Merry Meadow Farm, now called Averte FKA-Merry Meadow Farm, sits on a peaceful piece of land in Bradford, Vermont, and you'll notice the charm as soon as you see the trails, seasonal crops, and friendly farm animals that dot the grounds, which give folks a real sense of calm and space to walk or sit and think. You'll find this is a licensed residential treatment center for adults, young adults, and seniors, taking people from ages 18 all the way up, with room for 44 people split between private rooms, shared spaces, and aftercare apartments, and those spaces come with private bathrooms, kitchenettes, and handy comforts like air-conditioning, cable, internet, and phone lines.
Merry Meadow Farm takes care of both mental health and substance issues under one roof, offering help with detox for alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opioids, as well as medication-assisted treatments like Suboxone and Methadone for those who need them, and the same team also runs group therapy, individual therapy, physical therapy, vocational support, and medication management, so there's help with mental wellness too, using methods like CBT, DBT, and behavior modification. You'll see around-the-clock staffing and supervision here-though nobody gets locked in or watched every minute-which means lots of independence, but support comes fast when folks need it, whether help with daily living, medication, or personal care.
There's a set of special programs for people with serious mental illness, eating disorders, co-occurring disorders, transitional age young adults, or seniors, and the atmosphere feels home-like, with a high staff ratio, designed to promote growth, respect, and autonomy while still giving people that safety net. Services go further than therapy, since people can get help with education (even GED and college courses), tobacco cessation, housing, job support, peer support, family education, nutrition, legal advocacy, and counseling for diet, exercise, and recovery, so you won't find it hard to find someone to walk you through whatever challenge you're facing. The farm itself offers daily activities and both indoor and outdoor shared places to sit, talk, or do something, and with their devotional programs and resident-led routines, the schedule adapts to each person's pace-there's freedom in wandering the trails or feeding the animals, but no pressure to do more than you're comfortable with.
People can smoke, but only in clearly marked areas, and there's special care for diabetics, those who can't walk easily, or anyone needing help managing incontinence, making sure everyone's safe and supported. Meals and chores are covered, so there's no worry about cooking, cleaning, or maintenance, and special food plans are available if you have dietary needs. While the focus here is on mental health and substance recovery, Merry Meadow Farm offers assisted living for seniors too, so folks in different life stages can live side-by-side, working on independence in a real community, whether you're here for a short program or need a longer stay to get your footing again. Program structure centers around each resident's goals for mental, social, and vocational growth, and you'll see a blend of private space and group support that feels less like an institution and more like a family farm just doing its best to help.
