Griswold Special Care in Colchester, VT

Pros

• Griswold's communication is excellent, with clear explanations of services, rates, and expectations.
• Beth R provides outstanding in-home care, offering stimulating conversation and enjoyable walks.
• Griswold communicates well with families and comes highly recommended.
• Karee is a dedicated caregiver who motivates exercises and is also a skilled cook.
• Terri and Griswold place professional, caring caregivers, with Eric's empathy and expertise described as remarkable.
• The Griswold caregiver who assisted after knee replacement offered compassionate, effective rehabilitation support.
• Griswold's team is outstanding and gives families peace of mind.
• Hiring Griswold is described as the best decision, delivering compassionate, dependable care.
• The agency's scheduling is proactive and caregivers are consistently available, ensuring uninterrupted care.

Cons

• The second caregiver from Griswold was not a good fit for the elderly father.
• The in-home dynamics were not working.
• There were problems with one caregiver, and she was replaced without further questions.

Review

Griswold Special Care in Colchester, VT is best suited for families who want their loved one to stay at home and receive highly reliable, compassionate, one-on-one support. The service stands out for elders who benefit from consistently managed care, clear communication, and a team approach to daily needs - ranging from activities of daily living to light housekeeping, meals, errands, and transportation. When the goal is to preserve independence at home while ensuring responsive care, Griswold delivers with a track record of steady caregiver assignments and proactive family updates.

The strongest advantages center on communication, caregiver quality, and continuity. Families repeatedly note how clearly Griswold outlines services, rates, and expectations, and how well the agency keeps family members informed. Caregivers are described as professional, empathetic, and capable of both social engagement and practical support. Instances of standout care - whether a caregiver who keeps a loved one motivated through rehab, or a team that adapts to evolving needs - underscore a core strength: the ability to sustain meaningful, long-term relationships with caregivers who know the person well. This translates into tangible outcomes, such as better engagement, more consistent routines, and even extended home life in cases of recovery or chronic conditions.

From a practical standpoint, Griswold's flexibility is a defining asset. The reviews reveal a willingness to assemble a capable care team quickly for around-the-clock needs, and to replace caregivers who aren't the right fit without friction. The agency's coordinators are praised for proactive scheduling and for prioritizing the client's comfort and safety over expedience. When a caregiver alignment didn't match a family's expectations, Terri and the team acted with integrity to redirect care toward a better match, a decision framed as prioritizing the loved one's well-being above any financial consideration. That ethic matters deeply in long-term arrangements where trust and reliability are non-negotiable.

Yet, as with any home-care model, there are trade-offs to weigh against a traditional assisted living setting. The most notable caveat is the inherent variability that comes with multiple caregivers and the need for ongoing scheduling coordination. Although Griswold consistently places a familiar caregiver, transitions can occur if someone isn't the right long-term fit. For families craving the social ecosystem of a residence with built-in activities, communal spaces, and on-site medical oversight, a facility may deliver a more structured environment. Griswold excels at intimate, personalized care, but it does not replace the breadth of social opportunities and around-the-clock, on-site supervision a residential community provides.

When these pros are weighed against the cons, the balance clearly favors Griswold for those prioritizing at-home living with high-quality, dependable support. The ability to keep a parent safely at home, with a caregiver who communicates well, follows a plan, and coordinates effectively with family and medical providers, can offset the occasional caregiver transition through strong governance and rapid realignment. The experiences of rehab support, Alzheimer's care, and extended home life demonstrate that, for families who value continuity, empathy, and practical assistance in familiar surroundings, Griswold offers a compelling, low-friction solution.

For families confronting the choice between home-based care and a traditional community, Griswold represents a prudent, results-oriented option when the objective is to maximize independence at home without sacrificing professional oversight. It is ideal for clients who thrive on consistency, personalized attention, and transparent communication, and for those who want the same caregiver (or a stable team) delivering daily assistance. Alternatives to consider include assisted living or memory-care communities that provide social engagement, 24/7 on-site supervision, and more structured programming. If the priority is maintaining home residence with expert, attentive, adaptable care - and avoiding caregiver churn - the Griswold model has proven, practical value that makes it worthy of serious consideration.

This part of Colchester, Vermont offers a variety of amenities and services that would be beneficial for senior living. With multiple restaurants, cafes, pharmacies, and medical facilities within a short distance, residents have easy access to dining options, healthcare providers, and medication needs. The proximity to parks such as Niquette Bay State Park and Ethan Allen Park allows for outdoor recreational activities and a connection with nature. Additionally, the presence of places of worship like St Joseph Church offers spiritual support within the community. The nearby Burlington International Airport provides convenient travel options for those looking to visit family or explore new destinations. Overall, this area provides a well-rounded environment for seniors seeking a comfortable and convenient living situation in Colchester.

Restaurants

• The Village Scoop (0 miles)
• Burger King (3.2 miles)
• McDonald's (3.3 miles)
• Athens Diner (3.3 miles)
• McDonald's (4 miles)
• Morning Light Bakery (4.1 miles)
• Waterworks Food + Drink (4.2 miles)

Physicians

• UVM Medical Center Family Medicine- Colchester (2.5 miles)
• Mountain View Surgery (2.7 miles)
• UVM Medical Center Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery (3 miles)
• Four Seasons Dermatology (3 miles)
• Northeastern Reproductive Medicine (3 miles)
• Mary Val Palumbo, NP, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (3.5 miles)
• Essence of Beauty (3.5 miles)

Cafes

• Green Mountain Coffee (2.6 miles)
• Starbucks (3.1 miles)
• Scout & Co. (4.1 miles)
• Jules on the Green (4.5 miles)
• Scout & Co. (5.3 miles)
• Kru Coffee Collective (5.4 miles)
• Vivid Coffee Roasters (5.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• UVM Medical Center Pharmacy (3.5 miles)
• Fletcher Allen Pharmacy - Fanny Allen Campus (3.5 miles)
• Walgreens (4.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.7 miles)
• UVM Medical Center Pharmacy - Main Campus (5.1 miles)
• Walgreens (5.1 miles)

Parks

• Niquette Bay State Park (3.4 miles)
• Sharp Park (4 miles)
• Ethan Allen Park (5 miles)
• Essex Overlook Park (5.1 miles)
• City Hall Park (5.6 miles)
• Waterfront Park (5.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Vermont Regional Genetics Center (5 miles)
• UVM Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (5 miles)
• UVM Medical Center McClure (5 miles)
• The University of Vermont Medical Center (5 miles)
• UVM Medical Center Registration (5.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Joseph Church (5.3 miles)

Transportation

• Burlington International Airport (BTV) (5.4 miles)