Abbott Terrace nursing home community holds rally to fight closure

WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — Community faith labor organization Naugatuck Valley Project held a rally on Tuesday to speak out against the closure of the Abbott Terrace nursing home.

“I pray to God every day that we will keep Abbott open,” Rosa Maldonado, an employee, said. “Almost 14 years, every day I go to work, and I love my job. I love my coworkers, and I mostly love the residents here.”

The closure would displace 200 residents and cost 300 jobs at the facility, which has been open for 40 years. They said that the decision is due to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services pulling federal funding.

Paul Sciortino said his sister was in tough shape when she first arrived at Abbott two years ago, but that the workers and the facility quickly become home.

“She just blossomed again and became a person again,” Sciortino said. “She was able to do things every day. They had a structured environment for her. They really did a good job with her… it’s a sad situation. When she was leaving, if only I could show you, everyone was crying. Everyone was sad about it.”

He said that he visited his 71-year-old sister every day at Abbott Terrace. She has moved into another nursing home in Bristol and he said that he can’t see her as often, which is the case for many families at the rally.

“It shouldn’t have happened like this. Families should have been aware of what is going on,” Ann Galloway, whose brother lived at Abbott Terrace, said. “Also, patients are devastated. I called the unit he’s supposed to go to Torrington and I don’t drive anymore, how am I going to get to Torrington.”

Abbott Terrace said that they are working to find other locations for residents and employment opportunities for employees and that as of today, they have found jobs for 61 employees within their health care system.

If nothing changes, the home is set to close in three weeks.

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