RANDOLPH, Vt.—Project Independence (PI), Gifford’s Adult Day program in Barre, Vt., will close permanently effective June 1, Gifford officials announced today.
The closure comes after several years of declining participation and unsustainable costs associated with operating the program. PI has been temporarily closed since March 16 due to COVID-19.
“It is with great disappointment that we share the news of the difficult decision to permanently close Project Independence, our Adult Day program in downtown Barre,” said Gifford President and CEO Dan Bennett. “Gifford has worked diligently to try to avoid this outcome by making significant investments to support PI since acquiring the program in 2014. However, due to consistently low census over the years and unsustainable costs, we must make this decision to protect Gifford’s financial stability for the long term.”
Bennett announced the closure with Gifford Retirement Community Executive Director Ursula Margazano, who oversees PI. They have worked together to notify program participants and their families, staff, and state officials by May 1, one month from the official closing date.
“Our program participants and their families are our top priority, and our staff has been honored to be a part of their care plans and provide activities to enrich their daily lives,” said Margazano. “While PI has been one layer of support available to individuals with Adult Day care needs, there are other programs in place in our region, such as community care organizations and home health agencies, to assist participants in their ongoing care. We are working with them to ease this transition.”
Three staff members at PI will be affected by the closure and have been offered other positions within Gifford.
“We value our team members at PI and hope they choose to remain a part of our team here at Gifford,” said Bennett.
PI’s average daily census before its temporary closure in March due to COVID-19, and for the last few years, was 16 participants. The average daily census in 2014 was 38. To sustain the program, Gifford supplemented it with additional funds and also made considerable investments in building repairs over the years. Gifford plans to sell the building.
# # #
Gifford is a community hospital in Randolph, Vt., with family health centers in Berlin, Bethel, Chelsea, Randolph, Rochester, and White River Junction; and specialty services throughout central Vermont. A Federally Qualified Health Center and a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the country, Gifford is a full-service hospital with a 24-hour emergency department and inpatient unit; many surgical services; a day care; two adult day programs; and the 30-bed Menig Nursing Home, which was named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best 39 nursing homes in the country in 2012. The Birthing Center, established in 1977, was the first in Vermont to offer an alternative to traditional hospital-based deliveries, and continues to be a leader in midwifery and family-centered care. The hospital’s mission is to improve individuals’ and community health by providing and assuring access to affordable, high-quality health care in Gifford’s service area.
