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 Bennett Place 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 Center, 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.
“Looking for a placement is always difficult for a family. Contacting Sandy to help was”
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“Looking for a placement is always difficult for a family. Contacting Sandy to help was the best option. She was familiar with all assisted living/memory care facilities around town and was quick to respond to the family with tours. She delivered FL2 forms to physician's and made the transition an easy process. I recommend Sandy 100 % for any family needing a smaller community for their elderly family member.”
“I have been working for ABC for two years now, and I am very grateful for my position. The staff are acceptable, the clients are lovely, and the environments are professional. I highly recommend PCAs and CNAs to apply.”
“Such a wonderful place to work! Caregivers that genuinely care with office support that go above and beyond for staff/clients. Highly recommend for employment and senior in-home care support.”
“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!”
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“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 White Deer Park Nature Center 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 McNinch House Restaurant or visit Mordecai House, 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 Center, 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 Center, 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 Center, 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.
POLK COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Crews are continuing to battle three major wildfires burning in Polk County.There are three fires as of Saturday morning: Black Cove, Deep Woods and Fish Hook.Kellie Cannon, Polk County Public Information Officer provided the following update on the fires' status:News 13 has learned that responders from across the country, including Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, Michigan, Montana and South Carolina, are coming to help control the situation.If you need pet or livestock evacuation and ...
POLK COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Crews are continuing to battle three major wildfires burning in Polk County.
There are three fires as of Saturday morning: Black Cove, Deep Woods and Fish Hook.
Kellie Cannon, Polk County Public Information Officer provided the following update on the fires' status:
News 13 has learned that responders from across the country, including Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, Michigan, Montana and South Carolina, are coming to help control the situation.
If you need pet or livestock evacuation and boarding due to the fire, you can contact Polk County Animal Control at 828-817-7984.
EVACUATIONS IN PLACE, STRUCTURES DESTROYED AS THREE WILDFIRES BURN IN POLK COUNTY
Donations are being accepted at two locations for both firefighters and affected residents.
Locations:
Please leave donated items at the side door.
Cannon asked that everyone stay out of the evacuated areas and that they will notify residents when it is safe to return.
Firefighters are conducting a lot of structure protection in all three areas, you're asked to keep in mind that these are active fire zones.
This means that there is the potential for an aircraft to come in to support, so there is a strict no-flying zone for drones.
As of Saturday morning, the Disaster Recovery Center in Polk County has reopened.
The DRC located at Isothermal Community College campus was temporarily closed due to wildfire smoke, but is now back open.
There is also a statewide open burning ban issued by the North Carolina Forest Service until further notice.
Polk County has also issued a countywide burn ban due to the severe fire risks caused by low humidity, strong winds and extreme conditions.
FIRE CREWS BATTLE MASSIVE POLK COUNTY WILDFIRES, ZERO CONTAINMENT ON TWO MAJOR BLAZES
Code Red Air Quality is also expected through Saturday in Polk County.
The NC Dept of Environmental Quality's Division of Air Quality (DAQ) has issued the Code Red air quality alert for the county. This means that prolonged exposure to the air could be unhealthy for anyone.
There is also a Code Orange air quality alert in Rutherford County, meaning that air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
These alerts are in effect until midnight Saturday.
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This is a developing story that will be updated as we learn more.
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The NCAA Tournament is underway, and hundreds of college basketball fans nationwide are expected be in the Triangle this weekend.The Lenovo Center in Raleigh will host first and second-round matchups Friday and Sunday.This includes No. 1 Duke Blue Devils squaring off against Mount St. Mary's in the opening round of the tournament. The game starts at 2:50 p.m. on Friday on CBS.Duke ha...
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The NCAA Tournament is underway, and hundreds of college basketball fans nationwide are expected be in the Triangle this weekend.
The Lenovo Center in Raleigh will host first and second-round matchups Friday and Sunday.
This includes No. 1 Duke Blue Devils squaring off against Mount St. Mary's in the opening round of the tournament. The game starts at 2:50 p.m. on Friday on CBS.
Duke have gone 22-1 against ACC teams, with a 9-2 record in non-conference play. Duke has a 26-0 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Mountaineers are 15-8 against MAAC teams. Mount St. Mary's averages 14.4 turnovers per game and is 6-3 when winning the turnover battle.
Duke scores 82.7 points, 12.8 more per game than the 69.9 Mount St. Mary's allows. Mount St. Mary's scores 8.8 more points per game (70.7) than Duke gives up to opponents (61.9).
Blue Devils: Cooper Flagg is averaging 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals for the Blue Devils. Kon Knueppel is averaging 17.2 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 52.9% over the last 10 games.
Mountaineers: Carmelo Pacheco averages 2.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Mountaineers, scoring 9.5 points while shooting 46.4% from beyond the arc. Dola Adebayo is averaging 15.5 points and 8.7 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Blue Devils: 10-0, averaging 89.3 points, 35.9 rebounds, 17.5 assists, 6.8 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 51.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 65.6 points per game.
Mountaineers: 8-2, averaging 69.2 points, 34.5 rebounds, 14.8 assists, 4.4 steals and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 64.3 points.
Here is everything you need to know if you are thinking about getting a front-row seat to the madness.
For those interested in going to the games you can buy single game tickets or to both games taking place on Friday.
There will be some fun activities before the games begin in the Hoops and Hops Fan Zone. It will open 2 hours before each session. No ticket is required.
Fans will have to pay if they want to park near the arena. Information on that can be found here.
Bags smaller than 4.5" x 6.5" are allowed. More information on the policy at Lenovo Center can be found here.
Copyright © 2025 ABC11-WTVD-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved - The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Apple TV+'s hit show “Severance” follows employees whose consciousnesses are surgically split by their employer, enigmatic company Lumon, between their mysterious work lives, their “innies,” and their personal lives, their “outies.” For Raleigh-born young actress Sarah Bock, who plays Miss Huang in season two, that peculiar work-life balance felt familiar.“It w...
Apple TV+'s hit show “Severance” follows employees whose consciousnesses are surgically split by their employer, enigmatic company Lumon, between their mysterious work lives, their “innies,” and their personal lives, their “outies.” For Raleigh-born young actress Sarah Bock, who plays Miss Huang in season two, that peculiar work-life balance felt familiar.
“It was this very dual, ‘Severance'-y life that was sometimes a little bit hard to balance because I would go from filming a super serious scene on set, and then I would have to go do chemistry homework,” Bock told RALtoday over Zoom. “If I had an innie, that would be my school persona, and my outie was the filming part, because that was the most fun for me. That felt like a break and not like work.”
Bock got her start in local theater in NC, including in “Annie” from NC Theatre in 2019 and the titular role of “Matilda” in a Burlington production.
"[Local theater] taught me a lot about adaptability, because when you’re in theater, things are changing constantly,” Bock said. “On a TV set, the scripts are constantly changing, and the sets are constantly changing, so learning how to move with everything was really important.”
Bock was cast in 2022, the same year as the show’s highly acclaimed first season, and while fans had to wait three years for more, Bock was getting settled with her role while also being a 15-year-old student at Green Level High School in Cary.
“It was a privilege to get to live in the character for so long, especially because she is so enigmatic and mysterious, and there were a lot of questions surrounding her,” Bock said. “The more time I got to live in her skin, the more specificity I was able to put into her character.”
Miss Huang is the new deputy manager of Lumon’s severed floor — and also a child — and Bock had to learn to balance both sides of the character.
“I thought it was really interesting to explore her very stoic nature when she’s talking to the innies and telling them what to do but also going back to her desk and playing with her little water toy,” Bock said. “It was fun, especially in the ninth episode, to get to explore a little bit more of like her childish innocence and maybe make the audience feel a little empathetic towards her since up until then, she had really been portraying an adult’s role in the company.”
Bock hopes she isn’t like her often-severe role, and to get into character, she meditated, listened to a curated playlist — full of MARINA, ‘60s music, and thereminist Clara Rockmore — and “once [hair, makeup, and costuming] put the barrette and the side part in, I was like, I am Miss Huang,” Bock told RALtoday.
To further embody Miss Huang, Bock learned how to measure blood pressure, took a day of Italian lessons — for a scene that was ultimately cut — and learned how to play the theremin.
“I had three months of theremin lessons with an amazing theremin teacher, Jennifer, and I actually learned it,” Bock told RALtoday. “I got to keep the theremin, so I brought it back with me to Raleigh. I got to play a bit over the summer, but since I’ve been in college, I haven’t played since.”
Although Miss Huang’s time on “Severance” seems to be over, Bock said she wishes she could have had a scene with Patricia Arquette, who plays Ms. Cobel.
“I’m a huge fan, and I have gotten to meet her, and she’s the sweetest human being on the face of the planet,” Bock said. “I think it would be super interesting to see Miss Huang and Cobel interact because their lives like mirror each other in such specific ways.”
The scenes Bock filmed during her last day on set aired in episode nine and saw Miss Huang’s sensitive side as she left the severed floor.
“They were very bittersweet because they were super fun scenes to film. I felt like I had a lot of challenging stuff to work with, because [Miss Huang] got to get a little bit more emotional, which was something that we hadn’t really explored with her in previous episodes,” Bock said. “It was a little bit sad because I love working with everyone on the show, and I was gonna miss them a lot, but it was also just so much fun.”
As for the season two finale, Bock had to stay tight-lipped, but she offered three words: “heart-racing, insane, and exciting.”
The final episode of “Severance” season two premieres Friday, March 21 on Apple TV+.
U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC 2) and officials with Wake County Smart Start toured a child care and learning center in southeast Raleigh Wednesday morning to raise awareness of imperiled federal programs supporting early childhood education.Ross visited a classroom at Wanda’s Little Hands in Raleigh and read “Sheep in a Jeep” to a group of young children before joining a panel discussion with early education experts and stakeholders, part of a series of visits to facilities throughout Wake County whose federal funding...
U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC 2) and officials with Wake County Smart Start toured a child care and learning center in southeast Raleigh Wednesday morning to raise awareness of imperiled federal programs supporting early childhood education.
Ross visited a classroom at Wanda’s Little Hands in Raleigh and read “Sheep in a Jeep” to a group of young children before joining a panel discussion with early education experts and stakeholders, part of a series of visits to facilities throughout Wake County whose federal funding is at risk. The tour came a day after she visited Hodge Road Magnet Elementary in Knightdale.
She said she was struck by the intelligence displayed by the young children she read to, noting that they not only followed the events of the story but were able to think critically about what they might do if they were in the same situation as the characters. Ross said her mother, who was a lifelong early childhood educator, impressed upon her the importance of teaching these skills at an early age.
“I’m preaching to the choir by telling you how important early education is for success later on in school,” Ross said. “Early education is also child care — it provides a way for parents to go to work, be able to care for their parents if that might be something they need to do, and they want to make sure that they have stable, excellent places to take their children.”
But Ross said federal cuts are putting these programs in jeopardy. The so-called Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk has taken aim at programs supporting early education, with 20% of staff members with the Office of Head Start and 25% with the Office of Child Care losing their jobs earlier this month, part of wave of firings across the Department of Health and Human Services. These cuts come as the child care industry struggles to recover from COVID-19, which triggered a wave of facility closures around the state.
State and federal funding allows education centers like Wanda’s Little Hands to provide free pre-K learning programs to many families that could not otherwise afford them. With 67,000 children under the age of 5 in Wake County, seats in these programs are already challenging to find, and without federal support, the cost of raising young children can be unsustainable for many North Carolinians — according to Gayle Headen, the executive director of Wake County Smart Start, parents can spend more than the cost of in-state college tuition each year caring for their young children.
“If those cuts were to be enacted, these are real children who don’t have access to these seats, and that impacts not only the children; it impacts their families and it impacts other families who are looking for seats,” Headen said. “It’s a whole ecosystem that’s impacted.”
“We are definitely grateful to be of support for the families and the parents that come in — working parents, parents who might be in school, parents just coming out of situations — that we are to still provide the care they need for those students and for those kids,” said Wanda McCargo, the early learning center’s founder. “In this setting that we provide for them, in the small groups, it allows them to blossom and grow.”
Headen said Wake County relies on a blend of federal, state, and local funding to provide early childhood education, including through Head Start and Early Head Start programs, encompassing children from late infancy to age five — a critical period of development so they can succeed in kindergarten.
In an interview after the panel, Ross said she has already been told the federal Head Start program is having “tremendous challenges” making ends meet with the cuts to government spending and that some early childhood centers relying on HHS support have been forced to close due to a lack of funding.
Headen said applications for Wake County Smart Start’s pre-K programs fell last month in the immediate aftermath of the Trump administration’s funding freeze. “There’s just a lot of fear. Parents are concerned.”
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The National Head Start Association reported that many grant recipients have seen delays in accessing approved grant funding since the funding freeze was announced in the second week of the Trump administration.Without Wanda McCargo, Wanda's Little Hands Education Center would not exist."We have been serving this southeast Raleigh community since 1996," McCargo said.Wanda's Little Hands serves 85 children, offering affordable early childcare to families.McCargo said she relies on state and federal fundin...
The National Head Start Association reported that many grant recipients have seen delays in accessing approved grant funding since the funding freeze was announced in the second week of the Trump administration.
Without Wanda McCargo, Wanda's Little Hands Education Center would not exist.
"We have been serving this southeast Raleigh community since 1996," McCargo said.
Wanda's Little Hands serves 85 children, offering affordable early childcare to families.
McCargo said she relies on state and federal funding to make her programs possible. She's taken advantage of many options, from Wake County Smart Start to Head Start, the federally funded, comprehensive preschool program for children aged 3 to 5 and their families.
"Being able to connect with outside agencies to provide funding and sustainability here is great,” she said. “The challenge would be if we didn't have that here."
Some Democratic lawmakers fear the Trump administration will make moves to cut some of these programs.
President Donald Trump implemented a federal funding freeze on grants and loans that have impacted programs like Head Start already.
The National Head Start Association reported that many grant recipients have seen delays in accessing approved grant funding since the funding freeze was announced in the second week of the Trump administration.
Some programs said they haven't been able to draw down the funds to pay for expenses like payroll and utilities. The freeze started last week with an Office of Management and Budget memo, which was quickly rescinded.
On Wednesday, McCargo sat down with U.S. Deborah Ross, D-North Carolina, at a roundtable discussing child care. Ross said she'd heard about the impact of that freeze, especially on programs like Head Start.
"I have heard, particularly from Head Start, that they have tremendous challenges being able to make ends meet," Ross said. "Also, through the Department of Health and Human Services that deals with early childhood centers. We've had so many centers close."
WRAL News has reported on the impact of the end of pandemic-era child care center funding on centers, with many being forced to close down in the last few years.
WRAL News spoke with parents, who say they're aware of how the federal funds help decrease the cost for child care centers.
Karen Rodriguez has two children, one of which goes to Wanda's Little Hands.
"I work a full-time job, but I would not be able to afford child care if it wasn't for these programs," she said.
For Rodriguez, it's not just about affordable childcare but also being able to find a quality option for her child, whose first language at home is Spanish.
WRAL News asked North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall about some of the concerns regarding funding for child care.
"In this state, as in every state, child care is expensive," he said. "I don't know the government paying for these things helps alleviate the problem. It's more of a concern to have people available to work to do those things."
Hall said lawmakers are watching the federal issues closely and are open to discussing ideas on lowering child care costs and expanding access in the future.
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