Where can you find the best resources for senior care?  As the years go by, we discover that our parents need a little more help than they used to. Perhaps an illness has afflicted a beloved family member who wants to stay at home rather than be moved to a care facility. Maybe we are the ones realizing that we're getting older and unable to care for ourselves properly. Whichever the case, finding quality and reputable home care for seniors can be a challenge.
Started in 1996, Always Best Care operates more than 230 locations in 30 states and Canada. Both medical and non-skilled services are offered for in-home and in-facility care.
Find a location and quickly request a consultation
To find one of the Always Best Care offices in your area, enter your ZIP code. There is a map shown with pins, but no easy way to see a location listing. The most offices appear to be on the East Coast and in the southern United States. First find a location near your loved one and then click to visit their website. From there you will be prompted to schedule a care consultation and available dates are shown. Once you select one, you are entered into a chat with an AI bot. You will be asked your name, email address, and phone number so Always Best Care can reach out to confirm the chosen date and time. (We find it strange that they do not ask any questions about the type of services you may desire -very different from other companies we've seen, though it means you aren't giving as much personal information over the internet, which can be seen as a plus by some).
Comprehensive lists of available services
At your Always Best Care consultation, you will meet with a care coordinator to create an individualized service plan. The company offers personal care services (such as toileting, transportation, light housekeeping, meal preparation, and companionship). The option for 24-hour care is offered, or you could just have a couple hours a week. Hospital to Home and hospice support (end-of-life) are also options. For more specialized services, Always Best Care offers cancer care and recovery, dementia and Alzheimer's care, in-facility care, palliative care, rehabilitation, transitional care, and respite care, among a list of others. Private duty nursing is listed along with nearly 30 other medical skill offerings. If you need skilled home health care for a specific condition, it's likely on this extensive list. We appreciated the bulleted listings clearly displaying what they have to offer.
Health monitoring devices and special care services
Always Best Care has numerous technology options to cater to the needs of your loved one. The free Always in Touch program is a "telephone reassurance program" for seniors, providing companionship and security for isolated clients in need of daily contact. (As the only program of its kind in our reviews, we feel this adds an added level of care that others should consider). A fall risk analysis is available to create a tailored care plan and implement proactive care for your loved one. Patient monitoring devices (blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, glucometer, weighing scale, and medical alert systems) for remote patient monitoring are another way to care for seniors in the home by reducing the need for in-person hospital visits, detecting health issues before they escalate, and tracking vital signs in a timely manner. A Personal Emergency Response System can provide emergency help at the push of a button, with 24/7 monitoring using both in-home and mobile solutions. Finally, Always Best Care provides 24/7 assurance by combining their in-home care with virtual support AI, using audio analytics to detect, predict, and prevent issues before they occur.
Caregivers supervised by dedicated RN
Caregivers with Always Best Care are subject to extensive background and reference checks. They are insured and receive expert training before starting to work, and ongoing training to keep up with industry demands. You'll work with your care coordinator and your loved one to select the best qualified person to provide care, matching to your specific needs. If your loved one requires skilled home health care, these care experts include certified registered nurses, therapists, and home health aides who will create a fully individualized care plan, supervised by a dedicated registered nurse available 24/7 to support your needs.
Senior living referral services
Should you decide to instead move your loved one into a community with other seniors, Always Best Care offers a free service to match clients with the top senior living communities for their preferences and budget. This includes assisted living, memory care, residential care, independent living, and nursing homes.
Clients leave above average to positive reviews
Since they are independently owned and operated, there is no single listing for Always Best Care on the BBB. However, we viewed six independent listings of their locations, all having no complaints and "A+" ratings by the BBB, which is promising. There are limited independent reviews across online platforms, though. With scores averaging 3.7 to 5 stars over just 150 reviews, it's hard to truly gauge customer satisfaction. We wonder why there are so few reviews for a company in business for nearly 30 years. However, positive reviewers mentioned "excellent home care", reliable caregivers, and solid communication. Most of the negative reviews we saw were related to customer service or bad experiences with caregivers. We recommend looking up your location to read reviews before scheduling a consultation.
Above average choice
If you're lucky enough to have an Always Best Care location near you, we recommend checking them out for all of the benefits they provide. The lack of more customer feedback and small nationwide presence are what keep them at just above average on our list of senior care options.
Continued from above...
As the years go by, we discover that our parents need a little more help than they used to. Perhaps an illness has afflicted a beloved family member who wants to stay at home rather than be moved to a care facility. Maybe we are the ones realizing that we're getting older and unable to care for ourselves properly. Whichever the case, finding quality and reputable home care for seniors can be a challenge.
The purpose of senior home care is to keep people in the environment where they are most comfortable and familiar. This "aging in place" is preferred by 9 out of 10 older adults, compared to moving into a senior facility or assisted living. Services exist to help aging individuals to live with dignity as they are treated with respect by caregivers who practice compassionate personal care. They can help by bathing clients, assisting with meal preparation, and reminding them to take medication - all non-medical tasks.
Additionally, these types of companies make it possible for older people to remain independent and mobile with help even just a few hours a week. An estimated 41% of American adults over the age of 75 may be living alone. By providing transportation to appointments, getting groceries, or even playing a game of cards together, home caregivers can offer companionship and assistance to seniors who are isolated from family who may be hundreds of miles away.
Those who are already taking care of a loved one know how hard it can be. To help prevent burnout for caregivers who are often working another job and taking care of their own young families, respite care is an option offered by many companies. The service can be utilized on a one-time or recurring basis to provide a break for the nearly 1 in 5 Americans providing unpaid care for a relative.
And, sometimes professional medical care is required. In-home health care is available from some providers to avoid unnecessary trips to the doctor's office or hospital. If your loved one requires specialized care, be sure to look for nurses and other skilled medical service caregivers.
There are many factors to consider when looking at care for your aging loved one. Here are the top criteria on our list:
At Top Consumer Reviews, we want to help you make an informed decision regarding the best care options for your senior loved one (or yourself). To that end, we have reviewed and ranked some of today's most popular services - so you can identify the best home care available in your area and get assistance as soon as possible.
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