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 Ida B WellsBarnett House 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 West Englewood, 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.”
“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”
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“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 Palmisano 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 Alinea or visit Pullman National Historical Park, 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 West Englewood, 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 West Englewood, 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 West Englewood, 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.
A body has been found near where a missing teenage boy was last seen in Manatee County.According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, deputies are currently working a death investigation at a retention pond at the exit ramp of I-75 Southbound and SR 70.Deputies believe the body is male and are working to identify the person.When asked about a potential connection between the missing teen and the body located where he was last seen, MCSO told WINK News they cannot make any connections at this time."Help me....
A body has been found near where a missing teenage boy was last seen in Manatee County.
According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, deputies are currently working a death investigation at a retention pond at the exit ramp of I-75 Southbound and SR 70.
Deputies believe the body is male and are working to identify the person.
When asked about a potential connection between the missing teen and the body located where he was last seen, MCSO told WINK News they cannot make any connections at this time.
"Help me." That was one of the last texts 18-year-old Giovonni Pelletier sent to his mother before he went missing.
Pelletier, who is from North Carolina, visited family in Englewood earlier this month. He planned to drive with his cousins to meet other family members in Brevard County. However, the trip turned into a missing person's investigation. Charlotte County deputies said Pelletier was last seen walking on a highway in Manatee County.
Pelletier's cousin, who was not in the car, said it was his first time meeting the family who picked him up. Around 1:30 a.m., as the group drove into Manatee County, those in the car told deputies that Pelletier began acting erratically. He got out of the car and walked towards State Road 70.
"He sent his mom a text message that says, 'Mom, help me.' And so after that, about five to six minutes later, a FaceTime call came in. Mom was asleep, and she didn't receive any of this until she woke up," said Shelley Croft, a private investigator with We Are The Essentials.
Pelletier sent multiple missed texts, phone calls, and FaceTime calls to at least two other family members. He was last seen on the side of Interstate 75 North in Manatee County.
"Time is critical. We're talking life or death situation at this moment with this heat," said Croft.
Croft and the non-profit group, We Are The Essentials for the Missing, have spent days searching for Pelletier and assisting his mother in the search.
"They're desperate. She would burn this world down right now to bring her son home 100%," said Croft.
While they haven't seen Pelletier, his mother found some of his belongings on the side of the highway.
"He took some clothing with him in a backpack, and that backpack was located on I-75 right past the State Road 70 interchange, along with his phone," Croft said.
Croft urged anyone with dashcam footage from the area to review it, including Venice, Englewood, Sarasota, Bradenton, Tampa, and Plant City, after 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 1.
Emotions are high as Pelletier has been missing for a week. Neither the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office nor the Manatee County Sheriff's Office has an active search on the ground. Still, they are asking the public for any tips on Pelletier's whereabouts. Anyone with information is asked to report it to their local agency.
Stay tuned to WINKNews.com, WINK News App, streaming, and on-air for any new developments on this story.
Highway 101 is a vital commute for tens of thousands of people traveling between Marin and Sonoma counties. But some drivers said recent changes to the carpool lane hours are making their commutes longer and more frustrating.Katie Clayton, a hairstylist who drives from her Rohnert Park home to a salon in Novato, said the morning drive has become very stressful."It affected my commute by adding at least 30 minutes to my commute every morning," Clayton said. "It's frustrating, and people don't deserve to be sitting...
Highway 101 is a vital commute for tens of thousands of people traveling between Marin and Sonoma counties. But some drivers said recent changes to the carpool lane hours are making their commutes longer and more frustrating.
Katie Clayton, a hairstylist who drives from her Rohnert Park home to a salon in Novato, said the morning drive has become very stressful.
"It affected my commute by adding at least 30 minutes to my commute every morning," Clayton said. "It's frustrating, and people don't deserve to be sitting in traffic that was never there before. Don't fix what's not broken."
Earlier this month, on Sept. 8, Caltrans extended the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane hours on Highway 101 in the North Bay. The new schedule runs from 5 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. in Marin and Sonoma counties. Previously, the hours were shorter and differed between the two countiesIn Sonoma County, it was 7 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m., in both directions. In Marin County, the previous hours were 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. southbound only and 4:30 to 7 p.m. northbound only.
Caltrans said the updated hours align the North Bay with the rest of the Bay Area.
"This is a big change, and Caltrans doesn't take it lightly. We're doing this to improve safety in the Bay Area," said Caltrans spokesperson Vince Jacala.
Clayton, however, said the change is forcing more solo drivers into the general lanes, slowing traffic for everyone. She started a petition on Change.org, which had nearly 5,000 signatures by Sunday afternoon, with hundreds of drivers sharing their stories and frustrations.
"Cars sitting on the freeway, trucks sitting on the freeway, just wasting gas, putting more emissions into the atmosphere. That's the polar opposite of what they're claiming it's going to do," Clayton said.
Jacala said Caltrans consulted with other North Bay transportation agencies before making the switch. The expanded hours also coincide with the opening of new lanes between Novato and Petaluma, part of the Marin-Sonoma Narrows project.
"Caltrans and the different agencies, we're going to take a look at that. We hear you very loudly. We're going to take a look at that. And the traffic engineers are going to take a look at the analysis, whatever time it takes. And then, we'll decide," Jacala said.
While Caltrans said any reversal of the new hours would require time and a careful study, Clayton and others said they are not backing down.
"I don't plan to give up, and I don't think other people are going to give up. This has added hours to people's day," she said.
Some city and county officials also agreed with Clayton, saying the expanded hours don't reflect changed commute patterns since the COVID-19 pandemic. Caltrans maintains that any adjustments would likely be months away.
Federal agents stormed a South Shore apartment building earlier this week, arresting 37 people in one of the largest federal raids in since the administration launched what it’s calling “Operation Midway Blitz” last month.The said the operation targeted suspected members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang as well as people accused of drug and weapons crimes and immigration violations. But officials have provided little evidence about who was taken into custody, or how many of the arrests were actually linked to ga...
Federal agents stormed a South Shore apartment building earlier this week, arresting 37 people in one of the largest federal raids in since the administration launched what it’s calling “Operation Midway Blitz” last month.
The said the operation targeted suspected members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang as well as people accused of drug and weapons crimes and immigration violations. But officials have provided little evidence about who was taken into custody, or how many of the arrests were actually linked to gang activity.
Residents of 7500 S. South Shore Drive described a chaotic scene beginning around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, when dozens of armed agents in military-style uniforms swept through the five-story building.
“Rodrick Johnson, 67, is one of many residents who were detained by federal agents during the South Shore raid. A U.S. citizen, he said agents broke through his door and dragged him out in zip ties. Johnson said he was left tied up outside the building for nearly three hours before agents finally let him go,” according to a from the Chicago Sun-Times.
The Sun-Times also reported that video from near 75th Street and South Shore Drive showed federal vehicles lined up outside the building, with agents in both Border Patrol and FBI gear.
One eyewitness, Eboni Watson, said the raid had left her neighbors “terrified.”
“The kids was crying. People was screaming. They looked very distraught,” she WLS Chicago, a local ABC affiliate. She described children being detained, saying federal agents “had them zip tied to each other.”
One resident, Pertissue Fisher, described ICE agents putting a gun in her face and demanding to know her name and date of birth.
“They just treated us like we were nothing,” she said.
Community advocates also criticized the raid as unnecessarily violent.
“Hundreds of masked agents knocking down doors and dragging families out in the middle of the night. Holding babies that were unclothed. That’s not right,” Veronica Castro of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights CBS News. “Folks that were just trying to live their lives in this community. Does that look like safety to you? No!”
The South Shore operation came just weeks after a high-profile raid in suburban Elgin, where Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and posted a video of herself in tactical gear while agents made arrests. Two American citizens were detained during that raid. Local reporting has found of Tren de Aragua violence in Chicago.
Trump has repeatedly the raids as an effort to “help the people of Chicago.” At the same time, he warned on social media last month that the city was “about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR,” with a reference to the film “Apocalypse Now.”
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SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — Authorities and relatives are hoping someone knows what happened to Giovanni Pelletier, a North Carolina teen who vanished a week ago while on vacation in Florida.The 18-year-old hasn’t been seen since Aug. 1.According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the teen was vacationing with his family in Englewood before leaving to visit more family in Brevard County in the early morning hours of Aug. 1.Nonprofit search group We Are The Essentials also continues to look for clues ...
SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — Authorities and relatives are hoping someone knows what happened to Giovanni Pelletier, a North Carolina teen who vanished a week ago while on vacation in Florida.
The 18-year-old hasn’t been seen since Aug. 1.
According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the teen was vacationing with his family in Englewood before leaving to visit more family in Brevard County in the early morning hours of Aug. 1.
Nonprofit search group We Are The Essentials also continues to look for clues leading to the missing teen. As of Thursday, they had searched for four days covering ground in Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties.
We Are The Essentials has been in close contact with the teen’s family, who are desperately searching for any signs of Pelletier. Volunteer and licensed private investigator Shelley Croft said the teen’s mother received a concerning text message shortly after he got on the road with his cousins.
“He was picked up by three cousins that came from Mims,” Croft said. “He wanted to kind of get to know that side of the family that he does not know. They had only communicated via text messages and FaceTime calls. They came down here to Englewood, picked him up, and 21 minutes after he left the home, he sent his mom a text message that said ‘Mom help me.'”
Those cousins told Charlotte County deputies that as they were heading north on Interstate 75, Pelletier began acting erratically before getting out of the car and walking away. They said this happened in the area near State Road 70 in Manatee County.
Croft said the teen’s cellphone and backpack were located in that area, but there were no other signs of him.
“He’s not a kid that wants to stress you out for no reason,” Bridgette Pelletier said. “He is not a kid that wants to bring up a problem. He will try to figure out everything on his own before he brings it to you as an issue. This isn’t just one person. Gio has such a domino effect on the people that are impacted by this. You can see how many people are trying to come together, so many strangers, anybody that met Gio. He lights up a room.”
Search parties have been conducted all week across the state, including in Mims in Brevard County, which was supposed to be the teen’s destination.
We Are The Essentials plans to continue searching until they exhaust all efforts and resources.
“This is critical at this point,” Croft said. “I mean, it is very critical, we have got to find him. Obviously we are a nonprofit so we are missing our full-time jobs right now, so we have to still keep our lights on, but we are doing the best we can with the resources that we have.”
The group searched near River Road and Interstate 75 in Sarasota County Thursday, but plans to continue searching near where Pelletier’s belongings were found in Manatee County.
They’re asking for anyone with a dashcam to check their footage from Aug. 1 and keep an eye out for a white Chevy Malibu.
“That may be able to help us narrow down timeline of when they were at a certain [location] and when Giovanni got out of the vehicle and if he was still in it at that point,” Croft said.
The teen’s family was supposed to travel back to North Carolina this past weekend, but tell NewsNation local affiliate WFLA they will continue searching until they find him.
“They are obviously stressed,” Croft said. “They are missing their child and she will go to the end of the Earth to find her child. I can’t blame her. It doesn’t matter how old your child is, everybody deserves those answers. They are desperate at this point and have actually increased their reward for his recovery or find to $25,000.”
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