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 John Brown Birthplace Site 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 Torrington, CT 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.
“Bessie has been an exceptional Health Care Provider. She takes such pride in her work”
“We used Always Best Care for my mother. They provided basically anything we needed a”
“Thank you again to you, Susan and the rest of the care-givers and staff of”
“Dear Rick, Over the past three plus years, my father Joseph Ceuch has lived at”
“Heather, I just wanted to thank Always Best Care in helping to provide care for”
“My mother was bedbound for months and had serious health related issues including kidney failure.”
“I am a past client of this provider My journey with Always Best Care began”
“Our sister, Barbara has early-onset dementia , and was in sudden need of a personal”
“I am a retired registered nurse, and for several years, I have been the primary”
“I had a very good experience ! I really appreciate the service that your company,”
“My journey with Always Best Care began with a visit from the owner and office”
“Dave and staff, thank you or consistently caring and comforting my Mom. Your quality of”
“I have a very good providers from this Company”
“Bessie has been an exceptional Health Care Provider. She takes such pride in her work and truly cares about the people she is in contact with. She is dedicated, diligent, and is devoted to her job assignment. She not only takes care of my Mom, but she goes above and beyond her call of duty. Bessie has a unique ability to connect with every person she meets. No day goes by that my Mom is not pampered. Bessie make sure she's always comfortable. She makes exceptional meals for her 3 times a day, cleans her clothes, gives her showers, washes her hair and makes her look amazing every single day. Bessie is so beneficial to our family we can't imagine our family without her. I myself and my family members could never do what she does for our Mom. She has been with my mom and our family for almost 1 year and we don't know what we would do without her, she truly is a gift from God. She not only takes care of my Mom daily, nightly and weekly, she also takes care of her personal life and whatever life throws at her. She is a devoted caretaker and should be recognized with the utmost respect. Her dedication to improving the health and well-being of my Mom is commendable. You can't find anyone as special as she. Her life commitment has touched our lives through her delivery of exceptional care in a compassionate, respectful, and safe manner on a daily basis. She has become a member of our family and she has shown us the meaning of adaptability. Her strong faith in God, Forgiveness, and Believing in each other makes her the great person that she is. On behalf of our family, we would like to thank you for the extraordinary care and services your company has provided to us. Thank you for all you do”
“We used Always Best Care for my mother. They provided basically anything we needed a few hours a week, they were very thorough in asking about my mother's condition, and what were the needs that were required. It's more like bathing, medication, and companionship. We used them for about a week.”
“Thank you again to you, Susan and the rest of the care-givers and staff of Always Best Care for the outstanding service you have provided for our parents. ABC provided professional, first-class support that allowed our parents to remain in their home while relieving of us of concern for their care and is something we will never forget. You can be sure we will happily refer any family member or friend that is seeking care at home to Always Best Care.”
“Dear Rick, Over the past three plus years, my father Joseph Ceuch has lived at home assisted by the caregivers from your company Always Best Care of Greater Bristol. This letter is a personal thank you from my father and the entire Ceuch family on how your caregivers treated and attended to my father during this time. The caregivers became part of our extended family who shared in countless family events resulting in beautiful lasting memories. Caregivers Frances Boateng, Jeremy Turner, and Yanice Hernandez were awesome in their care of my father. I want to especially acknowledge Francis as a person who went above and beyond his responsibility and became part of the Ceuch inner circle. It was not uncommon for Francis on his off days to stop by during a family picnic to say hello...he is truly loved by my father. Again, I want to thank you for the loving care your caregivers provided my father. I would highly recommend your company to anyone interested in having a caregiver attend to a loved one. Thanks again”
“Heather, I just wanted to thank Always Best Care in helping to provide care for my step father, Daryl. It's unbelievable how the progression of his illness happened so quickly, however, Always Best Care was always ready to provide the level of care he needed as it increased. Most importantly, I'd like to thank his aide, Sue Malasics. She was wonderful to Daryl and took great care of his needs. I knew I did not have to worry with Sue there with him. She was always cooking wonderful homemade meals and desserts and I was happy to see how happy she made Daryl. I think she is a wonderful asset to Always Best Care. Should I know of anyone needing help in the future, I would recommend Always Best Care and Sue Malasics.”
“My mother was bedbound for months and had serious health related issues including kidney failure. My mother was also very demanding about her care and who she would allow into her home. After several attempts with various in-home care agencies my mother really responded well to Always Best Care Senior Services of Greater Bristol and we cant thank them enough for the high level of compassionate care they were able to provide during my moms final months.”
“I am a past client of this provider My journey with Always Best Care began with a visit from the owner and office manager. Soon after, I was introduced to the caregiver who would provide care for me. All 3 persons seemed very knowledgeable, experienced anf caring. I was certainly provided with quality service and much respect and compassion.”
“Our sister, Barbara has early-onset dementia , and was in sudden need of a personal care assistant until placement in a quality skilled nursing facility became available. We reached out to home health care agencies in her local area but, by this point, had already worked with several agencies for med reminders for Barbara (and 24/7 care for our Mom in another area of CT) and were a bit skeptical that that we’d find one that could provide consistent quality of care.When I spoke with Rick Downey of Always Best Care Senior Services in Bristol, he conveyed both confidence in his knowledge of health care and empathy in understanding the frustrations that families experience when seeking quality care for their loved ones. We were next contacted by their care coordinator,Heather Kozikowski, who came to our sister’s home to conduct an assessment and further explain the services offered by Always Best Care.A further testament to the exceptional quality of Always Best Care is the service and care we’ve received after Barbara is no longer a client; our thanks to Always Best Care for the excellent care of our sister, and the peace-of-mind it afforded our family knowing that she was in such kind and competent hands!”
“I am a retired registered nurse, and for several years, I have been the primary caregiver for my husbamd/ My husband suffers from dementia and is aphasic. On a Saturday morning in October of 2015, a sudden change in my health required an emergent hospitilization, which late resulted in an extensive rehabilitation stay. Upon my hospitalization, my son reached out to Always Best Care Senior Services of greater Bristol. The Always Best Care team assessed my husband, his needs, and had his care staffed within hours of my son's call. The care provided to my husband has been exceptional. The caregivers as well as the office staff have been attentive to our needs and have met all of our expectations. I would highly recommend Always Best Care to you and anyone who is in need of care for their loved one.”
“I had a very good experience ! I really appreciate the service that your company, Always Best Care, offered our family and especially the caring, loving attitude that Amber and Natalie displayed to Carol at all times. They were outstanding and you should be proud to place them in any situation with the full expectation they will represent your firm in a most professional manner. Thanks again for all your help.”
“My journey with Always Best Care began with a visit from the owner and office manager. Soon after, I was introduced to the caregiver who would provide care for me. All 3 persons seemed very knowledgeable, experienced anf caring. I was certainly provided with quality service and much respect and compassion.”
“Dave and staff, thank you or consistently caring and comforting my Mom. Your quality of care will be recommended to others. You went above and beyond what was expected.”
“I have a very good providers from this Company”
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 Burr Pond State 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 Geppetto Osteria e Bisteccheria or visit Torrington History Museum, 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 Torrington, CT, 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 Torrington, CT 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 Torrington, CT 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.
TORRINGTON — A Torrington man found guilty of first-degree assault in a near-fatal stabbing in September 2022 was sentenced in Superior Court Tuesday to the minimum mandatory five years behind bars and one year of probation.Jonathan Todd, 20, stabbed Aaron Vella-Whelan four times in the back on Sept. 15, 2022, following an altercation.Litchfield Judicial D...
TORRINGTON — A Torrington man found guilty of first-degree assault in a near-fatal stabbing in September 2022 was sentenced in Superior Court Tuesday to the minimum mandatory five years behind bars and one year of probation.
Jonathan Todd, 20, stabbed Aaron Vella-Whelan four times in the back on Sept. 15, 2022, following an altercation.
Litchfield Judicial District State’s Attorney David Shannon perviously said that Todd approached the victim, who was sitting in a car, and started attacking the man verbally, which escalated into a physical fight. During the fight, Todd used a knife to stab the victim four times in the back, Shannon said.
The victim recovered from intensive care and had testified against Todd at trial.
Todd had faced up to 20 years in prison. It was what prosecuting attorney Terri Sonnemann requested, but included a provision that it be suspended after 10 years.
In a brief but emotional address to the court and Judge Walter Menjivar, Todd said he was sorry. Menjivar sentenced him to seven years, suspended after fiver years served.
Todd claimed he acted in self defense when he assaulted Vella-Whelan after the older man violated a restraining order by contacting his wife while the two were involved in a contentious marriage. Todd, who regarded Vella-Whelan's wife as his own mother, happened to be visiting the woman when he became embroiled in the domestic dispute and stabbed Vella-Whelan.
During testimony, Todd admitted his emotions "got the better of me" when he pulled out a knife he used at work changing tires and used it to stab Vella-Whelan.
Following the jury verdict in November, Todd was ordered held in lieu of $200,000 bail, and will get credit for time served.
Defense attorney Robert F. Dwyer said Todd was in the middle of a fight for his own safety when he pulled out his knife. Commenting following the hearing, Dwyer said his client had no record prior to the fight.
"He was protecting a woman who was his mother figure," Dwyer said. "Exposed to emotional abuse with the men his mother lived with, he was (protecting) people who showed him affection. Even his boss said he turned down an offer for better pay because he didn't want to leave his family of coworkers."
“Reading is an important key to unlocking the potential of all children,” says Joslyn DeLancey, CEA Vice President and President of CEA’s charitable arm, the Connecticut Education Foundation (CEF). That’s why CEF kicked off its annual Read Across Connecticut weeklong celebration today to help spread the joy of reading to hundreds of students in Torrington.Dressed as Ms. Llama, DeLancey started the day at Torringford Elementar...
“Reading is an important key to unlocking the potential of all children,” says Joslyn DeLancey, CEA Vice President and President of CEA’s charitable arm, the Connecticut Education Foundation (CEF). That’s why CEF kicked off its annual Read Across Connecticut weeklong celebration today to help spread the joy of reading to hundreds of students in Torrington.
Dressed as Ms. Llama, DeLancey started the day at Torringford Elementary by reading Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney to an assembly of preK through first graders and later read The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Gary Rubinstein and Mark Pett to second and third graders. The day also featured guest readers from the community who shared their love of reading.
“Read Across Connecticut is a fun and engaging way for community partners to join us in promoting literacy and lifelong learning, showing our students that strong reading habits are an essential way to build knowledge and creativity,” DeLancey says.
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PreK through grade 1 students chose a new book to take home and also received a book bag of reading resources including journals, stickers, erasers, and a “Reading Is a Llama Fun” llama reading buddy.
CEF is at Torringford School Monday and Tuesday and will continue the celebration at Vogel-Wetmore School on Wednesday and Thursday.
To culminate Read Across Connecticut, CEF is hosting its second annual book drive. This event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, at Blue Back Square in West Hartford. Literacy-based crafts and games will take place throughout the day.
This book drive, which partners with Blue Back Square and iHeartRadio, has collected thousands of book donations in previous years to provide to Connecticut educators and stock Little Free Libraries across the state. CEF is seeking donations of new or lightly used books for K-12 reading levels.
“We know that reading is the foundation for future learning,” says DeLancey. “By providing books to children who may not have them at home, we are fostering a love of reading and helping to close the literacy gap.”
TD Bank plans to close two of its branches in Connecticut in late spring, while KeyBank intends to shutter one of its locations.The TD branches at 215 High St. in the Torrington Commons shopping center and at 1289 Foxon Road in North Branford, next to a Big Y supermarket, are scheduled to close on June 5, according to TD officials. KeyBank plans to close its branch at 1157 Highland Ave. in Cheshire on June 6.While officials with both banks said their organizations would endeavor to help workers with the transition, some jobs ma...
TD Bank plans to close two of its branches in Connecticut in late spring, while KeyBank intends to shutter one of its locations.
The TD branches at 215 High St. in the Torrington Commons shopping center and at 1289 Foxon Road in North Branford, next to a Big Y supermarket, are scheduled to close on June 5, according to TD officials. KeyBank plans to close its branch at 1157 Highland Ave. in Cheshire on June 6.
While officials with both banks said their organizations would endeavor to help workers with the transition, some jobs may be lost.
For the Toronto-headquartered TD, the closings in Connecticut are part of a downsizing that will involve shutting down 38 branches across its footprint on June 5. The bank is also planning to shutter branches across Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, as well as Washington, D.C., according to notices submitted to federal regulators.
“TD Bank continuously evolves its business to better meet the needs of its customers, colleagues and communities and meet ever-changing customer expectations,” TD officials said in a written statement on Wednesday. “We are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible for our impacted customers and colleagues and look forward to continuing to provide legendary service in any one of our 52 stores located in Connecticut or via any channel our customers choose.”
The TD branches in Torrington and North Branford are the bank's sole locations in those municipalities. The next-closest branches to those sites are, respectively, in Avon and Branford.
“We are focused on building the bank of the future by evolving our model and enhancing capabilities to improve the customer experience,” TD officials also said in their statement. “As part of this strategy, the bank regularly evaluates its physical store network and looks for opportunities to better align our network of stores to best serve our customers through an optimal mix of convenient TD Bank locations and digital banking products and services.”
As for the Cleveland-headquartered KeyBank, the branch in Cheshire is its sole location in the town and one of 48 across the state. Key’s next-closest branch to Cheshire is in Wallingford.
“As clients’ banking behaviors change and preferences for online and digital banking continue to increase, we are adapting our service model by providing more digital capabilities,” Key officials said in a statement. “At the same time, we are optimizing our branch network.”
TD officials indicated that their branch closings would involve layoffs. They noted in their statement that “some of our 650+ colleagues in Connecticut will be impacted by the store consolidation. We are committed to supporting impacted colleagues with resources to assist with the transition.” They did not specify the number of expected job cuts.
Key officials said that when branches close, “our top priority is to place affected teammates in positions at other nearby KeyBank branches. If we are not able to do that, teammates are also encouraged to apply for open positions throughout the bank.” They declined to comment specifically on whether any employees at the branch in Cheshire would be laid off or if any of them would be transferred to other branches.
In recent years, TD Bank and KeyBank had made previous cuts to their branch networks in Connecticut. Last September, TD shut down a branch each in Fairfield and Wallingford. KeyBank last closed branches in Connecticut in 2021, when it shuttered six locations across Columbia, Eastford, New Haven, Stafford, Wallingford and Westbrook.
One other bank has disclosed an upcoming branch closing in Connecticut. Santander plans to close on April 24 its branch at 215 Grand Ave., in New Haven, its sole location in the city. Santander will then have 13 branches left in Connecticut.
Among changes at other banks around the state, Citizens Bank plans to relocate on June 20 its branch at 2584 Dixwell Ave., in Hamden, to a neighboring location in the town, at 2335 Dixwell Ave. It is one of 30 Citizens branches in Connecticut.
“This new, modern branch will be located in a brand-new storefront in the Marketplace at Hamden shopping center plaza, less than a mile from the current location,” Citizens officials said in a statement. “In addition, the new branch is in a central location where customers shop today, making it more convenient for our customers with ample parking, increased visibility and a drive-up ATM in the plaza.”
At the same time, Chase bank has submitted applications to open branches in the new Shops at Stone Bridge in Cheshire and at the corner of East Main Street and Torringford Street in Torrington. Chase officials declined to comment on when they planned to open those locations.
Amid hundreds of branch closings in Connecticut in the past few years, Chase’s expansion makes it an outlier. It was the only bank to open branches last year in Connecticut, as it launched its first establishments in Bloomfield, Groton and New Britain. It now has 63 branches in the state.
TORRINGTON — An incentive program new in the latest union contract for the city's public schools offers a deal that offers a unique incentive: Teachers and other union members are paid bonuses to show up for work.The program has won such favor among teachers that in the first two quarters of the year, the district has already spent the $126,000 b...
TORRINGTON — An incentive program new in the latest union contract for the city's public schools offers a deal that offers a unique incentive: Teachers and other union members are paid bonuses to show up for work.
The program has won such favor among teachers that in the first two quarters of the year, the district has already spent the $126,000 budgeted for the program. The incentive program started in July, the district's director of human resources said.
Director of Human Resources for the district Kimberly Schulte said the Board of Education started the union-approved attendance incentive in response to teacher absenteeism. She said that because of open positions, the district's $38 million salary budget can cover the rest of incentive program this year.
The program grants $250 per quarter or up to $1,000 per year for perfect attendance and is part of the newest teacher contract, which started this school year and runs through June 2027, Schulte said. Teachers can still take their vacation days and get the incentive; it depends on them working rather than using sick and personal days.
Eligible employees are in the Torrington Education Association — AFSCME Local 1579 — which includes paraeducators, cafeteria workers, custodians, secretaries and nurses.
Association President Sandra Mangan said the Board of Education proposed incorporating the incentive in the contract during negotiations in the fall of 2023. Union members liked the idea as it focuses on attendance versus absence.
“We like the fact that it was focusing on the positive,” she said. “Teachers were so excited when they received their incentive checks."
Mangan declined to comment about the entire program budget spent in the first two quarters.
Matthew Cerrone, communications director for the Connecticut Department of Education, said the department is not aware of other programs like this one in Torrington but noted that districts are not required to report such things to the department.
Perfect attendance, according to the Torrington contract, excludes personal leave, holidays, bereavement leave, jury duty and approved professional development. It does include personal and sick days, according to the contract.
To get the incentive, staff can take vacation but not sick and personal days, Schulte said. The intent is that employees show up on time and work each workday, she said.
While extended to non-certified staff, the program is mostly a response to ongoing attendance issues among teachers, she said.
In its first year, Schulte said she believes the incentive has been effective.
“We really just want to encourage people with a positive way to be present for our students,” she said.
Mayor Elinor C. Carbone is not a fan of the program, which she said is another way of hitting taxpayers’ wallets.
“So I don't know about you, but I’m required to show up. If I have a contract with somebody and I tell them I'm going to work for you for the next 180 days, that's the obligation,” she said. “You're going to pay me and I'm going to show up to work, unless I'm sick.”
Carbone took particular issue with the payment for the first quarter, which according to the contract, encompasses July 1 through Sept. 30.
“They look at your attendance and they say, oh, Elinor had perfect attendance, we’re going to send her a $250 check. Well, in July, in August, teachers weren't even working,” she said. “They were on summer break.”
In the first quarter, 223 teachers got the stipend for a total payout of $55,750, Schulte said. She noted that the quarter technically covers September and a few days in August as teachers work for 10 months and began the school year on Aug. 26.
“So it’s a gift for 10-month employees,” she said.
The incentive works by encouraging teachers in a positive way to come to work every day, Schulte said. Attendance rates have gone up one to two points every month, she said. Absenteeism has improved by about 3.5% overall since the beginning of the year, going from an average of 10% to 11% last year to 7.6% so far this year.
In the second quarter — October, November and December — 74 teachers received the $250 payment for an $18,500 total.
The payments go out at the end of the month following each quarter, after the administration runs a report and calculates who gets the money.
Attendance among non-certified staff is also improving, Schulte said. In the first quarter, 137 non-certified employees received it, totaling $34,250. In the second quarter, 70 non-certified employees received it for a $17,500 total.
Schulte regularly reports teacher and paraeducator attendance to the Board of Education.
“Really the numbers that we track on an annual basis are really about the teachers and paras,” she said. “Those are the two groups that we’re really paying attention to.”
Fewer teacher absences necessitate a need for fewer substitute teachers, which means fewer gaps in open substitute positions, she said.
With a shortage of substitute teachers, the national trend for filling empty positions is 70%, Schulte said.
Local substitute fill rates — the percentage of requests for substitute teachers the district is able to fill — have been better this year, hitting the upper 60 percentile compared to last year when they were only at about 40%.
On Feb. 18, the Board of Finance discussed the incentive and asked Carbone to find out if it is creating an offset in the substitute teacher budget line.
“If we’re not seeing the savings then we’re just paying out a lot of money,” Wendy Traub said. “I just want to know financially for the city is it paying off.”
Since substitute teacher positions are not all filled and this year a much greater percentage of the positions have been filled, it’s difficult to calculate how the incentive is offsetting the cost of paying for subs, Schulte said.
Based a comparison of substitute costs Schulte provided for last year and this year the line is going up. For the first and second quarters last year, the district paid $298,672 and for the same period this year, it paid $403,583, she said.
She also noted that there is no line item to offset for non-certified staff as their positions are not filled by substitutes.
“It wasn’t designed to offset the substitutes,” she said. “The purpose was to have our people in front of our students.”
All positions benefit students, she added.
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March 7, 2025
Sloan Brewster
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TORRINGTON — The Social Security Administration building downtown was briefly listed on the U.S. General Services Administration's non-core property list Wednesday morning and designated for sale.According to the list, the 5,608-square foot Social Security building at 147 Litchfield St. in Torrington and the 155,980-square f...
TORRINGTON — The Social Security Administration building downtown was briefly listed on the U.S. General Services Administration's non-core property list Wednesday morning and designated for sale.
According to the list, the 5,608-square foot Social Security building at 147 Litchfield St. in Torrington and the 155,980-square foot William R. Cotter Federal Building at 135 High St. in Hartford were headed toward “disposal.”
A short time later, the page was removed. Instead, beside the header for the list was a note in parentheses stating “coming soon.”
It left Torrington officials wondering what would happen to the property and to the service it provides to local people seeking help navigating Social Security benefits.
City Council Member Stephan Ivain, said he said he had not heard of an alternate local space for the SSA. “This is a significant service to lose,” Ivain said.
Mayor Elinor C. Carbone said she heard the local SSA office was on the list and was looking into it.
“It’s right next to Coe Park,” she said. “It’s a nice property in our downtown. I’m sure there will be a lot of interest in it.”
Carbone said the office has limited hours and most people tend to access services online so she wasn’t sure how much of an impact the closure would have on the community.
On Wednesday, there were a handful of people sitting in the waiting area awaiting service, while an employee worked with someone at the counter.
No one working at the site would comment, but offered an email address to a spokesperson at the GSA. Emails and phone messages left for the GSA and SSA seeking comment were not immediately returned Wednesday afternoon.
There are other SSA offices in the state, including in Waterbury, Hartford, New Britain and New Haven.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has targeted federal properties nationwide.
The GSA web page includes a message stating the GSA is identifying buildings and facilities not core to government operations for possible sale.
“Selling ensures that taxpayer dollars are no longer spent on vacant or underutilized federal spaces,” it reads. “Disposing of these assets helps eliminate costly maintenance and allows us to reinvest in high-quality work environments that support agency missions.”
In a Tuesday news release, the GSA said it has identified more than 440 non-core assets comprising almost 80 million rentable square feet across the country and representing over $8.3 billion.
“Decades of funding deficiencies have resulted in many of these buildings becoming functionally obsolete and unsuitable for use by our federal workforce,” the statement reads. “We can no longer hope that funding will emerge to resolve these longstanding issues.”
The release says selling off the assets will leverage the private sector, drive improvements for agency customers, and better serve communities.
The GSA also states that core assets needed for critical government operations, such as: courthouses, land ports of entry, and facilities critical to national defense and law enforcement, will remain open.
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