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.
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.Southbury|Local EventSouthbury Spring Craft FestivalVirgil Signore,Southbury, CTThis post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.Southbury|Local EventSouthbury Spring...
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
Southbury|Local Event
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
Southbury|Local Event
The Southbury Spring Craft Festival will take place in the Nutmeg Ballroom of the Wyndham Hotel, 1284 Strongtown Rd. (CT-188) on Sunday, May 4 from 11am to 5pm. Crafts in several categories will be featured. Free admission.
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SOUTHBURY — A Southbury couple plans to abide by a nearly $600,000 judgment for unlawfully taking down trees on town-owned property in a decision that the Southbury first selectman said sends a message that trespassing on preserved lands and damaging protected landscapes can carry a high cost.Alan Salzman confirmed that he and his wife will comply with the state ...
SOUTHBURY — A Southbury couple plans to abide by a nearly $600,000 judgment for unlawfully taking down trees on town-owned property in a decision that the Southbury first selectman said sends a message that trespassing on preserved lands and damaging protected landscapes can carry a high cost.
Alan Salzman confirmed that he and his wife will comply with the state judge's ruling issued Monday that awarded the town $598,476 in restoration costs and punitive damages. The case was heard in state Superior Court in Waterbury.
"I think this is a victory for the citizens of Southbury and public property," Southbury First Selectman Jeffrey Manville said.
The town of Southbury sued the Salzmans under the state's anti-encroachment law to hold the couple accountable for hiring contractors in 2017 that chopped down and cut back back nearly 140 trees on a 40-foot-wide, 100-yard-long swath on neighboring town-owned open space land leading down from their $1.1 million hilltop mansion to Lake Lillinonah below.
Manville said he continues to believe the Salzmans had the work done to get a better view of the man-made Lake Lillinonah on the Shepaug River from their two-story, Colonial-style home with a rooftop deck and windows on a 10-acre property above, as the town alleged in its 2018 lawsuit. The Salzmans had argued their view of the lake was not improved.
Judge Joseph Pellegrino ruled whether that was the motive is irrelevant and what only matters under state law is that the Salzmans encroached on town-owned land and caused substantial damage in the process.
The town requested $1,463,458 in restoration costs and quintuple damages of $7,317,290. But Pellegrino awarded the town $99,476 in restoration costs and quintuple damages of $498,730 under the anti-encroachment law.
"I respect the court's decision and will comply with it to the full extent of the law," Alan Salzman said in a statement.
The punitive damage award appears the largest under the anti-encroachment law since the state legislature authorized courts to grant up to quintuple damages in 2006 to increase the penalty and the disincentive for violating protected lands owned by the state, municipalities and nonprofit land conservation organizations.
"This was the perfect case to send a message to people that you cannot just decide to do what you want to do on property like this," Manville said.
He said the town pursued its lawsuit against the Salzmans to hold them personally responsible and make an example of them, and he believes the judge's award of $498,730 in quintuple punitive damages achieved both objectives.
"I think is a win not just for the town of Southbury, but this is also going to send a message about all this public property, and conservation easements, and land trusts. I think this is going to send a message that there are punitive damages and they will be applied," he said.
A big reason why the legislature provided for quintuple damages in 2006 was that the benefits derived from violating preserved lands for trespassing property owners exceeded the potential financial penalties. Previously, state law based penalties for trespassers found liable for illegal tree cutting on timber values.
The state Supreme Court in 2005 ruled that the owner of the Goodspeed Airport in East Haddam only had to pay $67,500 in damages for clear-cutting 340 trees on 2.5 acres owned by the East Haddam Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy. The decision said the trial court correctly determined it lacked statutory authority to order the land be restored to its original condition and impose fines sufficient to cover the restoration costs as requested.
Manville said the ruling in the Southbury case reinforces that trespassers can no longer write off the costs for violating preserved lands because they can afford to pay penalties and settlements.
"You cannot just come in because you have money and do what you want to do, and that is the message here," he said.
Pellegrino plans to schedule a hearing to determine how much attorney's fees to award Southbury. Manville said he did not have a figure yet, but he would not be surprised if the attorney's fees reached into the six-figures.
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.
Campers at Bent of the River’s Audubon Summer Day Camp explore nature in a fun, safe environment within the 700 acres of our nature sanctuary. Audubon Camp fosters curiosity through outdoor exploration that helps campers develop an understanding of the natural world. These unique experiences and adventures can become a lifelong appreciation for our environment.Our camp days are filled with various activities—including hiking, brook walks, river exploration, crafts, nature-themed games, live animal interact...
Campers at Bent of the River’s Audubon Summer Day Camp explore nature in a fun, safe environment within the 700 acres of our nature sanctuary. Audubon Camp fosters curiosity through outdoor exploration that helps campers develop an understanding of the natural world. These unique experiences and adventures can become a lifelong appreciation for our environment.
Our camp days are filled with various activities—including hiking, brook walks, river exploration, crafts, nature-themed games, live animal interactions, and birding. For the safety of our campers, families, and staff, we strictly follow the latest COVID-19 safety guidelines.
Our staff is selected for their experience and skills working with youth in environmental education and their interest in local ecology and natural history. All staff must pass background checks and are required to hold current CPR and First Aid certifications, making camp a safe place to learn about and experience nature. Our staff has helping hands each week from our Leaders in Training, experienced campers gaining skills in environmental education leadership.
Camp Hours and Length: Most camp sessions last one week, Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. *The Twilight Explorers week offered for EcoDiscoverers runs from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Camp Registration: Camp spots will be reserved only after registration is complete and tuition is received. Register here.
Pricing: Tuition is $350 per camper per week.
Camp Age Groups: Camp groups are arranged by grade. Naturalists are campers entering grades 1 - 4 in Fall 2025 and EcoDiscoverers are campers entering grades 5 - 8.
Campers entering grades 1 - 4, join us for up to 7 weeks of summer day camp fun! Learn about and enjoy different nature themes each week.
Nature’s band is always playing here at the Bent. This week you will become part of the music by making your own instruments out of natural materials. Explore and discover all the songs of nature.
All the animals at the Bent stay busy year-round. You will be as busy as they are building dams, nests, and other shelters this week. Explore all the unique habitats we have to offer.
Ready to get wet and cool off from the summer heat? You will get to meet live animals with special water adaptations while you explore the river, dip into our vernal pool, and play in Crayfish Alley.
This week the Bent will magically transform into Hogwarts. Be a part of the wizarding world, make potions, play Quidditch, and find magical creatures around every corner!
The Bent is full of Bugs! This week you will catch insects in the meadows, vernal pool, under logs, and in the river. Investigate what makes these critters special and learn about their cool adaptations.
You’re a detective on the case this week. Look for clues hiding in plain sight like colorful leaves, fluffy feathers, and shiny rocks. Can you solve this case?
Tap into your creative side and become a nature artist. Make sculptures with mud, paint with leaves and twigs, and create jewelry with materials we find throughout our meadow, river, and forest.
Campers entering grades 5 - 8, join us for up to 6 weeks of summer camp fun! Learn about and enjoy different nature themes each week, including a week with "twilight hikes."
Learn how to survive in the wilderness. Create a village with other campers where you build forts, forge rivers, and seek adventure as you solve challenges and learn to survive by relying on each other. The session includes an overnight on Tuesday.
Something mysterious is going on at the Bent. Decode secret messages, solve riddles, and uncover the truth. Do you have detective skills to solve this mystery?
Do you love to get wet and wild? This week is all about keeping cool while exploring our aquatic habitats and finding the animals that live in them. Create and play water games with your fellow campers.
Even muggles get to go to Hogwarts this week at the Bent. Become nature wizards and explore the magical creatures lurking in various habitats. Make your own wand and cast spells.
We love our feathered friends here at the Bent. Learn all about the wonder of birds. Go birding, check out our feather collection, and learn about how scientists track birds.
Unleash your inner artist this week. Get creative by making paper, painting with natural materials, and making sculptures with what you can find.
Just because the sun goes down doesn’t mean every animal goes to bed. Many animals like bats, owls, and beavers are most active at night. Venture into the night to see all these critters.
This evening camp session runs from 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Cancellation and Refund Policy: Payment (minus 20%) will be refunded for cancellations received at least two weeks before the first day of camp to be attended. If Audubon must cancel a session, you will receive a full refund for that session only. No refunds will be given for cancellations made within two weeks of camp.
Audubon Summer Day Camp Perks: Parents will receive a link to pictures taken throughout the camp week. Your camper can use the pictures to talk more about all the fun things they did at nature camp.
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