Meriden Small Business Spotlight: Assisted Living Services and Assisted Living Technologies

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. And that’s the belief behind this exciting series — to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

• Business: Assisted Living Services and Assisted Living Technologies
• Owners: Ron D’Aquila, RN
• Website: www.assistedlivingtechnologies.com
• Address: 74 S. Broad St., Meriden

What business are you in?

Assisted Living Services, Inc. was established in 1996 and provides home care services statewide to thousands of seniors and individuals with all types of disabilities.. The company has Personal Care Assistants, Live-in Aides, and Homemakers. The staff can provide help with bathing, dressing, transfers, ambulation, medication reminders, food preparation, light cleaning, and grocery shopping. Providing pet therapy is one of the many things our agency does that sets us apart. Animal Assisted Therapy can promote positive physical, emotional, and psychological benefits to the elderly, including lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, improving mood and depression, increasing social interaction, and even improving appetite and adherence to a medical regimen.

What’s been your proudest achievement since opening?

Having exemplary employees; from Homemakers to Managers and Directors, all staff members truly love working with the elderly and have a proven track record of reliability and compassion. All newly hired employees are insured and bonded and must have a National Criminal Background Check. All staff members are trained as Home Health Aides or have received training at a Nurse Aide Program. Additionaltraining is provided in OSHA, Safety, Alzheimer’s Care, Hospice, Elder Abuse, Customer Service, and much more. There are also two Registered Nurses on staff, one of whom is Sharon’s husband and co-owner of ALS, Ron D’Aquila,which is unusual for a non-medical provider.

How does your business give back to the community?

ALS works collaboratively with all area hospitals, rehabilitation facilities and nursing homes, along with various agencies such as the Alzheimer’s Association, VNA’s / Hospice Agencies, Protective Services, and the Connecticut Homecare Program for Elders. In 2010, Assisted Living Services established a subsidiary called Assisted Living Technologies, Inc. (ALT). This company offers technologically advanced products which help the elderly to age-in-place and allow independence for individuals with disabilities and special needs. The company has helped hundreds of Connecticut residents gain independence by transitioning those individuals with developmental disabilities from group homes into community based settings.

Would you like to see your small business showcased in this series? Email wendy.mitchell@patch.com.