Nursing home permanently closing, residents and workers fighting to keep jobs and homes

WATERBURY, Conn. (WFSB) – It’s a race against time to keep a nursing home in Waterbury from permanently closing.

Residents and workers of the Abbott Terrace Medical Center are fighting to keep their jobs and homes.

Ann Galloway’s brother is one of the 180 residents who call Abbott Terrace home.

“I’m there every Sunday visiting my brother,” Galloway said.

But with his nursing home’s imminent closure, Ann’s brother is being relocated to a different facility in Torrington.

Now, she fears those visits will be fewer and far between.

“I don’t drive anymore so how am I going to get to Torrington?” she asked.

The nursing home lost federal funding last month due to failure to meet health and safety requirements and won’t be able to stay open.

Now, dozens of residents will have to be moved.

Paul Scioritino’s sister is now a former Abbott Terrace resident.

She was relocated to a different facility as well, a move that’s been tough on her brother.

“I can’t see her as much as I’d like to because it’s a far ride and I live on a fixed income,” said Scioritino.

These are just some of the families that shared their stories at today’s press conference fighting to keep the place open.

While there are still residents and workers at the Atena-owned Abbott Terrace, the nursing home says the location will close for good on November 8.

Abbott Terrace says they are working with residents and their responsible party to relocate them.

“We are equally devoted to supporting our staff—many of whom have served this community for decades—with employment opportunities, either within Athena’s network or locally,” said Savannah Ragli, Director of Marketing and Communications Athena Health Care.

Rosa Maldonado still works at the nursing home and notices the impact the closure is having on the residents who are still there.

“They don’t want to eat, they don’t want to sleep, and mostly you see the sadness in their eyes,” she said.

But the nursing home may still have a chance to stay open. A union representative for the nursing home workers says there are 3 potential buyers interested in the facility.

“We have a pathway, we have a plan, we have trusted operators who can run this nursing home. We know and we are very optimistic that this would be a good thing for the residents and the caregivers,” said Stephanie Deceus, Vice President, New England Health Care Employees Union SEIU 1199.

Channel 3 left messages for the governor’s office and the Department of Public Health to find out who those buyers are. We have yet to hear back.

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