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Free personalized senior living guidance for families
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Vermont · Everything here is free · Reviewed July 2026
If you or someone you love is growing older in Vermont and worried about the cost of care, please take a breath. You are not alone, and you have more options than you might think — many of them completely free.
Not sure where to start? Call for free1-800-642-5119One call reaches your local Area Agency on Aging for free help with aging services, benefits, and Medicare counseling (Vermont SHIP).
Maybe you only qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, and paid senior living simply is not possible. That does not mean you are out of luck. Vermont has strong programs that can help pay for care in your own home, lower your Medicare costs, and connect you with people whose job is to guide you — at no charge.
You do not have to understand every program today. Just start with one call below, and let a friendly, knowledgeable person help you find the next step.
Tap what fits. You'll jump straight to the right help — no reading through the rest.
Still not sure? Just make the call above — they'll help you figure it out. One call is a great start.
Start here for most families
Most people want to stay in their own home as long as they safely can. Vermont Medicaid helps make that possible through Choices for Care.
They can walk you through whether Choices for Care fits your situation.
Ask whether Choices for Care fits your situation.
Green Mountain Care is the name for Vermont's public health-coverage programs, including Vermont Medicaid, run by the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA). For older adults, it can cover medical care, prescriptions, and long-term care — both in nursing homes and through in-home services under a program called Choices for Care (more below).
Eligibility is based mainly on your income and assets. The limits change each year, and there are special rules for people who need long-term care and for married couples. Please don't count yourself out based on a guess — let them check. Many Vermonters qualify who assumed they earned too much.
Apply online (Vermont Health Connect)
Apply for Green Mountain Care (Vermont Medicaid) online.
Apply for Green Mountain Care (Vermont Medicaid) by phone.
Free help understanding Green Mountain Care and starting your application.
If you're on Medicare
If Medicare feels expensive, this section could put real money back in your pocket.
Green Mountain Care handles Medicare Savings Program applications for Vermont.
Apply for the prescription drug subsidy through Social Security.
The Senior HelpLine can help you apply for either program, for free.
Vermont SHIP (the State Health Insurance Assistance Program) offers free, one-on-one Medicare counseling, delivered through the Area Agencies on Aging. Trained counselors — who do not sell insurance — can help you understand your Medicare and drug-plan choices, compare plans during Open Enrollment, apply for programs that lower your costs, and solve billing and coverage problems.
Call and ask for SHIP / Medicare counseling. It is completely free.
Everyday essentials
3SquaresVT
Vermont's SNAP / food-stamp program. Helps pay for groceries. Apply through the Department for Children and Families, or ask 211 for help.
Many communities offer home-delivered meals and senior meal sites — ask the Senior HelpLine for the program near you.
The Vermont Foodbank
Provides free groceries statewide through partner pantries, including senior programs.
Dial 211 to find a food shelf near you today.
Dial 211 for help with rent, utilities, and finding affordable housing.
Local public housing authority
Contact your local public housing authority about senior and low-income housing.
Can point you to housing help, including the SASH program (Support and Services at Home) offered in many senior housing communities.
Lists housing resources by area.
Guidance & protection
Vermont has five Area Agencies on Aging covering every county. They provide free help with meals, transportation, caregiver support, in-home services, and benefits counseling.
One call connects you to the agency that serves your county.
A free national service to help you find services near you.
Free legal help for seniors is available across Vermont:
Vermont Legal Aid & Legal Services Vermont
Provide free civil legal help to low-income Vermonters, including seniors. You can start a request online.
For nursing-home or assisted-living concerns, contact the Ombudsman below (also part of Vermont Legal Aid). Dial 211 or ask the Senior HelpLine to connect you with the right legal resource.
If you or a loved one lives in a nursing home or assisted-living community and something is wrong — poor care, mistreatment, or a question about resident rights — the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is your free advocate.
Ombudsmen work for the resident, not the facility, and your call can be confidential.
National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care
Additional help and information for residents and families of long-term care facilities.
A real person helps you find food, housing, health, and senior services near you.
Connects you to trusted local help for older adults.
Make one call. Start with the Senior HelpLine (1-800-642-5119). Explain your situation in plain words.
Call for free1-800-642-5119Green Mountain Care is the name for Vermont’s public health-coverage programs, including Vermont Medicaid. For seniors, Medicaid can cover medical care, prescriptions, and long-term care at home or in a nursing facility — often filling gaps Medicare leaves.
Usually not. Medicare does not cover room and board in assisted living. Vermont Medicaid, through Choices for Care, may help pay for care in certain assisted-living or home settings. Call 1-800-642-5119 to explore your options.
Yes. Nearly everything here is designed for people on a fixed or limited income, and most of it is free. A tight budget is a reason to call, not a reason to wait.
Yes. Medicare Savings Programs can pay your Part B premium (around $185/month) if you qualify. Call Green Mountain Care (1-800-250-8427), or let the Senior HelpLine (1-800-642-5119) help you apply.
Care at home means getting daily help while staying in your own place — often through Choices for Care. A nursing home provides around-the-clock care. Vermont Medicaid can help pay for either, based on your needs.
Yes. The Senior HelpLine, Vermont SHIP, Vermont Legal Aid, and 211 all help for free. You should never have to pay to learn what you qualify for.
Reaching out for help is a wise and caring step — for yourself or for someone you love. The people behind these numbers help Vermont families every day, and they will be glad to hear from you. Pick one number and make that first call today.
Program details, income limits, and contact information can change. The agencies linked above can confirm the most current specifics for your situation. This page is for general information and isn't legal or financial advice.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Program details, income limits, and contact information can change — the linked agencies confirm the most current specifics.