Colchester, Vt., - University of Vermont Health – Home Health & Hospice is celebrating the 10th anniversary of McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, marking a decade of growth around hospice care that has touched thousands of individuals and families.

Since opening its doors in Colchester in September of 2016, the Respite House has provided compassionate hospice care for 3,429 residents – more than the program had served in its previous 25 years as the Vermont Respite House in Williston. The milestone highlights the impact of a community-driven effort to expand access to hospice care and better meet the needs of Vermonters and families navigating the end of life.

“One of the main reasons for moving to Colchester was to expand our capacity care for more people,” said Jaina Clough, MD, associate medical director for hospice and palliative care. “Ten years later, we’ve seen that vision realized. We’ve been able to care for more residents, support more families and continue improving the quality of care we provide.

Expanding Care for a Growing Need

The Respite House’s move to Colchester came as Home Health & Hospice leaders recognized the growing need for hospice services in Vermont. The new location expanded the facility’s capacity to 21 private rooms, widening access to hospice care in a home-like setting while preserving the comfort, dignity and personalized attention that have long defined the program.

“The Respite House is truly a working model of care and love that the founders envisioned,” said Christine Werneke, president and chief operating officer of UVM Health – Home Health & Hospice. “That vision is and will continue to be carried forward by the Board, staff, volunteers, supporters and the community.”

Today, the Respite House remains Vermont’s only Medicare-certified home for people at the end of life, providing around-the-clock care and support in an environment designed to feel welcoming and peaceful for residents and their loved ones.

The facility also provides short-term inpatient hospice care for symptom management and respite stays that give family caregivers an opportunity to rest while knowing their loved one is receiving expert care.

Growth Beyond the Building

The move to Colchester created opportunities for growth far beyond physical rooms at the Respite House. Over the past decade, the facility’s team of providers has expanded from one physician to a multidisciplinary group that now includes two physicians and a nurse practitioner and will soon add a third physician.

The team’s growth has strengthened access to specialized hospice and palliative care expertise for individuals, families and the next generation of providers caring for the region. For the last five years, the Respite House has hosted palliative care fellows during their year-long program, connecting emerging clinicians with specialized training in palliative care and mentorship with experienced clinicians.

“We’ve continued to evolve while remaining true to our mission,” said Dr. Clough. “We’ve grown our clinical programs, expanded educational opportunities and strengthened our ability to provide complex medical care. Most importantly, we continue to provide a high level of personalized attention to our patients and families.”

Powered By Community Support

The Respite House’s success has always been driven by extraordinary support from the community. Since moving to Colchester, the facility has received 37,069 gifts from more than 14,400 donors, showcasing broad community support for high-quality hospice care.

Volunteer engagement has also expanded considerably since the move to Colchester, with 444 volunteers active at the Respite House since 2016. Volunteers support residents and families in numerous ways – from companionship at the bedside to assisting with special activities and creating the warm, home-like atmosphere that distinguishes the Respite House.

“The Respite House has always belonged to the community,” said Tonya Guyette, administrator of McClure Miller Respite House, whose hospice career began at the then-named Vermont Respite House nearly three decades ago. “The generosity of donors, volunteers and staff has made it possible for us to grow and continue serving more people while preserving the culture of care that makes this place so special.”

Preserving a Unique Culture of Care

For longtime team members, the Respite House’s growth has always gone hand-in-hand with its mission.

Debbie Barron, an LNA mentor who has worked at the Respite House for more than a decade, said the facility’s culture remains grounded in compassion, teamwork and deep respect for every resident and family. Traditions that honor residents, support grieving families and celebrate the contributions of volunteers and caregivers are key things that have helped maintain the home’s unique character even as programs and services have expanded.

“This house has always been a special place. Being able to provide the care families deserve at the end of life and allowing them to be with their loved ones is an amazing feeling,” Barron said. “We’re like a family here. It’s a special place to work.”

A Community Resource for the Future

As the Respite House enters its second decade in Colchester, leaders are focused on strengthening the model to ensure long-term sustainability while maintaining the personalized experience that has always been McClure Miller’s hallmark.

“The story of the last ten years is really a story of what can happen when a community comes together around a shared mission,” said Dr. Clough. “Because of that support, we’ve been able to serve more people, train future caregivers and ensure that families facing one of life’s most difficult journeys receive compassionate, expert care when they need it most.”

University of Vermont Health – Home Health & Hospice
1110 Prim Road
Colchester, VT 05446

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About Home Health & Hospice

University of Vermont Health – Home Health & Hospice provides expert clinical care to nearly 4,400 patients and more than 4,000 hours of compassionate end-of-life care at McClure Miller Respite House – Vermont’s only Medicare-certified inpatient hospice facility. As part of a rural academic health system, we offer preventive, life-saving and post-discharge care to support patients at every age and stage of life. Together, we are tackling health care’s toughest challenges while strengthening our communities by addressing critical needs that impact access and affordability – including affordable housing, quality childcare and professional growth for our employees.

About University of Vermont Health

University of Vermont Health is a rural academic health system with more than 100 years of service to small towns and cities across Vermont and northern New York. We are deeply committed to reimagining rural health in ways that will benefit our communities for generations to come and keep exceptional care close to home. Our system includes an academic medical center, two community hospitals, three critical access hospitals, a children’s hospital, a cancer center, a multispecialty medical group, 154 outpatient sites and care beyond the hospital through home health, hospice care, four skilled nursing facilities and other support services. Our care is informed by an essential partnership with University of Vermont’s The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine and College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Together, as a health system serving a rural area, we are tackling health care’s biggest challenges — supporting the communities we serve and investing in our employees by addressing housing affordability, quality childcare and professional development needs. To learn more, visit us at uvmhealth.org.