POLICYHOLDER SPOTLIGHT
SHADY OAKS “ BUBBLES UP ”
To Keep Staff And Residents Safe
BY : TYSON BELANGER , OWNER
IT BECAME KNOWN as “ The Bubble ,” the onsite patient care model adopted by Shady Oaks Assisted Living , an A . I . M . Mutual policyholder in Bristol , Connecticut . Unprecedented and inspired , it drew media coverage from dozens of outlets , including CNN , NPR , and MSNBC . “ The Bubble ” came together quickly in a race against the COVID surge .
By March 2020 , owner Tyson Belanger understood all too well what was coming and what it could mean for assisted living facilities like his . He immediately closed Shady Oaks to outside visitors and started screening staff . Yet the dangers of asymptomatic and presymptomatic transmission weighed on him . He feared his at-the-door staff temperature checks would not be enough to protect his residents .
So he bought five RVs and convinced a third of his staff members to live on the premises for at least two months . The goal ? Keep everyone safe by limiting exposure , buying time until better testing and broader safety protocols emerged . The model was a success — no residents were lost to COVID at the height of the pandemic or to date . Tyson ’ s proactive response likely saved lives .
We invited Tyson to talk about the Shady Oaks culture , the events of the past two years , and why workers ’ compensation management matters , especially in times of crisis .
THE SHADY OAKS VISION
Forty-six years ago , my parents built Shady Oaks Assisted Living in Bristol , Connecticut . With a team of 56 staff members , we ensure roundthe-clock care for 40 residents whose average age is about 90 . Our vision is to combine a bed-and-breakfast feeling with nursing home-level care . We have more staff and better-qualified staff than many other assisted livings , with starting wages well above the market rate . We are a great fit for gentle elders who struggle with self-care or memory loss , and we are more affordable than 24 / 7 home care .
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