User:Cs2iop/sandbox/Living Well Group

Living Well Group is a Vermont-based nonprofit organization that operates residential elder care facilities for low-income adults. Living Well Group is headquartered in Burlington, Vermont and has locations in Burlington, Montpelier, and Bristol.

History
Founded in 2004 with the establishment of Living Well Residence in Bristol Vermont, Living Well Group has since expanded to Burlington with Ethan Allen Residence and Montpelier with Heaton Woods Residence. Founders Dee DeLuca and Paul Kervick decided to proactively address the fact that an entire segment of the population's historical knowledge, wealth of experience, dynamic stories, and ongoing contributions were not being fully realized. By incorporating their unique model of care, Living Well Residence became the first residential care home in Vermont to use integrative medicine as the model for care.

Philosophy
Caring for low-income adults is a core pillar of Living Well Group's philosophy. Residents are not asked to leave the organization when they exhaust their private assets. Instead, Administrators begin the process of transitioning residents to Vermont's Choices for Care (CFC) Enhanced Residential Care (ERC) services, reimbursable through Medicaid.

Programs and Innovation
Living Well Group has garnered significant media coverage for their innovative programs and activities.

In the fall of 2018, Living Well Group hosted a dog wedding

In the summer of 2019, Living Well Group partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington, Vermont Community Garden Network (VCGN), and HANDS (Helping And Nurturing Diverse Seniors) for Vermont's first "Intergenerational Farmers Market Program." Directors at Ethan Allen Residence, Boys & Girls Club, VCGN, and HANDS decided that bringing children from the Boys & Girls Club to work and visit with residents at Ethan Allen during VCGN’s gardening class would be beneficial to all involved. The collaboration grew to include both residents from Ethan Allen and children from the Boys & Girls Club operating a booth at the Old North End Farmers Market, selling produce and baked goods. Living Well Group's innovative program garnered media coverage from Seven Days, Burlington Free Press , and Vermont FOX, ABC, and CBS affiliates.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, elder care facilities across the globe were forced to pivot many aspects of their operations, including resident activities, to adapt to new constraints. Living Well Group was highlighted as a major contributor to University of Vermont's Larner College of Medicine virtual activities outreach program.

Awards and Recognition
Living Well Group has received the following awards and recognitions: Living Well Group’s collaborative public health project with the Robert Larner College of Medicine was selected for presentation at the Aging & Public Health program of the American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting and Expo in 2019
 * Governor’s Excellence Award as the state’s Program Champion, recognized as an “extraordinary role model for healthy aging.”
 * Employer of the Year Award from Vermont Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
 * Vermont Health Care Association (VHCA)
 * Annual Award for Chef/Alchemist Culinary Team
 * LNA of the Year Award
 * Activity Director of the Year
 * Outstanding Residential Care Social Services Manager
 * Volunteer of the Year
 * Laundress of the Year Award
 * Maintenance Director of the Year Award
 * Super Chef champion