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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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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“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.
 In-Home Care Glastonbury, CT

How does In-home Senior Care in Glastonbury, 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 Glastonbury, 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 Glastonbury, 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 Glastonbury, 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 Glastonbury, 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 Glastonbury,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 Glastonbury, 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 Glastonbury, CT

There is $25 million in CT money heading to small towns. Here’s how it could impact your community

With just under $25 million in new grants, the state is advancing plans for affordable housing in Glastonbury, new sidewalks along Farmington&l...

With just under $25 million in new grants, the state is advancing plans for affordable housing in Glastonbury, new sidewalks along Farmington‘s Meadow Road, a replacement for the pedestrian bridge at a Newington park and nearly 60 other projects around the state.

The money is targeted to small towns from Warren to Stonington and will pay part of the cost of modernizing town hall repairs, repairing public works yards and libraries, upgrading sewage treatment plants and similar capital projects.

Grants from the state’s Small Town Economic Assistance Program are intended to boost economic development, conservation, and quality-of-life initiatives in rural towns and smaller suburbs that aren’t eligible for aid that’s routed to bigger town and cities.

For Glastonbury, the new grant means one less obstacle in its drive to build its largest and most ambitious affordable housing project, a roughly 65-unit complex planned on Nye Road.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced that the town will get $500,000 to pay part of the cost of a new parking lot at 50 and 55 Nye Road. The town has bought the office buildings there and plans for its Housing Authority to demolish one and build affordable housing there, a project likely to cost in the range of the upper $20 millions.

“This will be the largest project we’ve done. Center Village was about $17 million,” Housing Authority Director Neil Griffin said Monday.

Providing adequate parking for both of the Nye Road office buildings is a requirement of local zoning, so plans for the new apartment complex couldn’t advance without it. In addition to the state grant, the town is putting up about $295,000 of local money for the new parking.

The Housing Authority has begun seeking a construction manager for the complex, and Construction Journal estimates the value of that contract at about $1.5 million.

This winter, it will take on the single biggest obstacle: Financing. The development needs endorsement by the state’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, and will apply in January.

The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority awards that financing once a year in the spring, and gets far more applications than it can support. This year, for instance, towns submitted applications covering 18 different projects; only seven were chosen.

“It’s a highly competitive and over-subscribed program,” Griffin said. “If we get it and if we can close with CHFA early, we can start (construction) sooner. We’d like to start in the spring of 2025.”

The Housing Authority is working with architects now on the specifics on the plan, and expects to create about 65 apartments in more than 15 buildings. The most recent concept plan indicated townhouse-style buildings with two to 10 apartments each.

Among the central Connecticut projects that Lamont’s new funding will help are:

Canton: About $375,000 in state money will be added to $93,000 of local funds for expanding the capacity of the local sewage treatment plant;

Coventry: The state will pay $315,000 toward the $350,000 cost of improving Patriots Park;

East Granby: $500,000 of state funds and $360,000 from the town will upgrade the East Granby Farms Recreation Area;

Farmington: $500,000 in state aid and $535,000 in local contributions will pay for sidewalks along Meadow Road;

Granby: The state is paying $126,8000 to renovate the kitchen at the senior center; town taxes and other grants will cover the remaining $40,000.

Newington: The state is paying $240,000 in state funding is approved for the Mill Pond Falls pedestrian bridge replacement. This will be matched by $60,000 in town funds;

Portland: $500,000 will help replace the High Street water main; the town is putting in $100,000 and other grants will pay $1.2 million;

Somers: $152,729 in state funds and $38,182 in local money will replace the roof of fire headquarters;

Southington: The state will pay $500,000 toward reconstructing athletic fields, with the town spending another $206,000;

Tolland: The state will provide $332,000 to upgrade Heron Cove Park; the town will put in $83,000.

Success of Glastonbury High crew goes beyond Connecticut state championships

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateGLASTONBURY — When asked to describe the culture of crew, Glastonbury girls rowing coach Jason Post used the word “cult-y” — meaning once someone joins, it’s easy to become obsessed with it. The fourth-year coach can attest to crew's seductive powers.“All of my friends that I have through high school and college — all of them rowed,” Post said. “I don’t have friends that didn’t row.”His row...

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GLASTONBURY — When asked to describe the culture of crew, Glastonbury girls rowing coach Jason Post used the word “cult-y” — meaning once someone joins, it’s easy to become obsessed with it. The fourth-year coach can attest to crew's seductive powers.

“All of my friends that I have through high school and college — all of them rowed,” Post said. “I don’t have friends that didn’t row.”

His rowing roots run deep. Post started rowing as a freshman at Glastonbury in 2011 and continued until he graduated. He rowed at UConn for three and a half years before he broke his knee, which kickstarted his coaching career. Once he graduated, he returned to Glastonbury and became the girls head coach.

His brothers rowed. His mother is the president of Glastonbury’s booster club. And Post is the vice president of the Connecticut Public Schools Rowing Association, which includes crews Avon, East Lyme, E.O. Smith, Farmington, Glastonbury, Guilford, Lewis Mills, Lyme-Old Lyme, Middletown, Old Saybrook, Simsbury, Stonington and Valley Regional.

Even in his personal life, his girlfriend hears about rowing incessantly — especially when the couple connects with his friends.

It has consumed him. And not to his surprise, it's resonated with his team the same way. Rowing has captivated hearts and minds of Glastonbury's crews through its culture of acceptance, community and pride, he said. Glastonbury's pride is strengthened by 11 state championships (five combined, four girls and two boys crowns).

A lifestyle

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Post wasn’t the tallest or fittest athlete during his high school days. Yet, his parents wanted him to play a sport.

“I couldn’t hit the broad side of the barn with a baseball bat and would get run over in football,” Post said.

He joined rowing because, typically, everyone goes in with no prior experience before high school. He joined because he didn’t have to be athletic to do well.

“A lot of our top athletes that have come through the program were historically not great,” Post said. “They were not great athletes when they tried to play soccer, or basketball or football.”

Since the program was established in 2000, Post said it’s always accepted every student interested in participation. Glastonbury, which competes in both the fall and spring, searches for athletes who have great body control, mental strength and determination. Normal athletic advantages like strength and stature can be advantageous in any sport but Post said they quickly become useless in rowing. It’s called “crew” for a reason.

Post calls it the ultimate team sport.

“You can be the biggest and the strongest but when you have eight people rowing — if you're not all rowing together synchronized — you’re not going to be effective,” said Post, whose fall crew opens competition Saturday at the Riverfront Boathouse in Glastonbury with the Guardian Chase. “You’re not going to do as well. A boat is only as fast as the slowest person in the boat.”

Post carves out time before and after his practices to allow for team bonding. The boys and girls teams also have pasta parties, bingo nights together. Post hopes to one day have joint practices in which girls and boys crews row together.

“One team” is their motto. They're even of one mind.

“We all think in sync at this point,” senior Olivia Comenale said. “If JP [Jason Post] says something, we’re all thinking the same thing.”

Comenale and her co-captains Stella Curcio and Ikma Inusah emphasized rowing's sense of community. They lead a group of 29 varsity and 25 novice girls. The team leaders talked about being part of something bigger than themselves. Inusah said she joined because crew was so pervasive at Glastonbury. Rowing athletes were in her classes.

Curcio recalled the crew garb all in the hallways at school. It’s a lifestyle, she said.

“When you walk around school with your 'merch,' you’re part of the crew people,” Curcio said. “You constantly talk about crew because it’s your entire life. People kind of know when you’re on the crew team."

Senior captain Mason Leblanc sought that same sense of community when he moved up to Connecticut from North Carolina before he started high school. He knew nothing about crew but decided to join so he could be active. It’s helped him become more disciplined and hardworking, he said.

Rowing can be taxing, mentally and physically, on the body. Post said athletes must have the mental fortitude to test their physical limits — pushing past exhaustion to give their all to each stroke. "There are no breaks or timeouts," he added.

Crew has helped senior Wyatt Morris become more athletic and Jason Dupuis, his co-captain, find a more enjoyable sport once he tired of playing lacrosse after eight years.

Both the girls and boys programs are proud champions. Glastonbury has five team state championships — titles won from points from boys' and girls' boats combined — two boys state championships and four girls state championships. Glastonbury recently won a team title and girls title in 2022.

They keep winning. Despite calluses, scarred hands and scorching hot practices, they’re invested. Post's full team attended a hot Wednesday afternoon practice during Connecticut’s heat wave the second week of September. A day when the high was 91 degrees.

They filled up their water bottles, carried their 60-foot boats down to the Connecticut River and rowed for two hours — working on strategy and speed at the behest of their coach and coxswain.

Back and forth they went, focused and unflinching.

Students in Glastonbury head back to school

GLASTONBURY, CT (WFSB) - Students in Glastonbury headed back to school on Wednesday.Many told Channel 3 that they were looking forward to making new friends and meeting new teachers.“I was pretty excited,” said Sydney Silverman, a sophomore.“I mean, it’s senior year,” said Kiley Gallagher, a senior. “I’m pretty excited to, you know, have that senior priority and get to be the big kid in the hallway.”The excitement and anticipation brought students to Glastonbury High...

GLASTONBURY, CT (WFSB) - Students in Glastonbury headed back to school on Wednesday.

Many told Channel 3 that they were looking forward to making new friends and meeting new teachers.

“I was pretty excited,” said Sydney Silverman, a sophomore.

“I mean, it’s senior year,” said Kiley Gallagher, a senior. “I’m pretty excited to, you know, have that senior priority and get to be the big kid in the hallway.”

The excitement and anticipation brought students to Glastonbury High School early. Some of them tailgated.

“We just thought it would be fun, the last first day to just kind of do something silly,” said Lucca Cotthaus, a senior. “This has been 11, I guess 12 years now. First day of school, mom makes you breakfast, packs lunch, get in the car, [and] get on the bus. [It’s] kind of exciting, but now, it’s kind of bittersweet.”

Gallagher and Cotthaus said they started their freshman year just as COVID-19 was on the mend. They said that despite the clouded beginning of their high school tenures, they’re ending on a high note.

The school offered them opportunities.

“There’s a lot of ways to get involved, different clubs, different teachers who will reach out, so it’s kind of awesome to be able to get to explore new options and new ideas,” Gallagher said.

The parents and students were energized, but this academic year there has been a focus on staffing around the state.

When Charlotte Reid started junior year Wednesday, she drove herself to Glastonbury High School.

“I’m just looking forward to seeing my friends and being able to drive to school,” Reid said. “Yeah, I’m pretty excited.”

Gabby and Beckett Devanney said they were a few years away from that. They’ll be back at school too.

“I’m super excited,” said Gabby Devanney, a sixth grader.

“I’m going to meet new friends,” said Beckett Devanney, a second grader.

Middle and high schoolers also had their first day on Wednesday. The rest head back on Thursday.

“I’ve been looking forward to this day pretty much all summer,” said Dr. Bobby Skarvelas, Smith Middle School principal.

It will be Skarvelas’s first year as principal at Smith.

He said he will focus on the district’s core values “Be Kind. Be Curious. Be Well.”

“We feel more like a family as opposed to something else,” Skarvelas said.

Districts all over the state were said to still be filling staff openings, which included teachers, bus drivers, nurses, and paraprofessionals.

“There are more than 1,000 bus driver openings. Last year we landed with almost 1,500 paraprofessional openings. I think we have to take stock into what does it mean to work in a school system. And that we shouldn’t expect people to work in school systems that need to be on food stamps,” said Kate Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association.

Dias said she was concerned over the number of teacher openings.

She expected some to resign or change jobs over the next couple of weeks due to pay or work environment.

“Last year we started with 1,200 openings and ended with 1,300 openings. I’m worried we haven’t made enough gains,” Dias said.

“We’re always looking for the best and brightest,” Skarvelas said.

It was hard to gauge how many teacher openings there were around the state, but Dias said they’ll know by the end of the September.

Copyright 2023 WFSB. All rights reserved.

Great Kids: Glastonbury teen teaches game design class for free

GLASTONBURY, CT (WFSB) - A Glastonbury High student decided he wanted a bit more schooling this summer.Instead of being the student, he wanted to teach.He’s teaching a game design class, and he’s doing it for free.When most kids are swimming, summer camping or vacationing with the family.16-year-old Aarav Mehta is in class.“I had a pretty free summer, and I was thinking I want to really do something. And I had been tutoring kids throughout the year,” Aarav said.It’s not ...

GLASTONBURY, CT (WFSB) - A Glastonbury High student decided he wanted a bit more schooling this summer.

Instead of being the student, he wanted to teach.

He’s teaching a game design class, and he’s doing it for free.

When most kids are swimming, summer camping or vacationing with the family.

16-year-old Aarav Mehta is in class.

“I had a pretty free summer, and I was thinking I want to really do something. And I had been tutoring kids throughout the year,” Aarav said.

It’s not summer school.

It’s one course for two weeks in July.

The big difference: Aarav is the teacher, and the subject is gaming.

Not how to play, but rather how to design it.

“As a kid, my entire childhood, I was always interested in game design and game development, more coding,” said Aarav. “Then I realized, a lot of kids, they get scared away from computer science, it’s a really big scary concept that they can understand.”

He wanted to teach every aspect of game design from coding to creating the art, music, and test playing.

He told his parents about the idea.

“He started to explain how he can gel the music, the math, the art and the coding together and I was like, wow I was stunned,” said Anup Mehta, Aarav’s dad.

“I was like this is great Aarav! This is a great idea. I’m not going to push back. Think it through,” said Khyati Mehta, Aarav’s mom.

He did just that.

Aarav set up a website teaching the class.

His mom posted about it on Facebook.

The class filled up in two days, mainly because he’s doing it for free.

There shouldn’t be a boundary to learning computer science,” said Aarav. “By making it free, it just removes that extra hassle of paying for something you may not like it.”

The 2-hour session started this week and runs through Friday and all next week.

He teaches it via Zoom and said he has found his element.

“I’m really happy because this is opportunity I wish I had when I was a kid, it’s something I really love,” Aarav said.

Aarav is quite smart, but he said it doesn’t take a genius to know if can help someone.

“Helping a kid is really rewarding for me because I can see their progress. It’s really cool,” Aarav said.

Copyright 2023 WFSB. All rights reserved.

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