Vermont Public is independent, community-supported media, serving Vermont with trusted, relevant and essential information. We share stories that bring people together, from every corner of our region. New to Vermont Public? Start here.

© 2024 Vermont Public | 365 Troy Ave. Colchester, VT 05446

Public Files:
WVTI · WOXM · WVBA · WVNK · WVTQ · WVTX
WVPR · WRVT · WOXR · WNCH · WVPA
WVPS · WVXR · WETK · WVTB · WVER
WVER-FM · WVLR-FM · WBTN-FM

For assistance accessing our public files, please contact hello@vermontpublic.org or call 802-655-9451.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Explore our coverage of government and politics.

New Regulations For State-Licensed Long-Term Care Homes Will Reflect 'Worse For Care' Findings

Person stands at a podium
Emily Corwin
/
VPR

Monica Hutt, the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living (DAIL), said her department has delayed its rulemaking process for state-licensed long-term care homes to implement changes based on a joint investigation by VPR and Seven Days.

The "Worse for Care" series revealed troubling patterns of inadequate care which led to dozens of injuries and indignities, and at least five deaths. Hutt said revelations from the reporting are being worked into a new set of rules for the facilities.

"You really were able to raise in that story some issues that we needed to really rethink and look at again," she said, "so I think that they're going to take a little longer than we had hoped, but I think they're going be a lot more comprehensive than they would have been."

Specifically, Hutt said her department is considering increasing the training it requires for assisted living and residential care home administrators, and the updating the process it uses to issue waivers for patients whose needs exceed a home's license.

DAIL oversees 133 of these state-regulated facilities, which accommodate more than 3,000 residents. The homes do not provide the level of care available in nursing homes and aren't regulated as vigorously.

Emily Corwin reported investigative stories for VPR until August 2020. In 2019, Emily was part of a two-newsroom team which revealed that patterns of inadequate care at Vermont's eldercare facilities had led to indignities, injuries, and deaths. The consequent series, "Worse for Care," won a national Edward R. Murrow award for investigative reporting, and placed second for a 2019 IRE Award. Her work editing VPR's podcast JOLTED, about an averted school shooting, and reporting NHPR's podcast Supervision, about one man's transition home from prison, made her a finalist for a Livingston Award in 2019 and 2020. Emily was also a regular reporter and producer on Brave Little State, helping the podcast earn a National Edward R. Murrow Award for its work in 2020. When she's not working, she enjoys cross country skiing and biking.
Latest Stories