Country Village Community Care used to sit in Bellows Falls, VT, and had a total of 24 licensed beds in a Level 3 Residential Care Home set up, and, you know, it felt more like a small home than a big institution, since you'd get shared apartments, studio units, and one-bedroom suites, so folks had some options if they wanted a little more privacy or maybe just a cozy space for themselves. The place had the usual daily amenities you'd hope for, like three prepared meals a day, snack shops, a bistro, and a private dining room if families wanted a special meal together, and there was a landscaped courtyard where people liked to sit or maybe take a walk, plus jogging and walking paths for folks who, if they felt up to it, wanted some fresh air or a bit of exercise.
Country Village also had laundry services, regular cleaning, a chapel for quiet moments, internet access, and a movie night now and then, as well as arts and crafts activities. There were specialized programs for seniors with Alzheimer's or dementia, and memory care was one of the core services, plus they brought in rehabilitation folks for those who needed a bit of extra help recovering after a hospital visit. There were services for people who needed help with dressing, with incontinence problems, or just wanted companionship or support with daily chores-so it fit folks who needed different levels of help, including respite care and home health options if there were patchy days or a family caregiver needing a break.
You'd find 24-hour on-site support, with security around the clock, and if someone needed to see the doctor, they offered transportation for those appointments, and they had an on-site pharmacy to make getting medicines a bit less of a hassle. The building was inspected every couple of years by the state, and extra visits happened if there were complaints or issues-22 complaints were reported between early 2014 and spring 2019-which folks can take as proof that no place is perfect, though staff did respond to state checks.
Being in Windham County, it was easy to get to medical offices, stores, or a place of worship nearby, since the area is mostly middle-class, neither fancy nor rundown, and the design was such that elderly or disabled folks could move around as easily as possible, and the staff aimed to create a home-like feeling where folks needing some care with things like hygiene, housekeeping, or meal prep could get it without giving up a sense of independence. The facility served seniors who were pretty active and wanted independent living, as much as those who needed more assistance, with tailored service plans and special resources-plus a senior living advisor service was offered for families needing help sorting through questions or choices. Folks could get information on payment, floor plans, and care options, though, when it closed in July 2018, some of those things like advisor service or availability moved elsewhere.
In all, people remember it for being a continuing care community (CCRC) that provided most every type of elder care, from independent and assisted living to full nursing care and memory care. It didn't accept Medicare unless certified, and it focused mainly on non-acute, long-term care, with different levels to meet the changing needs of seniors. The community worked at bringing a sense of security and comfort, providing both everyday help and special programs designed for elderly well-being, right on its property.
