Life since the closure of Abbott Terrace has been overwhelmingly sad, difficult, and empty. Some days, I struggle to stay motivated, especially when passing by my former workplace. After working at Abbott Terrace for 14 years - a job I loved and intended to hold until retirement - I now drive by an empty parking lot and a vacant building, it breaks my heart.
I was a dietitian at Abbott Terrace, and I knew almost all the residents personally. I understood their unique needs. I built strong relationships with many of them. For some, we were the closest thing to family, they didn't get many visitors, and we became their support system. When the state of Connecticut decided to close Abbott Terrace, they didn't just shut down a facility - they tore apart families, they failed us.
Employees who had dedicated years of their lives to this place were left without jobs in an instant, while residents who depended on the care provided there were left scrambling to find new places to live. Initially, it was said the closure would take months, but that timeline was abruptly shortened to weeks. It felt like a betrayal, false promises were made, and repeated lies from both Athena Health Care systems, which owned Abbott Terrace, and the state left everyone feeling abandoned. There were reportedly interested buyers who could have stepped in, but the state seemed more focused on shutting down the facility than on protecting the homes of seniors or the jobs of caregivers. No one seemed to care about the staff or the vulnerable people they served.
I no longer work for Athena. During the closure, it became clear that something was wrong. Athena and the state made us promises they never kept. They said they would support us, but most of my former colleagues are still out of work, facing an uncertain future as the holiday season approaches. All those assurances turned out to be nothing more than empty words.
Some of the residents we cared for were relocated to other facilities - facilities that are now at risk of closing themselves. It's an endless cycle. Yet, those residents are the lucky ones. Others were discharged with nowhere to go. They were placed on waiting lists for housing, and for all we know, they may still be waiting.
These residents had no say in this. They depend on the state for help. You would think that the state of Connecticut would have a plan, a backup system, a desire to keep these vulnerable individuals close to home and surrounded by their families. But instead, the state has shown it doesn't care. The promises were empty, and the residents, the workers, and their families have been abandoned. The state had a chance to do the right thing, and they chose to walk away.
If Connecticut allows two more skilled nursing facilities to close, including the ones where residents from Abbott Terrace were transferred, these closures will only worsen the state's nursing home crisis. There are already far too few beds available, and closing more facilities will tear families apart. Residents who once had relatives just minutes away are now separated by hour-long commutes, a distance that may only grow. Where will they go next - out of state? Why doesn't Connecticut prioritize enabling our sick and elderly to live out their lives near their loved ones?
Connecticut has a chance to make things right. It's not too late to break the cycle. The state can act now to keep nursing homes open, ensure proper staffing, and guarantee that residents receive the quality care they deserve. If they don't, we'll be back in a few months, telling the same painful story - but for many, it will already be too late. The state must adjust the fiscal guardrails now and increase spending on the healthcare sector. It must step in to help find buyers for struggling nursing homes and focus on supporting these facilities to improve the quality of care and conditions.
I invite you to join me to hear about concerns with the Waterbury region becoming a healthcare desert. We can't standby any longer, action is needed. Families, healthcare advocates and workers will be at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 937 Chase Parkway in Waterbury on Monday, Dec. 9 from 4-6 p.m. This is an opportunity to hear concerns of others or voice your own. Come help us save healthcare access for our families and our neighbors.