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 Waterbury Green 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 Waterbury, 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 Fulton 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 Diorio Restaurant Bar or visit Mattatuck 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 Waterbury, 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 Waterbury, 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 Waterbury, 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.
WATERBURY — Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. remains uneasy over the possibility of another for-profit company purchasing Waterbury Hospital through a bankruptcy auction following Prospect Medical Holdings Inc.Pernerewski said on Thursday that he continues to prefer to have Waterbury Hospital return to nonprofit ownership after nearly a decade of Prospect's private equity-backed, profit-making proprietorship."We just went through this awful experience with Waterbury Hospital over the last few years and I think that has ...
WATERBURY — Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. remains uneasy over the possibility of another for-profit company purchasing Waterbury Hospital through a bankruptcy auction following Prospect Medical Holdings Inc.
Pernerewski said on Thursday that he continues to prefer to have Waterbury Hospital return to nonprofit ownership after nearly a decade of Prospect's private equity-backed, profit-making proprietorship.
"We just went through this awful experience with Waterbury Hospital over the last few years and I think that has just left a bad taste in everyone's mouth," he said. "I think a not-for-profit we expect would be more focused more on providing services rather than trying to gin up a lot of money that they are going to suck out."
But Pernerewski stressed that keeping Waterbury Hospital open and operating remains the top priority of city government, whether it under for-profit or not-for-profit ownership.
"We're not going to have much say in that," he said. "That is ultimately going to come down to the bankruptcy court and what is best for the debtors and the creditors."
After Prospect, Pernerewski said he has concerns about the involvement of private equity in the purchase of Waterbury Hospital. He said he would look to state to regulate the involvement of private investment to prevent the types of business and management practices that Prospect followed, including selling the lands on which its Connecticut hospitals sit and then leasing them back.
"It just can't be a cash cow for investors," Pernerewski said. "They need to make sure that whatever happens that the hospital remains sufficiently financed to operate as hospital and they are not sucking wind on paying their vendors, their bills, their nurses at the expense of investors."
A Prospect attorney advised a Texas judge overseeing the California-based hospital chain's Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding on Wednesday that an auction for Waterbury Hospital, Manchester Memorial Hospital and Rockville General Hospital in Vernon had been scheduled for Sept. 30, with a court hearing to seek final approval of the sales planned for Oct. 3.
Prospect lead attorney Thomas Califano also reported to Judge Stacey Jernigan that the company would name potential buyers for its three Connecticut hospitals by the end of this week. The only bidder that has been named is NOR Healthcare Systems Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Healthcare Systems of America, a for-profit firm with a troubled history of failing to pay its bills on time and not repairing its hospitals.
Pernerewski called announcement of the auction schedule an encouraging development Thursday.
"There looks like there is some movement on it. We'll see where it ends up," he said.
Pernerewski said he is hopeful a sale of Waterbury Hospital could be concluded by the end of this year or early next year.
I think we'll be well along the way then if this stays on track, and it sounds positive from what I understand from the hearing yesterday," he said.
Attorneys for Prospect and landlord Medical Properties Trust indicated during the hearing Wednesday that three hospitals could be sold individually. Prospect sold the grounds of three hospitals to Medical Properties Trust in $1.6 billion financing deal in 2019 and leased them back from the Alabama-based real estate investment trust.
Prospect had negotiated an agreement to sell the three hospitals to Yale New Haven Health for $435 million. Yale later sued in Connecticut Superior Court to get out of the purchase agreement, and Prospect counter-sued to compel Yale to complete the transaction. The state litigation was paused automatically when Prospect filed for Chapter 11 protection on Jan. 11.
Pernerewski said he believes that Waterbury Hospital remains attractive asset, and he is confident that it will sell alone or as part of a packaged sale.
"I'm not sure what the implications are for us if they sell it as a standalone hospital," he said. "As long as we get a good provider, I think we'll be in decent shape."
Pernerewski said his only concern is that if the three hospitals are sold individually that sale of Waterbury Hospital could take longer to complete depending on the order each hospital sale.
The mayor also confirmed Thursday that the city wants to participate if Yale and Prospect agree to mediate dueling lawsuits over the proposed sales of the three Prospect-owned hospitals as Jernigan suggested Wednesday.
Pernerewski said participation would allow the city to protects its interests, including nearly $40 million in property taxes owed for Waterbury Hospital.
When Jernigan raised the possibility of mediation during Wednesday's hearing, Mark Stout, a bankruptcy attorney for the city, stated, "On behalf of Waterbury, we would love to participate in mediation." Califano also stated Prospect was amenable. The judge asked the parties to let her know within a week whether they will move forward with mediation.
Dana Marnane, director of public relations and communications at Yale, had no comment Thursday on the mediation question. Instead, she referred to Yale's request to Jernigan on Wednesday to left the stay on its state lawsuit and allow the litigation to resume. She also reasserted the allegations underpinning the Yale suit that Prospect violated the terms of the purchase agreement due to its mismanagement of the three hospitals.
"At yesterday’s hearing, the judge neither granted nor denied Yale New Haven Health’s motion for relief from the automatic stay. Instead, she continued the hearing to September 23, 2025," Marnane said in a statement. "Based on Prospect’s history of mismanagement of the Connecticut hospitals, it remains clear that they have never been in a position to close the transaction on the terms set in our 2022 Asset Purchase Agreement."
Jernigan postponed a decision on Yale’s request until Prospect had an opportunity to make its case that its deal with Yale should be reinstated due to some improvements in its financial picture. Prospect filed a motion on Monday seeking to revive its deal with Yale and bring the health system back into the sales process in some capacity.
Pernerewski said he has always thought Yale might reconsider after the bankruptcy because Waterbury Hospital and the other Prospect hospitals would be stronger assets, and Yale remains somewhat in the mix now.
"I don't think it is such a bad deal for Yale," he said.
Pernerewski said Yale is the type of owner that he would like to see take over Waterbury Hospital and he believes Yale would be a good fit for the city.
"They have a very strong presence. I think they are solid, and I think they would do well here in Waterbury as far being a community partner," he said.
But Pernerewski acknowledged that Yale has shown no indications of rethinking the Prospect deal. Yale sued to get out of sale in May 2024 a few months after Prospect refused to lower the negotiated $435 million purchase price to $150 million.
"They seem to have checked out a while ago. I agree with that," he said. "But if they ended up here they would have to make a go of it."
A lawyer for Prospect Medical Holdings said during a court hearing on Wednesday that the company will announce initial bids for its Connecticut hospitals as soon as Friday, while also petitioning the court to force Yale New Haven Health to comply with a deal they inked to buy the hospitals over two years ago.The offers Prospect has received through the bankruptcy sale process aren’t as high as the $435 million Yale New Haven Health agreed to pay for the facilities in an April 2022 deal, Thomas Califano, a lawyer for Prospect, to...
A lawyer for Prospect Medical Holdings said during a court hearing on Wednesday that the company will announce initial bids for its Connecticut hospitals as soon as Friday, while also petitioning the court to force Yale New Haven Health to comply with a deal they inked to buy the hospitals over two years ago.
The offers Prospect has received through the bankruptcy sale process aren’t as high as the $435 million Yale New Haven Health agreed to pay for the facilities in an April 2022 deal, Thomas Califano, a lawyer for Prospect, told the judge during the proceeding.
“We anticipate having stalking horses this week,” Califano told the bankruptcy court judge. “Admittedly, the Yale New Haven contract provides a better return to the estate.”
A “stalking horse bidder” is the initial bidder in a bankruptcy sale and sets a minimum offer other bidders have to beat, either with a higher price or better terms.
Califano’s reference to multiple “stalking horses” could imply that the hospitals will be bid on as separate assets. Spokespeople with Prospect Medical Holdings and Prospect CT did not respond to a request for comment regarding how many stalking horse bids the company expects.
Prospect must complete the sale auction for the Connecticut hospitals by Sept. 19 and a final order approving the transaction must be entered by Oct. 3, according to a recently updated agreement with one of its lenders.
Rob Blanchard, a spokesperson for Gov. Ned Lamont, told The Connecticut Mirror the state would work “diligently on the regulatory approval process” once it’s presented with a sale to approve. As of the bankruptcy filing, Prospect owed Connecticut upwards of $127 million in unpaid provider taxes, in addition to other unpaid state and municipal taxes, the governor’s office confirmed.
On Monday, lawyers for Prospect filed a motion to hold Yale New Haven to the terms of the 2022 deal, meaning Yale would either have to purchase the hospitals for $435 million, pay a penalty to Prospect or challenge them in court.
During Wednesday’s hearing, the judge seemed surprised by Prospect’s motion and, at first, confused about moving forward with a sale process while also holding Yale New Haven to its 2022 agreement.
Califano explained that, if the judge grants Prospect’s motion, Yale would be considered as the first bidder to come in over the floor set by the stalking horses, and be given the option to close the deal.
If Yale New Haven refused to move forward with the deal, “we would close with whoever is the other highest bidder, and we treat Yale as defaulted under their contract and we’d see the difference in damages,” Califano told the judge.
The bankruptcy court judge will decide whether to grant Prospect’s request in a hearing scheduled for Sept. 23.
Yale New Haven Health is also petitioning the judge to facilitate its effort to get out of the 2022 contract to purchase the hospitals.
In May 2024, following a cyberattack and reports of dire financial conditions at the Prospect hospitals, Yale New Haven sued Prospect in Connecticut Superior Court to get out of the deal. The health system alleged that Prospect breached its contract by, among other actions, defaulting on rent and tax liabilities.
But, when Prospect declared bankruptcy in January, all ongoing litigation happening outside of bankruptcy court paused, including Yale’s lawsuit. Yale New Haven has asked the bankruptcy judge to allow that lawsuit to proceed in Connecticut state court. The judge will also rule on Yale’s motion during the hearing scheduled for Sept. 23.
“Based on Prospect’s history of mismanagement of the Connecticut hospitals, it remains clear that they have never been in a position to close the transaction on the terms set in our 2022 asset purchase agreement,” a spokesperson with Yale New Haven Health stated in emailed comments.
On Wednesday, the judge encouraged Yale and Prospect to enter into mediation talks. A lawyer for Prospect said they “would be happy” to, while a lawyer for Yale said they’d need time to make a decision.
“Any discussions that have happened between the parties prior to this point have not been fruitful, so we’re not encouraged that there’s a mutually acceptable resolution,” Yale New Haven’s lawyer told the judge, but added that he’d still take the question to his client.
The judge asked the parties to let her know within a week whether they will move forward with mediation.
The Yale New Haven spokesperson declined to comment on what options the health system might be open to in mediation, including purchasing the hospitals at a revised price or paying damages to Prospect in order to officially exit the contract.
This isn’t the first time Prospect has claimed the auction was close to launching. Roughly a month after filing for bankruptcy, Prospect told the court it expected to finalize the sale of the Connecticut hospitals by June 5. During a July 23 hearing, Prospect lawyers told the judge the auction would take place soon.
In Pennsylvania, Prospect shuttered two hospitals because it couldn’t find viable buyers. Blanchard said the governor is hopeful Connecticut won’t face a similar outcome.
“We too have been frustrated with the length of this ordeal and sympathize with the health care workers at each hospital and the communities who rely on them for care,” he said. “It is our hope that through our involvement, we do not end up in a scenario with no viable buyers for these facilities.”
Whoever buys Waterbury, Manchester Memorial and Rockville General hospitals will have to deal with the structural legacy of its prior private equity ownership — for better or worse.That was the lesson of a hearing Thursday in bankruptcy court concerning efforts by hospital owner Prospect Medical Holdings to pay down at least $1 billion in debt by selling its assets.Not a single mention was made of a potential buyer for Prospect’s Connecticut hospitals on Thursday, despite the bankrupt company’s top lawyer prom...
Whoever buys Waterbury, Manchester Memorial and Rockville General hospitals will have to deal with the structural legacy of its prior private equity ownership — for better or worse.
That was the lesson of a hearing Thursday in bankruptcy court concerning efforts by hospital owner Prospect Medical Holdings to pay down at least $1 billion in debt by selling its assets.
Not a single mention was made of a potential buyer for Prospect’s Connecticut hospitals on Thursday, despite the bankrupt company’s top lawyer promising to secure a deal by Aug. 22. It was yet another blown deadline in Prospect’s efforts to sell the three struggling hospitals, starting with a vow soon after the Jan. 11 bankruptcy filing to strike a deal by June 5.
Thousands of employees, city officials and patients across central Connecticut are anxiously awaiting news of the hospitals’ fate, with Prospect’s lawyers admitting the process is taking much longer than anticipated.
Even though Connecticut’s situation was ignored on Thursday, the obstacles facing the hospital sales in the state were highlighted at the hearing, live-streamed from North Texas Bankruptcy Court in Dallas.
In seeking to sell its six mostly profitable hospitals in California, Prospect had only two bidders, both for-profit firms with private equity funding, according to the company’s lawyers.
The winning bidder was a months-old shell company called NOR Healthcare Systems Corp. with no assets, no balance sheet and no track record. The company was asked to put down only $8.5 million in cash toward a basket of Prospect’s California assets worth more than $600 million — a deposit of only 1.4%.
NOR’s main selling point, according to Prospect’s investment banker, is its parent company’s deep ties to Prospect and its landlord, Medical Properties Trust. Prospect sold the land under its hospitals nationwide to MPT in 2019 as part of a “sale-leaseback” deal that netted $1.5 million for shareholders and executives but saddled the hospitals with high rent payments.
The actions of private-equity-backed health systems like Prospect have come under increasing fire from lawmakers at the national and state level, with Connecticut’s U.S. Senators issuing reports and urging reform. MPT’s role in the financial woes of Steward Health Care and Prospect has also been singled out for criticism.
The fact that MPT still owns the land under Prospect hospitals gives it an outsized role in the sale process, attorneys said on Thursday.
“MPT is very involved in this transaction,” said Andrew Turnbull, managing director of investment banker Houlihan Lokey, at Thursday’s hearing. Turnbull’s company has been paid $3.7 million through June 30 to help Prospect sell its assets, with failed efforts in Pennsylvania resulting in the closure earlier this year of two safety-net hospitals.
NOR’s sole listed executive, Michael Sarian, is a former Prospect vice president and has a “longstanding relationship” with MPT, Turnbull said.
When asked about whether NOR and its parent company had enough cash to keep the California hospitals afloat in times of financial stress, Turnbull replied, “It’s a relative world.”
NOR’s parent company — known both as Healthcare Systems of America and American Healthcare Systems, depending on the market — drew strong objections from several creditors at Thursday’s hearing, who highlighted a history of unpaid debts and cash-flow problems in recent years. A Louisiana lawmaker has also criticized the company for deferring maintenance at a hospital in his district.
“There’s a bit of an elephant in the room with respect to … Healthcare Systems of America,” said Charles Persons, an attorney representing the court-appointed Committee of Unsecured Creditors. He went on to cite a series of court documents outlining the company’s failure to make payments on debt obligations related to earlier hospital purchases out of bankruptcy.
One of the creditors, a facility management company called Compass Group, challenged the financial viability of NOR’s parent company based on its failure to pay a $2.7 million debt for services at its hospitals. Prospect owes Compass Group an additional $17.8 million, according to court documents.
“We’re potentially walking into a train wreck,” said Compass attorney Andrew Sherman, citing NOR’s lack of a track record and unclear financing sources. He asked the judge to require more financial reporting from the buyers to insure Prospect’s thousands of creditors get paid.
A lawyer who represents both NOR and its parent company countered that the hospital operator was dealing with the legacy of the collapse of Steward Health Care. Once based in Massachusetts, Steward imploded last year in the wake of sale-leaseback deals with MPT. NOR’s parent company bought five former Steward hospitals in Florida.
“It’s not that we just didn’t decide to pay,” said Chief Legal Officer Faisal Gill. “There’s been several areas of litigation with us and Steward of monies that we were supposed to get that we didn’t get. So there’s a myriad of issues … that thankfully do not exist here.”
At the end of Thursday’s hearing, bankruptcy court Judge Stacy Jernigan approved the sale of the California hospitals to NOR, but said that she was watching for signs of financial issues with the buyer.
Bankrupt companies are increasingly breaking legal agreements to pay creditors citing cash-flow issues, similar to the Steward case, Jernigan said.
“You know, we’ve heard it said in this case from day one that we don’t want this to be Steward 2.0, so I have carefully heard everything that was said today,” Jernigan said. “We just don’t want that to happen.”
Steward and Prospect are similar in that individual hospitals once part of the chain will be dealing with the legacy of private-equity-backed ownership for the long term, said Erin Fuse Brown, an expert on health-care financing at the Brown University School of Public Health.
“One of the things that we know about private equity is that even though it tends to invest in companies and hold them for relatively short periods of time, the revenue strategies, or the sort of financial strategies that are put in place, are hard to undo after the sale,” Brown said.
The MPT sale-leaseback deals in particular at both Prospect and Steward will have long-term impact on the viability and marketability of their hospitals, she added.
“It’s hard to restore that asset to the hospital system,” Brown said of the real estate. “It is now a liability, and so the hospital moving forward is just in much of a weaker financial position.”
As both companies make their way through bankruptcy, individual hospitals are also impacted by the dismantling of large, interconnected health-care systems, Brown said. “You have to wonder what happens to all of those efficiencies and economies of scale when these entities are spun back out in smaller bits and pieces.”
Prospect’s Connecticut hospitals are facing daunting obstacles, but some hospitals caught up in private-equity-linked bankruptcies have managed to recover under new ownership, Brown said.
“It’s not necessarily a death sentence for the hospital, but it definitely puts them in a very financially precarious position such that I wouldn't be surprised if there were additional closures,” Brown said.
WATERBURY — The state Department of Transportation is evaluating two options for replacing the so-called Mixmaster interchange of highway bridges in Waterbury following a $223.7 million rehabilitation of the crossroads of Interstate 84 and Route 8.The first option for the "New Mix" program called the "Modern Crossover Interchange" would involve reconstructing Route 8 ramps and bridges to the east of the Naugatuck River.The second option labeled the "Naugatuck River Shift" would move the river...
WATERBURY — The state Department of Transportation is evaluating two options for replacing the so-called Mixmaster interchange of highway bridges in Waterbury following a $223.7 million rehabilitation of the crossroads of Interstate 84 and Route 8.
The first option for the "New Mix" program called the "Modern Crossover Interchange" would involve reconstructing Route 8 ramps and bridges to the east of the Naugatuck River.
The second option labeled the "Naugatuck River Shift" would move the river toward the east to provide space for unstacking the series of Route 8 ramps and bridges.
The DOT on Tuesday announced the selection of these two options after reviewing and analyzing potential designs for the permanent replacement of the interchanges that carry I-84 and Route 8 over downtown Waterbury streets and the Naugatuck River. The two selected alternatives are projected to cost $3 billion to $5 billion in 2022 dollars.
Built in 1968, the intricate network of stacked, overlapping bridges and elevated ramps was dubbed the Mixmaster after a trademarked stand kitchen mixer made by Sunbeam Products. At that time, the interchange was considered innovative because the stacked bridges allowed the crossroads of I-84 and Route 8 over the Naugatuck River to be constructed in a smaller footprint. It originally had a life span of 50 years.
“The Mixmaster was once a modern engineering marvel, but today it no longer meets the needs of travelers and the greater Waterbury community," DOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said in a statement. "We’re excited to move this plan forward, which was based on what we heard directly from residents and businesses. This transformative initiative will change how people safely and conveniently travel through and around Waterbury.”
The Mixmaster was designed to accommodate approximately 100,000 motor vehicle trips a day, but that number has nearly doubled to 190,000 vehicle trips per day. By 2045, the DOT is expecting the number of daily trips to approach 225,000. The wear and tear from all that use required multiple major rehabilitation projects over the years.
The DOT last November announced the completion of a $223.7 million project to rehabilitate interchange structurally and extend its life span 25 years while plans for a permanent replacement are made. Work on the renovations started in 2018.
Workers replaced decks on 21 spans on Route 8 southbound, and 36 spans northbound, which also included a temporary bypass and U-turn. Major structural repairs consisted of strengthening the girders, columns and beams to address fatigue and corrosion.
Work on I-84 eastbound and westbound included deck patching, paving and joint installation, steel repairs and strengthening, painting and substructure repairs and the installation of sign support structures.
Within Connecticut, the DOT said I-84 serves as a critical east-west transportation link between Massachusetts and I-90 to the east, and New York and beyond to the west. Route 8 extends from Bridgeport and the I-95 corridor on the south coast, north to the Massachusetts state line. In Waterbury, Route 8 parallels the Naugatuck River.
The DOT said the two replacement options announced Monday aim to improve safety and mobility on I-84 and Route 8, as well as improve multimodal connections within the surrounding roadway network. In both alternatives, the I-84 and Route 8 structures would be unstacked and reconstructed with an expected life span of more than 75 years.
“Progress takes patience, and while this work will take decades to fully complete, we are committed to improving lives through transportation by implementing, and completing, certain projects within the next five years” Eucalitto said.
The announcement said the two design options originated through the New Mix Planning and Environmental Linkages Study. Over the last several years, strategies for improving transportation for all users were identified in alignment with the city of Waterbury's economic and developmental goals. The PEL study also involved public outreach and participation.
The public can learn more about these alternatives by visiting the Project Alternatives page on the PEL study website.
In addition to the two replacement options, the DOT reported that the PEL study also identified breakout projects, including some that have been constructed and several that are in various stages of conceptual development and design. These breakouts are independent projects improving safety and mobility for the surrounding transportation network, while the state and federal environmental review and design of the interchange advance.
The DOT ruled out an in-place reconstruction due to the construction difficulties involved or another rehabilitation of the Mixmaster in 2045 because it would not substantially improve the interchange’s functionality, nor would it extend its life span relative to the cost of a full replacement. It also concluded continued rehabilitation would not be able to address operational and safety standards.
Another alternative that the DOT dismissed was constructing a tunnel because the projected construction and maintenance costs would be considered unreasonable and impractical due to the length of tunnel needed to construct a functioning interchange. The topography also presented limitations because of the required depth for a tunnel.
The DOT said the the Modern Crossover Interchange alternative results in a configuration that addresses the needs of the interchange. It would reduce the potential for crashes and would include substantial benefits for the surrounding community while minimizing effects on environmental and community resources. This alternative would allow for riverfront access along both riverbanks of the Naugatuck River.
This alternative would replace the Mixmaster with a full system interchange, using elevated structures that would cross over or under one another. Under this option, I-84 near the core of the interchange would be located just south of the existing alignment, while Route 8 would be relocated east of the existing alignment, and east of the Naugatuck River, just south of I-84. Route 8 would remain on the west side of the Naugatuck River north of I-84.
The DOT concluded the Naugatuck River Shift alternative would also address the needs of the interchange. The option anticipates the Naugatuck River would be shifted east to a more favorable position for the Route 8 roadway. This alternative would allow for more opportunities for riverfront access along the eastern riverbank and would also benefit transportation, safety, and environmental and community resources.
This alternative would also replace the Mixmaster with a full system interchange that would be built in an unstacked configuration. Under this scenario, I-84 would be located just south of the existing alignment near the interchange core and Route 8 would be reconstructed on the west bank of the Naugatuck River. To accommodate the unstacked Route 8 configuration, the Naugatuck River would require partial relocation. The width, river flow, and capacity of the shifted portion would be maintained in the final condition.
WATERBURY — Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. is heartened Waterbury Hospital could be under new ownership by the end of the year or early next year following news of progress in its court-supervised sale.A lawyer for Prospect Medical Holdings advised a federal judge overseeing its Chapter 11 bankruptcy Wednesday that the California-based hospital chain is close to launching th...
WATERBURY — Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. is heartened Waterbury Hospital could be under new ownership by the end of the year or early next year following news of progress in its court-supervised sale.
A lawyer for Prospect Medical Holdings advised a federal judge overseeing its Chapter 11 bankruptcy Wednesday that the California-based hospital chain is close to launching the auction process to sell Waterbury, Manchester Memorial and Rockville General hospitals in Connecticut.
Pernerewski said Thursday the movement toward the anticipated bankruptcy sale is an encouraging development. He said he continues to hear that four bidders are interested in the three Prospect-owned Connecticut hospitals.
"I look forward to it. From what I understand, the bidders are solid folks, so hopefully we'll get this wrapped up by the end of the year," Pernerewski said.
Prospect attorney Anne Wallice told the judge presiding over the Chapter 11 proceeding in the Northern District of Texas during a hearing Wednesday that the company is close to securing a “stalking horse” bidder that will set the minimum price on the hospital assets sold as part of a bankruptcy auction.
Wallice also informed Judge Stacy Jernigan that Prospect intends to meet or beat an Aug. 15 deadline set as part of an emergency loan deal struck earlier in the month.
The loan deal is concerning to city leaders in Waterbury. The city is owed roughly $40 million in property taxes that is tied up in the Chapter 11 case. City officials worry the more emergency debt financing Prospect receives will leave less funds for repaying other debts, including the tax debt to Waterbury.
The city is owed nearly $22 million in real estate taxes and personal property taxes for the 2022 and 2023 tax years. Prospect is contesting the city's 2022 and 2023 tax assessments in state court. A bench trial is scheduled for Aug. 27 in state Superior Court in Waterbury.
The Board of Aldermen earlier this month placed $18.4 million in unpaid 2024 and 2025 taxes on the property tax suspense list because city tax officials deemed the tax bills uncollectible. But the tax debt will remain collectible for 15 years from the due date and interest will accrue at a rate of 18% a year. The placement on the suspense list removes the 2024 and 2025 back taxes as receivables that are included in the city's year-end tax financial statements.
Prospect filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Jan. 11. Initially, Prospect had outlined a plan for a court-supervised auction of its three Connecticut hospitals to take place by early June, but that did not happen.
If Waterbury Hospital is sold next month, Pernerewski said he is hopeful state officials could approve a transfer of ownership by the end of the year or early next year.
In March, Gov. Ned Lamont signed legislation that established an expedited process for the state Office of Health Strategy to approve a transfer of ownership for hospitals in bankruptcy. The new law requires OHS to issue a final decision on an emergency application for a required certificate of need within 60 days after it determines the application is complete.
A lengthy OHS review of a proposed sale of three Prospect-owned hospitals to Yale New Haven Health is widely seen as contributing to the collapse of that deal.
OHS regulators approved a CON 16 months after Yale and Prospect had signed a $435 million purchase agreement in October 2022. During that time, the physical, operating and financial conditions of Waterbury, Manchester Memorial and Rockville General hospitals deteriorated, and Yale lost interest and eventually sued in state court to get out the agreement after trying unsuccessfully to get Prospect to lower the sales price to $150 million. Prospect bought the hospitals for a combined $205 million in 2016.
Prospect filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy three months before a scheduled trial on Yale's suit and a counter suit that Prospect filed to compel Yale to complete the sale as negotiated.
Pernerewski said he believes a sale of three Prospect-owned hospitals could be concluded quickly once a winning bidder is selected between the expedited review process and 60-day time limit.
"I think everybody is going to be kind of gun shy about dragging their feet on this one. I think there is going to be a lot of interest," he said.
If the winning bidder already is operating in Connecticut, Pernerewski said he believes that might also help to hasten the regulatory review. In addition to Yale, Hartford HealthCare, Northwell Health, Trinity Health of New England, the University of Connecticut and Griffin Health operate acute-care hospitals in the state.
The mayor said his sense is that OHS regulators are basically going to vet the winning bidder to make sure it has the ability and wherewithal to take over ownership of the three Prospect-owned hospitals.
"I think if you have a bidder and you're moving in that direction, that is a comforting sign that things are going to finally come together," Pernerewski said. "We'll know who they are. I think it will help with morale at the hospitals for the employees as well."
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