Vermont Comforts of Home offers an alternative to nursing home placement for Vermonters 18 and older who qualify for nursing home level of care. Our goal is to offer a home environment with a person or family who are willing to share their home and provide the necessary supports. Typically, this happens when someone is no longer able to live in their own home without support due to medical and personal care needs which often comes with advanced age.
Vermont Comforts of Home’s experience has demonstrated that most people can continue to live in a home environment when the necessary care is present. In fact, individuals not only flourish they also enrich the lives of those providing care and support.
” I only wish I had known about Vermont Comforts of Home years sooner, as it would have been a superior option from a nursing home for my dad’s care. They did everything for my dad and me. His home provider was an angel – the first light in several years of darkness for me and my family “
– JD GREEN
With COVID-19 creating many difficulties for nursing homes, the Adult Family Care model can be an appealing option for individuals seeking a more comfortable and enriching home environment.
Vermont Comforts of Home began as a collaboration between Upper Valley Services and Lincoln Street Inc. Upper Valley Services and Lincoln Street are agencies authorized by the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living to offer Adult Family Care through Vermont’s Choices for Care program. Both agencies have over 36 years’ experience delivering high quality, individualized, and person-centered supports in home settings.
A couple of people in a canoe with a dog on the front
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A participant enjoys outdoor activities
Adult Family Care rules allow adult children to be paid as shared living providers for their parents or siblings. Many adult children who struggle to manage their parent’s or sibling’s care and full-time employment are now able to provide care to their family member on a full-time basis with this new source of income. While this has been a game changer for many families, non-related shared living providers continue to be critically important to the program’s success.
A participant enjoys outdoor activities
One example of the program’s success involves a Vermont elder who had been living with his sister for many years after suffering a series of strokes. His sister provided all his care while also trying to hold down a part-time job. This soon became unsustainable, and fear set in that the only option was for him to be placed in a nursing facility. The local Agency on Aging suggested that they contact Vermont Comforts of Home. Through the assessment and intake process, it was determined that this gentleman was a candidate for the program and his sister could formally become his shared living provider. This meant that she could receive a tax-free stipend and access to respite care funds to continue to take care of her brother, allowing him to avoid admission to a nursing facility, and for both to live and thrive together.
Shared living providers receive extensive training and support and are not required to have previous medical training or background. However, they are expected to share the values and mission of the program and have a personal commitment to providing high quality person-centered care. Providers receive a tax-free stipend and a generous respite budget to ensure caregivers have the breaks necessary to continue quality care. A key component to a successful placement is integrating the participant into the shared living provider’s home and family life.
Regular visits and communication by service coordinators with providers and participants ensure that all needs are met in a timely manner. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this has been especially critical in maintaining the safety and wellbeing of the participants and their providers alike.
When staying in your own home is no longer an option Upper Valley Services- Vermont Comforts of Home is there for you.
To learn more, visit our website at www.vtcomfortsofhome.org. or call 802-662-5978. We welcome inquiries about participant referrals, becoming a shared living provider, or from individuals seeking more information about our program. Vermont Comfort of Home services are funded through Medicaid and private pay options.
Dignity, respect, and autonomy are at the core of Upper Valley Services’ Vermont Comforts of Home program.
This article is part of a collaboration produced by members of Vermont Care Partners. Vermont Care Partners is a statewide network of sixteen non-profit, community-based agencies providing mental health, substance use and intellectual and developmental disability support
Vermont Comforts of Home’s experience has demonstrated that most people can continue to live in a home environment when the necessary care is present. In fact, individuals not only flourish they also enrich the lives of those providing care and support.
” I only wish I had known about Vermont Comforts of Home years sooner, as it would have been a superior option from a nursing home for my dad’s care. They did everything for my dad and me. His home provider was an angel – the first light in several years of darkness for me and my family “
– JD GREEN
With COVID-19 creating many difficulties for nursing homes, the Adult Family Care model can be an appealing option for individuals seeking a more comfortable and enriching home environment.
Vermont Comforts of Home began as a collaboration between Upper Valley Services and Lincoln Street Inc. Upper Valley Services and Lincoln Street are agencies authorized by the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living to offer Adult Family Care through Vermont’s Choices for Care program. Both agencies have over 36 years’ experience delivering high quality, individualized, and person-centered supports in home settings.
A couple of people in a canoe with a dog on the front
Description automatically generated with low confidence
A participant enjoys outdoor activities
Adult Family Care rules allow adult children to be paid as shared living providers for their parents or siblings. Many adult children who struggle to manage their parent’s or sibling’s care and full-time employment are now able to provide care to their family member on a full-time basis with this new source of income. While this has been a game changer for many families, non-related shared living providers continue to be critically important to the program’s success.
A participant enjoys outdoor activities
One example of the program’s success involves a Vermont elder who had been living with his sister for many years after suffering a series of strokes. His sister provided all his care while also trying to hold down a part-time job. This soon became unsustainable, and fear set in that the only option was for him to be placed in a nursing facility. The local Agency on Aging suggested that they contact Vermont Comforts of Home. Through the assessment and intake process, it was determined that this gentleman was a candidate for the program and his sister could formally become his shared living provider. This meant that she could receive a tax-free stipend and access to respite care funds to continue to take care of her brother, allowing him to avoid admission to a nursing facility, and for both to live and thrive together.
Shared living providers receive extensive training and support and are not required to have previous medical training or background. However, they are expected to share the values and mission of the program and have a personal commitment to providing high quality person-centered care. Providers receive a tax-free stipend and a generous respite budget to ensure caregivers have the breaks necessary to continue quality care. A key component to a successful placement is integrating the participant into the shared living provider’s home and family life.
Regular visits and communication by service coordinators with providers and participants ensure that all needs are met in a timely manner. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this has been especially critical in maintaining the safety and wellbeing of the participants and their providers alike.
When staying in your own home is no longer an option Upper Valley Services- Vermont Comforts of Home is there for you.
To learn more, visit our website at www.vtcomfortsofhome.org. or call 802-662-5978. We welcome inquiries about participant referrals, becoming a shared living provider, or from individuals seeking more information about our program. Vermont Comfort of Home services are funded through Medicaid and private pay options.
Dignity, respect, and autonomy are at the core of Upper Valley Services’ Vermont Comforts of Home program.
This article is part of a collaboration produced by members of Vermont Care Partners. Vermont Care Partners is a statewide network of sixteen non-profit, community-based agencies providing mental health, substance use and intellectual and developmental disability support