Long-term care services support our family members, friends, and neighbors who are unable to perform basic activities of daily living such as dressing or bathing. Long-term care is provided at home, in the community, in residential care and assisted living, and in nursing homes.
Vermont’s system of long-term care is in jeopardy. Home, facility, and community-based care are all at risk. Many facilities are on the brink of closure, most home health agencies are operating at substantial losses, and several Adult Day centers that closed during the pandemic never reopened. Access to these critical services is threatened by chronic underfunding, a workforce crisis, and mounting federal pressures. Reductions in long-term care services place a greater burden of care on Vermont families and caregivers.
Specifically, we are asking that the SFY26 budget include :
- Full implementation of the increases for home-based Choices for Care services and Enhanced Residential Care (ERC) described in the February 15, 2023 DVHA rate study, updated to accurately reflect inflation since the report produced.
- An inflationary adjustment to all long-term care reimbursement rates in the SFY26 budget.
How can you help? Contact your lawmakers!
All lawmakers need to hear that a fully-funded long-term care system is an essential part of Vermont's infrastructure. Use the prompts below to share your story with your representatives and let them know why long-term care services are critical to all Vermonters.
