Burlington Health and Rehab is located at 300 Pearl St in Burlington, Vermont. It is a 126 unit nursing home facility. The community is in a largely middle class area, with a median household income of $38,543. ...
Assisted Living in Vermont
- SeniorAdvice's Guide to Assisted Living in Vermont
- Assisted Living Directory for Vermont
- Assisted Living Costs in Vermont
- Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Vermont
- Vermont Assisted Living Rules and Regulations
- Free Assisted Living Resources in Vermont
The pristine environment of Vermont is a charming retirement haven. Aside from admiring the vibrant foliage season, majestic Green Mountains and vast Lake Champlain, seniors can delight in Green Mountain State's delectable offerings such as pure maple syrup, artisanal cheeses and Ben & Jerry's frozen treats. Despite being the least populated state in New England, Vermont has a growing aging population that ranks among the highest nationwide. The number of seniors is expected to grow to 167,000 by 2030, when more than one out of four Vermonters will be 65 and older.
Vermont's changing demographics, also characterized by the decline in the percentage of younger age groups, is geared toward the senior residents' increasing need for supportive communities. Among the Green Mountain State's approximately 170 licensed long-term care facilities with more than 6,500 licensed beds, at least 15 are assisted living residences and more than 110 are residential care homes.
Most of these long-term care facilities are participating in the state's Medicaid programs. To know more about Vermont's available options for assisted living, read this comprehensive guide, which provides information on senior care costs, quality of life and free resources.
SeniorAdvice's Guide to Assisted Living in Vermont
The SeniorScore of Vermont is 71%, only slightly lower than the U.S. average of 72. This senior livability index covers a comprehensive range of parameters, calculated based on over 100 data points. The largest factors that contributed to the Green Mountain State's below-average score are under the finances category. However, the overall quality of life for aging Vermonters is still considerably favorable in terms of factors related to well-being.
SeniorScore™ for Vermont
The SeniorScore™ is calculated based on over 100 variables, some of which are shown below. The final score is curved based on a linear curving method. For More info visit senioradvice.com/seniorscore.
71
SeniorScore™ Overview
- Vermont's SeniorScore™ of 71 is lower than the national average of 72.
66
Health & Safety
- Vermont has average access to Medicare registered healthcare providers.
- Vermont has an average number of hospitals within the state.
- Vermont has an average number of senior living facilities within the state.
- Vermont has an average number of home healthcare providers operating in the state.
- The average life expectancy in Vermont is 80.5, compared to the national average of 78.6.
- Vermont has a high overall property crime rate compared to national averages.
- Vermont has a high overall violent crime rate compared to national averages.
67
Recreation & Leisure
- 32% of the population in Vermont are seniors, compared to 29% nationally.
- Vermont has 70 golf courses in the state.
- Vermont has an average number of municipal parks throughout the state.
- Vermont has 537 churches in the state.
58
Finances
- The property taxes average 5.28% of total income in Vermont, which is significantly higher than the national average of 2.79%.
- The property taxes average 1.63% of property value in Vermont, which is significantly higher than the national average of 1.09%.
- The average sales tax in Vermont is 6.50%, which is lower than the national average of 6.97%.
- The average state income tax in Vermont is 3.03%, which is significantly lower than the national average of 3.38%.
- The mean household income in Vermont is $67,546, which is higher than the national average of $64,580.
- Vermont's median household income is $54,146, which is higher than the national average of $51,560.
- The average per capita income in Vermont is $28,402, which is significantly higher than the national average of $25,611.
- Assisted living costs in Vermont average $47,340 per year, which are significantly higher than the national average of $42,700.
- Nursing home costs in Vermont average $104,025 per year, which are significantly higher than the national average of $92,481.
- Costs for adult daycare in Vermont average $32,032 per year, which are significantly higher than the national average of $17,931.
- Costs for home healthcare in Vermont average $48,048 per year, which are higher than the national average of $46,197.
- The unemployment rate is about 6.38% in Vermont, which is significantly lower than then national rate of 8.26%.
- The overall cost of living in Vermont is very high compared to national averages.
- 0.49% of the senior population in Vermont are financially responsible for at least one grandchild.
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General Quality of Life
- Vermont receives an average of 37.9 inches of rain per year.
- Vermont has an average annual temperature of 44.1 degrees fahrenheit.
- Vermont has an average low temperature of 33.0 degrees fahrenheit.
- Vermont has an average high temperature of 54.1 degrees fahrenheit.
- Vermont has an average population density of 213 people per square mile.
- Vermont has a very high public school quality ranking.
- Vermont has a very high public school safety ranking.
- Vermont has a high graduation rate of 91.07%.
Vermont's leisure and entertainment is the highest-rated category with SeniorScore of 67%. Having a significantly higher percentage of 55+ adults than the U.S. average, the state has an average number of municipal parks, golf courses and churches to keep them socially active. Health and safety comes as a close second with a SeniorScore of 66% due to several positive variables. In addition to Vermont's higher-than-average life expectancy of 80.5 and an average number of health care and senior living facilities, the Green Mountain State has one of the lowest crime rates nationwide.
The general quality of life in Vermont garners a SeniorScore of 61%, primarily because of the state's continental climate where it's mostly cold throughout the year. In terms of finances, which earns the lowest SeniorScore at 58%, Vermont has a high overall cost of living and taxes all forms of income, including retirement benefits. The costs of different senior care options are also more expensive than the U.S. averages.
Top Assisted Living Facilities in Vermont
Located at 98 Starr Farm Rd in Burlington, Vermont, Starr Farm Nursing Center is a 150 room nursing facility. The facility is in a mostly middle class area, with an average family income of $57,785. With approximately 11,000 ...
Pine Heights at Brattleboro Center For Nursing and Rehabilitation is an 80 unit nursing facility located in Brattleboro, Vermont. The facility is in a generally middle class area, with a median per-household income of $44,422. With about 18,000 ...
Rowan Court Health and Rehab is located at 378 Prospect St in Barre, Vermont. It is a 96 unit nursing facility. The community is in a largely middle class area, with a median per-family income of $50,043. ...
Kindred Transitional Care and Rehab Birchwood Terrace is a 144 room skilled nursing facility located in Burlington, Vermont. The encompassing area has an average population density, with about 11,000 people residing in the zip code of 05408. It ...
Located at 200 Wake Robin Dr in Shelburne, Vermont, Wake Robin is a 33 unit senior care community. The community is in a largely well-to-do area, with a median per-family income of $84,405. With approximately 8,000 people residing ...
Vermont Veterans' Home is a 177 bed senior care facility. It is located at 325 North St in Bennington, Vermont. The community is in a largely middle income area, with a median per-household income of $42,005. With ...
The Pines at Rutland Center for Health and Rehabilitation is a 125 unit nursing care facility located in Rutland, Vermont. With roughly 22,000 individuals living in the 05701 zip code, the surrounding area is densely populated. It ...
Gill Odd Fellows Home is a 46 bed senior care facility situated in Ludlow, Vermont. With an average household income of $46,105, the facility is in a primarily middle class area. It is sparsely populated, with approximately 3,000 ...
Sterling House of Richmond is a senior community located at 61 Farr Rd in Richmond, Vermont. With a median per-household income of $75,916, the facility is in a predominantly well-to-do area. It has a sparse population, with about ...
Rutland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center is located at 46 Nichols St in Rutland, Vermont. It is a 123 unit nursing home facility. The surrounding area is densely populated, with roughly 22,000 people residing in the 05701 zip code. ...
Thompson House Nursing Home is a 43 unit nursing care facility located in Brattleboro, Vermont. It is close to houses of worship, retail shopping, medical services, and other local conveniences. They are located just 0.13 miles ...
Vernon ADvent Christian Home is a 60 room senior housing community. It is located at 61 Greenway Dr in Vernon, Vermont. With about 3,000 individuals residing in the 05354 zip code, the surrounding area has a sparse population. ...
Located at 577 Washington Hwy in Morrisville, Vermont, The Manor is a 72 unit senior housing community. The community is in a largely middle class area, with an average per-family income of $55,474. With roughly 7,000 residents in ...
Located at 35 Bel-aire Dr in Newport, Vermont, Bel-Aire Center is a 44 room senior community. The community is in a generally middle class area, with an average household income of $37,931. With approximately 8,000 residents in the ...
Newport Health Care Center is a 50 unit nursing facility. It is located at 148 Prouty Dr in Newport, Vermont. With approximately 8,000 poeple living in the 05855 zip code, the encompassing area has an average population density. ...
The Residence at Otter Creek is a senior care community located at 350 Lodge Rd in Middlebury, Vermont. The neighboring area has an average population density, with roughly 11,000 poeple living in the 05753 zip code. It is ...
Springfield Health and Rehab is a 102 unit skilled nursing facility located in Springfield, Vermont. The community is in a mostly middle class area, with an average household income of $41,948. It has a medium-density population, with around ...
Cedar Hill Continuing Care Community is located at 49 Cedar Hill Dr in Windsor, Vermont. It is a 39 room senior care facility. With about 6,000 people residing in the 05089 zip code, the surrounding area is sparsely ...
Redstone Villa is a 30 room senior community situated in St Albans, Vermont. With a median household income of $55,763, the community is in a generally middle class area. It has a medium-density population, with roughly 15,000 individuals ...
The Cost of Assisted Living in Vermont
Based on the Genworth 2019 Cost of Care Survey, the average monthly cost of assisted living in Vermont is $5,538. Despite being significantly higher than the national average of $4,051, this figure is considerably mid-range when compared to the average costs in its nearby states. Vermont's closest New England neighbors have higher monthly assisted living costs, with New Hampshire being the most expensive at $7,021. Seniors may be able to save more when opting for assisted living in the neighboring Capital District of New York.
- Vermont: $5,338
- New York: $4,630
- New Hampshire: $7,021
- Massachusetts: $5,640
- Maine: $5,169
The Cost of Assisted Living in Vermont's Top Cities
With a monthly average cost of $5,113, assisted living in the Burlington area is somewhat more affordable than the other areas in Vermont. Except for Manchester, New Hampshire, the closest cities outside Vermont offer more affordable options for assisted living. Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is significantly cheaper than Burlington by $2,100.
- Burlington: $5,113
- Glens Falls, NY: $4,175
- Albany, NY: $4,525
- Manchester, NH: $7,182
- Pittsfield, MA: $3,013
Senior Care Cost Comparison in Vermont
Despite its relatively high cost, assisted living in Vermont saves seniors more than 50% on monthly average payments when compared to nursing home care. Adult day care is significantly cheaper by about $2,300, while in-home and home health care services are less expensive than assisted living by only about $140 monthly.
- Assisted Living: $5,338
- In-Home Care: $5,196
- Home Health Care: $5,196
- Adult Day Care: $3,033
- Nursing Home Care: $10,722
Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Vermont
Medicaid for the Blind, Aging and Disabled (MABD)
Address: 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-1500
Phone Number: 1-(855) 899-9600
Website: https://www.greenmountaincare.org/mabd
Medicaid for the Blind, Aging and Disabled grants access to a comprehensive range of health care benefits for low-income Vermonters aged 65 and older. For MABD-eligible seniors in need of assisted living care, the health care and social services they would receive in licensed care facilities may be fully or partially covered through the dedicated long-term care programs of Green Mountain Care (Vermont Medicaid).
The financial criteria for MABD is based on income and resource limits. As of 2020, the maximum income is $1,175 for Chittenden County residents living in single-person households and $1,091 for those residing in all other Vermont counties. The same income requirements apply for couples or those living in two-person households. For all counties, the maximum countable resources is $2,000 for elderly individuals and $3,000 for couples.
Choices for Care Program
Address: Green Mountain Care, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-1500
Phone Number: 1 (800) 479-6151
Website: https://www.greenmountaincare.org/long-term-care-medicaid
Operating within the Global Commitment to Health 1115 waiver, the Choices for Care Program assists eligible seniors and disabled adults with the financial costs of long-term care services in their chosen settings. These supportive services may be provided in a beneficiary's own home, a skilled nursing facility or in community-based settings such as adult day care centers, adult family care homes, assisted living residences and residential care facilities.
The same eligibility requirements for MABD apply to seniors applying for Choices for Care benefits. In addition, the applicant must meet the clinical criteria for receiving a nursing home level of care.
Enhanced Residential Care (ERC)
Address: DAIL - Adult Services Division, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-2070
Phone Number: (802) 241-0294
Website: https://asd.vermont.gov/resources/provider-enrollment
Subsidized by Medicaid through the Choices for Care program, Enhanced Residential Care defines a daily bundled package of services that are provided to older Vermonters living in participating ALRs and Level III RCHs. Medicaid reimburses these licensed ERC providers for the fees of certain services such as personal care (ADL), nursing overview, medication management, housekeeping and laundry services. The costs for case management, recreational activities and 24-hour supervision are also reimbursable.
Seniors who can benefit from ERC services must meet the same eligibility requirements for the Choices for Care program to choose a licensed ERC facility as their long-term care residence. Room and board costs are not covered by ERC, and these are directly paid by a participating resident to the participating provider.
Assistive Community Care Services (ACCS)
Address: DAIL - Adult Services Division, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-2070
Phone Number: (802) 241-4534
Website: https://asd.vermont.gov/sites/asd/files/documents/Assistive_Community_Care_Services_Brochure%282007%29.pdf
Assistive Community Services is the part of Vermont's Medicaid State Plan that subsidizes a range of supportive services provided in participating ALRs and RCHs. Aside from nursing assessment, personal care services, and medication assistance, ACCS also covers the costs of on-site assistive therapy, restorative nursing and case management services. A participating facility bills Medicaid daily for reimbursement.
Eligible ACCS recipients must be qualified to receive SSI and Medicaid benefits and are able to find participating ACCS facilities that can meet their long-term care needs. ACCS does not cover room and board costs. However, beneficiaries may benefit from both ACCS and ERC in respective facilities that participate in both programs.
Vermont Assisted Living Rules and Regulations
The Division of Licensing and Protection of the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living regulates health care and long-term care facilities in the state. Its Survey and Certification inspects and licenses facilities in compliance to state and federal standards, and investigations may be conducted based on reported complaints and for periodic monitoring purposes. Except for specified provisions the rules and regulations on residential care homes (RCHs) in the Green Mountains State also apply to assisted living residences (ALRs) as summarized in the table below.
Scope of Care | ALRs and RCFs shall provide room and board, general supervision, personal care and appropriate supportive services. Nursing services may be given to ALR residents to support aging in place, and daily activities must be offered. ALRs must be able to provide referrals and coordinate transportation, home health, hospice and other necessary services. RCH residents requiring more than nursing overview and medication management may receive limited nursing care, which must be fewer than three times per week. RCHs may accommodate nursing care arrangements for up to seven days per, lasting no more than 60 days and where the resident's condition is improving. |
Care Plan Requirements | Each ALR or RCF resident must have a written care plan, developed in cooperation with the client and/or the resident's legal representative. This document must define the care and services to be provided based on a resident's assessed needs and abilities, and in support for the resident's independence and well-being. Care plan reviews must be done at least yearly and whenever necessary as a resident's condition or circumstances change. |
Medication Management Requirements | ALR and RCH staff members may only be able to administer medications when delegated by registered nurses. A registered nurse must appropriately train caregivers on a facility's medication management practices and is responsible for designating specific staff members to specific residents. Further training and education are required for caregivers who are designated to administer PRN medications and insulin injections. Because residents capable of self-administration have the right to purchase and take over-the-counter medications, the facility must monitor these residents as much as possible and notify the physician for serious concerns. |
Staff Screening Requirements | An ALR or RCH shall not employ an individual who has been charged with abuse, neglect or exploitation; or convicted of an offense related to bodily injury, theft or misuse of funds or property; or has committed other crimes within or outside of the State of Vermont. A facility may screen prospective employees by obtaining and checking personal and work references and contacting the Division of Licensing and Protection for abuse registry or conviction records. |
Staff Training Requirements | All staff members providing direct care to ALR and RCH residents must receive at least 12 hours of training per year. These training sessions must be documented and at least include matters on general supervision and care, residents' rights, fire safety and emergency evacuation and emergency response protocols. For facilities with memory care units, specialized orientation and training on Alzheimer's and dementia care must be given to appropriate staff members. |
Medicaid Coverage | Vermont's Medicaid programs, ERC and ACCS, may cover a certain bundle of supportive services that are provided in participating ALRs and RCHs. Qualified seniors may benefit from one or both programs. |
Reporting Abuse | Any suspected case of abuse, neglect or exploitation in an ALR or RCH must be reported within 48 hours to the Adult Protective Services (APS) branch of the Division of Licensing and Protection. An online report may be created and submitted through this link may be submitted directly. Alternatively, APS may be contacted by toll-free phone at 1-800-564-1612 or via email at [email protected]. |
Free Assisted Living Resources in Vermont
Vermont Agencies
DAIL Adult Services Division
Address: HC 2 South, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-2070
Phone Number: (802) 241-0294
Website: https://asd.vermont.gov/
The Adult Services Division of the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living supports the health, well-being and safety of aging Vermonters and physically disabled adults in their chosen communities. It manages Medicaid-funded long-term care services and supports, as well as the service programs provided through Vermont's State Plan on Aging and the Older Americans Act.
Vermont Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Address: 264 North Winooski Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401
Phone Number: (802) 383-2227
Website: https://www.vtlegalaid.org/vermont-long-term-care-ombudsman-project
In partnership with DAIL and Vermont Legal Aid, the Vermont Long-Term Care Ombudsman Project advocates for the rights and welfare of Vermonters residing in residential care homes, assisted living residences and nursing homes. It also supports Choices for Care program beneficiaries in their right to access quality long-term care services. Its staff and volunteers educate seniors of their rights, investigate and resolve personal complaints and lobbies for administrative and legislative actions that protect the welfare of long-term care facility residents.
Area Agencies on Aging in Vermont
The five Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) of Vermont offers information, counseling and assistance in addressing the needs of seniors throughout the state's 14 counties. They help older Vermonters, as well as their families and caregivers, explore different senior service options on long-term care, health and wellness, nutrition programs and other aging-related matters. Through the "no wrong door" system of Vermont's Aging Disabilities Resource Connections program, the AAAs help reduce the need for contacting multiple agencies and allow seniors. These AAAs also provide Medicare counseling services through certified State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) staff members.
Veteran Affairs Offices in Vermont
The Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs has dedicated long-term care programs that aim to help veterans stay safely in their homes or care facilities of choice. The 177-bed Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington welcomes veterans and their spouses, as well as Gold Star parents. Veterans 75 and older, who meet certain clinical criteria and are enrolled in the White River Junction VA health system, may receive home and community-based services through the Veterans Directed Care program. Eligible veterans with 70% service-connected disabilities are entitled to free accommodation and care in VA-operated and select regular nursing homes. For those opting for regular assisted living arrangements, veterans can use other available VA financial benefits to pay for care.
Social Security Offices in Vermont
Seniors 65 and older who are eligible for supplemental security income (SSI) may receive monthly financial assistance that can help pay for assisted living care. As of 2020, the maximum SSI for recipients living in non-Medicaid care facilities is $1,006.94 for individuals and $1,737.06 for couples. For individuals and couples residing in Medicaid facilities, the maximum SSI amounts are $72.66 and $145.32, respectively. Vermont has three SSA Offices to assist seniors in applying for benefits, and these are located in Burlington, Montpelier and Rutland.
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