AA Learn more about in-home care options for your loved ones

Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Personal Care Consultation

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TESTIMONIALS

“Staff is great there a great place to work and call your workplace”

Babispyce S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I’ve been a nurse for over 40 years, and I am currently a nursing professor. When my mom was recently in the hospital, I knew it would not be possible for her to be completely on her own right away. She loves where she resides and enjoys all of the activities that are offered. My goal was to get her back into her apartment as soon as possible with the support she needed to increase her strength and return to her prior level of wellness she had before she went into the hospital. She was used to walking a couple miles a day. When I reached out to ABC I made it clear that my mom would need somebody who would be willing to walk with her in the morning, and in the evening enabling her to get back to her baseline. I would like to complement all of the staff at ABC who provided my mom such wonderful support after two weeks she returned to her baseline and remained in her apartment. She really enjoyed all of the staff that were with her , they were professional they encouraged her to walk, drink fluids, eat and were instrumental in assisting her to reach her prior level of independence. I would strongly recommend ABC to anybody who is in need of support for their loved one.”

Robin Y.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Mom’s care needs have been progressing over the past month - increased difficulty standing. walking, decreased appetite, increased incontinence. (Part of the expected declining process per her Dr.) Tara has been wonderful in adapting to Mom’s changing needs as they develop and a very helpful partner in troubleshooting. brainstorming how to adapt to best support Mom. It’s also been helpful in my regular communication with Mom’s Dr, to let her know in detail what has come up and how we have approached. Thank you (again) for your talented staff!”

Jeremy H.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Outstanding personal service from this company. All of the caregivers were personable and provided outstanding care to our aunt. I would highly recommend them to anyone who has an elder family member in need. Also, the staff that helped to set up their services was outstanding as well. They made the decisions easy to understand with no hidden agenda. Thank you again to "ABC!"”

KEVIN M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“You can't go wrong with this crew. Extremely patient and caring.”

Daniel S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Caring for family can be difficult and challenging at times. It's so nice to know that Always Best Care Senior Services is there to help!”

Cathy K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Taylor, John, and Kristine and their crew are the best. They are patient, understanding, and a joy to work with.”

Daniel S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Sabina always has a pleasant, caring, and respectful attitude. I feel she treats me as she would as her own mother. She treats me the way she would like to be treated. We are a good “team” together.”

Tracy H.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Diana has a total commitment of compassion, empathy, and respect for myself and my family. My daughters feel she is truly a tremendous caregiver. They know I am in good hands. She acknowledges with commitment of my physical, emotional, and practical needs, my quality of life has excelled due to Diana’s help. I look forward to her presence everyday her attitude is exceptional, Diana comes to work daily with a smile on her face. She enters the front door, singing softly ready to work. She has never taken a day off, I have had many caregivers, but Diana is truly the best!”

Anne H.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Tina has been with us since the start, caring for my mom. Tina has nothing but my mom’s best interest at heart. She continues to go above and beyond to care for my mom, and ensure anyone else who may be there also understands my mom’s needs. Tina has even gone so far to rearrange her schedule or give up her free time to stay with my mom to avoid her having someone that doesn’t know her. I can see that she genuinely cares for my mom, and treats her as if she was her own family member. That also goes both ways, my mom lights up when she sees Tina. We consider Tina part of our family.”

David L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care helped our family get through a very difficult time with my mother's care. Kristine and Taylor are a pleasure to work with. They are very knowledgable and had the answers to all our questions. They were able to help with all aspects of the care we needed. I highly recommend them.”

John S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Kristine and John are extremely caring and compassionate about helping their client's and family and making sure they receive the best care available. Highly recommended!”

Greg G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“We needed some home care services for Dad who has dementia, and we made the right decision to trust ABC Senior Services for this support. Dad was lined up with a caregiver who was attentive and helpful, and she and Dad really hit it off. The management and administrative staff from ABC were also very effective and professional. You'll make a good decision to go with ABC Senior Services...”

Liam M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I approached Kristine regarding care for my elderly father. Even though he was outside her service area, she helped to find resources for us. Her commitment to providing outstanding care is only surpassed by her desire to help others. Thank you Kristine!”

Matt B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I have known Kristine Lajeunesse for many years now through business networking and she and her Team at Always Best Care are very caring and professional and exactly who you would want on your side if you have a loved one who needs help!”

Ann B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“The client care at Always Best Care Senior Service is outstanding”

Kimberly O.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Rosemary has many great qualities. She is a hardworker, sensitive, has a giving nature and has an immense desire to help my father. Reliability is vital trait in Rosemary. When my father was in the hospital and came home she immediately wanted to be by his side. My father has come to rely and depend on Rosemary. She is always on time whether it is giving medication or administering food and often encourages my father and helps my father maintain his dignity”

Denise D.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care provides caregivers to our building on a regular basis when we are short staffed. Due to our licensing, we can only have CNAs on the floor and Always Best Care has provided excellent CNAs every time we need some extra help. All of their CNAs have been helpful, willing to go above and beyond for our residents and we always have great responses from our own CNAs and supervisory staff. I am so thankful to Michelle and Wilda who will always staff a shift that I need, even if I call 30 minutes before the shift starts. You’ve been such a huge help!”

Kaytee S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I have known John and Kristine Lajeunesse for almost 20 years and when my dad needed care following a diagnosis of dementia, I knew there wouldn’t be anyone better to call than them. The caregivers that have worked with my dad have been wonderful. They are true saints to my family, allowing us the knowledge that Dad is okay to stay at home. They have navigated all of the changes in his cognitive state with grace and kept my father’s dignity in place. He was always a very active man and the caregivers have managed to keep him active, even as his health declines.”

Belinda F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care helped me to get care lined up for my uncle, after I received their information from a close friend of mine that also used their agency. My uncle was a very proud man and did not want help from anyone, including family. Taylor met with me and spent time getting to know the ins and outs of my uncle’s care as well as his personality. She asked about his background so that they could look for a caregiver with similar interests. Although he took a turn for the worse rather quickly, the short time care was provided was wonderful. Thank you for your help and compassion.”

Karel O.
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TESTIMONIALS

“My dad’s caregiver is great. He is a man of few words, but she is able to get him talking about all aspects and experiences of his life. They go out regularly and she encourages my dad to participate in the activities put on by the community he lives in. They run errands, go out for meals, or go for a drive just to get a change of scenery. I was nervous at first about how my dad would take having a caregiver come in to help him, but he seems so happy and has great things to talk about after his time spent with his caregiver.”

Martin F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Thank you, Kristine - I am very appreciative of the professional manner with which you and your organization operates. From the initial phone and in-person conversations with Taylor, to the ongoing support of my mother's care - it's been thorough, timely and well managed. I am also struck by how the home-health employees conduct themselves. They are reliable/responsive *and* responsible, and making every effort to work through the challenges day to day with my mother. Thanks for the great job you and your organization are doing. It means a lot to me, especially during this trying time! Best Regards”

Anna T.
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“I wanted to take a moment to thank you and your staff for all of your hard work and dedication to their clients. When my parents finally realized they needed help in their home, I chose ABC as the company I felt would be the best fit. Yes, we have had some ups and down, but when you paired Leah with my parents, it was truly a blessing. My parents love her. She genuinely cares for them and they speak highly of her work ethic. As my mom says, “she is too good to be true”. I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your working with me to find the right fit. Well on our end, Leah fits like a glove and I hope she feels the same. She is a special person so I wanted to acknowledge her hard work and dedication to my parents. It makes me feel more at ease knowing there is someone coming to the home to properly care for them. Again I want to thank you all and encourage you to keep up the good work.”

Craig F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“My family provides the care to my mother 24/7, we called Always Best Care to provide respite care to my mom while we took some time to ourselves for a weekend. Mom’s caregiver, Gloria, was great and she had the perfect disposition to work with my mom. She was attentive and kept mom well fed and engaged during the time we were away. We would definitely call Always Best Care again when we need some time away.”

Brenda
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“The caregiver that helped my husband and I were so kind to us both, especially to my husband while I spent some time in the hospital and rehab. Our caregiver brought my husband to see me every day while I was at the hospital and at rehab, I knew he was in excellent hands and I could focus on getting stronger again.”

Heather R.
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“i really like my caregiver, Victor very much. Victor is a very patient and observant aide who knows when I need his help. I knew from the first day meeting him that we would get along very well.”

Johnson L.
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““I want to give a huge thank you for the care that Always Best Care provided over the last year and a half. They started out assisting just my dad since he was wheelchair bound and then began providing care to my mom as well who had advanced dementia. The two ladies that helped them both did an amazing job and gave me the confidence that they were being well cared for since I live on the other side of the country. Up to my dad’s passing, his caregivers were there for him to provide comfort and companionship while managing my mom’s emotions as well during the difficult time my dad had. Being a nurse myself and in the healthcare field for a while, I had high expectations which were exceeded by the caregivers and office staff of Always Best Care.”

harry B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Both of Mom’s caregivers are exceptional. They are always professional, calm and extremely patient with my mom. They know how to keep her calm and to manage her anxiety. My whole family is very grateful, knowing that Mom is getting really competent care, great meals and friendly companionship. Thank you.”

Kathleen F.
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“My husband had care from Always Best Care until he passed away. Thankfully he is on his "next journey" and finally pain free, while he was here with us, his caregiver, Craig, did an amazing job caring for him and was here to help us from our first day of services. Craig always managed to get my husband to share stories from his time in the war that even I had not heard before. It was a great way to get to know more of my husband so his memory can continue with others around him.”

Beth F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am very pleased with the care that Craig gave to my husband. My husband enjoyed having another man to talk to instead of conversation only between him and I. Craig managed to keep him occupied and safe so that I could go and get some time to myself, allowing me peace of mind that my husband was in great hands”

Sonia T.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I hired Always Best Care to help my mom who was living with me at home. She was diagnosed with dementia and within 3 months she could hardly do much for herself anymore. I was able to continue working full time while my mom received care from Always Best Care. We had the same caregiver from day 1 and she was absolutely amazing. She kept everyone in the loop with any changes my mom experienced and the regular in person and phone check ins were a great added support to myself and my family. Thank you ABC for all the help and compassion that you showed my mom until her passing.”

Laura
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TESTIMONIALS

“They are very caring and easy to deal with. They work with the family and the patient to see that the patient has what is needed for their care. In all we had a good experience with Best Care.”

Elaine G.
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“Our caregiver is the absolute best, you all got lucky finding her.”

Bob G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Anything from Always Best Care is good to have. The care from them has given me my life back. I wasn’t expecting a perfect match on the first caregiver, but Always Best Care did a very good job.”

Claudia B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“We have been using the services of ABC for almost three years, and I have worked personally with John, Kristine, Taylor, Michelle and Wilda, as well as the many wonderful caregivers who have attended to my mother’s needs with great care and attention. Throughout this time, my mother’s care needs have changed many times, and they have always been very responsive to any requests, including the directives of the hospice nurses that work in concert with all of them. Taylor and Michelle are incredibly diligent about keeping on top of issues that arise day-to-day, and running their questions and concerns by me. I remain a loyal customer to ABC because I feel that my mother is getting really great care, and will continue to see the warm, friendly faces she has come to know and trust today and every day. At 94 yrs old, my mother is quite dependent on the care providers for almost all her needs, and they always show up and make her feel safe and secure.”

Rachel C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“It has been a true pleasure working with you and your organization. You all demonstrate empathy and compassion in caring for frail elderly family members and insure distant families are comforted knowing you are there.”

Steve S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Mom’s caregiver is a part of the family, we absolutely love her!”

Joe L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care has done a fantastic job in providing us with at-home care for my step-mother while we prepared for her transition to move permanently to a skilled nursing facility. With their help, she was able to spend a full six months at home before moving. We would not have been able to do it without them. All the caregivers we have met and used have been kind and attentive, frequently going the extra mile, whatever that may be on any given day. The office staff is friendly, empathetic and very diligent in keeping all parties informed of all aspects of day-to-day care. They are knowledgeable, respectful and efficient. I would not hesitate in recommending them to anyone who is looking for help in keeping their loved one at home for as long as possible.”

Sarah C.
 In-Home Care Clinton, CT

How does In-home Senior Care in Clinton, CT work?

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's 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 ages, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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 Senior Care Clinton, CT

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

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.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

Comfort
Comfort

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, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Clinton, 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.

Healthy Living
Healthy Living

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.

Independence
Independence

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 an assisted living community. 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.

Cost and Convenience
Cost and Convenience

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 to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be 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 in Clinton, CT 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.

Empowers Seniors

Affordable Care Plans

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:

Veteran's Benefits
Veteran's Benefits

Aid and Attendance benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.

Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance

Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.

Private Insurance
Private Insurance

Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.


Respite Care Clinton, CT

During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers

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 Clinton,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.

 Caregivers Clinton, CT

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced 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:

An assessment of your senior loved one

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An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home

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Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs

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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.

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.

Latest News in Clinton, CT

Clinton Motel Redevelopment Sparks Concerns of Displaced Residents, Favoritism

CLINTON – A proposal to turn a former motel into an apartment complex faced concerns from commissioners and residents at a Planning and Zoning meeting Monday that the redevelopment would push out poorer residents currently living there on short-term leases.During the public hearing on Westbrook-based Dattilo Group’s plans to develop a complex of 40 one-bedroom apartments – wit...

CLINTON – A proposal to turn a former motel into an apartment complex faced concerns from commissioners and residents at a Planning and Zoning meeting Monday that the redevelopment would push out poorer residents currently living there on short-term leases.

During the public hearing on Westbrook-based Dattilo Group’s plans to develop a complex of 40 one-bedroom apartments – with four designated affordable units – other commissioners felt the project would be a welcome facelift to the property, but worried a “floating zone” the developer is proposing sets a dangerous precedent.

The property, the former A Victorian Village Inn at 345 E. Main St. on the border with Westbrook, has been leased to residents who can’t afford to live elsewhere in Clinton, Commissioner Cinzia Lettieri said at the meeting.

“We have residents who can’t afford to live in long-term rentals, and because they most likely can’t afford to live in apartments or buy a home in Clinton, I’m concerned we haven’t talked about if they will be displaced,” Lettieri said.

A letter from an anonymous tenant that was read into the record said there are at least 35 people who would be left homeless if the project went ahead, mostly manual laborers who can’t afford market-rate rents.

“We go to bed hopeless and we wake up hopeless,” the letter read. “[Three] cabins have lived there 13 years while Dattilo took their rent.”

Dan Ackerman, with Dattilo Group, said they are not looking to charge “exorbitant prices” for the new units and price people out. He said they would try to avoid disturbing existing tenants as much as possible.

“It’d be our intention to try to retain the current tenancy as much as possible, and we’d work with them in order to do so,” Ackerman said.

Dattilo attorney Andrea Gomes said there have not been conversations with current residents yet. But she said they have to consider the Fair Housing Act, and giving existing tenants or Clinton residents preference for the new units keeps other people from having fair access.

Dattilo’s proposal involves demolishing four buildings at the back of the property and building a two-story building with 26 apartments. The remaining eight buildings would be converted into 14 one-bedroom, 1,000-square-foot apartments.

Gomes argued the concerns of existing residents are valid, but aren’t part of the commission’s decision on whether to approve a floating zone that would allow a multifamily residential development in what is now an industrial zone.

She said the project advances the town’s development goals by bringing new rentals and renovating properties in the corridor at the town line with Westbrook.

In their letter, the anonymous tenant disputed that the proposed development would be a more “welcoming and cohesive” character as the entryway into Clinton, as Gomes maintained when first presenting the concept in May.

“It’s a big old parking lot with Tyvek buildings. (60 car spaces!),” the letter said. “Nothing welcoming or cohesive about that.”

Commissioner Ellen Dahlgren said the proposal appears to improve the corridor and would provide some low-cost housing, but she continues to have major reservations about using floating zones.

Dahlgren said she thought it was a mistake to include them in the zoning regulations in the first place, when it allowed them in 2016 to pave the way for a CVS on Boston Post Road, which Commissioner Eddie Alberino said he still hears complaints about.

Dahlgren said the town is due to write a new Plan of Conservation and Development in a couple of years, and they may reconsider whether floating zones should still be allowed going forward.

“This would institute one more floating zone, making it that much more difficult to reevaluate the entire notion going forward,” she said.

Commissioner Bo Clark said approving this floating zone is essentially agreeing to multifamily housing anywhere in the industrial zone. He said that it opens speculation about certain developers benefiting from favoritism, warranted or not.

“In my opinion, these floating zones are just a dangerous thing for any town to have. I’d much rather see a zone change to something else that could incorporate this type of use,” Clark said. “This is the type of use that makes people say, ‘This is favoritism, the fix was in,’ because it leaves so much up to opinion.”

Commissioner Adam Moore said he’s not necessarily opposed to floating zones, and suggested the commissioners should have changed the regulations before this application.

“If we don’t want them, we should come up with new regulations, not bring it up in the middle of somebody’s application,” he said.

Gomes said Dattilo decided to propose a floating zone because it most closely fit what they were trying to accomplish. It would have been “messy” to try to amend the industrial zone standards to allow the development, and creating a new zone could be considered spot zoning – a fear the commission raised back in May, she said.

“Providing the commission with the discretion to first land [the floating zone], and then have to approve a special exception and site plan was the cleaner and more palatable approach to redeveloping the site without butchering your existing zoning regulations,” Gomes said.

The commission tabled a decision on the floating zone until its next meeting. If the floating zone is approved, the commission would then have to decide whether to approve the site plan for the development.

Brendan Crowley covers energy and the environment for CT Examiner. T: 860 598-0050

[email protected]

Clinton's PZC to deliberate on zone change to redevelop Victorian Village Inn into 40 apartments

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateCLINTON — The Planning and Zoning Commission is set to deliberate two applications that would be the first steps to turn the Victorian Village Inn into 40 apartments if approved.The two proposed zone changes would amend the town’s regulations to allow a Multifamily Adaptive Reuse Zone [MARZ], an overlay zone, and then “landing” it at the property at 345 West Main St., home to the decades-old short-term rental motel.The deadline nears as ...

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CLINTON — The Planning and Zoning Commission is set to deliberate two applications that would be the first steps to turn the Victorian Village Inn into 40 apartments if approved.

The two proposed zone changes would amend the town’s regulations to allow a Multifamily Adaptive Reuse Zone [MARZ], an overlay zone, and then “landing” it at the property at 345 West Main St., home to the decades-old short-term rental motel.

The deadline nears as the PZC must make a decision or seek an extension — with the applicant’s agreement — on the MARZ zone proposal at the Oct. 16 meeting. The commission has 65 days to make a decision after a public hearing is opened, according to Town Planner Abby Piersall.

However, zoners have more time to decide on the second application, which proposes to overlay the MARZ floating zone on the 1.8-acre property, according to Piersall. The hearing on the second part of the proposal was opened Sept. 11.

The public hearing on creating the MARZ zone was held in August, continued in September and tabled until Oct. 16.

Piersall stressed that if both applications were approved, the applicant would need to seek a special exception permit for the development to go forward.

At the first hearing in August on the MARZ zone, some residents and commissioners expressed concern that the apartment project would displace low-income tenants.

At the Aug. 14 meeting, one tenant said in a letter to the PZC that if the development “happens as planned, there will be at least 35 people left permanently homeless.”

“These people are mostly manual laborers and can’t afford post-Covid rent prices,” Diana Chase said in her letter. Three cabins have had tenants for 13 years, she said.

PZC member Cinzia Lettieri noted that many tenants are “immigrants to the country” and that she is “extremely and extraordinarily concerned about their wellbeing.”

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“This is already an existing residential use, it’s supposed to be for short term rental purposes. It’s actually not,” Lettieri said, noting that “long-term residents” live there now.

The term “short-term rentals” means tenants pay month to month or have leases that are less than a year, according to an attorney representing the applicant. It does not refer to the number of years a resident has lived there, the attorney said.

Lettieri also said she would like to see an increase in the number of units designated as affordable housing.

“I don’t think Clinton needs any more houses being built that are $3,000 a month,” she said.

A representative for the applicant, Daniel Ackerman responded, “We’re not looking to charge exorbitant prices for these new units, by the way, and price people out,“ Ackerman said. “That’s not the intention.”

He said the applicant would try to “retain the current tenancy as much as possible, and we’d work with them.” He added, “A good many are already close to one-year leases as it is.”

At the September meeting, in a memo read into the record, attorneys said that while the concern “has no bearing on the application to rezone the property … the applicant intends to work with existing residents to the extent possible, and within the strictures of the Fair Housing Act, to ensure that all existing residents have an option to remain at the site, as redeveloped.” Attorney Scott MacNeil made the presentation at the Sept. 11 meeting.

PZC members also said rental costs had no bearing on these applications and the issue would be more appropriately addressed when a special exception application for the project comes before them.

According to attorney Timothy S. Hollister, who is also representing Victorian Village LLC, the number of units restricted as affordable housing will be “in the range of 15 percent.”

Hollister took over for fellow attorney, Andrea Gomes, who represented the developer up until the Sept. 11 meeting.

“All the units will look the same,” Gomes said in an earlier interview, referring to the appearance of the affordable versus market-rate units.

Preliminary plans are to demolish four buildings on the site and renovate the remaining eight buildings — interior and exterior — and turn them into 14 rental units, according to Gomes.

At the rear of the site, “a U-shaped building,” two stories high that will house 26 units will be constructed.

“So, we’re repurposing what we can on-site, putting in a big, beautiful building, all the bells and whistles that come with that,” Gomes said. “Improved stormwater, landscaping, lighting, parking with electric vehicle charging stations. There will be a grill area with a small gazebo.”

“It’s a bit of an unusual site. It was a motel. It’s now being used for short-term residential. It’s outdated. It needs work,” Gomes explained.

“But it’s surrounded — you’ve got the nursery there and Goodwill and Quality Propane in the back. A number of restaurants to the south,” she said.

The applicant took the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development into consideration as far as Clinton’s affordable housing plan, Gomes said.

“There’s a marked need for affordable housing and for housing generally,” Gomes said.

She added, “Another goal of the POCD is to modernize some of these older motels that are being used as short-term residential facilities.”

Connecticut Water Asks for 20% Hike in Per Gallon Cost of Water

CLINTON – Connecticut Water will ask state regulators to boost its revenues by $21 million, or 18 percent, starting next July, the company said on Thursday.The company did not say what the impact would be for customers — saying it would depend on the location and type of customer — but the company said it would raise the cost of a gallon of water from 1.5 cents to 1.8 cents, or 20 percent.In 2021, Connecticut Water asked for a $20.2 million, or 20 percent, rate increase that would have raised the average resid...

CLINTON – Connecticut Water will ask state regulators to boost its revenues by $21 million, or 18 percent, starting next July, the company said on Thursday.

The company did not say what the impact would be for customers — saying it would depend on the location and type of customer — but the company said it would raise the cost of a gallon of water from 1.5 cents to 1.8 cents, or 20 percent.

In 2021, Connecticut Water asked for a $20.2 million, or 20 percent, rate increase that would have raised the average residential customer’s bills by about $10.50 a month.

With headquarters in Clinton, Connecticut Water provides water to about 107,000 customers in 60 Connecticut towns, across over 1,800 miles of water main. Connecticut Water spokesman Dan Meaney said the rate hike request reflects continued investment in water infrastructure, increased costs of power and treatment chemicals, and the cost of borrowing since the last rate case.

Connecticut Water President Craig Patla said in a letter to PURA and state officials on Thursday that the company will complete $220 million worth of infrastructure projects between 2020 and January 2024 to maintain water quality, address “emerging contaminants” like PFAS, and meet new regulations for drinking water.

“We’re also not immune to the inflationary pressures of the current economy — in particular, rising prices in energy and chemicals — have had a direct impact on the cost of providing service to our customers and communities,” Patla said.

When PURA rejected Connecticut Water’s rate hike in 2021, allowing a revenue increase of just 1 percent, the company called it “among the harshest Connecticut utility rate decisions in recent memory,” and said it would have to return promptly to ask for another rate hike.

Connecticut utilities have bristled at PURA’s decisions since then. Last week, PURA approved a much smaller rate increase than Fairfield and New Haven county-based electric utility United Illuminating requested.

The decision followed a tense public argument between the company and state officials who thought UI’s public lobbying for their rate hike went too far. United Illuminating argued that PURA’s heightened scrutiny under Chair Marissa Gillett would hurt outside investment in the company, making it harder to finance grid improvements.

And Eversource subsidiary Aquarion Water is in court fighting PURA’s order that it cut its rates, instead of increasing its revenue by 28 percent as the company requested. That rate cut is on hold after a judge agreed to a stay until the appeal is decided.

“Connecticut Water understands that PURA has raised the standard for utilities to demonstrate that increasing rates is prudent and reasonable and we are preparing our case with that in mind,” Meaney said.

Brendan Crowley covers energy and the environment for CT Examiner. T: 860 598-0050

Halloween 101: How To Avoid Becoming The Haunted House Of Clinton

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.Seasonal & HolidaysTaking care of your home can be scary! Tackle those household demons with professional help this fall.The arrival of fall not only marks a change in season, but also reminds us of spine-chilling spider webs, ghoulish decor, and the thrill of Halloween. While many of us like our homes to be festively scary this time of year, we cert...

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.

Seasonal & Holidays

Taking care of your home can be scary! Tackle those household demons with professional help this fall.

The arrival of fall not only marks a change in season, but also reminds us of spine-chilling spider webs, ghoulish decor, and the thrill of Halloween. While many of us like our homes to be festively scary this time of year, we certainly don’t want it to give our neighbors the creeps year-round. Fortunately, Thumbtack, a home services app used by millions, has Clinton residents covered.

Burst water pipes, the dryer that shakes, and creaks in the floorboards are household woes that can turn up the scary factor in your home. But with a reliable partner like Thumbtack, these house horrors can be handled — no exorcist required!

Thumbtack connects homeowners with local professionals who can fix malfunctioning appliances, tame unruly landscaping, and repair structural troubles that haunt your everyday life. Whether you're looking for a one-time home improvement project or regular lawn maintenance services, Thumbtack makes it simple to search for and hire a professional who caters to your specific needs.

The Clinton community has plenty of pros ready to handle the horror and help with:

You can contact pros and request free cost estimates, allowing you to compare prices and choose the professional that best fits your budget. You can also read reviews, view how many times a business has been hired by others, and identify how long a business has been open.

Find out what's happening in Clintonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Remember: It may be Halloween, but that doesn’t mean your home has to be scary! With regular, proactive maintenance, Thumbtack can help you continuously care for your home so it’s in perfect shape all year long.

Caring for your home can be scary! Find and hire top-rated Clinton area pros to tackle even the most haunting of home projects.

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.

Dan Haar: CT Water Co. to seek a rate hike; boss confident despite recent PURA cases

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate10Life seems to flow slowly, timelessly, inside the gates of the Kelseytown Reservoir in the upper reaches of Clinton, nestled in the Cockaponset State Forest far from Route 1 and the bustling shoreline.There, the Connecticut Water Co. has operated one of its five surface water treatment plants since 1980, turning out up to 4 million drinkable gallons a day with just a few people watching over the pipes, valves and holding tanks in a ballet of nature and chemis...

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10

Life seems to flow slowly, timelessly, inside the gates of the Kelseytown Reservoir in the upper reaches of Clinton, nestled in the Cockaponset State Forest far from Route 1 and the bustling shoreline.

There, the Connecticut Water Co. has operated one of its five surface water treatment plants since 1980, turning out up to 4 million drinkable gallons a day with just a few people watching over the pipes, valves and holding tanks in a ballet of nature and chemistry. Kelseytown has hydrated local customers since 1904, long before Connecticut Water formed.

It's a calming scene but as Paul Andrews, the company's water treatment plant supervisor, leads me on the water's path, the reality comes clear: This treatment plant, with $12 million in new upgrades just in the last five years, is part of a complex, expensive and changing water landscape in a state that still has some 400 independent, community water systems.

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We are about to see a rate hike request from Connecticut Water to the state's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, a case that will test the for-profit company's claim that it needs more money to modernize its home state's water purification and delivery. The company is expected to file preliminary papers for the rate case this week and while executives aren't saying the percent increase they will seek, it could be substantial.

This rate case comes at a watershed moment, pardon the pun. Regulators are not in a generous mood these days with utilities when it comes to spending customers' money. PURA, as the authority is known, has just whacked two utilities -- Aquarion, the state's largest water supplier, and United Illuminating, the electric company in parts of Fairfield and New Haven counties -- in rebukes that were heroic to weary ratepayers but bloody to the utilities crying foul.

Now comes Connecticut Water Co. with its bid. Third sacrificial lamb in the lion's den? No, says Craig Patla, the company president. He's confident that his company has the culture regulators want to see as they embrace something called performance-based ratemaking, driven by new state legislation.

"Connecticut Water is confident that our record of serving customers, communities, employees and the environment does make us a different kind of utility and in going through the rigorous process of a general rate case, we’ll get to proof that out," Patla said. "We are ready and willing to meet the standards of prudency and service to stakeholders that the authority has set.”

Balance among 'building blocks'

Patla, sitting in his company's modest offices on Route 1 in Clinton, described the five "building blocks" of Connecticut Water: employees, customers, shareholders, communities and the environment.

"We believe strongly that when we have balance for those five building blocks that we will achieve success for all of those building blocks," Patla said. "We measure our employee satisfaction twice a year. We measure our customer satisfaction twice a year."

A longtime industry veteran, Patla doesn't see a fight, but rather a sort of kumbaya moment -- my words -- that will bring out a different reaction from the PURA lion, when it comes to weighing the company's performance, not just reimbursing it for spending money.

"We welcome that concept," Patla told me. "A lot of the metrics around performance, we excel at...We don’t fear it because we perform well in the components that are being measured."

I have no way to judge the merits of Patla's claim that his company is a different kind of utility. In theory, a utility of any kind ought to be able to use larger size to shave costs for customers. That never seems to work out. So regulators closely monitor shareholder profits. Connecticut Water, which owns a water company in Maine, was bought out in 2019 by SJW Group, the publicly traded parent of the San Jose Water Co. in California.

Like its larger competitor, Aquarion, Connecticut Water has been buying up many of the old community water works, at their request. These tiny systems might have lower rates but many of them can't do the job anymore in an age of droughts and severe storms caused by climate change; PFAS and other emerging contaminants; tighter regulations; declining volunteer ranks; and aging infrastructure that these providers on old wells have let slip.

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Connecticut Water, with about 110,000 customers in Connecticut and 232 employees, runs 66 non-connected water systems in 60 cities and towns, some with just one or two wells.

Following two tough rulings

All of that requires big ongoing investments. But in March, PURA whacked Aquarion's $32 million rate hike request down not just to zero, but to a $2 million giveback for customers. Aquarion, a unit of Eversource, the giant regional electric utility, filed a lawsuit. A state judge issued a rare stay of the rate reduction in May and the case is pending.

Then last week, PURA allowed just $23 million of a $131 million rate hike request from United Illuminating, after a July draft decision that would have left UI with less than $2 million more from ratepayers. UI has not said whether it will appeal in the courts.

Connecticut Water's rate request follows a 2021 rate case that gave the company a 7.1 percent average increase, or about $7.3 million. Patla talks about the company's efforts to encourage water conservation -- not easy in a part of the world where life's liquid runs in abundance most of the time -- and he talks about those building blocks.

"I would make the argument that pursuit of balance really sets us apart," he said.

We'll see how that goes in the hearings.

Back at the treatment plant at the Kelseytown Reservoir, we see water flowing into tanks with compounds that make particles come together to form "floc" sludge, then we see the water filtering up through that sludge, then filtering through four feet of granular, activated carbon. Then the system adds lime, phosphate, chlorine and fluoride in critical amounts with disastrous results if done incorrectly.

Making filtered water from raw water, as Paul Andrews calls it, requires a different kind of balance than what Patla describes. Different, but related through the modernization of a fractured industry. The question is how much we the drinking, flushing, showering, washing and lawn-watering public need to pay to make it flow.

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