The cozy home at 1930 Grant St. in downtown Bettendorf is meant to remind us – there’s no place like home.

It’s the corporate office of family-owned Golden Dreams Homecare LLC, where the caring and trained staff is ready to discuss a family’s needs for essential in-home services for their elderly loved ones.

Those services can range from one hour daily to 24 hours of personal and assisted care, respite care for family, post-hospital care, transportation, appointments, housekeeping/laundry, medication reminders, meal planning and preparation, personal care such as bathing and dressing, and companionship.

Donna Albert started the business about 20 years ago. She was joined by husband Rob Albert, who is co-owner and office manager.

Relating the family-owned company’s story, Rob says the couple and its staff work diligently to make sure their clients’ needs are taken care of.

“For us, being the company that we are and not being a franchise, it’s huge,” he said.

Being family-owned carries many advantages for those seeking in-home care for loved ones. Those who work for Golden Dreams are employees, not independent contractors, and undergo thorough interviews and background checks. Scheduling is accomplished to keep staffing for clients as consistent as possible. Rob has been known to change a tire, jump a car or give a ride in a snowstorm to an employee to get them to their assignment.

“We’ll do whatever we can to make sure the caregiver gets there,” he said.

Unfortunately, he said, too many families wait for a crisis situation to develop before seeking options for elder care. “I’ve seen a lot of people create a lot of stress for themselves by waiting until the last minute.”

Rob tells the story of a phone call Donna received as she sat down to Thanksgiving dinner with her family shortly after opening Golden Dreams. The caller was a distraught husband who was taking care of his wife at home. “It just got to the point where he couldn’t do it. She needed care.”

“It was Donna’s first client, and she was their first caregiver,” he said.

Golden Dreams employs between 40 and 55 caregivers at any given time. The business maintains a small office in Moline, necessary for licensing in Illinois, but conversations with families and with people interested in employment take place at the Bettendorf office, which is conveniently located near the new Interstate 74 bridge. Walk-ins are welcome, he said.

“We moved in around 8 years ago; the home was already set up as an office,” Rob said.

Check out the Golden Dreams website at www.goldendreamshomecare.com or call 563-386-6246 in Iowa or 309-764-4653 in Illinois for information. Golden Dreams is also on Facebook at Golden Dreams Homecare, L.L.C.

As for the origin of the name Golden Dreams, Rob explains:

“That’s what you dream of, to be able to stay in your home in your golden years.”