Thompson Center Services
One Number to Call
One number to call for any need – a dedicated Thompson staff member for any “Aging at Home” questions, from shower chairs to long-term care insurance and everything in between.
Medical Equipment
The Thompson has a supply of durable medical equipment to be loaned out as needed, including walkers, rollators, canes, commodes, shower chairs, wheelchairs, and other adaptive equipment. There is no charge and no time limit on borrowing these items. Items are in used, as-is condition. The Thompson is not liable for use or misuse of equipment and we cannot give advice or instruction on how to use the equipment. We do accept donations of items when you are finished with them if they are clean and in good condition. Please contact Shari to donate or borrow medical equipment: (802) 457-3277 or sborz@thompsonseniorcenter.org
Transportation
The Thompson Center operates a door-to-door transportation program for seniors and disabled community members from the towns of Barnard, Bridgewater, Pomfret, and Woodstock. Medical Rides to and from appointments to all Upper Valley providers can be arranged directly through Tri-Valley Transit at 802-728-3773. Read more about our transportation program here.
Home Repairs and Odd Jobs
Volunteers and staff can help with a variety of non-skilled, small odd jobs like putting away porch furniture and bird feeders, sweeping garages, changing smoke detector batteries, figuring out how to check your voice mail, or even put up a Christmas tree. If it’s a bigger job, we can help you find the right person.
NEW: Handyman help for small odd jobs is now available through the Thompson. Suggested donation $35/hour. Call our Aging at Home Resource Coordinator, Shari, to see if your small odd job can be done! (802) 457-3277
Vetted Service Providers
Our Aging Resource List can offer vetted referrals for a wide variety of businesses and individuals to bring you any service you need to AGE WELL at HOME!
We check references and only suggest providers who have happily agreed to respond promptly and treat our community members fairly.
Are you a business or individual who would like to receive referrals from us? Please review our Aging at Home resource letter here and submit the form to the Thompson. Please contact Shari or Deanna with any questions about becoming a vetted service providing and receiving referrals from The Thompson. 802-457-3277
Age Well Education Series and Outreach
Monthly educational talks are presented on topics ranging from legal planning, fall prevention, funeral planning options, Smart Driver safety course, nutrition and cooking, downsizing, hospital to home transitions, advance directives, and more. For a list of our events and programs, click here.
Our new e-newsletter provides readers with information on ways to “age well” at home and in your community through current and reliable information on health, lifestyle, diet, and resources.
Meals
Improve your diet and your health with fresh, delicious meals at The Thompson or delivered to your home. Lunch is served daily at noon in the dining room or can be delivered to your home up to five times each week with extra meals added for weekends. Meals can even be delivered on a short-term, temporary basis. Home delivered meal services are for those who are ages 60 and over or who are disabled or recovering from an illness. All ages are welcome in our dining room. Learn more about our meals and nutrition program here.
Insurance, Legal and Financial
Medicare Counseling: Individual appointments can be made with a skilled Medicare Counselor whether you have questions about turning 65 and signing up for Medicare or you’re looking for the best Medicare D plan for you and need help signing up during open enrollment. Call the center to find out more or to request an appointment. (802) 457-3277. Other great Medicare resources can be found on the National Council on Aging website: MyMedicareMatters.
Tax Assistance: Tax preparation services are offered for free by trained AARP volunteers (Tax-Aide) from February through April each year. Call early to schedule an appointment. Appointments fill-up quickly. (802) 457-3277
Homesharing is working in our Community!
We are actively seeking Homeshare guests for multiple locations
This past year we launched our pilot Homeshare program here at the Thompson, which has resulted in our first match! With a small pool of applicants, it takes time to find compatible housemates, but the more people who apply, the more likely we can facilitate a successful match.
Homesharing offers an alternative to traditional apartment rentals, especially in today’s tight housing market. A Host with a spare bedroom and willing to share common space can get some additional income and help around the house with chores, as well as companionship. A Guest looking for a place to live can trade some time helping out their Host in exchange for a reduced rent.
To learn more, visit our Homeshare page.
Local Community Resources
We partner with the Community Care Coordinators, Senior Solutions, Vermont Legal Aid, and other volunteers to provide additional resources for fuel assistance, insurance questions, Medicare enrollment, legal support, and more. Please contact us with any question and we’ll help you find the answer. (802) 457-3277 or sborz@thompsonseniorcenter.org
Assistive Technology Program offers free equipment demonstrations, free 30-day equipment loans, and more! Click here to read about what they can offer you.
CaptionCall is a captioned telephone service that lets you talk on the phone while reading captions of what the other person is saying. This service helps many people with hearing loss understand conversations more easily and effectively. You can enjoy talking with friends and family, plus making your everyday phone calls. It is available at no cost to people with hearing loss. If you or someone you know has hearing loss that necessitates the use of captioned telephone service, visit their website here or call 1-877-865-9228 for more information, or contact the Vermont Representative, John Noerr, at 802-342-8326 or at jnoerr@captioncall.com.
Community Care Coordinator Program: The Community Care Coordinators (CCCs) are a resource to help coordinate medical care and offer information about respite care, assisted living, nursing homes and ‘aging in place’ initiatives in our communities and they link patients to Medicare and Medicaid, transportation, and financial resources. The CCCs support the Thompson by providing home visits to patrons, facilitating a monthly Caregiver Support Luncheon, and assisting Thompson patrons with financial grants primarily related to healthcare. The CCCs have office hours at The Thompson each Friday. Call the Thompson for an appointment, or reach the CCCs directly at The Ottauquechee Health Center at (802) 457-5414.
Ottauquechee Health Foundation (OHF) provides Good Neighbor Grants for individuals unable to pay for healthcare. Visit their website to learn more or call (802) 457-4188. The OHF website also lists a detailed list of healthcare resources in our area.
Senior Solutions (Formerly The Council on Aging for Southeastern Vermont) is one of five Area Agencies on Aging in Vermont. The five AAAs work together to provide a consistent package of services statewide. Looking for Case Management, Fuel Assistance, Nutrition Counseling, Options Counseling — Visit the Senior Solutions website (here) or call the Senior HelpLine: 1-800-642-5119.
The COVE Community of Vermont Elders Aging in Vermont Resource Guide and Directory
The Elder Justice Project provides confidential support, information and assistance for willful abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an older adult that occurs within an ongoing relationship where there is an expectation of trust. If you would like assistance, please call the helpline at Senior Solutions Toll Free 866-673-8376 or locally 802-885-2669. In addition you can contact the Attorney General’s office to report scams and for information to call the police. Visit their website or call (802) 828-3171.
The Ellaway Group offers a variety of aging at home services and assistance. From concierge services and check-in calls to emergency response, they offer a fee based program to simplify your life. Visit their website: http://ellawaypropertyservices.com/ or http://connected-at-home.com/ or call (802) 457-1040
The HUB is a new program that makes it easier for you to get help during a time of need; is a central point of contact for you; is a connection with an experienced community volunteer who responds quickly and will help you get assistance; is confidential and respectful of your situation, whether due to divorce, job loss, family illness, financial stress, and food or heat insecurity; can help you if you live in Barnard, Bridgewater, Killington, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading, or Woodstock; works with many local organizations such as Barnard Helping Hands and Ottauquechee Health Foundation.
Four Ways to Contact The HUB:
- Online: Complete an application at: https://apply.thehubneighbors.org/form
- Phone: 802-457-7214
- Email: apply@thehubneighbors.org
- Pick up an application outside the Ottauquechee Health Foundation office at
Simmons House at 30 Pleasant Street, Woodstock. The HUB is a Project of Woodstock Community Trust, a non-profit 501c3 organization.
The Ottauquechee Resource Manual (the little blue book) is a directory of non-profits in all sectors from Housing to Food to Transportation. You can download it here: CommunityResourceDirectory 2011
The Scotland House located in Quechee, VT, is a community-based day program designed to assist adults with physical and/or cognitive impairments to remain living at home and active in their community as long as possible. For information or to request to be added to their mailing list, contact, Tonya Hoyt at 802-280-6080.
Vermont Food Bank: 3SquaresVT (3SVT also known as SNAP) can boost your grocery budget! Text VFBSNAP to 85511 or call 855-855-6181 to get signed up for 3SquaresVT.
If you are 60 years or older you may qualify for a monthly box of food through CSFP, which is a federal nutrition program that offers free monthly boxes of food filled with staple food items. Deliveries are made to The Thompson on the 3rd Tuesday of each month and other designated locations throughout Vermont, and you can have a friend or family member pick up your food for you! Signing up is easy, and actually helps ensure that this program can continue to be available for Vermonters who need it.
Find out more by calling the Vermont Foodbank at 1-800-214-4648.
Vermont Legal Aid and Legal Services Vermont work together to provide free civil (not criminal) legal help to low-income people of all ages who live in Vermont and face legal problems that threaten their rights, shelter, job, health or well-being. They provide free legal clinics for Vermont seniors 60+ that cover a range of topics including Long-term care, Medicare, Social Security, Scams, Power of Attorney, Advance directives, Abuse and more. Services are free. CALL:1-802-318-4169 or Register online here.
Vermont’s Seasonal Fuel Assistance Program: Seasonal Fuel Assistance Applications are processed all year long but benefits are paid to fuel dealers in November. You can apply online here. If you need assistance applying for benefits, call the Senior Helpline at 800-642-5119. If you think you have applied but have questions about your benefits, call Economic Services Benefit Service Center 800-479-6151. Applications for the 2023-2024 heating season must be postmarked by February 28 for eligible households.
Crisis Fuel Program: White River Junction area 295-5215. For Crisis Fuel Assistance on weekends and holidays: 866-331-7741. For emergency furnace repair or replacement assistance on weekends, holidays, or after-hours emergencies: 877-295-7998
Woodstock VeggieVanGo is a FREE FOOD distribution event provided by the VT Foodbank and sponsored by the WCUD School Nutrition Program and takes place every second Wednesday of the month at 10:00 am at the UHHSMS back parking lot (toward the Union Arena). We welcome families to pick up and deliver out for other families as well. We have yet to run out of food! ALL ARE WELCOME! Please contact Gretchen Czaja-WCUD School Nutrition Program Director with any questions-gczaja@wcsu.net 802-457-1317, 1123
Don’t find a resource you’re looking for here? Please call Shari at (802) 457-3277 ext. 4.