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 Oakforest 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 Oak Crest, 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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“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.”
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“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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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 Historic Oak View County 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 Island Way or visit PurefoyChappell 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 Oak Crest, 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 Oak Crest, 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 Oak Crest, 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.
King mackerel, kingfish rule Oak Island’s boardsThe ocean fishing piers along the southern coast of North Carolina have a reputation for producing fish in May, and things are shaping up for 2016 to be another banner year.Two of the most popular May pier fish are called kingfish by some folks, but they have little else in common. Whiting — aka sea mullet, Virginia mullet — are known to biologists and a few fishermen as kingfish, and the Gulf, southern and northern subspecies all visit piers during the spring....
The ocean fishing piers along the southern coast of North Carolina have a reputation for producing fish in May, and things are shaping up for 2016 to be another banner year.
Two of the most popular May pier fish are called kingfish by some folks, but they have little else in common. Whiting — aka sea mullet, Virginia mullet — are known to biologists and a few fishermen as kingfish, and the Gulf, southern and northern subspecies all visit piers during the spring.
All of them are bottom-feeders caught using speck rigs or double-drop bottom rigs tipped with pieces of shrimp. They are very popular table fare as they have light meat with a light flavor.
The other kingfish are king mackerel. While it may seem odd, the spring kings caught from southern piers are often the largest of the year. The piers on Oak Island are the epicenter of king mackerel fishing, with pier records all 50 pounds or heavier. Many fishermen believe that with the early spring and warmer than normal water, the spring 2016 run might include fish that could break the existing records.
Checking years of catches shows the southern pier king run could begin a few weeks earlier, but it typically occurs during late April and May. Before 2006, Oak Island had three ocean piers, but Long Beach Pier was sold in 2005 and dismantled in early 2006. Yaupon Beach Pier (now Oak Island Pier) is the oldest and dates from the early 1950s. Ocean Crest Pier was built in the late 1960s.
The largest king mackerel caught from an Oak Island pier, 53 pounds, 6 ounces, was decked by Bo Crump on May 7, 1998, from Ocean Crest. Chuck Huthmacher holds the Oak Island Pier record with a 50-pound king caught on April 15, 2002. A few fishermen believe the spring king run could start that early this year. Kathy Davis caught a 53-pound, 3-ounce king from Long Beach Pier on April 27, 1991. Davis’s king still holds the IGFA World Record for the largest king landed by a woman angler on 16-pound class line.
King mackerel ranging into the 40s are caught each spring, and pier fishermen are sure there are kings large enough to top these. Maybe this will be the year.
Kings are typically targeted from the ends of the piers by anglers using a combination of several rods to suspend live baits at or just below the surface, clipped to an anchor line that keeps them in place. Live bluefish, spot and menhaden are popular baits, but whatever panfish happen to be biting might wind up with a treble hook in its nose.
One thing you can count on is fishermen being on the piers during May. On Oak Island, some will be at the ends of the piers trying to catch king mackerel and some will be just beyond the breakers catching whiting. Other May pier catches typically include flounder, speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, red drum, black drum, blowfish, and cobia.
Summer brings beach vacations as North Carolina residents and out-of-state visitors descend upon the state’s coastal regions in search of cooling breezes and good fishing.Fishing at many beaches means going to piers, of which 19 remain in operation today (in 1992 North Carolina had 32 coastal fishing piers).Oak Island at the southeastern corner of the state — the communities of Long Beach, Caswell and Ocean Crest beaches combined several years ago into one municipality — has two remaining fishing piers, Oak Is...
Summer brings beach vacations as North Carolina residents and out-of-state visitors descend upon the state’s coastal regions in search of cooling breezes and good fishing.
Fishing at many beaches means going to piers, of which 19 remain in operation today (in 1992 North Carolina had 32 coastal fishing piers).
Oak Island at the southeastern corner of the state — the communities of Long Beach, Caswell and Ocean Crest beaches combined several years ago into one municipality — has two remaining fishing piers, Oak Island (former Yaupon Pier) and Ocean Crest.
Located between the Cape Fear River mouth and Lockwood Folly Inlet, both piers offer an excellent chance to land summertime species, particularly flounder, king mackerel, Virginia mullet (whiting), pompano, puppy drum, bluefish, spots and sheepshead.
The town purchased Yaupon Pier in 2008 after the demolition of Long Beach Pier in 2006. Fearing Yaupon would fall prey to the same real-estate boom that claimed Long Beach Pier in 2005, the town bought Yaupon Pier (and renamed it Oak Island Pier) because wise city fathers recognized what a tourist draw it was, especially for anglers.
Today, no condominiums sit at the former Long Beach Pier site, only 10 empty beach-front and second-row lots.
“We’re having a decent run of flounder,” said Carl Bedsole, a former Long Beach Pier regular who now fishes at Oak Island Pier. “A couple days ago, one guy caught six keepers.”
Flounder must measure at least 15 inches to be retained.
Best flounder bites occur from the bait-cleaning sink (just outside the surf breakers line) extending 100 feet toward the end of the pier. The pier’s end, as at most Tar Heel saltwater fishing platforms, is reserved for king mackerel anglers.
Flounder anglers are having the best success using Carolina-rigs with 2-ounce barrel sinkers baited with finger mullet or mud minnows.
“There are plenty of sheepshead around the pilings,” said pier regular Barry Singletary, who fed minnows to a pet snowy egret named Henry, who shows up at the pier each March. “But nobody fishes for them very much.”
Singletary caught a 4-pound, 6-ounce flounder at Oak Island Pier, the largest of the first week of June.
Best times to fish are early in the morning (crack of dawn) until about 10:30 a.m.
Chuck Brown, with a 2-pound, 4-ounce pompano, took Category One of the just-completed Oak Island Pier Fishing Tournament. The event pits anglers from Oak Island and Ocean Crest piers. Barry Crews landed a 4-pound, 14-ounce sheepshead to win Division Two.
Several citation fish caught over first weekend in MayMost years the first kings caught from N.C. fishing piers are decked at one of the Oak Island piers and that has happened again this year.Randy Robbins doesn’t have a boat, but that didn’t keep him from catching a king mackerel during April. Robbins, of James Island, S.C., was fishing at Oak Island Pier in Oak Island on Saturday, April 30, when he caught the first N.C. pier king of the 2016 season. The king weighed 30.2 pounds and earned Robbins an Outstanding ...
Most years the first kings caught from N.C. fishing piers are decked at one of the Oak Island piers and that has happened again this year.
Randy Robbins doesn’t have a boat, but that didn’t keep him from catching a king mackerel during April. Robbins, of James Island, S.C., was fishing at Oak Island Pier in Oak Island on Saturday, April 30, when he caught the first N.C. pier king of the 2016 season. The king weighed 30.2 pounds and earned Robbins an Outstanding Catch Citation from the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries.
“King fishermen had been on the pier all day hoping to catch the first king of the year,” said Tommy Thomes, operator of Oak Island Pier. “As it got later in the afternoon they began leaving, but he stuck it out. He had been watching a tide line creep closer to the pier all afternoon and knew that often kings would be feeding along the tide line. He said he was going to fish until he caught a king, or dark.”
Robbins was rewarded with a king strike late in the afternoon. The tide line was still several hundred yards off the pier when a silver flash streaked out from the pier. Robbins’ anchor rod dipped deeply and his fighting reel began screaming. There had been a short cobia caught and released earlier in the day, but Robbins had seen a silver flash and was sure his hard running fish would be a king.
After about 30 minutes that included a couple of runs and a lot of tug-of-war, Robbins led the tiring king to the waiting gaff. It weighed 30.2 pounds and word spread through the Oak Island pier king fishing ranks like wildfire. Robbins landed his king around 7:00 P.M. and most of the island’s king fishermen knew it before dark.
The next morning, Sunday, May 1, the ends of both Oak Island Piers were filled with hopeful king mackerel fishermen. The wind was a bit strong early, but settled out by mid morning.
Two kings were landed from the piers on Sunday. Jamie Balock scored with a 38.15 pounder from Ocean Crest Pier and 15-year-old James Lutz decked a 29.8-pound king at Oak Island Pier. Balock’s king hit early Sunday afternoon, but Lutz had to wait several more hours as another tide line approached Oak Island Pier.
Monday was a teacher work day for Brunswick County Schools and kids were out, so Lutz was on Oak Island Pier bright and early. His diligence was rewarded as a king grabbed his live bluefish bait. After a short battle, Lutz led his second king in as many days to the pier to be gaffed. This king weighed 35.4 pounds and earned Lutz the citation he barely missed the previous afternoon.
Tuesday morning, the king bite fired off at Ocean Crest Pier. John Mason got bit first and landed a huge 38.2-pound smoker king. Several hours later, it was Charles Miller’s turn and he added a 25.11-pound king to the growing tally. The bite isn’t red hot yet, but the numbers are steadily growing.
The Oak Island piers are regionally famous for being the first N.C. piers to produce kings most years and that these early runs are primarily large king mackerel. Most fishermen think of the fall as the prime time for catching kings from piers, but the king mackerel records for these piers, plus the record for the former Long Beach Pier, were all caught during the spring run and they are all 50 pound class kings.
Boat fishermen also caught some large kings over the weekend by trolling between the beach and the nearshore artificial reefs. The largest of these was a 47.60 pound brute caught by Charles Callahan of Laurinburg and weighed at the Ocean Isle Fishing Center. Callahan caught it close to the beach on a swimming lure while trolling smaller lures for Spanish mackerel.
There isn’t any question the pier king bite has begun at the Oak Island piers and, once again, the majority of these fish are large, healthy kings. The time duration of this run is always a mystery. Some years it is mere days and other years it lasts a month or longer. It’s happening now and Oak Island Pier and Ocean Crest Pier in Oak Island are the places to be. A tip for those wanting to test their luck with this fishing is to arrive early to secure a position at the railing. King fishing from these piers is popular anyway and when the word spreads the spring bite is on, sometimes space runs out.
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