Home Care in Vermont

The average starting cost of home care in Vermont is $37 per hour, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. Based on our ranking methodology, the top-rated home care agencies in Vermont are Home Instead - Shelburne, VT, Griswold - closed or Preferred Care at Home of Champlain Valley, VT.

Home care in Vermont helps older adults remain in familiar surroundings while receiving support with daily routines. Families in Burlington, South Burlington, Rutland, and communities throughout the state can use nonmedical home care for companionship, personal care, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and transportation. Many families look for dependable caregivers, flexible scheduling, and support that can adjust as their loved one’s needs change.

It’s important to understand the difference between home care and home health care. Home care provides nonmedical assistance with everyday tasks, while home health care provides clinical services delivered by licensed health professionals. Although some organizations offer both, A Place for Mom’s network features nonmedical home care providers. Through partnerships with 10 home care agencies across Vermont, A Place for Mom helps families compare local options and find support that fits their loved one’s needs.

Home care in Vermont costs $37 per hour, compared with the national average rate of $32 per hour. Rates can differ by community based on caregiver availability, travel distance, and local demand.^[01] What a family pays will also depend on the agency, the services provided, and how often care is scheduled.

Monthly expenses depend largely on the number and length of caregiver visits. A lighter schedule may provide enough time for companionship, meal preparation, errands, or help around the house. Someone who needs regular assistance with bathing, dressing, mobility, or other personal care may need more frequent visits.

• Part-time care (20 hours/week): $3,135 per month
• Full-time care (44 hours/week): $6,895 per month

Home care rates in Vermont may also be affected by:

• The type and amount of help your loved one needs
• Specialized support, such as dementia care
• The number and length of visits
• Evening, overnight, weekend, or holiday schedules
• 24-hour or live-in care
• Caregiver experience and training
• The availability of caregivers in the local area
• Agency minimum-hour requirements

Families in Vermont may use a mix of private funds and public benefits to pay for nonmedical home care. Common options can include personal savings, long-term care insurance, veterans benefits, Medicaid programs, and other payment sources.

Private pay options

Private pay can give families more control over the agency, schedule, and type of assistance their loved one receives. Families may rely on one payment source or combine several. Common private payment sources include:

• Social Security benefits
• Savings, investments, or pensions
• Long-term care insurance
• Life insurance conversion
• Reverse mortgages

VA benefits

Eligible veterans and surviving spouses in Vermont may qualify for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that help with care at home. Depending on the program, this support may include help with daily activities, temporary relief for family caregivers, or additional pension payments that can be used toward care.

Veterans enrolled in VA health care may qualify for home- and community-based services, including:^[02,03,04]

• Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care, which may provide help with bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, and other daily activities
• Respite Care, which provides short-term support while giving family caregivers time away from caregiving responsibilities

Eligibility and availability can vary based on the veteran’s needs and local VA resources. Some veterans may also have a copay.

VA Aid and Attendance provides additional monthly pension payments to eligible veterans and survivors who need help with daily activities or are largely confined to their homes. Families may be able to use these funds toward the cost of nonmedical home care.^[05]

The Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs provides benefits assistance and helps veterans, family members, and survivors access federal and state benefits, including pensions and health care.^[06]

Read more: Home Care Options for Veterans: Eligibility and Services

Vermont Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps eligible people pay for health care and long-term services. Vermont Medicaid provides long-term services and supports through Choices for Care (CFC), which serves eligible older adults and adults with physical disabilities in nursing facilities and community settings. Applicants must meet financial and program-specific clinical requirements.^[07,08] Key home and community-based options include:

• Choices for Care High/Highest Needs Group^[07,08]
• Choices for Care Moderate Needs Group^[08,09]

Depending on eligibility and the CFC group, home-based services may include:

• Personal care and help with activities of daily living
• Homemaker services, including housekeeping, laundry, and shopping
• Companion or respite care
• Adult day services and case management
• Personal emergency response systems and home-delivered meals
• Assistive devices or home modifications

The Highest Needs Group is not subject to a waiting list. Services through the Moderate Needs Group depend on available funding, so eligible applicants may be placed on a waiting list when funds aren’t available.^[07,09] CFC also supports participant-directed services. Vermont guidance allows a spouse to be paid for certain personal care services when program requirements are met, but restrictions apply to the services a spouse can provide.^[10]

Read more: Medicaid Home Health Care and Nonmedical Home Care: Your Questions, Answered

Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for adults 65 and older and some younger people with disabilities. It may cover certain home health services, including skilled nursing and therapy, when eligibility requirements are met. It may also cover part-time or intermittent home health aide care when your loved one is receiving qualifying skilled home health services. Medicare doesn’t cover ongoing nonmedical home care when personal care or homemaker help is the only care needed.^[11]

Read more: Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care?

Vermont uses different oversight systems for medical home health agencies and nonmedical home care providers. Designated home health agencies are regulated under the state’s home health laws, while nonmedical providers that participate in Choices for Care must be approved by the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL), meet program standards, and enroll as Vermont Medicaid providers.^[12,13]

Does Vermont require home care agencies to have a license?

Not every private nonmedical home care agency is licensed as a home health agency. Vermont’s home health designation rules apply to agencies that provide skilled nursing and other therapeutic home health services. Nonmedical agencies that want to provide Choices for Care services must instead complete DAIL’s home care provider approval process and meet Medicaid and CFC requirements.^[12,13]

Does Vermont conduct inspections of home care agencies?

Not through one blanket inspection program for every private nonmedical home care agency. DAIL conducts quality oversight of Choices for Care providers and requires participation in quality management activities. Designated home health agencies are subject to additional state and federal oversight and survey requirements.^[07,12,14]

How to check licensing and inspection reports for home care agencies in Vermont

Start by confirming which type of provider you’re considering. The oversight that applies depends on whether the organization is a private-pay nonmedical home care agency, a DAIL-approved Choices for Care provider, or a designated home health agency. Families can:

• For Choices for Care services, confirm that the provider is authorized by DAIL and enrolled with Vermont Medicaid
• If the organization is a designated home health agency, verify its designation and ask about recent state or federal survey findings
• Ask any nonmedical home care agency about caregiver screening, supervision, complaint procedures, and quality checks

Some agencies may also seek voluntary accreditation from organizations such as The Joint Commission, which can provide another quality signal, but it doesn’t replace any Vermont approval, designation, or Medicaid requirements that apply.^[15]

What are hiring practices for home care agencies in Vermont?

Hiring requirements depend on the type of provider. Choices for Care providers must comply with DAIL standards, including requirements related to direct-care staff and program operations.^[13,14] These include:

• Background checks for staff who have direct contact with participants
• Compliance with service-specific provider standards and training requirements
• Complaint procedures, mandated reporting requirements, and Medicaid program requirements

Private-pay nonmedical agencies outside Choices for Care may use their own hiring and training policies. Families can ask each agency what background checks, onboarding, supervision, and continuing education it requires before choosing a provider.

Comparing a few agencies can help you find a provider that fits your loved one’s needs, schedule, and location. Because Vermont uses different oversight paths for private home care, Choices for Care providers, and designated home health agencies, it helps to confirm which rules apply to each agency you’re considering.

• Check credentials. Ask whether the agency provides private-pay nonmedical care, is approved to provide Choices for Care services, or is designated as a home health agency. Verify the status that applies.
• Read reviews and testimonials. Look for patterns in feedback about caregiver dependability, communication, and quality of care.
• Ask about caregiver screening and training. Find out what background checks, onboarding, supervision, and continuing education the agency requires.
• Request detailed pricing information. Ask about hourly rates, minimum service requirements, travel charges, and any added costs for overnight, weekend, or holiday care.
• Confirm available services. Make sure the agency can provide the type and schedule of support your loved one needs now and as those needs change.
• Meet potential caregivers. A good personality fit can help your loved one feel more comfortable and build trust with their caregiver.

Read More: How to Choose a Home Care Agency