Nursing Homes and Senior Care in Vermont

Nursing Homes by City in Vermont

The Vermont cities with the most CMS-certified nursing homes. All 22 cities are listed below the table. Homes in Vermont average 4.2 hours of nursing care per resident per day; the national median is 3.7 hours.

5-Star Nursing Homes in Vermont

Homes with CMS's top overall rating, ordered by inspection rating. See all highest-rated nursing homes in Vermont.

Assisted Living in Vermont

Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, Division of Licensing and Protection, Survey and Certification licenses assisted living in Vermont. License types: Assisted Living Residence, Residential Care Home Level III and Residential Care Home Level IV. Use the state's search to check a community's license and inspection history.

• Vermont assisted living facility search
• Vermont assisted living rules
• Vermont assisted living licensing (Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, Division of Licensing and Protection, Survey and Certification)

Memory Care Rules in Vermont

Vermont's term is "Special Care Unit", a separate license or certification. Facilities must give families a written disclosure of their dementia care services.

• The home must obtain approval from the licensing agency prior to establishing and operating a special care unit.
• A request for approval must include the philosophy, purpose and scope of services; the categories of residents to be served; the unit's organizational structure; a description of the physical environment, including any secured areas or special provisions for safety; criteria for admission, continued stay and discharge; and unit staffing, including staff qualifications and staffing levels or ratios for each shift.
• For dementia or memory care-type units, all staff that regularly interact with residents must receive specialized training covering understanding dementia, communication strategies, person-centered care, addressing challenging behaviors, meaningful activities and social engagement, and the role of the environment.
• That training must consist of a minimum of eight (8) hours, total, prior to staff independently working with residents, and no fewer than two (2) hours of dementia-specific training per year.
• A home must not state that it operates a special care unit verbally, or in its title, brochures, uniform consumer disclosure, admission agreement or other written or promotional materials unless it has obtained and maintains a valid license to operate a special care unit issued by DAIL.
• A home must make all special care unit proposals and training curricula available for review by residents, legal guardians, family members and the State Long Term Care Ombudsman's Office, and post a notice about their availability in a prominent public place within the unit.
• A home or assisted living residence with specialized programs such as dementia care must include a written statement of philosophy and mission and a description of how it can meet the specialized needs of residents in its uniform consumer disclosure form and admission agreement.
• In assisted living residences, staff who regularly interact with residents must have training in understanding dementia and communications skills specific to persons with Alzheimer's Disease and other types of dementia.

• Vermont memory care rules

Medicaid Long-Term Care in Vermont

Vermont's Medicaid program is Vermont Long-Term Care Medicaid (Green Mountain Care). For nursing home Medicaid (2026), the state lists an income limit of $2,982 per month, individual (Institutional Income Standard for Long-Term Care, effective 1/1/26) and an asset limit of $2,000 for a household of one (MABD-related resource maximum). Residents keep a personal needs allowance of $79.93 per month, individual (Personal Needs Allowance for Long-Term Care, effective 01/01/24).

• Choices for Care (High/Highest Needs): in-home care, assisted living and adult day. For Vermonters age 18 and over who need nursing home level of care and meet clinical and financial eligibility for long-term care Medicaid. Participants choose services in their home, a family member's home, an Adult Family Care home, Enhanced Residential Care, or a nursing facility.
• Choices for Care Moderate Needs Services: in-home care and adult day. Limited funding for homemaker, adult day, case management and flexible fund services for people who do not meet nursing home level of care. People do not need to be Medicaid eligible, however, funding is limited.

• Vermont Long-Term Care Medicaid (Green Mountain Care) nursing facility coverage
• Vermont Medicaid long-term care limits

Nursing Home Inspections and Complaints in Vermont

Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, Division of Licensing and Protection, Survey and Certification inspects nursing homes in Vermont for CMS. To file a complaint, call (888) 700-5330 or use the state's complaint page.

• Vermont nursing home inspection lookup
• File a nursing home complaint in Vermont

Vermont Long-Term Care Ombudsman

The Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (operated by Vermont Legal Aid under contract with DAIL) is a free, confidential advocate for residents of nursing homes and assisted living. Ombudsmen help with complaints, residents' rights and problems with care. Call 800-889-2047.

• Contact the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (operated by Vermont Legal Aid under contract with DAIL)

Aging Services and Caregiver Support in Vermont

Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL), Adult Services Division runs Vermont's aging services, delivered through local Area Agencies on Aging. Family caregivers can get help through National Family Caregiver Program and Dementia Respite Grants (managed by Vermont's five Area Agencies on Aging). Adult day services are overseen by Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, Adult Services Division (certifies adult day providers).

• Vermont aging services: Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL), Adult Services Division
• Area Agencies on Aging in Vermont
• Caregiver support in Vermont: National Family Caregiver Program and Dementia Respite Grants (managed by Vermont's five Area Agencies on Aging)
• Vermont adult day services

Guides for Your Next Step

See how to choose a nursing home, what memory care is, how Medicaid pays for nursing home care and what Medicare covers. For local help, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

Frequently Asked Questions