: Investigation. Dongwei Lu: Software, Visualization. Wei Wang: Project administration. Yu Tian: Project administration. Jun Ma: Supervision.
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52000050 and 51908162), Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province (Grant No. LH2020E053), Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 2020M670913), Heilongjiang Postdoctoral Fund (Grant No. LBH-Z20063) and State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment (Harbin Institute of Technology) (Grant No. 2021TS22).
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The city of Asheville has a rich pottery history. So rich, it’s drawn many ceramic artists to the area.One of them is Candice Hensley, a ceramic artist who became a "trailglazer" and opened her own business in the western North Carolina mountains.Artists usually have interesting stories about why they became artists, and that's no different for Hensley."I just enjoy making pottery," Hensley says. "This is my therapy."But she didn't always want to be a pot...
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The city of Asheville has a rich pottery history. So rich, it’s drawn many ceramic artists to the area.
One of them is Candice Hensley, a ceramic artist who became a "trailglazer" and opened her own business in the western North Carolina mountains.
Artists usually have interesting stories about why they became artists, and that's no different for Hensley.
"I just enjoy making pottery," Hensley says. "This is my therapy."
But she didn't always want to be a potter. Born and raised in Kentucky, she initially went to college pursuing a degree in broadcast journalism.
"I actually wanted to be a news lady," Hensley says.
But an elective in college changed the course of her life.
"I took a ceramics class in college and absolutely fell in love," Hensley says. "It just changed my life completely.”
That class is what brought her the most peace and happiness, and she couldn't turn a blind eye to that.
Loving it was one thing, but she was hesitant about pursuing it as a career. That is, until her father passed away in 2005 after a long battle with cancer. Her dad meant everything to her.
"My dad, he was a welder, and he was always tinkering with something in the garage," Hensley says. "And one thing that was really important to him was not necessarily the final product but just that something was well-made.”
That stuck with her. She makes sure each item she creates is made well.
"The other sort of legacy that I feel like he left me with was, you know, don't live your life just for the weekends," Hensley says. "To live your life to be happy in all that you do.”
These legacies resonated with her, and she decided to pursue a life she knew would make her happy. Before she knew it, Hensley was moving to Asheville as a full-time ceramic artist.
"I really like that I can use what I'm making," Hensley says. "To me, that's the most beautiful thing that there is, is that it's actually a functional piece of art.”
But being a woman in the industry, she has faced some challenges.
"I noticed early on in my career that there were a lot of, a lot of like, you know, prestigious shows and things like that were really geared towards men," Hensley says. "They seem to always have the spotlight.”
But she's noticed a shift in things over the past few years, and she's liking what she's seeing. Now, women are leading shows.
"It's been really nice to be recognized as not just a hobby potter but as a professional in the field," Hensley says.
She says it's made all the difference.
And it’s deserved because becoming a potter is all about patience and precision. Getting to where she is today has taken her several years.
"There's a lot of knowledge that has taken me, you know, a decade to actually get and know in my hands and know how and what I'm doing and how I'm forming things," Hensley says.
In a city embracing her talents, she knows her dad would be very proud of her. He is her inspiration after all.
She says her work often reflects two of her most passionate loves — food and flowers. Porcelain pots are a specialty of hers.
Hensley has a studio she works out of in her West Asheville home. You can also find her ceramics at Clayspace in the River Arts District in Asheville, or online at her website.
About an hour-and-a-half drive from Raleigh is an oasis for North Carolina's potters.Within a 20-mile radius are over 50 pottery shops for people to visit, according to Seagrove Area Potters' website, which claims it's the "largest concentration of working potters in the United States.""These folks are truly craftsmen and artisans, and they're working to make a really beautiful product [and] a really useful product. They're, quite often, ...
About an hour-and-a-half drive from Raleigh is an oasis for North Carolina's potters.
Within a 20-mile radius are over 50 pottery shops for people to visit, according to Seagrove Area Potters' website, which claims it's the "largest concentration of working potters in the United States."
"These folks are truly craftsmen and artisans, and they're working to make a really beautiful product [and] a really useful product. They're, quite often, making it out of local materials -- whether it be wild clays or minerals that they use to make their glazes," said Lindsey Lambert, the executive director of the North Carolina Pottery Center.
The original residents of the area came because of the great farming soil, according to Lambert.
"If you think about the geology of North Carolina over millions and millions of years ... it was a very different place. The mountains were much, much bigger. There was a lot of volcanic activity in the nearby regions as well, and that was depositing ash at the same time [and] the sea level was much higher ... so between the higher ocean level and the ash from the volcanoes over millions of years, you had these wonderful, rich clay deposits that developed out of it," said Lambert.
And, the settlers had to figure out how to continue making money outside of their crop's season.
"They had to figure out some other ways to make ends meet during the course of the year, and a number of them took up pottery," explained Lambert.
"So, why did it become such a haven [for the potters]? I would say the geology, the soul, the clay and tying that into them being both farmers and potters," he added.
The potters living in the Seagrove area in present day are a mix of multiple-generation artists and newcomers.
Lambert adds that the potters who have moved into the area in the 21st century have not all trained in the traditional manner for pottery. Instead, many have received a bachelor's or master's degree in ceramics and fine art, rather than being trained through an apprenticeship or learning on their own.
"[The pottery] has shifted a bit away from all of the traditional family lineage. [But] it's still certainly an important part," said Lambert.
Lambert said the NC Pottery Center, which is also located in Seagrove, is a great starting point for those coming into the area for pottery.
"We're a museum and education center," said Lambert. "Our mission is sharing North Carolina potters' stories of past and present."
The private, nonprofit pottery center often has historical and contemporary exhibits for visitors.
"We also have a couple shelves of just examples of pieces of local potters," said Lambert. "Those examples, along with a map that's produced by the Seagrove Potters' Association, really provides a framework for visitors to be able to determine what they like, what they're interested in and who they want to go see."
Since everyone visiting the Seagrove area has different tastes and each potter has a distinct style, the pottery center can serve as a go-between.
Pottery center employees can help to connect visitors with the potters behind the artwork they connect to most.
"It's a little bit of a matchmaking process in terms of figuring out who you like and who you want to get to see," said Lambert.
"People are always asking us, 'Who do you recommend that we not miss seeing?' We don't answer that question. We instead say, 'Well what sort of pottery are you interested in?' And then we get them look at them map [and] we get them looking at the examples and we just try to get them pointed in the direction of things that they're interested in," said Lambert.
Lambert said the pottery center typically has 8,000 visitors from the United States and beyond in a pre-pandemic year.
"We have visitors from almost every state ... and in a normal year, we would get visitors from 20 plus countries," he said.
Wherever people are visiting from, Lambert said they're sure to find pottery they'll fall in love with.
"That's the fun part of it. There's truly something for everyone here in North Carolina," he added.
SHAREASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Heather Knight never truly thought her ceramic creations would pay the bills."I didn't know that you could, that you could actually make a living doing art," said Knight.Ever since she created her Etsy store in 2007 though, customers have been interested."My work is so different. I think that really helped me in the beginning. It just wasn't anything that anyone had ever seen," said Heather Knight of Element Clay Studio.Both the functional and the decorative piece...
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ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Heather Knight never truly thought her ceramic creations would pay the bills.
"I didn't know that you could, that you could actually make a living doing art," said Knight.
Ever since she created her Etsy store in 2007 though, customers have been interested.
"My work is so different. I think that really helped me in the beginning. It just wasn't anything that anyone had ever seen," said Heather Knight of Element Clay Studio.
Both the functional and the decorative pieces share the same style. Many potters in North Carolina create earthenware or stoneware, but Heather chose to make porcelain.
"I wasn't thinking well, you know, everybody else makes this brown pottery, I'm gonna make this white stuff. I just kind of found my own voice," said Knight.
Heather appreciates the look of porcelain straight from the kiln.
"It doesn't need color. It's just so beautiful, even in its raw form," said Knight.
She does add color to many of her pieces.
"Developing my glaze palette has kind of become more of a focus over the last couple of years," said Knight.
Porcelain is quite strong when finished, but getting there can be challenging.
"It doesn't have a lot holding it together, like, really on a molecular level. Basically it's like working with cream cheese, that's the easiest way to describe it," said Knight.
Heather has her hands on every piece she sells. She does get assistance from her husband.
"We get, you know, interest from, from worldwide, not just regional and people that walk in the doors," said Heather's husband Mike Dale.
He means worldwide in the literal sense. The work is quite satisfying for Heather.
"I get to come into work everyday and pound out some clay and use my hands and make beautiful things," said Knight.
She has just begun the search for a production assistant to help with the workload.
"I'm at a point where everything's kind of plateaued. I'm, I can't take on anymore business," said Knight.
Much of Heather’s work is inspired by the ocean, but she frequently tries new designs and new lines.
"My work is obviously very repetitive, so it's, it's good to come up with some new textures and ideas," said Knight.
She’ll keep at it, as long as the public keeps responding in such a positive way.
"It's a great feeling, you know, to do, to do something and have people really love it," said Knight.
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