2025 Improvements

We wish to share our 2025 review and invite annual in-home surveys. Last year, we made good progress and celebrated achievements. We also remember heartbreaking losses and moves.

We feel grateful for these five achievements:
U.S. New & World Report Best Assisted Living Survey: The survey team said we scored higher than any home they had ever seen. We look forward to U.S. News publishing our official rating in April 2026. We thank the families and residents who joined this national online survey.

Pilot Pay Advocacy: This year, Tyson worked hard to boost CT Pilot Pay aid for our residents. Tyson and Senator Martin twice met with DSS. Also, Tyson and Deputy Leader Demicco hosted a Shady Oaks visit with Senator Maroney, plus another with Representatives Garibay and Fortier.

Great Place to Work Certification: In 2025, we focused extra efforts for staff appreciation. We especially wish to thank the five families who generously gifted $17,399 directly to our staff. In October, 93% of staff said we are a Great Place to Work, and we earned national Certification!

Bristol Press & Google: Bristol Press readers voted us “Best of Bristol” for the sixth year. New Britain Herald readers voted us “Best of New Britain” for the second year. In April 2025, we surpassed 75 Google reviews. We now have a perfect 5-star average with 79 Google reviews.

Best Staffing: Shady Oaks had the best nursing and CNA staffing of any CT assisted living. We had 6 full-time licensed nurses for our 42 residents, plus 1 CNA per 7 residents every day. This year, we added a second all-star full-time chef, so we now provide all-day dining 6am-6pm.

Since our last annual letter, we continued doing well in protecting residents from viral diseases. We only had 3 residents catch COVID, 0 catch flu, and 0 catch RSV. In September, we sent out a letter with great news that COVID’s mortality rates have substantially dropped among seniors. We also asked if families wanted us to wear masks during resident care. 100% of family replies asked us not to wear masks, except during an outbreak. So, we transitioned to go without masks. We may risk more cases, but we will have a happier home for our residents, families, and staff.

For long-term investments in our home, we made enjoyable renovations:

• We added planters to our entrance and filled them with resident names etched in glass hearts.
• We replaced all our mulch with cream & white crystal stone, and we upgraded our patio areas.
• We installed a sound system with inspiring oldies music and replaced our old upstairs carpet.

Despite our gains, we feel sad for 2025’s resident losses and moves.✞ With heavy but hopeful hearts, we promise to continue providing strong nursing in a cozy and loyal home. Thank you!

Very Respectfully,

Tyson Francis Belanger

✞ We offer heartfelt family condolences for passings of Clement Ashekian, Lillian Conrod, Alexander Constantino, Monique Couture, Rosalie DeAngelis, Nancy Denehy, Joseph DeSena, Ronald Dougherty, Edwin “Joe” Lowrey, Dorothy Marseglia, Dallas Martel, Georgiana Matteson, Carol Mullins, Donald Montfort, John Niedzwiecki, Rita Pappas, Nora Pillanders, Ernst Reisinger, Stella Rowe, Katherine Tole, Joan Venturo, & Pearl Wey.  We also miss residents who moved: Rita Bartlett, Emily Dymersky, Patricia Hopkins, Mary Knappe, Therese Roy, & Carolyne Peters-Vogelsonger.  We remember and miss them all.