Why it's Needed
Challenging is a gentle word for the increasingly difficult experience of finding safe, caring, supportive residential accommodations for our elders. And it takes little imagination to know that someday we ourselves, if lucky enough, may find solace in such a residence.
In addition to Vermont having the second oldest population in the country with the baby-boomer generation rapidly approaching old age, the actual number of residential care facilities in Vermont is decreasing. With the difficulty in finding staff and compensating them fairly, plus limited government support, it means many of our neighbors will not be able to find a place to live when they can no longer stay at home. A key element of MPC’s mission is to serve low- and middle-income elders, particularly those in the ‘forgotten middle’ who cannot afford private pay yet do not qualify for Medicaid.
In Bradford, Vermont, through the wisdom and compassion of a few individuals, there is a solution to this challenge. Margaret Pratt Community (MPC) is a place for those needing assisted or memory care residence, with a truly attentive and caring staff, appropriate activities, healthy meals, and attractive living spaces. Remarkably, MPC will make it possible for a person to remain in their care when their resources no longer cover private pay, by participation in Vermont’s Medicaid program to help cover their costs.