It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Poulsen House gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Portland, CT is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“The staff at ABC has been wonderful! It's easy to reach them, they are responsive,”
“We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always”
“I just wanted express our thoughts about Mary, who was the caregiver for the weekend.”
“Excellent company, very experienced management and staffs. Highly recommend”
“Thank you so much for your kind , personalized service. My mother was always resistant”
“We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always”
“Always Best Care Services is a good place to get good care. The employees would”
“My mother was in need of help after she broke her hip at 101 years”
“The staff at ABC has been wonderful! It's easy to reach them, they are responsive, respectful, and cheerful. This was the first step in getting outside assistance for our Mom and we were so impressed with how thorough the care was - the first helper checked to see that her home was safe and that she knew how to use her cell phone. We'd highly recommend using their in home care.”
“We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always Best Care is providing our parents. You have guided us through this very difficult time and have helped us deal with my mother’s illness and her inability to care for my dad. Your caregivers are very capable and caring, and your staff is competent and thorough. We believe this makes your company invaluable to families with loved ones in need of assistance. We would recommend Always Best Care to anybody in search of quality care for their loved one. Thank you for all you and your staff do.”
“I just wanted express our thoughts about Mary, who was the caregiver for the weekend. We all thought she was wonderful!! I think her biggest strength is that she sees the work, needs little/to no direction, offers to take things out of our hands, and is a true-go-getter. For Billie, this type of help is great since she feels like she can take some time to rest and trust all is okay. Mary works hard and is also very patient. I really think Mary is a natural dealing with elderly. She is patient and kind! Anyway, what I wanted to ask is if Mary can be the consistent caregiver for the weekends. The other 4 caregivers that I have met are also very nice. We would like Mary as much as possible as she is punctual, and as I mentioned before, sees what needs doing. She is focused on what she can do to help. She doesnt just sit there next to Bill, she has eyes in the back of her head and goes the extra mile. Anything that needs to get done, she says no wait, let me do it if she hasnt already initiated it herself. She seems to have endless energy and never complained. I just felt compelled to drop you a this note to let you know how impressed we were with her. Thanks”
“Excellent company, very experienced management and staffs. Highly recommend”
“Thank you so much for your kind , personalized service. My mother was always resistant to have someone come into her home to help care for her, but she is very, very pleased with Betsy. Not only does she have someone to keep her company and meet her physical needs—her kitchen is looking cleaner than I have seen it in a while. Thank you again. Your kind manner was reassuring to my mother and to me, and you have made the process of caring for my mother at home easy, and provided me with much needed relief so that I can actually return to work with a calm mind.”
“We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always Best Care is providing our parents. You have guided us through this very difficult time and have helped us deal with my mother’s illness and her inability to care for my dad. Your caregivers are very capable and caring, and your staff is competent and thorough. We believe this makes your company invaluable to families with loved ones in need of assistance. We would recommend Always Best Care to anybody in search of quality care for their loved one. Thank you for all you and your staff do.”
“Always Best Care Services is a good place to get good care. The employees would do their very best to take care of you in your time of need. I will recommended this facility to family and friends. I want to thank you so much for the exceptional care you took of my dad. I hold your agency in the highest regard and you have my deepest appreciation.”
“My mother was in need of help after she broke her hip at 101 years old. She refused to leave her home. Susan Oderwald took wonderful care of her. She found caregivers for her who treated her with kid gloves and she herself went above and beyond by getting papers signed, visiting her in the hospital and fetching things for her. I don't know what I would have done without her, since I live 3,000 miles away. I highly recommend her, her services and her staff of caregivers.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Washington Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Fore Street Restaurant or visit John Palmer House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Portland, CT, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Portland, CT understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Portland, CT 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
PORTLAND — A local boutique owner recently diagnosed with stage four breast cancer wants the age for a first mammogram ultrasound lowered from 40 to 30.Small business owner Abbie Paklos, 33, who took over the Wedding Dress shop at 162 Main St. seven years ago, felt a lump about the size of a marble in her breast at the end of January.In mid-February, Paklos was diagnosed with breast cancer and sent for a CAT scan and bone density scan, the results of which indicated her cancer had metastasized to a part of her lung, liver...
PORTLAND — A local boutique owner recently diagnosed with stage four breast cancer wants the age for a first mammogram ultrasound lowered from 40 to 30.
Small business owner Abbie Paklos, 33, who took over the Wedding Dress shop at 162 Main St. seven years ago, felt a lump about the size of a marble in her breast at the end of January.
In mid-February, Paklos was diagnosed with breast cancer and sent for a CAT scan and bone density scan, the results of which indicated her cancer had metastasized to a part of her lung, liver and chest bone.
Since then, Paklos said, life has been a “whirlwind.”
“It was devastating,” she admitted. “I never imagined I would have breast cancer, especially this young. It came out of nowhere.”
Paklos leads a healthy life, and finds it strange she feels “completely normal."
"It’s scary all this stuff can be going on inside of you and you don’t even know,” she said.
She and her fiancé Rick planned to marry in July. They had a 200-guest wedding planned, but have decided to postpone their nuptials.
“Once we get through this, we will one day get married, but it’s too much stress … That’s not important right now,” she said. “I’ve got to be healthy to get married.”
Paklos was lying on her couch one night and felt something small but firm near her armpit. “I’ve never felt anything like that before,” she said.
The next day, she visited her former gynecologist and got an appointment the next day for a mammogram. The physician told her it was a fluid-filled cyst and to come back in a year, Paklos said.
"Something inside me … was like ‘push for more,’” she said.
She asked for an ultrasound four times that day, and eventually got one, Paklos said. After the test, the radiologist urged her to get a biopsy. It revealed the cancer had spread to a lymph node in her left armpit, she added.
Stage four breast cancer is treatable but not curable, Paklos said.
She hasn't had symptoms, but wonders if her immune system was compromised since she got pneumonia in November 2024, followed by COVID and the flu — something unusual for her.
The doctors tell her it’s not related but she’s not convinced, Paklos said.
“Nobody knows your body like yourself,” she said.
Soon after, she started an Instagram account @bloodsweatandboobs to spread the word to other women like her.
“It’s not something to be scared of,” Paklos said of her diagnosis.
Her goal is to provide information in her posts as she moves along her cancer journey.
“It’s important to be aware," she said. "If I can spread information and help even one person catch something really early and not be in the position I’m in, that’s what I’m trying to do here."
Paklos said even more women are getting diagnosed before they're 40, even in their 20s.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women at average risk for breast cancer start screening mammograms at 40, and continue every two years until 74.
While BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations may increase someone's odds of developing breast cancer, according to the American Breast Cancer Association, the odds of having either mutation are pretty small.
An estimated 0.25% of the general population carries a mutated BRCA gene, or about one out of every 400 people, the ABCA website said.
Paklos is also encouraging women to get genetic testing. Hers revealed she carries the gene mutation PALB2, the “sister” gene to BRCA.
Paklos later found out a family member carries the gene, something she wishes she knew earlier.
“Once you find the lump, it’s too late,” she added.
She has gotten a dose of Luprin, which suppresses estrogen and puts patients into early menopause, Paklos said. Early next month, she’ll begin oral hormone blockers she’ll take for the rest of her life.
Paklos, a social drinker, has stopped her alcohol consumption.
“I’m into the mocktail life right now,” she said.
She also enjoys walking and yoga, and is trying to eat a very clean diet. Her family and friends have been a huge support, she said.
This week, she and two other young women diagnosed with breast cancer will be participating in an online forum with state legislators.
Meanwhile, Paklos is taking a positive view of her situation.
“People live years and years with this," she said. "I’m optimistic for that. They’re coming out with new treatments every year."
Often, patients’ tumors shrink and can go dormant for years, Paklos added.
“I’m … grateful I found it when I did,” she said. “Information is power here.”
Friends are raffling off a 15-pound chocolate Easter egg from Italy until April 14 to raise money for her medical bills. Tickets can be purchased at Avella’s and Melilli’s market at 871 Newfield St., by calling 860-301-3323 or emailing [email protected].
March 24, 2025
Reporter
Cassandra Day is an assistant managing editor with the Middletown Press. She is an award-winning multimedia journalist and resident of the North End of Middletown who has been reporting nearly every facet of the city for over two decades.
Minor flooding was still being reported Thursday along the Connecticut River from Hartford south, according to the National Weather Service.A flood warning remained in effect along the river, from Hartford south to the mouth of the river in the Long Island Sound.In Portland, flooding closed a section of Main Street, officials said. The closure was first ...
Minor flooding was still being reported Thursday along the Connecticut River from Hartford south, according to the National Weather Service.
A flood warning remained in effect along the river, from Hartford south to the mouth of the river in the Long Island Sound.
In Portland, flooding closed a section of Main Street, officials said. The closure was first reported late Wednesday morning and remained in place Thursday morning, according to the state's traffic monitoring site.
Portland firefighters said the closed section of the road due to flooding was between Summer Street and Route 17, and that the road only appeared to be passable.
"Please adhere to the road closed signs so we don’t have to come rescue you," the agency said in a Facebook post.
In a follow-up post, the agency said they were called out just before midnight Thursday to rescue another driver who had tried to pass through the flooded road.
"The water is deeper and colder than it looks and you will not make it through," the post said.
River levels were expected to fall gradually over the coming days, despite a storm expected to bring rain Thursday night.
In Hartford, the Connecticut River crested at 18.24 feet Wednesday morning, a little more than 2 feet over flood stage, which is at 16 feet, according to the National Water Prediction Service. The river level fell to lower than 17.5 feet by around 8:30 a.m. Thursday, and was expected to drop below flood stage during the early hours of Friday overnight.
Farther south in Middle Haddam, the river crested at 8.35 feet Thursday morning. That was a little under a foot-and-a-half above flood stage, which is at 7 feet. The river level was expected to fall below flood stage Friday night.
After a drizzly morning Thursday, a frontal system moving into the area was expected to bring additional rainfall Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service. The agency had not issued any new warnings or advisories for flooding as a result of that storm.
PORTLAND — Clusters of the invasive plant curley leaf pondweed in Great Hill Pond last year made swimming “impossible” and put stress on vessels' motors, according to the Friends ...
PORTLAND — Clusters of the invasive plant curley leaf pondweed in Great Hill Pond last year made swimming “impossible” and put stress on vessels' motors, according to the Friends of Great Hill Pond.
But those looking to enjoy the water this year should have some relief after the town received a nearly $24,000 invasive species grant from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to help control the overrun of curly leaf and fanwort in the water body.
Great Hill, located off Depot Hill Road, is a 76-acre artificial lake fed by Rattlesnake Brook, according to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
There is a 10-foot dike at the south end of the pond where water is released into Great Hill Pond Brook and flows directly to the Connecticut River, it said.
“Thinking back to last year, many of us were frantically raking and skimming large clumps of weeds from the water, swimming was impossible, boat props were clogging with motors overheating, and we were wondering what was going on with our gem of a pond,” the friends group wrote on its website.
The members' efforts appeared to work.
“Sure, there may be some traces popping up, and its turions/seeds from prior infestations are still in the substrate, and the fanwort still needs to be addressed, but clearly we can celebrate this successful first step towards reclaiming our pond,” it continued.
The curly leaf treatment will not affect eelgrass, pond lilies or other pre-emergent plants in the coverage area. Nor will it affect the fanwort, the Friends said.
Both invasive species cover large areas of the pond and are considered a “nuisance,” according to the CAES.
Fanwort is a submerged plant in lakes and rivers with pairs of "finely divided, fan-shaped" leaves that grow on opposite sides of the stem, giving the plant a "feather-like" appearance. "Thick stands can make it impossible to swim, fish or boat," according to the Invasive Species Centre.
"Aquatic invasive species are a serious threat to Connecticut’s freshwater ecosystems and the state’s outdoor recreation economy, of which boating and fishing are the largest contributors,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said in a statement.
They can also negatively affect native plants and animals, the DEEP said.
And they’re expensive to fight, the agency added.
“These species often are costly and challenging to eliminate once established, necessitating intensive control and education efforts to prevent further spread,” DEEP said on its website.
"In some water bodies, invasive plants have become so abundant that they have displaced native species," according to the state's aquatic guide. "Many biologists feel invasive species are second only to habitat destruction as the most serious threat to endangered species globally."
Last year, the Jonah Center for Earth and Art in Middletown received a 75,000 grant from DEEP to support a volunteer-supported control project of water chestnut in the lower Mattabesset River.
Between 20 and 40 paddlers take part in Saturday morning work parties, Hall said in a DEEP press release. Often, he added, volunteers returned with 2,000 pounds of plants.
"They are excited to have made new friends, happy to be a little tired, wet, and muddy from the workout, and amazed by the beauty of the river and abundance of ospreys, turtles, egrets, herons, frogs, and muskrats in the area, ” Hall said in the statement.
The DEEP has awarded a total of $400,000 to 12 projects statewide.
“The projects funded by the 2025 AIS Grant Program will amplify the efforts of the coalition of state and federal agencies, municipalities, non-profits, universities, lake associations, and concerned citizens working together to protect our state’s waterways from aquatic invasive species,” Dykes said in a statement.
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