Wintergreen Residential Care Home sits at 3 Union Street in Brandon, Vermont, and serves older adults in Rutland County in a small, home-like setting, with a licensed capacity for 8 residents, though sometimes you'll hear the number given as 6 or 8 depending on the type of care being referenced, which is pretty common for these adult care homes, because they can do more than one kind of care, from assisted living to memory care, even some skilled nursing if needed and a little bit of rehabilitation or respite, so people can stay short-term or long-term depending on what's needed. This place is a Level 3 Residential Care Home according to the state, and you might see it called an Adult Foster Home or a Personal Care Home or just an Assisted Living Home, all depending on what someone calls it, but you'll find the focus is always on keeping seniors' freedom and independence while offering help with things like bathing, dressing, getting around, medication, and daily activities, with staff always around if someone needs help, day or night. There are rooms for both private and shared living, some with two bedrooms, and each comes with central air, emergency call buttons, smoke alarms, and sprinklers-security features the state watches closely, since these homes get surveyed by local agencies, and this home in particular has had four such inspections since 2014, with a total of 25 citations, and 10 state complaints between 2014 and 2019, which is information to keep in mind if you're looking for patterns over the years.
Wintergreen takes care of all the meals with three home-style dishes served every day and all-day dining available, and they'll work with special diet needs for diabetes, allergies, or hypertension, plus there's help with laundry and house cleaning, so seniors aren't fussing over chores or upkeep unless they want to, and there are always activities going on, from movie nights and music therapy to board games, outside trips, animal visits, and craft schedules, which keep people busy and connected, and the grounds are landscaped with gardens and walking paths where residents can get some air or enjoy a little quiet time, and the home welcomes visits from a traveling barber or stylist, with a salon set up for folks who want it. If someone needs rides to the doctor, faith services, or errands, transportation help is available, and when families can't visit, there's coordination with local healthcare providers to keep everyone in the loop about care.
Nurses and aides handle medication and help with personal care, though 24-hour insulin support isn't always on tap, so that's something to ask about, and the home aims to match each resident's needs, whether they're more alert and active or need help moving or keeping track of daily medication, and there is help to move in, with all utilities included, furnished rooms, and daily events and community activities so people are part of things. Safety is a big deal, with fire sprinklers, alert systems, wheelchair access, and staff standing by to help with transfers or emergencies, plus memory care options for folks with Alzheimer's needs, and the ability to tailor services to each resident. The home provides peace of mind by being involved in all local licensing and reviews, working with families to keep everyone up-to-date while trying to keep costs lower than traditional nursing homes, though Medicare isn't accepted unless certified. The goal at Wintergreen is to offer a kind, safe, caring place for elders who want community, support, and a bit of independence in a cozy environment, with a full slate of activities, scheduled tours, and a track record people can look into if they're thinking about making a move.
