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 Canton Historical Museums 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 Canton, 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.
“Other ABC provides a person to cook and do laundry for my mother. The people I”
“We appreciate all that you did and would have loved to have Seth with us”
“We appreciate all that you did and would have loved to have Seth with us”
“Bessie has been an exceptional Health Care Provider. She takes such pride in her work”
“I am a current client of this provider We used Always Best Care for my mother.”
“Thank you so much for all the incredible attention you gave our family and dad”
“Thank you so much for all the incredible attention you gave our family and dad”
“To honor Bob's memory, enjoy a round of golf, share your music with others, make”
“Thank you again to you, Susan and the rest of the care-givers and staff of”
“Thank you again to you, Susan and the rest of the care-givers and staff of”
“Thank you for the excellent care given to my mom. It was a huge weight”
“The Renchy family of Guilford would like to thank the staff and caretakers at CT”
“Rick/Heather, Thank you for providing excellent customer service !! I have received several emails and”
“I am a past client of this provider Dave and staff, thank you or consistently”
“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”
“I had a very good experience ! I really appreciate the service that your company,”
“I had a very good experience ! I really appreciate the service that your company,”
“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 with”
“I am a retired registered nurse, and for several years, I have been the primary”
“Our sister, Barbara has early-onset dementia , and was in sudden need of”
“I am a retired registered nurse, and for several years, I have been the primary”
“I am a past client of this provider My journey with Always Best Care began with”
“I am a past client of this provider Dave and staff, thank you or consistently caring”
“I am a current client of this provider I have a very good providers from this”
“Other ABC provides a person to cook and do laundry for my mother. The people I have spoken to at the agency have been extremely helpful but more importantly kind and understanding. I have gotten quick responses to any inquiries I have made. The caregiver has been more than flexible and provides reliable help for my mother. I am feeling confident my mother is getting quality care to help her stay in her home.”
“We appreciate all that you did and would have loved to have Seth with us longer than we did. This was very sudden and in Gods hands I guess. Her last meal was the pasta you made. We tried it too. It was excellent. So you provided her favorite meal. Thank you for that. We would recommend you to anyone who is in need of such services. Be well.”
“We appreciate all that you did and would have loved to have Seth with us longer than we did. This was very sudden and in Gods hands I guess. Her last meal was the pasta you made. We tried it too. It was excellent. So you provided her favorite meal. Thank you for that. We would recommend you to anyone who is in need of such services. Be well”
“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”
“I am a current client of this provider 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 so much for all the incredible attention you gave our family and dad during his illness. We are so grateful that your service was available and that you were all true to your words - you were there to help EVERY step of the way - Our words don't seem enough to express our gratitude. We will miss you all but never forget and we tell everyone we know about your agency and staff.”
“Thank you so much for all the incredible attention you gave our family and dad during his illness. We are so grateful that your service was available and that you were all true to your words - you were there to help EVERY step of the way - Our words don't seem enough to express our gratitude. We will miss you all but never forget and we tell everyone we know about your agency and staff”
“To honor Bob's memory, enjoy a round of golf, share your music with others, make your town a better place, have coffee with a friend, help someone in need, and fill every day with two days' worth of life! The family would like to thank caregivers Pauline and Yvette of Always Best Care of Bristol and Hartford Healthcare at Home for their extraordinary care.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Thank you for the excellent care given to my mom. It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders knowing that Cynthia was there to care for her. Mom was very fond of Cynthia as well as the rest of the family.”
“The Renchy family of Guilford would like to thank the staff and caretakers at CT Hospice of Branford and the CT Hospice Homecare as well as the staff and caretakers from Always Best Care. A special thank you to Sue Dow who helped the family navigate the homecare process over the past several years.”
“Rick/Heather, Thank you for providing excellent customer service !! I have received several emails and phone calls from caregivers who have provided positive feedback about the aids that you deploy to their loved ones (my consumers). This can only be a reflection of your hiring practices and the training that you provide, we appreciate the excellent quality of service.”
“I am a past client of this provider 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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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 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.”
“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.”
“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 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.”
“I am a past client of this provider 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 am a current client of this provider 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 Mills Pond 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 Buon Appetito or visit Paul Revere Museum - Future Site, 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 Canton, 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 Canton, 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 Canton, 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.
Grace amassed an amazing run of eight state field hockey titles in a 15-year stretch from 1985 to 1999.Patch Staff|Updated Thu, Oct 3, 2024 at 1:36 pm ETCANTON, CT — Nancy Grace, a Canton High School graduate who went on to lead her alma mater to eight state field hockey championships as head coach, died Wednesday. She was 65.Grace, who played field hockey and softball for the Warriors before graduating in 1976, went on to play at Springfield College. She returned to her hometown as a teacher and coach, an...
Patch Staff
|Updated Thu, Oct 3, 2024 at 1:36 pm ET
CANTON, CT — Nancy Grace, a Canton High School graduate who went on to lead her alma mater to eight state field hockey championships as head coach, died Wednesday. She was 65.
Grace, who played field hockey and softball for the Warriors before graduating in 1976, went on to play at Springfield College. She returned to her hometown as a teacher and coach, and experienced success virtually unmatched in Connecticut high school coaching history.
She spent 20 years in charge of the field hockey program, securing the school's first Class S title in 1985, a co-championship with North Central Connecticut Conference rival Granby Memorial. A year later, the Warriors won their first outright title with a 3-1 decision over Old Saybrook.
In 2002, she was one of the inaugural honorees of the Canton Wall of Fame. She was inducted into the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2012, and was named High School Coach of the Year by the Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance in 1993. In 2000, she was a finalist for the Coach of the Year award by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.
Her success was not limited to field hockey. She coached Canton softball for 10 seasons, winning seven conference championships and the Class S crown in 1991. She also coached golf, and was one of the few female athletic directors in the area for about a half-dozen years in the mid-2000s. In addition, she was the Canton School District Teacher of the Year for 2012-13.
Ziemnicki recalled occasions where her team bus pulled into the Canton High School driveway and the word "Graceland" was spray-painted on the hill.
"That was intimidating for visiting teams," she said. "She taught me a lot, and I'm going to miss my pal."
Hall of Fame coach Dot Johnson of Granby played Canton twice a year in regular season NCCC competition, plus countless times in league and state tournament action.
"We had an intense rivalry on the field, but after many years, we got to know each other and got to be more friends than rival coaches," Johnson said.
Legendary Enfield coach Cookie Bromage, who opposed Canton numerous times during her 52-year tenure at the helm of the Raiders, said, "My heart is heavy, I'm so sad. She was a phenomenal friend who was fierce, competitive and brilliant. We would talk strategies on the phone and I would wind up taking notes. She loved her kids and got the most out of each one. She was a great coach, a great teacher and a marvelous and loyal friend."
"Our field hockey community has lost a legendary coach," former Somers coach and longtime CIAC tournament director Dawn O'Neil said. "She was very competitive on the field, but a true friend off the field."
Canton athletic director Kim Hirth said, "Nancy was Canton. She invested so much of herself into teaching and coaching the Canton community, and she touched so many lives during her time here. I only knew her for a short time, but I felt like I knew her for my entire life, and that's a testament to the way she could connect with people. She will be missed greatly by our town and school, but she will never be forgotten."
A Celebration of Life is being planned for late October, Ziemnicki said.
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CANTON, Oct. 2, 2024 – The leaves haven’t changed yet but the signs of fall are there with some leaves displaying a light shade of yellow.Admist the changing seasons, the Canton and Granby field hockey teams met for the second time this season Wednesday on the turf field in Canton. The Bears blanked the Warriors, 2-0 earlier this season but Canton had gone 5-0-1 in their last six games.It was a game that my friend Nancy Grace would have enjoyed watching. But she couldn’t.The legendary Hall of Fame coach...
CANTON, Oct. 2, 2024 – The leaves haven’t changed yet but the signs of fall are there with some leaves displaying a light shade of yellow.
Admist the changing seasons, the Canton and Granby field hockey teams met for the second time this season Wednesday on the turf field in Canton. The Bears blanked the Warriors, 2-0 earlier this season but Canton had gone 5-0-1 in their last six games.
It was a game that my friend Nancy Grace would have enjoyed watching. But she couldn’t.
The legendary Hall of Fame coach passed away earlier Wednesday.
It was a perfect place to remember a woman who changed so many lives as coach (field hockey, softball, golf) and science teacher.
Normally, I would be on the sideline snapping some photos and watching the athletes compete but I stood along the fence talking about Nancy and her legacy with others for most of the contest.
A child of Canton, she graduated from Canton High in 1976 where she played field hockey and softball. She went to Springfield College and played for legendary coach Dottie Zenaty. Once she got her teaching and coaching jobs in Canton, she never left.
In field hockey, she had tremendous success in 20 years as the head coach, winning 295 games, 11 league championships and eight Class S state championships from 1985 to 2004. Her teams played in the finals 11 times and she was finalist for the National High School Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year award in 2000.
In softball, she coached from 1990-99, leading the Warriors to seven NCCC championships and a Class S state title in 1991, the school’s first state title in softball. She served as athletic director from 2005-10 and coached the girls golf team for a few seasons.
Even after she retired, she was the clock operator and scorekeeper in field hockey and would work as a timing official in track and field. Or just show up and watch and support the coaches and kids.
Our conversations over the years would frequently be at a Canton contest – most likely field hockey. Last October, I chatted with Nancy at a Canton field hockey game on the turf and she was wrapped up in a blanket.
It wasn’t that cold but I knew she had some health challenges lately. I didn’t ask and she didn’t offer any details. But there she, obviously uncomfortable, serving as the acting athletic director last fall with Kim Hirth on maternity leave after the birth of her first child.
The athletic director’s job isn’t a simple one – even on an interim basis. There are multiple events to juggle and arrange with a tremendous amount of little details to that need to be in place or suffer the wrath of an annoyed coach, official or parent, who could escalate complaints and cause additional headaches.
“I didn’t know her for that long but I feel I’ve known her for my entire life with how her personality was,” Hirth said. “I was talked with (former) coach Bill Phelps and he was saying hoer she never had any kids. The Canton community was her family. That is how she spent her time. She devoted herself with love to the Canton community.”
“Nancy’s impact on our students, both in the classroom and on the field, was immeasurable,” Canton Superintendent Jordan Grossmans said. “Her dedication, passion and unwavering commitment to education and athletics touched countless lives, leaving a lasting legacy within our community.”
Terri Ziemnicki, the current field hockey coach at Avon, was on the fence watching the game. Ziemnicki and the Falcons had legendary battles in the North Central Connecticut Conference in the 1990s and Grace and the Warriors.
Canton and Avon met twice in the Class S championship game with Canton winning twice (1995, 1998). Three other years, Canton eliminated Avon from the state tournament including a semifinal victory in penalty strokes in 1991.
The two women became close friends, supporting each other through the years.
“She made me a better coach. I saw how she was to her players and I tried to emulate that,” Zieminicki said. “She taught me a lot about the game, what it is was like to coach. We were so intense at each other on the field but after the game, it was over
“They were great games, great (field) hockey and those were games you wanted to come and see when Avon was playing Canton,” she said. “She got the most out of her players and out of her team. You can’t say that about all coaches.”
Nancy was named one of Connecticut’s Top Coaches of the 20th Century by the Hartford Courant in 1999. She was inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) and the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame. She was in the first class of the Canton Wall of Fame in 2002 for successful contributions to her community and profession.
“She was proud to coach in Canton,” Ziemnicki said. “I think she loved her players as much as any coach can love their players. I think she was tough but in a way a coach is supposed to be. She was tough because she loved the players. She loved the game. She was an athlete. She was a great coach. She knew the game inside and out. She knew how to adjust to whoever she was playing.”
Nancy was never one to mince words. She wasn’t shy about expressing her opinions to game officials, her players of her friends.
“She kept me positive when I struggled,” Ziemnicki said. “She (provided) tough love for me and she was right. It was always exactly what I needed to hear and you loved her for it. She wasn’t saying it to be mean. She said it because she loved you, she cared about you and she respected you.”
On Wednesday, Canton (6-1-2) and Granby (7-1-1) battled to a 2-2 tie thanks to Ava Reiter’s goal with 1:14 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Warriors scored with 3:18 left in regulation with Valerie Naja’s second goal of the game to take a 2-1 lead.
It’s a finish Nancy would have probably been annoyed with as a coach.
As a retired coach, she might have offered a suggestion if asked. That suggestion would have probably included a recommendation to get back to work with a colorful metaphor sprinkled into the sentence.
Never shy and always encouraging people to perform up to their potential.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced yet.
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This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.Canton|Local EventJean Mix, NeighborMon, Nov 4, 2024 at 5:00 PMDom's Creamery, 16 W Main St, Avon, CT, 06001Avon, CT Book Signing Event: Come meet the local au...
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
Canton|Local Event
Avon, CT Book Signing Event: Come meet the local authors of "The Girlfriends' Guide to Menopause," at Dom's Creamery in Avon, CT on November 4th from 5-7pm. Three High School Friends got together for dinner and realized that no one is talking about Menopause. After sharing stories of their journeys, they decided to write a book about what to expect when you're expecting menopause. So come cool off that hot flash with an ice cream cone and buy a signed copy of "The Girlfriends' Guide to Menopause."
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The Shops at Farmington Valley in Canton announced this week the upcoming arrival of The Nutmeg Sweet Shoppe, set to open next month.Patch StaffThe Shops at Farmington ValleyCANTON, CT — Folks will soon have a place to indulge their sweet tooth cravings at a popular Farmington Valley shopping destination.That's because The Shops at Farmington Valley in Canton Tuesday announced the upcoming opening of ...
Patch Staff
The Shops at Farmington Valley
CANTON, CT — Folks will soon have a place to indulge their sweet tooth cravings at a popular Farmington Valley shopping destination.
That's because The Shops at Farmington Valley in Canton Tuesday announced the upcoming opening of The Nutmeg Sweet Shoppe, which is opening in mid-November.
"This marks the second brick-and-mortar venture for Kristy Barto, a Connecticut-based confectioner and female entrepreneur," wrote the Shops at Farmington Valley in a release Tuesday.
"Building on the success of her first location, The Nutmeg Fudge Company in Torrington, Barto is introducing a new concept in Canton, promising to make it the ultimate destination for candy and confections—just in time for the holiday season."
The Nutmeg Sweet Shoppe builds on the Nutmeg Fudge Company, which Barto founded and launched during the pandemic.
A hospitality industry veteran, Barto turned her love for making fudge at home into a new career after widespread restaurant industry closures left her out of work.
"I’ve always loved being creative in the kitchen, so when the widespread closures left many of us out of work, I decided to pivot and turn my passion for making fudge and candy into a new career," said Barto.
After starting with a pop-up in 2020, Barto opened her first brick-and-mortar, The Nutmeg Fudge Company in 2021, which quickly became known for its small-batch fudge and retro candies.
With the Canton store, Barto expands the offerings to include artisanal chocolates, smoothies, boba tea, milkshakes, and more.
“Our goal with The Nutmeg Sweet Shoppe is to create a place where anyone with a sweet tooth can find something to love,” said Barto. “We’re expanding beyond fudge and retro candies which we’re so well known for at our first location, to offer a broader range of treats like smoothies, boba tea, and 'crazy milkshakes' loaded with fun additions."
Officials with the Shops at Farmington Valley, located at 110 Albany Turnpike, Canton, (Route 44), said they're happy with the new addition.
"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome The Nutmeg Sweet Shoppe to our community," said Elizabeth Ackerman, general manager at the Shops at Farmington Valley. "Kristy's passion for creativity and her dedication to delivering quality sweets make her a perfect fit for our center. We know that The Nutmeg Sweet Shoppe will become a family favorite destination for our guests, and we’re excited to see the joy it will bring to everyone who visits."
To celebrate the new store's opening, The Nutmeg Fudge Company is launching an Instagram contest from Nov. 11-30, where followers can vote on the new location's signature fudge, the 'Canton Candy.'
The choices are:
The winning flavor will be featured at The Nutmeg Sweet Shoppe, and one voter will win a “Nutmeg Sweet Stocking Stuffer” gift basket. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to vote.
The shop's grand opening is expected sometime in mid-November, with details posted on The Shops at Farmington Valley website and social media pages @shopfarmington.
The first time I saw Nancy Grace, I was afraid to interview her.It was 1989, my first year at The Hartford Courant. I was sent to cover the Class S field hockey state semifinal. Canton, coached by Grace, was playing Granby, its archrival, coached by Dot Johnson. Granby won and went onto the state finals.I couldn’t look away from Grace the entire game; she yelled at her players, yelled at officials. I had covered ...
The first time I saw Nancy Grace, I was afraid to interview her.
It was 1989, my first year at The Hartford Courant. I was sent to cover the Class S field hockey state semifinal. Canton, coached by Grace, was playing Granby, its archrival, coached by Dot Johnson. Granby won and went onto the state finals.
I couldn’t look away from Grace the entire game; she yelled at her players, yelled at officials. I had covered a lot of field hockey and I had never seen a field hockey coach act like that before. After the game, she just looked mad. I interviewed Johnson and a few Granby players – then left.
A few years later, I had grown to appreciate her (and had interviewed her many times) and realized her intensity and desire for her kids to play their best pushed her to act the way she did. Grace, who was also a science teacher, coached for 20 years, and her Canton Warrior field hockey teams won eight state titles between 1985-1999. She retired from coaching in 2004.
Her yelling and shrill voice belied her off-field persona – she was funny, sarcastic and a great friend. She cared deeply about her teams and players, her friends and family, and that care was fiercely reciprocated. I also felt that if Grace was coaching, say, men’s basketball, or even boys basketball, rather than high school field hockey, her sideline behavior would have been considered more acceptable.
But the voice has been silenced: Grace, 65, of Avon, died Wednesday morning after a long battle with cancer.
“She had the mindset of a warrior; she had the mindset of a champion,” said Laura Mack, who graduated in 2000 after winning three state titles. “She was fearless. She made us fearless. She refused to let us be anything but the best we could be.
“She impacted more young people in one season than the average person does in a lifetime.”
Many of her former players are field hockey coaches today, like Liz deSimas Schuellein at Greens Farms Academy in Westport.
“She was one of the first people to hold us accountable for not playing up to our potential,” said Schuellein, a 1994 Canton High graduate who won two state titles.
“We could be winning by a lot at halftime, and she’d pull us aside and ream into us and we were like, ‘You’re right.’ People were like, ‘You’re winning, that’s crazy,’ but it was her standard. And after, she’d be clowning around and laughing with us … ‘Were the veins on my face popping out?’”
Many who officiated her games, however, were not amused by Grace’s antics. In 1997, the officials board ethics committee warned Canton High in a letter that if Grace’s behavior continued and remained unchecked, “We may be unable to service Canton High School for the 1998 season.”
The issue was resolved, officials still worked at Canton games and Grace continued to gripe at them. But Grace, who played field hockey at Canton before graduating in 1976, never got a red card and was never thrown out of a game.
“I think it’s the tone of my voice that does it to people,” Grace said in 1997. “If I took myself out of my body and sat and watched the crazy things that I’ve done, I would probably think the same thing.”
Joe Scheideler worked with Grace for seven years as the Canton athletic director. His daughter, Jen, played for the 1995 team that won the state championship.
“How many times have I seen her call a timeout, shred them and then they go out and score a goal?” Scheideler said in 1997. “If she was coaching a guys’ team, people would admire her intensity and admire her success.”
Her best memories? In 2004, when she retired from coaching, she told a story about how Granby outplayed Canton both times in the regular season in 1985, her first year of coaching. The two NCCC teams ended up in the Class S state championship game.
“We were total underdogs,” she said then. “We made it to the finals, and it was like a shooting clinic on us and somehow we kept it out. Back then, we just did one 10-minute OT and we managed to tie it [0-0].”
Granby and Canton were declared co-champions, Grace’s first title as a coach.
Grace also coached Canton to its only state softball title in 1991.
In 1993, Canton had a 47-game win streak end in a 2-2 tie against defending Class M champion Enfield. Down 2-0 with four minutes to go, Grace called a timeout and fired up her players, and the Warriors rallied to score two goals to avert the loss. The story made the front page of The Courant’s sports section, likely the only time a regular-season high school field hockey game had that distinction. Canton would return the favor in 1995, ending Enfield’s 39-game win streak with a 2-1 victory.
At Canton High’s home field, players would take lime and write “GRACELAND” on the side of the hill before games. Fans lined the sidelines. The field hockey games were big events. Officials didn’t like to work either side of the field because Grace would be yelling at them on one side and her mother would be yelling on the other.
“We got a sign in our town: ‘Home of the Champions,’” Schuellein said. “People were coming to our games. We were like the football team. We had a lot of fans.”
Schuellein didn’t lose a game until her senior year. Of course, the players cried. Grace wasn’t having it.
“She was like, ‘Stop crying,’” Schuellein said. “We were like, ‘We just lost, we don’t lose.’ She was like, ‘I don’t care. Shake their hands. Let’s go. Stop feeling sorry for yourselves.’ She didn’t have any sympathy for us. It was a good reality check.”
Canton didn’t win a title in 1993 but the Warriors were the Class S runners-up in 1994 and won in 1995, as well as in 1997, ’98 and ’99.
Like the other former players who coach, Anna Norland, a 1994 Canton graduate who coaches at Northwestern Regional High School, called Grace often to ask for advice. She puts notes with a quote or saying on her players’ lockers on game days, just like Grace used to do.
She remembered a game at E.O. Smith, where Canton was winning 7-0 at halftime.
“I can’t remember what the problem was,” Norland said. “We weren’t passing or playing well. She was livid. Shaking. She said, ‘If you want to play an individual sport, you can go home and play tiddlywinks!” I was like, ‘What’s tiddlywinks?’ I didn’t say it out loud.
“We went back out there and won 14-0. E.O. Smith had a goalie and two field players in their goal.”
Grace, whose record was 295-43-33, is in the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame. She also served as athletic director at Canton after she retired from coaching and was the state tournament director from 1987-95.
Grace and Johnson had fierce battles in the NCCC, between 1985 and 2002, when Johnson retired. Either Granby or Canton was in the state championship game 15 of those 18 years. Canton won eight titles; Granby two. Grace held a 22-13-5 edge over Johnson from 1985-2002.
Johnson told The Courant in 2014 that her players used to tell her, “I’d never play for her, she’s so mean!”
“It was like a tournament game,” Grace said then of playing Granby. “I told them, ‘You’ve got to leave every single ounce on the field. That’s our practice for tournament.’“
Johnson said Wednesday: “We were such rivals. When we started coaching against each other, it was like, ‘Raahhh.’”
She laughed.
“Then after many years, we got to know each other better and had some good laughs. She was an excellent coach. I just feel really bad right now.”
Originally Published: October 4, 2024 at 6:00 AM EDT
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