Stamford Senior AdvisorShelton is the city on the west bank of the Housatonic River across from Derby, where Route 8 meets the Bridgeport Avenue office corridor and the Huntington section keeps a small-town green. It is the one Fairfield County town that belongs to the Naugatuck Valley planning region.
For its size Shelton has an unusually large amount of licensed care: several nursing homes, assisted living along Bridgeport Avenue, and residential care homes. Its share of residents 65 and over is among the highest of the county's larger towns, and Griffin Hospital in Derby is just across the river, outside the county.
How many older residents and licensed care options are in Shelton, CT?
Shelton had about 42,880 residents on July 1, 2025 (up 2,029 since 2020) and about 8,962 residents 65 and older (21.4%), and DPH's records show 3 active assisted living agency licenses and 4 nursing homes there.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Population, July 1, 2025 (Census estimate) | 42,880 |
| Population, April 2020 base | 40,851 |
| Residents 65+ (ACS 2020-2024) | 8,962 |
| Residents 85+ (ACS 2020-2024) | 1,396 |
| Planning region | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region |
| Licensed in Shelton | Not licensed in Shelton | |
|---|---|---|
| State and CMS records | Assisted living agencies: 3, Nursing homes: 4, Residential care homes: 3, Home health agencies: 5 | Hospices |
Which assisted living agencies are licensed in Shelton?
Shelton has 3 active assisted living services agency licenses in DPH's export; the longest-held, Care Link Corporation, was first issued October 1, 2008, and 1 sit at addresses with earlier licenses on record.
| Facility / agency | License # | First issued | Expires | Earlier licenses at address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brightview Shelton 30 Beard Sawmill Rd, 06484 | ALSA.0000211 | 05/28/2019 | 03/31/2027 | 0 |
| BSL Shelton LLC 708 Bridgeport Ave # A, 06484 | ALSA.0000169 | 05/19/2014 | 06/30/2028 | 0 |
| Care Link Corporation 580 Long Hill Ave, 06484 | ALSA.0AL0032 | 10/01/2008 | 09/30/2026 | 1 |
What nursing homes are in Shelton, and how does CMS rate them?
4 licensed nursing homes are in Shelton with 476 licensed beds; 0 of the 4 rated by CMS hold four or five stars, and reported private-room rates run from $545 to $590 a day.
| Facility / agency | CMS overall rating | Licensed beds | Beds occupied | Private room, per day (DPH) | Residents on Medicaid | Deficiencies cited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Rehab Shelton Lakes 5 Lake Road, 06484 | 2 of 5 | 106 | 97% | $557 | 82% | 11 |
| Bishop Wicke Health & Rehab Center 584 Long Hill Avenue, 06484 | 3 of 5 | 120 | 93% | $590 | 49% | 14 |
| Gardner Heights 172 Rocky Rest Road, 06484 | 3 of 5 | 130 | 87% | $546 | 91% | 9 |
| Hewitt Health and Rehabilitation Center 45 Maltby Street, 06484 | 1 of 5 | 120 | 97% | $545 | 86% | 17 |
Are there residential care homes in Shelton?
Yes: DPH's export shows 3 active residential care home licenses in Shelton, Connecticut's licensed option for residents who need a supervised home, meals and help with medications but not nursing care.
- Apple Rehab Shelton Lakes, 5 Lake Rd — RCH.0001870, first issued January 1, 2008
- Just Like Home's Dogwood Home, 62 Dogwood Dr — RCH.0001924, first issued November 5, 2024
- Just Like Home's Long Hill Home, 757 Long Hill Ave — RCH.0001926, first issued January 13, 2025
Which home health agencies and hospices have offices in Shelton?
5 licensed home health care agencies and 0 hospices list an office in Shelton; agencies typically serve clients well beyond their office town.
- Affirmed Home Care — home health care agency, HHC.9915771
- Amedisys Home Health — home health care agency, HHC.0000016, Medicare-certified since 1981
- Aveanna Healthcare — home health care agency, HHC.9612701
- Boost Home Heathcare Western Connecticut — home health care agency, HHC.9915787
- Equinox Home Care, LLC — home health care agency, HHC.9915760
Which hospitals are closest to Shelton?
Measured from the center of Shelton, the closest acute-care hospitals in CMS's hospital data are Griffin Hospital (about 2.9 miles) and Bridgeport Hospital (about 6.5 miles).
St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport is about 7.3 miles away. These are straight-line distances, useful for comparison but not drive times.
Where do Shelton families get free senior help?
Shelton is served by the Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging (WCAAA) at 203-757-5449, and Connecticut's CHOICES line, 1-800-994-9422, gives free Medicare and benefits counseling; the Long-Term Care Ombudsman covers Shelton through its Region 3 territory.
Town social services and the senior center can point to local transportation, meals and the municipal agent for the elderly.
