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 Seymour Bird Sanctuary 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 Seymour, 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 French Memorial 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 Housatonic House or visit French Memorial Park, 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 Seymour, 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 Seymour, 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 Seymour, 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.
SEYMOUR, Conn. — A Seymour fire caused "significant damage" to a pizza restaurant Sunday morning, closing the business along with a neighboring Chinese restaurant for an unknown period of time, according to the town's fire department.No one was hurt and the affected businesses were closed during the fire, the Seymour Fire Department said.Seymour firefighters went to the fire at Hot & Grill Pizza on 59 New Haven Road at 7:40 a.m.The first arriving crew found a fire inside the pizza restaurant that exte...
SEYMOUR, Conn. — A Seymour fire caused "significant damage" to a pizza restaurant Sunday morning, closing the business along with a neighboring Chinese restaurant for an unknown period of time, according to the town's fire department.
No one was hurt and the affected businesses were closed during the fire, the Seymour Fire Department said.
Seymour firefighters went to the fire at Hot & Grill Pizza on 59 New Haven Road at 7:40 a.m.
The first arriving crew found a fire inside the pizza restaurant that extended into the attic, according to the Seymour Fire Department. Firefighters then forced their way inside and brought the flames under control with an "aggressive interior attack."
The fire significantly damaged the inside of the pizza restaurant. Heavy smoke also affected the Seymour Garden restaurant next door, prompting its closure for an "extended period."
Beacon Hose provided mutual aid into Seymour this morning for a structure fire. Truck 6 assisted with operations on the roof and provided additional manpower. Nice work by all involved.
Posted by Beacon Hose Co. No. 1 on Sunday, September 7, 2025
Hot Grill & Pizza posted a statement to their Instagram page, announcing that they will be closed "indefinitely while we work through the recovery process."
"We are incredibly grateful to the first responders who acted quickly and with such bravery to ensure everyone's safety and to minimize the damage. Their dedication means the world to us, and we cannot thank them enough," the pizza restaurant wrote. "To our loyal guests and community: your support has always been the heart of our restaurant, and we will keep you updated as we navigate the path forward. Thank you for standing with us during this challenging time."
The Seymour Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
Sean Humphrey is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at .
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SEYMOUR – A busy mom of three kids all under the age of five is opening a daycare center in Tri-Town Plaza.Brittany Hannon, a former physician’s assistant who decided to open a business in her hometown, is poised to open Willow Academy this September. The address is 850 Derby Ave., unit 1. She’s awaiting a final inspection of the space by the state before she can officially open the doors.“I’ve been looking to transition out of the medical field into something that would let me spe...
SEYMOUR – A busy mom of three kids all under the age of five is opening a daycare center in Tri-Town Plaza.
Brittany Hannon, a former physician’s assistant who decided to open a business in her hometown, is poised to open Willow Academy this September. The address is 850 Derby Ave., unit 1. She’s awaiting a final inspection of the space by the state before she can officially open the doors.
“I’ve been looking to transition out of the medical field into something that would let me spend more time with my kids,” Hannon said. “This is the perfect opportunity for me and to bring more well-needed childcare to our area.”
Hannon and her husband, Ryan, are parents to Jacie, 5, Nolan, 13 months and Amelia, 8 weeks. Both Jacie and Nolan attend other daycare facilities in town, which Hannon said they are thriving at. The littlest Hannon, Amelia, will tag along with mom to work.
There is a childcare shortage in Connecticut.
Hannon, 35, earned a master’s degree from the University of Bridgeport and has worked since 2016 as a physician’s assistant in various pediatric wards and emergency rooms, including at Yale-New Haven, Bristol and Griffin hospitals. She said her medical background brings added peace of mind for parents.
“It’s a unique layer for extra safety at our center,” Hannon said.
What also makes Willow Academy different, according to Hannon, is that the programs will be geared to adapt to the children’s needs. Hannon said her oldest daughter had some challenging behaviors, and it was often tough finding a facility that fit her needs.
“We feel like most of the centers, aside from the ones in Seymour, really wanted cookie cutter kids that fit one mold and one model,” Hannon said. “They didn’t really want to adapt to the children’s needs; they wanted the children to adapt to their program. We created a program that’s the opposite and one that really adapts to the children, especially children who may not have succeeded at other centers.”
Choosing to use “willow” in the center’s name was very intentional to align with that mindset.
“A willow tree stands for adaptability and flexibility, and we want to be adaptable and flexible to all the children in our care,” Hannon said.
Kids don’t need to be potty-trained to join the pre-school program, which Hannon said is almost always a requirement elsewhere.
“Kids are not all going to potty train at the same age, just like they all don’t walk at the same age, so we’ll help them with their potty-training journey,” Hannon said. “There’s no reason to stress parents out even more and make them feel if their kids aren’t potty trained, they can’t attend preschool.”
Hannon said she chose the vacant storefront – which previously housed a martial arts studio that expanded to a larger space in the Tri-Town Plaza – because of the location.
“There’s really nothing on this side of town, which I call the Bungay side of town, for childcare,” Hannon said. “It has easy on and off from the highway (Route 8), a Dunkin Donuts for parents and will be a great addition to bring more great childcare options to the town, in addition to what we already have.”
The space itself has been thoughtfully designed to create a stimulating environment for kids to grow and learn. Hannon has been working on renovations since March. The layout features separate areas for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. The interior walls are painted a soft sage green and are adorned with colorful decals to help kids learn their ABC’s and 1, 2, 3’s.
There are cozy reading nooks packed with books for story time, play kitchens, a wall of interactive puzzles, a headphone listening station and other toys and games designed to stimulate young minds.
A separate room just for babies is equipped with light gray, farmhouse-style wooden cribs, each with bright, yellow suns painted on the walls behind them. Each baby, at naptime, will also have the benefit of the Owlet monitoring system. This is where a small Velcro sock is placed on the baby’s foot, which monitors oxygen and heart rate during nap time. Hannon said staff will have tablets to check on the rates in real time, which will sound an alert if anything appears abnormal.
“Scary things like SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) doesn’t just happen at night when babies are sleeping; it can happen when they’re napping,” Hannon said.
Hannon said the center, when at full capacity, will be staffed by six full-time and six part-time employees, all of whom are CPR-certified and have various levels of teaching experience. Before she became a P.A., Hannon herself taught at various daycare centers throughout college.
For more information about enrollment, hours of operation and tuition rates, please call 203-424-1944 or visit Willow Academy’s website or on Facebook.
On August 18, floods damaged most of the businesses in Klarides Village. It hasn't been an easy journey for the small business owners to reopen.SEYMOUR, Connecticut — When the town of Seymour was hit with massive floods a year ago, it washed away cars, businesses and livelihoods.Last year's devastation was clearly visible at Klarides Village, with 14 of the 16 businesses in the plaza destroyed within hours.One of those businesses is Woodland Wine & Spirits. Owner Neil Patel said the holidays are some of the bus...
On August 18, floods damaged most of the businesses in Klarides Village. It hasn't been an easy journey for the small business owners to reopen.
SEYMOUR, Connecticut — When the town of Seymour was hit with massive floods a year ago, it washed away cars, businesses and livelihoods.
Last year's devastation was clearly visible at Klarides Village, with 14 of the 16 businesses in the plaza destroyed within hours.
One of those businesses is Woodland Wine & Spirits. Owner Neil Patel said the holidays are some of the busiest times for his business and he was afraid they would miss both Thanksgiving and Christmas. He said it nearly took a miracle to open back up just months after the flood on Nov. 21.
"It's a lot of work. First of all, when this happened, I give up. The first time, not able to keep open the store," Neil said.
In August 2025, it looks like a brand new store with business back to normal and normal business hours again. But just a year before, it was unrecognizable.
"This is something we never, ever thought about, something gonna happen like this," Patel said.
Nearly six feet of water damaged hundreds of thousands of dollars in product that the Patel family has been proudly making a living off of for the past 22 years.
Neil said it felt hopeless with no flood insurance. It took a generous loan and dozens of neighbors showing up daily to help his family clean up a mountain of a mess. He said nearly everything was destroyed; less than 10% of their inventory was salvaged.
"The community get together. They help us to clean the whole store and they stay with, behind us and they told, they told me, you gotta come back," Neil said.
And so he did come back. It's a comeback story even he wasn't sure was possible.
His son Jay was going away to college that week and afraid to leave his dad alone after the flood. But once again, he said their neighbors stepped up.
"They encouraged me to go, they said they were gonna take care of my parents for me, so they gave me the courage to go," Jay said.
The plaza today is a welcome sight. The parking lot, once filled with water, is now filled with cars, and most of the businesses have reopened. In the center of it all stands a diner that took nearly a year to reopen: the Route 67 Diner.
"Just all what I built is gone in a matter of three, four hours of rains," said Mike Abe, owner of Route 67 Diner.
Abe said he took over the diner in 2014 because it was all he ever wanted to do.
"That's my life. My dream, I love it since day one," Abe said.
But it's a dream he almost lost overnight. It took months, but he brought the diner back and also brought back the original staff. He expanded the restaurant and it is now about 50% bigger to make room for more meals and memories with his regular customers and new ones.
"Really what [makes me] happy again is my favorite customers. People when they come in here and they just say, 'wow,'" Abe said.
He said it's a small word that makes the large amount of hard work it took to reopen all worth it in the end.
In a full circle moment, the Route 67 Diner set their grand reopening for Aug. 18, exactly one year after the floods. People can find more information about their future plans on their Facebook page.
Solen Aref is a Multi-Skilled Journalist at FOX61 news. She can be reached at [email protected].
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