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

“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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TESTIMONIALS

“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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TESTIMONIALS

“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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TESTIMONIALS

“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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TESTIMONIALS

““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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TESTIMONIALS

“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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TESTIMONIALS

“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.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I appreciate that they always accommodate me and have someone here to drive me, even if I only call them the day before. I’m so glad I was able to find them, because I didn’t know what I was going to do. I just lost my sister and she helped me out a lot.”

Donna .
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TESTIMONIALS

“I appreciate that they always accommodate me and have someone here to drive me, even if I only call them the day before. I’m so glad I was able to find them, because I didn’t know what I was going to do. I just lost my sister and she helped me out a lot.”

Janey B.
 In-Home Care East Hampton, CT

How does In-home Senior Care in East Hampton, 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 East Hampton, 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 East Hampton, 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 East Hampton, 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

Attendance and aid 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 East Hampton, 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 East Hampton,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 East Hampton, 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

02

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

03

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 East Hampton, CT

NBC4, Telemundo 47, and East Hampton Stop&Shop to hold food drive

Island Harvest & Long Island Cares Join NBC 4, Telemundo 47, and East Hampton Stop&Shop for Massive Multi-State Food Drive on Sept. 9 Long Island Cares, The Harry Chapin Food Bank, Inc., and Island Harvest Food Bank are teaming up with NBC 4 New York / WNBC, Telemundo 47 / WNJU and Stop & Shop on Saturday, September 9th for the Feeding Our Families / Alimentando a Nuestras Familias food collection and volunteer recruitment drive. A massive, one-day multi-state effort to help eradicate local hunger. The other food banks a...

Island Harvest & Long Island Cares Join NBC 4, Telemundo 47, and East Hampton Stop&Shop for Massive Multi-State Food Drive on Sept. 9

Long Island Cares, The Harry Chapin Food Bank, Inc., and Island Harvest Food Bank are teaming up with NBC 4 New York / WNBC, Telemundo 47 / WNJU and Stop & Shop on Saturday, September 9th for the Feeding Our Families / Alimentando a Nuestras Familias food collection and volunteer recruitment drive. A massive, one-day multi-state effort to help eradicate local hunger. The other food banks across the Tri-State to benefit from this effort include; Food Bank for New York City, Fulfill, Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, Feeding Westchester and Connecticut Foodshare.

The community can visit any one of these locations to donate non-perishables food and personal hygiene items to help their neighbors in need. Please visit NBCNewYork.com/fooddrive or telemundo47.com/ayuda to access a map of store locations. You can also follow the campaign on social media or post your own photos on September 9th using the hashtags #FOF, #FeedingOurFamilies or #T47Alimentando

Stop & Shop is one of the Tri-State’s largest supermarket retailers, and the brand has been a strong partner of area food banks and hunger relief organizations for many years. In 2023 alone, Stop & Shop has donated over $2.4 million in cash contributions to the eight participating food bank partners across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. In 2019, Stop & Shop launched the Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program, to work directly with schools from Pre-K through college to establish and support their in-school food pantries. This program has continued to expand, and Stop & Shop now supports more than 180 school food pantries across its entire footprint, including more than 100 school pantries within the Tri-State area.

“Hunger and food insecurity continue to be a chronic public health concern affecting nearly 300,000 of our neighbors on Long Island,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, President & CEO, Island Harvest Food Bank. “Our longtime partners NBC 4 New York, Telemundo 47, and Stop & Shop are an invaluable resource in our efforts supporting children, seniors, veterans, and others who are in the unenviable position of not having enough food to eat regularly. We are profoundly grateful for their unwavering support in the fight against hunger across the tri-state region.”

“We’re very excited to be partnering with NBC Universal and Stop & Shop for the annual Feeding our Families food drive,” said Paule Pachter, President & CEO, Long Island Cares Food Bank. “I’m confident that the food banks within the Tri-State area will benefit greatly from the generous support of our communities. NBC Universal and Stop & Shop are dedicated to ensuring that families struggling with food insecurity receive the nutritious food and support they need to stay healthy and well. Long Island Cares -The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank is grateful for this very meaningful partnership.”

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

DONATIONS:

Non-perishable food and personal hygiene items, including frequently requested items like baby diapers

are most in need. The food banks also suggest donations of: Canned proteins, soups and vegetables,

dried beans, fruit, Herbs and peanut butter.

Other suggested items on the Feeding Families Shopping list include:

PLEASE NOTE: No perishable dairy, glass or produce can be accepted.

“This is a critical time for our food banks. With the start of school just around the corner and the holidays quickly approaching, they need non-perishable food donations right now,” said Eric Lerner, President and General Manager of NBC 4 New York. “Our WNBC team is passionate about fighting hunger and supporting the work of our local food banks. That is why we are hosting Feeding our Families on Saturday, September 9; a massive one-day food drive that will generate hundreds of thousands of meals for Tri-State families in need.”

“The loss of a job, a long-term illness or any number of unexpected circumstances can lead us to choose between paying the rent and putting food on the table. It does not have to be this way - and that is why our food banks are so important,” said Cristina Schwarz, President and General Manager of Telemundo 47. “The food banks are that first line of defense for all of us, and they are ready to lend a helping hand regardless of where you live, the language you speak or your immigration status. Our Alimentando a Nuestras Familias campaign will help Tri-State food banks meet the growing demand and continue their important work.”

“We are incredibly excited to bring back this beloved community event with our partners NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47, and to rally alongside our customers to help in the fight against hunger,” said Jennifer Barr, Stop & Shop Director of External Communications and Community Relations. “Making sure our neighbors in the communities we serve have access to nutritious food is important to us – and if we all work together, we can help put an end to hunger in the Tri-State area.”

With food banks also in need of new volunteers, NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47 are encouraging viewers to “Give 4” and commit four hours of their time every four months at a local food bank. Volunteers can stock shelves; pack supplies and make local deliveries. They can also conduct non-physical, customized tasks including accounting, social media, digital marketing, and advertising, among others. Food Bank volunteer signup sheets will be available on event day at each Stop & Shop location.

DONATIONS:

PLEASE NOTE: No perishable dairy, glass or produce can be accepted.

“This is a critical time for our food banks. With the start of school just around the corner and the holidays quickly approaching, they need non-perishable food donations right now,” said Eric Lerner, President and General Manager of NBC 4 New York. “Our WNBC team is passionate about fighting hunger and supporting the work of our local food banks. That is why we are hosting Feeding our Families on Saturday, September 9; a massive one-day food drive that will generate hundreds of thousands of meals for Tri-State families in need.”

“The loss of a job, a long-term illness or any number of unexpected circumstances can lead us to choose between paying the rent and putting food on the table. It does not have to be this way - and that is why our food banks are so important,” said Cristina Schwarz, President and General Manager of Telemundo 47. “The food banks are that first line of defense for all of us, and they are ready to lend a helping hand regardless of where you live, the language you speak or your immigration status. Our Alimentando a Nuestras Familias campaign will help Tri-State food banks meet the growing demand and continue their important work.”

“We are incredibly excited to bring back this beloved community event with our partners NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47, and to rally alongside our customers to help in the fight against hunger,” said Jennifer Barr, Stop & Shop Director of External Communications and Community Relations. “Making sure our neighbors in the communities we serve have access to nutritious food is important to us – and if we all work together, we can help put an end to hunger in the Tri-State area.”

With food banks also in need of new volunteers, NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47 are encouraging viewers to “Give 4” and commit four hours of their time every four months at a local food bank. Volunteers can stock shelves, pack supplies and make local deliveries. They can also conduct non-physical, customized tasks including accounting, social media, digital marketing and advertising, among others. Food Bank volunteer signup sheets will be available on event day at each Stop & Shop location.

East Hampton turns down proposed school, town budgets

EAST HAMPTON, CT (WFSB) - After weeks of rising tension, East Hampton voters made a decision on proposed school budget cuts.Students, parents, and teachers met at a recent town council meeting where they spoke out against school budget cuts. The proposed cuts could impact local school funding by almost $800,000.Residents packed recent meetings, and parents were especially concerned about the proposal’s implications.The East Hampton Board of Education asked for more funding to accommodate rising costs. However, the ...

EAST HAMPTON, CT (WFSB) - After weeks of rising tension, East Hampton voters made a decision on proposed school budget cuts.

Students, parents, and teachers met at a recent town council meeting where they spoke out against school budget cuts. The proposed cuts could impact local school funding by almost $800,000.

Residents packed recent meetings, and parents were especially concerned about the proposal’s implications.

The East Hampton Board of Education asked for more funding to accommodate rising costs. However, the town’s finance board responded by proposing $729,000 in cuts.

The proposal would lay off at least five teachers, so class sizes would likely increase. Another source of conflict was the proposal to reduce working hours for school psychologists.

The town said the proposed cuts were due to unfunded mandates and state and federal inflation.

The East Hampton Board of Finance said it was trying to maintain a low tax base for the town. Residents argued that students’ education and mental health should take priority over financial matters.

Residents raised their concerns at a town meeting earlier in May.

The heated debate lasted two hours. There were several outbursts from the crowd and two people were asked to leave after the council decided to keep the cuts in place.

One resident pleaded for the council to send the budget back to the finance committee for another review, but the council voted 4-3 in favor of keeping the budget as is.

East Hampton Superintendent Paul Smith said the council should’ve listened to their constituents.

“Two hundred and fifty people show up to a meeting. As a school and town official that’s a pretty good representation. I would listen to those comments,” Smith said.

East Hampton residents voted on the proposed budget at a referendum on Tuesday. The polls opened at 6:00 a.m. By 2:00 pm., more than 1,000 votes were cast.

Voters were able to vote “YES” or “NO” on two proposed budgets, the $35 million school budget and the $17 million budget.

After a heated debate on the budget, East Hampton residents ultimately did not approve the proposed budget proposed for the 2023-2024 school year.

Residents voted that the proposed budget of $35,608,655 was too low.

The town also voted no on the town budget, also saying the budget was too low.

The budget now goes back to the board of finance.

Copyright 2023 WFSB. All rights reserved.

East Hampton Students Mobilize Vote on Town Budget Referendum

A group of East Hampton High School students are spreading the word about the town’s budget referendum. It comes after cuts to education were included in the proposed budget.“They bring so much to the school and every teacher matters, here especially,” Enja Barry, a junior, said.That’s how students at East Hampton high school feel about their teachers. As the town budget moves forward to a referendum, included are about $800,000 in education spending cuts, possibly eliminating five teacher positions. Tha...

A group of East Hampton High School students are spreading the word about the town’s budget referendum. It comes after cuts to education were included in the proposed budget.

“They bring so much to the school and every teacher matters, here especially,” Enja Barry, a junior, said.

That’s how students at East Hampton high school feel about their teachers. As the town budget moves forward to a referendum, included are about $800,000 in education spending cuts, possibly eliminating five teacher positions. That didn’t sit well with the students.

“Once we start cutting teachers, we start showing people that education no longer matters. Once education no longer matters, how does that paint us as a society?” William Faber, a freshman, said.

In response to the budget cuts, a group of students is mobilizing their fellow classmates.

“I value my voice and I value the voice of my students and I want to make sure that they’re heard,” Salem Didado, a senior, said.

This meant handing out informational slips to high school students eligible to vote, breaking down what a yes or no vote would mean and encouraging them to register to vote if eligible.

“I went to a bunch of different homerooms. I had volunteers helping me. I assigned them to different wings of the school.”

Senior Noelle Lavender came up with the idea and design.

“I specifically made them half sheets, because I know if I’m a student and I get a full sheet of paper, I know I’m not going to look at it,” she said.

Lavender says this required administrative approval from the school and the superintendent. Superintendent Paul Smith confirmed he approved of the slips being distributed with caveats saying in a statement:

“Students at East Hampton High School asked if they could spread the word about the upcoming budget referendum (May 30) and remind their fellow students who were eligible to register to vote if they had not already done so. Permission was given by me for them to proceed as long as no school supplies (paper) or school copy machines were used to create their pamphlets. No taxpayer dollars were used for this effort. We’re proud to support student involvement in this civic process.”

The chair of the East Hampton Board of Education stressing in a statement the students are working independently saying:

“Any resident choosing to actively participate in local democracy should be applauded. While the group of grass-roots advocates have made themselves known, the Board of Education has no involvement or influence in these efforts.”

Lavender says the school and teachers have been clear, the slips can only be informative about the referendum. They cannot take sides.

“I don’t want to sway people’s opinions in any way. I want them to form their own with the facts,” she said.

She hopes students go to the ballot box having a say on what their future holds.

“I’m not going to be here next year, but my friends are going to be here. My brother who’s like my best friend is going to be here,” Lavender said.

The town budget referendum is set to happen on May 30.

East Hampton Taxpayers Vote on Proposed Cuts to School Budget

A controversial vote on proposed cuts to the school budget in East Hampton pushed taxpayers to the polls Tuesday.On the ballot were almost $800,000 in cuts to the school district’s budget. If voters approve the cuts, the superintendent, Paul Smith, said five teaching positions would need to be eliminated including two elementary teachers, one high school English teacher and two special education teachers who work in the upper elementary level.This opportunity to vote came after the town council held several ...

A controversial vote on proposed cuts to the school budget in East Hampton pushed taxpayers to the polls Tuesday.

On the ballot were almost $800,000 in cuts to the school district’s budget. If voters approve the cuts, the superintendent, Paul Smith, said five teaching positions would need to be eliminated including two elementary teachers, one high school English teacher and two special education teachers who work in the upper elementary level.

This opportunity to vote came after the town council held several lengthy meetings were there was public outcry from parents, students and teachers who opposed the cuts.

Several parents turned out to vote on Tuesday, including Elizabeth Quealy, who has three young children, two of whom are already in the public school district.

“Education is important whether or not you have children in the school system. It’s our future and it’s really what we need to focus on,” Quealy said.

Quealy said her oldest child in fifth grade needs additional help with math and reading. She is concerned about the potential increase in class size and reduction of resources if the budget were to be approved.

Jude Barry, who has three children in the district in grades 7, 9 and 11, shared the same concerns.

“The whole reason I moved to this town is for the children,” said Barry. “The ratios will be worse and the kids won’t get the attention they’ll need.”

One of Barry’s children even attended one of the previous town council meetings.

“How often do you see children, children at a town hall meeting? So, the fact that our kids are bright enough is a statement of the educational system of itself,” said Barry.

But other voters questioned if the school district could be doing a better job budgeting with the money they already have.

“How much do we really need? How much bigger schools? How many more athletic fields do we have to have,” said Tim Larson, an East Hampton voter.

“I think it’s too high because they increase the budget ever year and they have less students,” said Dale Weiman, an East Hampton voter.

The district has seen a slight decrease in enrollment and have adjusted accordingly, according to Superintendent Smith. For example, in the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school year, enrollment decreased by approximately 20 children each year. The district took steps and already eliminated an elementary teaching position each time.

Smith said that if the proposed $800,000 cuts went through and another two elementary positions had to be eliminated, they would have to combine classes and the size would go from 20 or 21 students in a class to 24 or 25.

But some voters said the taxes in East Hampton are starting to become unreasonably expensive.

“The mill rates are become so high that it becomes very difficult for the average person to even afford a home in this area, unless you're making a certain amount of money. And that's kind of pushes those people who've been here, legacy people who've been here for a long time, away from it,” Larson said. “If you look around you, even the building in front of us [Town Hall] cost us millions and millions of dollars. And to that point, it just becomes almost difficult for someone to make it on the taxes, especially if you as you go toward retirement,” said Larson.

Voters had until 8 p.m. on Tuesday to vote.

East Hampton Education Budget Moves Forward Despite Vocal Public Opposition

The East Hampton education budget will now go to the people for a vote. The town council moved that budget forward today in a tight 4-3 vote.This coming as dozens of people opposed that move.“We’ve kind of united to support our teachers, and our students and our community," said high school senior Noelle Lavender.She spoke about the dozens of people that showed up to Tuesday’s East Hampton town council meeting to fight a proposed education budget, which would cut about $800,000, possibly eliminatin...

The East Hampton education budget will now go to the people for a vote. The town council moved that budget forward today in a tight 4-3 vote.

This coming as dozens of people opposed that move.

“We’ve kind of united to support our teachers, and our students and our community," said high school senior Noelle Lavender.

She spoke about the dozens of people that showed up to Tuesday’s East Hampton town council meeting to fight a proposed education budget, which would cut about $800,000, possibly eliminating five teacher positions.

Lavender says those staff members are crucial to student success.

“I need these people because I go through some things. Our kids go through things, and they help us no matter what,” she said.

Parents, teachers and students in attendance said the cuts can’t happen.

“The people’s voice when it cries as one is a great roar, so I say listen to us roar. Send the budget back,” Deborah Field, an East Hampton resident, said.

“I have a hard time trying to understand how anybody can justify taking money away from our schools when we’re still in the process of recovering,” student Enzo Berry said.

In a tight 4-3 vote, the town council decided to move the education budget to a referendum where the town would vote.

School Superintendent Paul Smith said the proposed cuts to school staffing will move forward, but said this about the council’s action:

“I’m a little bit disheartened that they didn’t take the opportunity to send it back to the Board of Finance,” he said.

Town Council Chair Mark Philhower said he’s received messages from concerned citizens not at the meeting saying the cuts are necessary.

He also believes the Board of Education can take action themselves, saying the councilors cannot tell the board what to do.

“They can find money somewhere. Keep the teachers with removing some of the other staff,” Philhower said.

The head of the local teacher’s union is disheartened as well.

“That’s devastating. We have an incredible school system,” Neil Shilansky, president of the East Hampton Education Association, said.

May 30 is when the referendum on the town budget and education budget is supposed to happen.

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