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 Bouchard Hill 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 Southbury, 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.
“Wonderful agency, great caregivers, responsive, personal. Would have given 5+ but please pay your”
“It is a pleasure to write this! The BEST way to describe your staff:--Pleasant—congenial. Choosing”
“I am writing on behalf of my family to tell you how appreciative we are”
“Your service was timely and most satisfactory !, I'll definitely keep you in mind for”
“Thank you so much for everything. Mom is not ready to take the step to”
“Thank you so much for your kind, personalized service. My mother was always resistive to”
“This company is courteous and very compassionate when it comes to caring for your loved”
“My experience interacting with Always Best Care far surpassed my expectations. They’re polite and courageous”
“I am sending you some of my thoughts about Always Best Care now that I”
“I have learned so much with having you and your staff care for my mother.”
“Excellent company and high levels of customer service!”
“I forgot to tell you that I miss your compassion toward your people. You positive”
“I just wanted to shoot you a quick email expressing our thoughts about Mary, who”
“Thank you so much for your kind, personalized service. My mother was always resistive to”
“I am a current client of this provider Thank you for all of your help over”
“Other Your service was timely and most satisfactory! I’ll definitely keep you in mind for future”
“I am a past client of this provider Shame on me for not writing sooner. The”
“I am a past client of this provider My Mom’s last 15 months were made easier”
“Other We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always”
“Other I just wanted express our thoughts about Mary, who was the caregiver for the weekend.”
“I am a current client of this provider Thank you so much for your kind, personalized”
“I interviewed this provider I have learned so much with having you and your staff care”
“I am a past client of this provider I was so happy with the services which”
“Excellent company and high levels of customer service!”
“Wonderful agency, great caregivers, responsive, personal. Would have given 5+ but please pay your caregivers every week not every other week. They are dedicated and deserve to be paid weekly. They are the only agency that pays biweekly…. Thank you”
“It is a pleasure to write this! The BEST way to describe your staff:--Pleasant—congenial. Choosing Always Best Care was one our better decisions. You have sent us the perfect people to help my wife. I am grateful for that. Best wishes for continued success.”
“I am writing on behalf of my family to tell you how appreciative we are of Always Best Care and your services. These have not been the best of times for my family and especially hard on my Mom but we take great comfort knowing you are there to help. Our caretaker has been wonderful since my Dad was sent to River Glen in Southbury and from the very beginning of our ordeal. My Mom is extremely protective of my Dad and has always requested for Judy to help out with my Dad. To me that is the biggest proof of our confidence that has been my Mom's faith in her. Anything we have asked of her she has delivered and shown what most can't - that she really cares. Your Professional staff is a pleasure to work with - adapting schedules, applying payments quickly, and always courteous. I felt like great service should be made aware of and should set a standard that Always Best Care always seems to meet..”
“Your service was timely and most satisfactory !, I'll definitely keep you in mind for future needs.”
“Thank you so much for everything. Mom is not ready to take the step to accepting in-home help yet, but I can assure you that when she is, you will be our agency of choice. Knowing that you will be able to assist us when the time comes makes me feel so much better about all of this. For me, it makes a big difference to actually know someone who is in charge and I think that will make a difference with my Mom too.”
“Thank you so much for your kind, personalized service. My mother was always resistive to someone coming into her home to help care for her, but she is very, very pleased. 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.”
“This company is courteous and very compassionate when it comes to caring for your loved ones. They are available 24/7 to help you fill all your caregiving needs and have a great pool of caregivers. The office staff is friendly, very supportive and they will go above and beyond to provide their customers the best service around. I would highly recommend them for any of your Homecare needs.”
“My experience interacting with Always Best Care far surpassed my expectations. They’re polite and courageous and always available 24/7 to answer questions and respond in an emergency situation.”
“I am sending you some of my thoughts about Always Best Care now that I have had time to reflect. Mom’s move to Assisted Living has gone very well and I’d like you to know:--From the initial home meeting and throughout my mother’s care, everyone was extremely personable, professional and knowledgeable of the home care industry. --ABC matched caregivers to my Mother’s needs and personality and we (and my Mother) were very happy with the care received and with the communication between caregivers and family.--Although my Mother is in Memory Care now, she still remembers ‘her ladies’ that not only assisted in her care, but more importantly, offered friendship. We would be very happy to be used as a reference if needed!”
“I have learned so much with having you and your staff care for my mother. I never would have expected her to rally so much after my father’s death. But it’s amazing what loving care can do –just amazing! Tracy and I cannot thank you enough – you have helped us see how to make our mother’s last days as pleasant and meaningful as possible–which is not only good for her but also for her whole family. I and my boys and husband, and my sister and her son and his family, we can all have time to connect with my mother that will surely enrich our lives forever—and that is such a precious gift! Thank you”
“Excellent company and high levels of customer service!”
“I forgot to tell you that I miss your compassion toward your people. You positive and helpful approach toward them is admirable. I did not have such luck with the local companies in MA, lacking good organization and consideration to the clients and the care givers. It is not an easy job accomplish such a success like yours.”
“I just wanted to shoot you a quick email expressing 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, 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 doesn’t 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 hasn’t 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”
“Thank you so much for your kind, personalized service. My mother was always resistive to someone coming into her home to help care for her, but she is very, very pleased. 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.”
“I am a current client of this provider Thank you for all of your help over the last few weeks. Your caregivers were all terrific and I just don’t know what we would have done without you.”
“Other Your service was timely and most satisfactory! I’ll definitely keep you in mind for future needs.”
“I am a past client of this provider Shame on me for not writing sooner. The days go by so fast –and thanks to your good care I am back to doing things for myself and being busy. Did my own deck this year! And other gardening ---feels good! Have started walking 3 times a week at the track! The big 90 will be here in October ---and I am going to be ready to celebrate it! Thank you again for all your help. It’s good to know it is there when I need it.”
“I am a past client of this provider My Mom’s last 15 months were made easier with the diligent and devoted care provided by Scheryl and your support to come up with replacements when she needed time off. Scheryl was caring and compassionate for both my Mom and her sister when she came to stay. They had a really nice bond. Both the ladies were ever grateful for Scheryl’s attention, conversation, cooking and friendship. Larry and I send best wish and sincere thanks!”
“Other 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.”
“Other 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 doesn’t 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 hasn’t 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”
“I am a current client of this provider 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.”
“I interviewed this provider I have learned so much with having you and your staff care for my mother. I never would have expected her to rally so much after my father’s death. But it’s amazing what loving care can do –just amazing! Tracy and I cannot thank you enough – you have helped us see how to make our mother’s last days as pleasant and meaningful as possible–which is not only good for her but also for her whole family. I and my boys and husband, and my sister and her son and his family, we can all have time to connect with my mother that will surely enrich our lives forever—and that is such a precious gift! Thank you”
“I am a past client of this provider I was so happy with the services which Angela provided! She was very courteous, hands-on and would do anything I asked her to do. She was pleasure. I enjoyed having her work for me.”
“Excellent company and high levels of customer service!”
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 Janie Pierce 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 Mercato Italian Kitchen and Bar or visit Southbury Historical Society, 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 Southbury, 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 Southbury, 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 Southbury, 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.
SOUTHBURY, CT — A judge has ordered a local couple to pay nearly $600,000 in damages for the 2017 cutting of trees on town-owned property.The town of Southbury filed a lawsuit in 2019 against Alan and Teresa Salzman, of 216 Kuhne Rd.The lawsuit claimed the Salzmans ordered the tree cutting on neighboring town-owned open space to improve their view of Lake Lillinonah.In ...
SOUTHBURY, CT — A judge has ordered a local couple to pay nearly $600,000 in damages for the 2017 cutting of trees on town-owned property.
The town of Southbury filed a lawsuit in 2019 against Alan and Teresa Salzman, of 216 Kuhne Rd.
The lawsuit claimed the Salzmans ordered the tree cutting on neighboring town-owned open space to improve their view of Lake Lillinonah.
In a ruling dated April 17, Superior Court Judge Joseph Pellegrino sided with Southbury in the dispute. He ordered the couple to pay $99,746 toward restoration, which would cover the planting of small new trees on the property, plus an additional $498,730 in damages, for a total of $598.476. The couple must also pay for the town’s attorney costs.
According to the lawsuit, Alan Salzman engaged and paid the contractors, and initially directed their efforts, then left to go to his law office in New York City. Teresa Salzman remained at home and “continued to direct” the contractors’ activities, the lawsuit claims.
About 59 trees were cut down and more than 100 were damaged, court documents show. The lawsuit claims some of the trees impacted were more than 100 years old.
During a trial, Alan Salzman testified that he was leaving his house one morning when he encountered men who said they were tree cutters looking for work, court documents show.
Alan Salzman testified that he went and got about $300 cash for them to do some cutting on a small area of his land. He reported that he continued on his way to work, and later called his wife, who said the contractors had left.
According to Alan Salzman, he didn’t know the contractors had cut down trees on the town’s property until about three weeks later.
In the ruling, Pellegrino concluded Alan Salzman admitted hiring men to do tree work, then failed to supervise them, and as a result, there was damage to trees on town property.
According to Pellegrino, he finds it “hard to believe” Teresa Salzman, who remained at home, didn’t hear the cutting of 59 trees. The judge noted she did nothing to stop it.
Pellegrino concluded the couple encroached on the town of Southbury’s property without permission and caused “substantial” damage. Pellegrino wrote in the ruling he believes the damage was “intentional.”
“The cutting was almost a football field in width,” Pellegrino wrote, noting that the work extended to the lake. “The court finds it incredible that this cutting was just happenstance done by day laborers with no guidance.”
Southbury First Selectman Jeffrey Manville said via email Tuesday, “I am encouraged that the suit was successful and sends a message that there are punitive damages for violating public property.”
Attorneys representing the town and the Salzmans did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the judge’s decision.
Alan Salzman, reached by telephone Tuesday, said of the ruling, “I fully respect the court’s determination and will follow it to the fullest extent of the law.”
SOUTHBURY — Contrasting portrayals cast a Southbury couple as either being responsible for unintentionally trimming back a small number of trees on a slice of neighboring town-owned land, or intentionally damaging and destroying 138 trees on a swath of wooded open space roughly the size of a football field to get a better view of Lake Lillinonah and the Shepaug River from t...
SOUTHBURY — Contrasting portrayals cast a Southbury couple as either being responsible for unintentionally trimming back a small number of trees on a slice of neighboring town-owned land, or intentionally damaging and destroying 138 trees on a swath of wooded open space roughly the size of a football field to get a better view of Lake Lillinonah and the Shepaug River from their overlooking mansion.
Attorneys for Alan C. and Teresa Salzman and the town of Southbury painted starkly different portraits of events and the Salzmans' actions and motives in post-trial briefs in the town's lawsuit seeking $1,463,458 in restoration costs and damages of $7,317,290.
The town is suing the Salzmans under a 2006 state law that authorizes the awarding of restoration costs and up to quintuple damages against trespassers causing damage to preserved lands owned by the state, municipalities and nonprofit land conservation organizations.
The final written arguments were submitted Monday in state Superior Court in Waterbury where Judge Joseph Pellegrino concluded a bench trial on Feb. 20.
The post-trial briefs represented each side's last chance to frame the case from their perspectives and try to poke holes in the other side's arguments, evidence and legal theories before Pellegrino issues his ruling that could potentially result in a combined $8,780,748 judgment against the Salzmans, plus any attorney fees and costs that may be awarded to the town.
On behalf of the Salzmans, attorney Ashley Noel argued the town's allegations and claims for damages against the Salzmans are overstated, unsupported by the evidence in key respects, and unreasonable. Noel and Alan Salzman did not respond to requests for comment for this report.
On the part of Southbury, attorney Thomas A. Kaelin contended the Salzmans understate the extent of their culpability and damages they are responsible for causing and remedying to minimize their liability and exposure.
"This case is about the owner of a mansion on a hill who wanted to improve his view of a river and was willing to encroach on town open space land to do it," Kaelin wrote.
To achieve that end, the Salzmans hired contractors in 2017 who cut down, damaged and destroyed 138 trees in a corridor on the town property about the size of a football field leading down from their 10-acre property at 216 Kuhne Road to the dammed up man-made lake on the Shepaug River below, according to the town's post-trial brief.
Not only that, but Kaelin argued Alan Salzman twice admitted during an appearance before the Board of Selectmen at a videotaped June 2018 meeting that he was responsible for the tree cutting on the town-owned open space land, and it was done to improve the view of Lake Lillinonah from his property.
"The defendants’ conduct was intentional," Kaelin wrote. "Defendant Alan Salzman admitted that he hired contractors to improve his view of the river and that the area where the trees were cut were in a straight line from his mansion on the hill down to the river."
Not so, Noel argued in the defense's post-trial brief because Salzman never admitted responsibility for all the tree cutting, and he and his wife had uninhibited views of the Lake Lillinonah from the time that they purchased the property in 2015.
Noel stated Alan Salzman accepts responsibility for two independent contractors pruning trees on town-owned land on the north side of Gunnar Road that he mistakenly believed was part of his property, but he denies responsibility for tree cutting on the south side of Gunnar Road where the bulk of the tree work occurred, and the town presented no evidence to corroborate its claims that he was responsible for all of the tree cutting.
"This was a reasonable mistake," Noel wrote. "Notably, no trees were completely removed on the north side of the road and the town does not even claim damages for the topping of the trees in this area."
She stated Salzman knew he did not own the property on the south side of Gunnar Road. She further stated that Salzman invited the first selectman, the assistant to the first selectman and the town attorney to visit his property to view the tree damage from there, and she disputed that he would extend the invitation if he was responsible for the tree cutting on the south side of Gunnar Road.
"In sum, Mr. Salzman’s statements have been consistent for almost seven years and the town has never been able to produce any evidence to refute Mr. Salzman’s testimony, as it is what occurred," Noel wrote.
She also argued that Salzman is not liable for any unauthorized tree cutting allegedly performed by contractors on the south side of Gunnar Road because that exceeded his scope of directions to them.
"The evidence at trial established that Mr. Salzman in no way directed the contractors to cut down trees on the south side of Gunnar Road. He cannot be held liable for their unauthorized actions in doing so," Noel stated.
Kaelin called Salzman's credibility into question, including his recounting of how he came to hire the tree contractors.
"The story simply is unbelievable and there at too many inconsistencies with Mr. Salzman’s story to lend it any credence," he wrote.
Salzman told the Board of Selectmen in June 2018 that he hired a couple of men who approached him in a van one day offering to cut trees on his property for a "relatively cheap" price if he paid in cash. He stated he could not recall who they were, but estimated he paid them $300 to $400.
Kaelin also cited conflicting deposition and trial testimony in which Salzman stated he had paid the men $1,200 to $1,400.
"Defendant Alan Salzman’s story suggesting that this was unintentional is simply not credible," Kaelin wrote. "From the encounter with two strangers with a Rottweiler in an unmarked van at the end of his driveway early in the morning, to the hiring of these two strangers and giving them cash and then leaving them with instructions to improve his view to the river and then leaving, to claims that the work was done in a couple hours to a later claim that I did not tell them to cut trees on the south side of Gunnar Road (where the bulk of the tree cutting took place) is all simply unbelievable."
Noel called the town's claims for restoration costs and quintuple damages overstated and unreasonable.
"The best way to restore the town open space property to its prior condition is to allow the natural regrowth that has already occurred over the past 7.5 years to continue, while performing more aggressive invasive species management," she wrote.
Noel proposed hand planting smaller trees on the town property would constitute a reasonable alternative cost of restoration.
She also argued punitive damages were unwarranted because Salzman did not willfully direct his independent contractors to cut down trees on town-owned open space land.
Kaelin argued the Salzmans are liable for the cost of restoration regardless of whether their conduct was intentional or accidental, and he further contended that court should award quintuple damages.
"The defendant Alan Salzman never fully took responsibility for his conduct and worse he told an unbelievable story in an effort to shield himself from the multiplier by attempting to negate one of the factors by attempting to argue that his conduct was not intentional," Kaelin argued.
He contended the town presented evidence and expert testimony regarding the cost of restoration required under the 2006 statute, and the defense's experts experts did not dispute the cost of restoration and did not provide a different amount or calculation as to the cost of restoration.
Of the 138 trees that were damaged, only 59 live trees were completely chopped down, and 75 were cut or topped. Another four trees were dead or dying. The partially damaged trees and dead or dying trees were not included in the town's estimate of the restoration costs.
"The loss included mature trees, some estimated to 80 to 140 years old with full heights estimated to be 70 and 90 feet. The loss of these mature trees that provide a canopy, habitat and protection of habitat is incalculable and significant," Kaelin wrote.
He recapped the breakdown of the estimated restoration costs from the town's experts in the post-trial brief: $918,047 for the purchase, delivery and installation of 59 trees to replace all the trees that were felled on town property, $114,985 in establishment and warranty costs for the 59 replacement trees, $40,064.00 as a partial estimate of the cost of a temporary road for the installation of the replacement trees, and $430,516.00 in additional restoration costs not reflected in the cost of the 59 trees.
April 3, 2025
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The Southbury Public Library Youth Services department has announced an offsite and virtual event list for May 2025 for children and teens.Patch StaffPress release from the Southbury Public Library:4/14/2025The Southbury Public Library Youth Services department is pleased to announce an offsite and virtual event list for May 2025 for children and teens. All programs are generously sponsored by the...
Patch Staff
Press release from the Southbury Public Library:
4/14/2025
The Southbury Public Library Youth Services department is pleased to announce an offsite and virtual event list for May 2025 for children and teens. All programs are generously sponsored by the Friends of the Southbury Public Library. For more information and to register online please visit our website: www.southburylibrary.org/events.
Children’s Programs:
Tunes & Tales (Recommended for Ages 5 & Under) – Thursday, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Multipurpose Room, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, No Registration Required. Join Jen for a morning filled with music and stories! Children will sing, dance, and experiment with simple musical instruments.
Drop-In Storytime at Parks & Rec (All Ages) – Monday, May 5, 12, 19, 10:30-11am, Mat Room, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, No Registration Required. Join Jen for an all-ages storytime! We'll share books, rhymes, and songs, and a small craft will be available to take home.
Circle Loom Weaving with Miss Laleh (Ages 7-12) – Monday, May 5, 4:30-5:30pm, Mat Room, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited. In this workshop, participants will use different colored strings to weave circular patterns, learning the art of weaving with yarn. This hands-on activity will teach children both creativity in design and the traditional technique of weaving, giving everyone the chance to craft a beautiful and personalized woven piece that they can use as wall art or a coaster!
Babies & Books (6-24 months) – Tuesday, May 6, 10:30-11am, Nursery Room, United Church of Christ, 283 Main Street North, Registration Required - Space Limited. Babies & Books is a 6-week lapsit program for children 6 to 24 months and their parents/caregivers. Listen to short stories and songs, and enjoy a small craft or sensory play.
ARTuesday (Ages 3-12) – Tuesday, May 6, 4:30-5:30pm, Mat Room, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited. Work on a painting for our Tiny Art Show in a supportive group environment! All supplies provided. Please wear clothing you don’t mind getting dirty. There will also be space for children, teens and families in the Mat Room at the same time.
Mother’s Day Flower Collages with the Southbury Garden Club (Ages 7-12) – Saturday, May 10, 11:30am-1pm, Mat Room, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join the Southbury Garden Club to create Mother's Day flower collages using silk flowers!
Spring Craft Lab with Mr. Matt (Grades K-5) – Wednesday, May 14, 4:30-6pm, Mat Room, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join Mr. Matt for Spring Craft Lab, with a choice of 20 spring-themed crafts and activities!
LEGO Club (Grades K-5) – Thursday, May 15, 4:30-5:30pm, Kitchen, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join us for an afternoon of LEGO fun! We’ll provide the LEGO bricks, and you bring the creativity! You can free build, or work off of instructions.
Teen Programs:
To Go Craft Kit: Snail Plush (Grades 6-12) – Starting Thursday, May 15 while supplies last, Library’s Location in the Heritage Hotel, 522 Heritage Road. Pick up complete kits to make a Snail Plush while supplies last. Each kit will have instructions and all supplies needed (except scissors). Kits are not limited per person, but we ask that you only take what you (and siblings or friends you are crafting with) need.
Teen Crochet Club (Grades 6-12) – Tuesday, May 20, 6:30-7:30pm, Kitchen of Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join us for our crochet (and knitting) club, open to both new and experienced crafters alike. If you’re already working on a project, bring it with you. If you’re new to knitting and crocheting, get started with us! We will have basic knitting and crocheting supplies available.
Reading Programs for Children & Teens:
Monthly Mini Reading Challenge (All Ages) – May 1-31, Online at southburylibrary.beanstack.com. Join us on Beanstack for our next Mini Monthly Reading Challenge, themed Growing Readers! Read for five hours (about 1-3 books for elementary, middle, and high school readers) and get a SurPRIZE.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten (Birth to Entering Kindergarten) – Ongoing, On Paper and Online on Beanstack. Read a book (any book!) to your newborn, infant, or toddler and keep track with a paper log or on Beanstack. Repeats count! 1000 books may seem like a lot, but if you read 1 book a day for 3 years, that’s 1095 books! 10 books a week for 2 years is 1040 books, and 3 books a day in one year is 1095 books. Every book you read you get one sticker, and if you finish you can get a certificate, small prize, and your picture on our wall of fame if you’d like! Pick up a paper log from the children’s department or visit southburylibrary.beanstack.com to get started online. For 0 to Entering Kindergarten.
100 Books Before Graduation (Grades 9-12) – Ongoing, Online at Beanstack. Read 100 books before High School Graduation! 100 books may seem like a lot (and it is), but it works out to about 1 book every 2 weeks. When you sign up, get a special tracking bookmark to fill out as you read. Make it to half way and get a $5 Gift Card to Dunkin' or The Bakery. Read 100 books and get a special throw blanket! Every 10 books you read, pick out something from the prize box (pins, pens, animal sticky notes, and more!).
Please visit the Southbury Public Library website at www.southburylibrary.org/events for program details and registration information. Visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SouthburyLibraryYouthServices/
This press release was produced by the Southbury Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
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WATERBURY — A state judge ordered Alan and Teresa Salzman to pay the town of Southbury nearly $600,000 in restoration costs and damages for unlawfully cutting down or topping trees on a football-field size swath of town-owned property neighboring their $1.1 million hilltop mansion overlooking Lake Lillinonah.Judge Joseph Pellegrino handed down the $598,476 judgme...
WATERBURY — A state judge ordered Alan and Teresa Salzman to pay the town of Southbury nearly $600,000 in restoration costs and damages for unlawfully cutting down or topping trees on a football-field size swath of town-owned property neighboring their $1.1 million hilltop mansion overlooking Lake Lillinonah.
Judge Joseph Pellegrino handed down the $598,476 judgment in a 16-page decision issued Monday two months after he concluded a bench trial in state Superior Court in Waterbury for the town's lawsuit against the couple.
The award is far less than $8.7 million in restoration costs and damages than the town had sought, but it appears the second largest award for punitive damages under an anti-encroachment law that was enacted in 2006 to better protect open space land owned by the state, municipalities and nonprofit land conservation organizations against unauthorized trespassing.
Pellegrino said Alan Salzman's testimony that he had only paid $300 two unknown day laborers who happened by his Kuhne Road home in 2017 to trim trees on a portion of the town-owned open space land that he mistakenly believed he and his wife owned was beyond belief.
"The court finds it incredible that the cutting was just happenstance done by day laborers with no guidance," he wrote. "The picture of the cutting does not lend credence to his story. The court does not believe the testimony of Mr. Salzman that he did not direct the men to do what they did. Why would men cut such an area that wide to the lake unless they were instructed to do so."
Salzman and his attorney, Ashley A. Noel, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment for this report.
The town had argued in its lawsuit that the Salzman paid contractors to cut, top and fell nearly 140 trees on a 40-foot-wide, 100-yard-long swath of town-owned open space land leading down to Lake Lillinonah to improve the view of the man-made lake on the Shepaug River from their two-story, Colonial-style home with a rooftop deck and windows on a hill above.
The Salzmans had argued their view of the lake was not improved, and they had unsuccessfully requested Pellegrino come to their 10-acre property at 216 Kuhne Road to see for himself.
In his ruling, Pellegrino said the reasons why the Salzmans paid for the tree work is not relevant under the anti-encroachment law. He said the couple encroached on the town's land and caused substantial damage in the process.
"The defendants have asserted their view of the lake has not been improved by the cutting of trees. Whether that is true is irrelevant," Pellegrino said.
Pellegrino rejected the town's request for $1,463,458 in restoration costs and quintuple damages of $7,317,290. Instead, he awarded the town $99,476 in restoration costs and quintuple damages of $498,730.
The $598,476 judgment appears to be the second largest under the 2006 anti-encroachment law based on available court records, but the largest award for punitive damages against a trespasser. The Lyme Land Conservation Trust had won a $650,000 judgment from a property owner who landscaped a meadow in 2007 on open space land that it owned. The trial court ordered $350,000 in punitive damages after determining her actions were willful and caused great damage.
The town's expert witness had estimated replanting 59 live trees that were cut down would cost $1,463,458, including $430,516 to construct a temporary road to the hilly terrain. Another 75 trees were only topped or trimmed, and four other trees were either dead or dying, according to court filings.
Pellegrino concluded this option was neither practical or ecologically advisable based on his observation of the significant growth on the damaged town-owned landscape since 2017 and testimony that construction of the temporary road would cause even more damage.
"The court does not believe the cost of such an operation justifies the results," he wrote.
Instead, Pellegrino determined the town expert's alternative option for planting smaller trees at a cost of $99,476 represents the best method for restoring the wooded landscape. The judge decided to award quintuple damages of $498,730 because the damage done was wilful.
"The damage was intentional. The court does not believe Mr. Salzman's story that he simply instructed the men he hired to cut some trees on his property," Pellegrino said.
The judge cited Salzman's statements to the Board of Selectmen at a videotaped June 2018 meeting in which he denied directing the two men to fell and prune as many trees as they did, but admitted he failed to supervise them, and he was responsible for what had happened. The videotape of the meeting was introduced into evidence.
"His testimony before the Board of Selectmen that he failed to supervise such destruction indicates gross negligence that should be considered intentional," Pellegrino wrote.
He also rejected trial testimony and defense arguments that Salzman was only responsible for the pruning trees on a smaller portion of town-owned land on the north side of Gunnar Road that he mistakenly believed was part of his property, but not for tree cutting on the south side of Gunnar Road where the bulk of the tree work occurred.
"The court does not believe the testimony of Mr. Salzman before this court and his argument by counsel that he was just talking about the town's land north of Gunnar Road, not the land south of Gunnar Road where virtually all the damaged occurred, when he failed to supervise," Pellegrino wrote. "The court has listened to the recording very carefully and finds that Mr. Salzman admitted that his men cut the trees on all the town's land and made no distinction between land north or south of Gunnar Road and that he failed to supervise them."
He also cited admissions from Salzman and his wife in court filings that they intentionally cut trees down on the town-owned property.
"This is an admission of willful conduct. There is no question there was damage to the town's natural resources because of the cutting trees on the hilly property that sloped to the lake," Pellergino said.
The judge stated that he will set a hearing date to consider the amount of attorney's fees to award the town of Southbury.
April 21, 2025
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