Our Lady of the Meadows & Ave Maria Home sits in a quiet, rural part of Richford, Vermont, at 1 Pinnacle Meadows, and offers a comfortable place for older adults to live. This community is licensed for up to 6 residents in each home and has a focus on family-style living, privacy, and daily support, with the whole setting aiming to feel straightforward and home-like. Residents can choose from private rooms with their own bathrooms or companion rooms for those who want company. The place has 25 private rooms in total, all furnished, with features like air-conditioning, cable TV, kitchenettes, Wi-Fi, and a fresh air system. Some rooms are simple without fancy decorations, but they give enough space and comfort. Outdoors, folks can spend time in the central courtyard, walk along garden paths, enjoy a screened-in porch, or just relax on the sun deck or patio with waist-high planters.
The facility offers assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, independent living, short-term respite care, and hospice care. Memory care covers services for seniors with Alzheimer's or dementia, and there's a special secured lock unit and safety system for those who might wander. Trained staff are on duty 24 hours a day and use a call system for quick help, while caregivers help with bathing, dressing, using the restroom, and taking medicine. Staff can also handle transfers that need two people and give insulin shots if needed, but it's best to check with the director to confirm available care. Residents can have meals made with care, with three homemade options daily, and the kitchen staff regularly adjusts recipes for folks who have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other special diet needs. The community serves meals in shared dining rooms with a restaurant feel, so eating becomes a time to socialize and enjoy company.
People living here are encouraged to stay active and join daily programs like exercise, movie nights, music therapy, board games, animal visits, and crafts. There's a fitness room, wellness spa, whirlpool tub, salon, chapel for spiritual needs, music and art rooms, and a quiet library. A piano lounge, stone fireplace, and a small den bring extra comfort. There's organized transportation for doctor's visits, errands, and faith services, and the community arranges outings, day trips, and social gatherings like evening events, barbecues, or resident-run activities. Housekeeping, laundry, and linen services come by default, and staff help with moving in or sorting out personal needs.
Ave Maria Home accepts different ways to pay, including private pay, long-term care insurance, Veterans Aid and Attendance, and Medicaid if someone's funds run low. Costs start at $3,000 a month for assisted living and $4,500 for memory care, going up to $7,000 depending on the type of room, specific needs, and chosen amenities. The community tries to match the care to each person's budget through local advisors and has dedicated itself to senior care since 1989. The building and routines try to keep a friendly, down-to-earth mood, with residents, staff, and guests often describing the place as kind and welcoming, easy for seniors to relax, make friends, spend time outdoors, and keep a sense of dignity and independence as they age.
