Respite Care in Vergennes, VT: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Vergennes, VT: the local picture

554

residents 65 or older (22% of Vergennes)

49%

of residents 65+ in households live with someone, often a family caregiver

45%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Addison County)

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Vergennes ZIP codes

Most older adults in Vergennes live with someone: 49% of residents 65 and older in households do. When one of them needs care, the person they live with usually provides most of it, and respite is what keeps that sustainable.

About 238 Vergennes residents aged 65 or older report a disability (45%) (30% in Addison County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 3 hospices serving Vergennes ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Vergennes compared with Addison County and Vermont

Census figure	Vergennes	Addison County	Vermont
Residents 65+ with a disability	45%	30%	29%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	51%	25%	30%
Residents 65 or older	22%	23%	21%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.2%	2.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	5.8%	8.7%
Households with no vehicle	8.0%	4.9%	6.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$32,500	$69,388	—

Older residents in towns around Vergennes

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Middlebury, VT	12 mi	1,431	34%
Shelburne, VT	16 mi	1,951	20%
South Burlington, VT	19 mi	3,696	21%
Burlington, VT	22 mi	5,421	32%
Winooski, VT	23 mi	904	43%
Essex Junction, VT	23 mi	1,607	31%

Hospices serving Vergennes

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Addison County Hha Hospice	Middlebury, VT	13 mi	(802) 388-7259
Bayada Hospice	Rutland, VT	41 mi	(802) 857-5030
Vnh - Visiting Nurse & Hospice - Vermont & New Hampshire	White River Junction, VT	55 mi	(802) 478-7125

Nursing homes near Vergennes (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Helen Porter Healthcare & Rehab	Middlebury, VT	12 mi	5 of 5	98	(802) 388-4001
Wake Robin-Linden Nursing Home	Shelburne, VT	13 mi	4 of 5	33	(802) 264-5100
Essex Center For Rehabilitation And Healthcare	Elizabethtown, NY	17 mi	3 of 5	100	(518) 873-3570
Premier Rehab And Healthcare At Burlington	Burlington, VT	22 mi	1 of 5	164	(802) 658-4200

Straight-line miles from the center of Vergennes. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a respite caregiver can help with

Taking over the usual routine while you are away
Meals, medication reminders and personal care
Company and activities
Overnight cover for a weekend or a trip

Cost

What respite care costs in Vergennes

At the Vermont median aide wage of $20.00 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,733 a month in wages, which is 64% of the $2,708 monthly median income of Vergennes households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Vermont's minimum wage is $14.42 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a respite caregiver

Family caregivers carry most long-term care in the U.S., and burnout is a common reason a home arrangement breaks down. The federal National Family Caregiver Support Program funds respite through local Area Agencies on Aging, and the ARCH National Respite Locator lists respite programs by state.

Questions worth asking: Can you do a short paid visit first, while I am home? Are you available at short notice if I am ill? Can you stay overnight, and what do you charge for it? More in our respite care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Respite Care in Vergennes: common questions

Which hospices serve Vergennes?

Medicare lists 3 hospices for Vergennes ZIP codes, including Addison County Hha Hospice, Bayada Hospice, Vnh - Visiting Nurse & Hospice - Vermont & New Hampshire.

How much does respite care cost in Vergennes?

At the Vermont median aide wage of $20.00 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,733 a month in wages, which is 64% of the $2,708 monthly median income of Vergennes households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Vermont's minimum wage is $14.42 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Does Medicaid or Medicare pay for respite care?

Medicare pays for short inpatient respite stays only for people on its hospice benefit (Medicare.gov); the hospices on this page serve Vergennes. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states covers Vermont.

More near Vergennes

More senior care near Vergennes

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Vergennes

More for Vergennes families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

Respite Care in Vergennes, VT