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 Statue of Christopher Columbus 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 La Tavola or visit Father Michael J. McGivney Monument, 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.
Prospect Medical Holdings, a for-profit health care company that owns three Connecticut hospitals and is embroiled in a legal battle with Yale New Haven Health, has ...
Prospect Medical Holdings, a for-profit health care company that owns three Connecticut hospitals and is embroiled in a legal battle with Yale New Haven Health, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid financial woes, according to a news release.
The company, which owns Manchester Memorial Hospital, Rockville General Hospital and Waterbury Hospital and numerous hospitals in three other U.S. states, said it would continue to work to deliver care to patients "uninterrupted" and was "engaging with key stakeholders to finalize necessary funding to support business during (the) restructuring process."
Gov. Ned Lamont responded to the bankruptcy filing by saying his office would continue to hold the company "accountable to provide quality care" and said the hospitals would remain open.
“We have a cross-agency team in place to ensure hospital operations continue uninterrupted and that employees and vendors continue to be compensated, as required by court orders," Lamont said. "As part of this response, we are in touch with management at these local hospitals, representatives for hospital staff and local elected officials."
Attorney General William Tong said he was "disappointed" that Prospect Medical had filed for bankruptcy, but added his office would also "watch closely" following the announcement.
State Comptroller Sean Scanlon said officials have been prepared, expected the news and reiterated that the hospitals are still open.
"In the long term, we need to look at how we can avoid situations like this, and that starts with taking a hard look at whether allowing for profit companies to buy hospitals is a good idea and in the best interest of Connecticut patients," Scanlon said. "I don’t think it is."
Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne echoed the sentiment of other state officials Sunday, saying he had "known for some time that they were behind in paying suppliers, doctors and others, both locally and across the nation."
"The key thing for our communities to know is that Eastern Connecticut Health Network will continue to care for patients and provide the medical care our communities have come to rely on," he said. "Patient care is still No. 1 for ECHN.”
M. Saud Anwar, a pulmonologist who also serves as a state senator for South Windsor, said Sunday that Prospect Medical declaring bankruptcy is "both disturbing and deeply disappointing."
"Our top priority is — and always will be — our patients and health care workers," Anwar said. "These are the people at the heart of our health care system, and they deserve our unwavering support. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure continuity of care, safeguard jobs and maintain the quality and accessibility of health care in the communities served by these hospitals."
Late last year, Lamont and other state officials urged Prospect Medical and Yale New Haven Health to finalize a two-year negotiated merger. Yale New Haven Health slammed Prospect at the time for abandoning the hospitals the company acquired and draining their resources.
Yale New Haven Health has been battling Prospect Medical in Hartford Superior Court since May over the October 2022 purchase agreement it signed with Prospect to buy the three hospitals and other medical facilities it owns around the state for $435 million.
In 2016, Prospect Medical bought the former nonprofit health care systems in Waterbury and Eastern Connecticut Health Network, or ECHN, for nearly $300 million. Besides the three hospitals, the deal also included some medical and imaging offices in South Windsor and Woodlake of Tolland nursing home, which has since been sold.
Two years later, Prospect took out a $1.12 billion mortgage against the Connecticut properties, using roughly $457 million to pay dividends to investors and executives of the Los Angeles-based company, according to financial disclosures CT Insider obtained last year through the attorney general's office in Rhode Island where Prospect Medical also owns hospitals.
While Prospect is a privately held entity and does not make its financial information available to the public, its finances were examined by Rhode Island officials when the company attempted to shift ownership of two hospitals there.
In order to pay back the $1.12 billion loan, Prospect sold the land and buildings it owned in Connecticut and other states to a subsidiary, Alabama-based Medical Properties Trust, and then leased back the properties it mortgaged.
The medical group had tax liens of $36.4 million on Waterbury, nearly $30 million on Manchester and more than $8 million on Rockville General, according to the documents released by the Secretary of the State's office. The group is also delinquent on over $100 million in state taxes and owes millions in pension payments to Connecticut employees, according to Lamont.
In addition to its financial woes and drawing the ire of state officials, Prospect Medical also dealt with a cyberattack in 2023 that compromised over 100,000 patient's personal information.
In November, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a subpoena seeking more information from Prospect in relation to the transaction with Yale New Haven Health, according to court filings in the lawsuits the two health care companies have filed against each other.
Tong's office has also launched an investigation into Prospect Medical's financial practices, but state officials have been tight-lipped about the probe, citing an ongoing investigation.
Lamont said Sunday that officials continue to work to find the three hospitals a new operator.
Jan 12, 2025|Updated Jan 12, 2025 1:00 p.m.
Reporter
This story was updated at 1 p.m. with a statement from Yale New Haven Health.Prospect Medical Holdings, the owner of three struggling Connecticut hospitals in Waterbury, Manchester and Vernon, filed for bankruptcy protection late Saturday night.The California-based hospital operator, which also owns facilities in California, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, filed for Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court ...
This story was updated at 1 p.m. with a statement from Yale New Haven Health.
Prospect Medical Holdings, the owner of three struggling Connecticut hospitals in Waterbury, Manchester and Vernon, filed for bankruptcy protection late Saturday night.
The California-based hospital operator, which also owns facilities in California, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, filed for Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Northern Texas to “proceed on a strategic pathway to realign its organizational focus outside of California,” according to a company statement.
Prospect committed to continuing “uninterrupted” patient care at their facilities throughout the bankruptcy process.
The bankruptcy filing could complicate efforts to resolve longstanding financial and operational problems at Prospect’s three Connecticut hospitals that were exacerbated by a debilitating cyberattack in August 2023. The following month, the presidents of those hospitals warned the governor that the financial situation at all three hospitals was dire.
In particular, it’s unclear what the filing will mean for the pending agreement Prospect signed in 2022 to sell its three Connecticut hospitals to Yale New Haven Health.
The statement issued by Prospect mentioned that the bankruptcy filing would help to expedite the timeframe of two pending agreements: one to sell Prospect’s two Rhode Island hospitals and another to divest from the Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Pennsylvania. However, it made no mention of the agreement with YNHH and representatives from Prospect did not respond to a request for comment Sunday.
A spokeswoman for Yale New Haven Health issued a statement Sunday saying that Prospect’s bankruptcy filing “is a national matter and of grave concern to many hospitals around the country.”
“Yale New Haven Health raised the alarm about this inevitability in the lawsuit we filed last year, recognizing Prospect’s lack of investment and mismanagement of the Connecticut Prospect hospitals,” wrote the spokeswoman, Dana Marnane. “The situation was further exacerbated by their lack of payment to the pension plans and growing debt to the state, local governments and vendors. Many of these same issues were referenced in lawsuits filed by the States of Pennsylvania and Rhode Island regarding Prospect’s mismanagement of their hospitals in those states. We will closely monitor the proceedings and determine what steps, if any, YNHHS will take as part of this process.”
Connecticut officials issued a statement Sunday saying they, too, were closely monitoring the situation.
“We have a cross-agency team in place to ensure hospital operations continue uninterrupted and that employees and vendors continue to be compensated, as required by court orders,” said Gov. Ned Lamont in the statement.
Lamont said the state has an independent monitor overseeing operations at Waterbury Hospital and will “increase oversight” at Manchester Hospital. He added that the administration will be “evaluating opportunities to transfer these institutions to a new operator.”
“This changes nothing with regards to their obligations to patient care and safety,” Attorney General William Tong said as part of the same statement.
“We need to look at how we can avoid situations like this, and that starts with taking a hard look at whether allowing for profit companies to buy hospitals is a good idea and in the best interest of Connecticut patients. I don’t think it is,” State Comptroller Sean Scanlon said in a statement on Sunday.
Von Crockett, Prospect’s chief executive officer, added that the filing represents an “important step forward” in the company’s “longstanding commitment” to its patients and communities.
“Divesting our operations outside of California will ensure that they receive necessary financial support so that the communities that rely on those facilities will maintain continued access to highly coordinated, personalized, and critical health care services long into the future,” stated Crockett.
The bankruptcy filing could also impact the state financially. The state of Connecticut is listed as one of the top 30 creditors in the bankruptcy filing. Prospect owes the state more than $67 million in health provider taxes, also known as a hospital user fee, which every hospital, as well as nursing homes and other health care providers, must pay to the state every year based on their revenues.
Prospect had not paid health provider taxes to the state dating back to March 2022, according to three liens filed by the Department of Revenue Services against Prospect Medical last January.
Manchester-based Legacy ECHN Inc., an organization that controls a multi-million dollar bequest to Manchester Memorial Hospital from a local philanthropist, is the only other organization from Connecticut listed in the filing’s top 30 creditors.
An attorney for Legacy ECHN did not respond to a request for comment.
The deal between Prospect and Yale New Haven Health is currently mired in legal disputes, as the parties have sued and countersued over the true value of the three hospitals.
Sen. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, co-chair of the Public Health Committee and a physician who is affiliated with Manchester Memorial Hospital, said he has been in close communication with the leadership of Prospect’s Connecticut hospitals and remains hopeful the deal could still go through.
Anwar said he’s optimistic that “no further meaningful involvement of Prospect at the national level will help us move to make sure that the money generated by the hospitals will be used to enhance the capacity of the hospitals, and the leadership in Connecticut for Prospect would be focused on moving forward with Yale.”
Sen. Jeff Gordon, R-Woodstock, a practicing physician who has filed legislation this session to limit private equity involvement in health care, said he’s “hopeful” but the fate of the sale remains “unclear.”
“I think Yale has been kind of looking for a way out,” Gordon said. “I’m still hopeful that Yale will want to buy them out to keep things going. The issue is going to be to what degree does the state have to do various things with that.”
In 2023, Yale requested $80 million from the state to help support the acquisition following the cyberattack at the hospitals. So far, Lamont has been reluctant to put taxpayer money behind the deal.
If the deal were to fall through and a new buyer were to surface, the transaction would need to apply for approval from the state’s Office of Health Strategy. The approval process for the deal between Yale and Prospect took 16 months. The lengthy timeline drew criticism from both lawmakers and the hospitals.
In an emailed statement on Sunday, OHS commissioner Deidre Gifford stated that the agency would review any deal with a new buyer “as expeditiously as statutes allow.” She added that the agency has reduced its approval process from a median 434 days in 2021 to 156.5 days in 2024.
“Should a new buyer for Prospect hospitals be identified through a bankruptcy process, OHS does not anticipate that a Certificate of Need review would be prolonged. Review timelines can differ based on the application and other factors,” Gifford stated.
For now, local officials want residents to know that the hospitals are still operational.
Vernon Mayor Daniel Champagne stressed that Rockville General Hospital is still open, particularly the emergency room, and that state officials have assured him that won’t change.
“People in this area who need emergency care should not pass them by, the hospital is still open,” he said.
In CT, Prospect owns Waterbury Hospital and the Eastern Connecticut Health Network, which includes two hospitals in Manchester and Vernon. All three remain open.More VideosCONNECTICUT, USA — Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc., which owns three Connecticut hospitals, announced Saturday night that it is filing for bankruptcy.In Connecticut, the Los Angeles-based compan...
In CT, Prospect owns Waterbury Hospital and the Eastern Connecticut Health Network, which includes two hospitals in Manchester and Vernon. All three remain open.
CONNECTICUT, USA — Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc., which owns three Connecticut hospitals, announced Saturday night that it is filing for bankruptcy.
In Connecticut, the Los Angeles-based company owns Waterbury Hospital and the Eastern Connecticut Health Network, or ECHN, which includes Manchester Memorial Hospital and Rockville General Hospital. All three remain open.
In a statement, the company said that it is realigning its "organizational focus outside of California," which includes an agreement to sell Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Medical Center, both located in Rhode Island. It is also working with the state of Pennsylvania for a divestiture of the Crozer-Chester Medical Center.
"To effectuate the paths forward and the Hospital Transactions in an expected timeframe, and to ensure continued provision of critical and tailored healthcare, Prospect Holdings, together with certain of its subsidiaries, initiated voluntary chapter 11 proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas (the “Bankruptcy Court”)," the company said in the statement.
The company added that Prospect Holdings' "hospitals, medical centers and physicians' offices will remain open" through the Chapter 11 process, and that "patient care and services will continue uninterrupted."
Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement that his administration has been "preparing for the possibility that Prospect Medical Holdings would file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy."
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"The three hospitals remain open, and we will continue to hold Prospect accountable to provide quality care to the communities that rely on these institutions," Lamont said. “We have a cross-agency team in place to ensure hospital operations continue uninterrupted and that employees and vendors continue to be compensated, as required by court orders. As part of this response, we are in touch with management at these local hospitals, representatives for hospital staff, and local elected officials."
He continued, “Our number one priority remains maintaining safety and quality of care at Prospect’s three Connecticut hospitals. We currently have an independent monitor overseeing operations at Waterbury Hospital and will increase oversight at Manchester Hospital. We will continue to work to evaluate opportunities to transfer these institutions to a new operator. The state will be monitoring the situation closely and intends to participate in court proceedings to the extent necessary to protect the interests of patients, employees and creditors.”
Lamont said Monday that the next steps in the process involve "another bid process or a new vendor. We had three bid last time and Yale is obviously the one we've tried to get over the finish line for a couple years and they are at the front of the pack."
State Sen. Saud Anwar, the senate chair of the Public Health Committee, noted that the bankruptcy declaration is "both disturbing and deeply disappointing."
"It sends ripples of uncertainty through the three hospitals affected, as well as the communities and families who rely on these institutions. I am working to determine how this will impact our state and am adamant that care cannot be compromised now more than ever. State leadership including Governor Ned Lamont, Attorney General William Tong and my fellow state legislators is deeply engaged in this issue and in close contact with Prospect Medical Holdings' leadership to address this situation with urgency and clarity," Anwar said.
He continued, "Our top priority is—and always will be—our patients and healthcare workers. These are the people at the heart of our healthcare system, and they deserve our unwavering support. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure continuity of care, safeguard jobs, and maintain the quality and accessibility of healthcare in the communities served by these hospitals."
State Sen. Jeff Gordon said he plans to move forward with his own bill this legislative session to put people before profits and prevent groups like Prospect from running hospitals.
“I want to reassure people, when they need care, go to the emergency room if you feel you have to, if you need local healthcare still do that,” Gordon said. “But we need to see what we can do to really get this away from Prospect, keep these hospitals in ECHN open and running and providing services, and providing the jobs and the paychecks to employees, and then see what we can do moving forward…We need to deal with saving the systems now, and then prevent this from happening to any other system in the future.”
State Sen. Joan Hartley said in a statement, "This is a deeply troubling and heartbreaking development for Waterbury and the greater Waterbury area, especially for the hardworking staff and their patients. I want to reassure our community that patient care remains a top priority and the hospital is committed to continuing to provide high-quality services. While the full impact of this development is not yet clear, I will work closely with the Mayor, Waterbury Delegation, and all stakeholders to ensure that our residents continue to receive the excellent care they deserve. Waterbury’s resilience will guide us through these challenging times.”
Attorney General William Tong said that while he is disappointed that the company filed for bankruptcy, "this changes nothing with regards to their obligations to patient care and safety."
"My office is watching this matter closely and I intend to actively participate in the proceeding to protect the interests of the state, Prospect’s patients, employees, and the communities that rely on its services," Tong said.
In a press conference Monday, he listed off a number of issues regarding Prospect, including that "they failed to pay vendors" and that they "engaged in a pattern of neglect and disinvestment."
Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne said in a statement that the bankruptcy declaration is "not unexpected."
“We have been following developments at ECHN and Prospect closely and have known for some time that they were behind in paying suppliers, doctors and others, both locally and across the nation. I have been in touch with the governor’s office and we will continue to work with him and others," Champagne said. "The key thing for our communities to know is that Eastern Connecticut Health Network will continue to care for patients and provide the medical care our communities have come to rely on. Patient care is still No. 1 for ECHN.”
Some nurses like Ann-Marie Cerra say concern is already starting to surface at Manchester Memorial Hospital.
“We all feel very vulnerable, no one wants to have to start over you know after so many years, there’s some frustration and there is some anger about the process and corporate greed," Cerra said.
Sean Humphrey is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at [email protected].
Steffen Reals is a reporter and anchor at FOX61 News. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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If you're looking to end your year with a bang, there's no better way to do it than with a fireworks show.This New Year's Eve – Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 – three Connecticut communities are looking to ring in the New Year with fireworks.Please do note that these venues usually request that no outside alcohol is brought into these events and they are either asking...
If you're looking to end your year with a bang, there's no better way to do it than with a fireworks show.
This New Year's Eve – Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 – three Connecticut communities are looking to ring in the New Year with fireworks.
Please do note that these venues usually request that no outside alcohol is brought into these events and they are either asking guests to leave their pets at home or keep them leashed for their own and others' safety during the fireworks shows.
According to the ASPCA, fireworks can cause fear and anxiety, stomach problems and other issues in pets.
Here's more about fireworks shows in Connecticut to bring in the new year.
Where: Bushnell Park, Hartford, CT 06103
When: First show at 6 p.m. Second show at midnight.
What to expect: Two exhilarating fireworks shows visible to residents and visitors in the thousands, according to the First Night Hartford website, one in the evening and then another at midnight, for those who want to wait for the ball to drop.
Where: Holy Land USA, 60 Slocum St, Waterbury, CT 06706
When: 6:30 p.m.
What to expect: Livestreamed technicolor fireworks spectacular but can be seen live by anyone near the Holy Land USA property. Presented by Post University associates to the town of Waterbury.
New Year's Eve in CT:Here's five events in Connecticut to ring in the new year
Where: Veterans Memorial Park, 38 Canal Street, Shelton, CT 06484
When: 7 p.m.
What to expect: City-organized fireworks display in a downtown Shelton park. Rain date is Jan. 1, 2025.
Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at [email protected].
WATERBURY — It hasn't been the happiest of holidays at the Brass Mill Center mall.Since last month, mall officials have been greeted with news that two of their better known tenants will be leaving the mall early next year. Discount retailer Burlington will be relocating from its spot as one of the mall's anchors to space in a nearby shopping plaza ...
WATERBURY — It hasn't been the happiest of holidays at the Brass Mill Center mall.
Since last month, mall officials have been greeted with news that two of their better known tenants will be leaving the mall early next year. Discount retailer Burlington will be relocating from its spot as one of the mall's anchors to space in a nearby shopping plaza while another retailer, FYE, is closing outright.
A recent post-Thanksgiving visit to the mall found 44 empty store fronts, three food court vacancies and an empty restaurant location. All but one of its escalators were either broken or turned off. Fewer than three dozen cars were parked in a lot meant to hold nearly 4,600 cars.
Brass Mill Center has more than 70 tenants, including the Apple Cinemas multiplex theater that moved in earlier this year where Regal Cinemas had been.
That relocation and the December 2023 opening of an Ashley Furniture outlet in space formerly occupied by Macy's in the east end of the mall have been two of the bright spots for Brass Mill Center.
The mall is owned by a Great Neck, N.Y. company, Kohan Retail Investment Group, which bought Brass Mill Center and the neighboring Brass Mill Commons shopping center for $44.9 million in April 2022. Mall General Manager Stacey Mendyka has not responded to repeated requests from CT Insider for comment about the mall's vacancies.
The trade group representing mall and retail center owners, the International Council of Shopping Centers, estimated in May that there were 1,150 malls in the United States. A 2023 study by New York City-based Coresight Research found that malls make up a shrinking share of the total U.S. retail gross leasable brick-and-mortar area — down to 5.5% in 2023, a 0.2% decline from 2014.
Shoppers in the Waterbury area who still visit Brass Mill Center say they have a variety of reasons for going there, including specific stores they like and the convenience of having the mall so close to home.
Janet Garcia-Hallet went to the Children's Place store in Brass Mill Center on Dec. 13. Garcia-Hallet said she also shops at Foot Locker and patronizes Bye Bye Stress message and the International House of Pancakes.
"We live in the far west end of town, so the mall is not too far away," she said.
John Jauchler of Cheshire said he goes to the mall every three weeks to get his hair cut at C&C Unisex Hair Design.
"I've been going to them for the past 20-some years," Jauchler said. "I usually walk a lap around the mall when finished, but I rarely do other shopping."
Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski said he's pragmatic about the future of Brass Mill Center.
"It's the nature of retail now that the old-style malls are not doing that well," Pernerewski said. "The likely future of malls is something that's going to involve a repurposing."
So far, the idea of turning the mall into something else is not a subject that Kohan Retail Investment has broached, according to Pernerewski and Joe McGrath, Waterbury's director of economic development. McGrath said he is in contact with Mendyka and other mall officials at least once a month..
While Kohan owns the vast majority of the mall, others own two of the mall's original anchor spaces.
The former Macy's space is owned by brothers Sami and Nazeeh Abunasra.The brothers operate an Ashley Furniture outlet in a portion of the 161,744 square foot space they bought for $3.3 million in July 2023.
Sami Abunasra said he is negotiating to fill the remaining space that he and his brother own.
The former Sears store at the west end of the mall is owned by a suburban Chicago company, Transformco Properties. The privately held company was formed in 2019 to acquire assets from Sears.
Those assets include former Sears and KMart locations that now sit vacant. Transformco property at Brass Mill Center includes the mall's former Sears anchor location and a separate standalone building that housed a Sears Automotive.
The two buildings have a little more than 157,000 square feet of space between them as well as 10 acres of property. The two Transformco assets in Waterbury are being marketed by the real estate firm CBRE.
Christian Van Horn, a CBRE broker, declined to comment on the level of interest in the Transformco holdings at Brass Mill Center. But he said generally speaking the majority of former Sears and KMart locations that the company is marketing across New England have seen interest from potential buyers build slowly this year.
Any interest that retailers might have in filling mall vacancies or that developers have in repurposing malls for some other usage has been held in check by inflation on the national level and the retail environment in Connecticut, said Donald Klepper-Smith, an economist with South Carolina-based DataCore Partners.
"Consumer spending power is being squeezed," Klepper-Smith said.
"Consumers have every incentive to stretch their dollars as far as possible," he said. "There's just not a lot of cash lying around at the end of every month for consumers to use on retail spending. It's one of the most challenging retail environments I have ever seen."
John Clapp, a professor emeritus of real estate at the University of Connecticut, said the mall was purchased at a price low enough that officials with Kohan Retail Investment might be playing a waiting game, holding onto the property while waiting for more favorable economic conditions and an offer from a developer looking to repurpose the property.
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