Aging in Vermont

Four residents of a senior living community in Rutland have made art for years. And while the way they express their creativity has changed, their passion as artists hasn’t. Their work is currently on display in downtown Rutland in a pop-up exhibit.

In Vermont, more than 6,000 kids live with grandparents, extended family or close family friends. It's what's known as kinship care.Many of the people stepping in to parent are older, and many don’t know about the financial aid and services available to them. A new documentary film hopes to change that.

Sen. Patrick Leahy broke his hip last week during a fall at his home in northern Virginia. According to his office, the 82-year-old is recovering, but for older adults, federal data shows falls can be dangerous.

Many older Vermont parents of children with intellectual disabilities worry about what will happen to their kids when they die. But parental activism and new legislation is giving many hope.

Untreated hearing loss isolates millions of Americans. President Joe Biden’s efforts to expand Medicare to include hearing aids has stalled in Washington. But in Montpelier, lawmakers are currently considering a bill that would require some private insurance plans in Vermont to cover them.

COVID has shined a light on the importance of Vermont's 48 senior centers. The pandemic has also helped bring the administrators who run these community hubs together, which many believe is already making them stronger.

In Vermont, Medicaid and federal grants fund programs that help older residents get around when they can no longer drive. The pandemic has thrown a wrench into these programs, because most of these door-to-door ride services rely on volunteer drivers — usually older Vermonters themselves.

Being a rural state, it's not suprising that people in Vermont drive longer. But there comes a point when all of us who do drive have to stop. Then what?