Silverleaf In-Home Care in Essex Junction, VT

Pros

• Patty and the Silver Leaf team are a blessing to families and routinely go above and beyond.
• The caregivers are loving, professional, and coordinate well with visiting nurses and hospice.
• They helped keep mom at home during her final days, allowing family time and comfort.
• The owner is genuinely caring, generous, and patient, always aiming to help where she can.
• The caregivers are reliable and clients look forward to their visits.
• Patty Bergeron and her staff deliver on their promises and are highly recommended.
• Silver Leaf's team is warm, professional, and creatively responsive to each family's needs.

Cons

• Mom was difficult at the end and presented the caregivers with many challenges.
• During our mom's time at a local senior living facility she took a fall and it became abundantly clear that she would require more care than the facility was able to provide.
• Very rude and unprofessional!!
• Patty is extremely rude.
• If you're different or have tattoos dont go here or work here.

Review

Silverleaf In-Home Care in Essex Junction, VT is best suited for families who want a loved one kept at home with hands-on, compassionate dementia and advanced-care support. This agency shines when the goal is consistent, person-centered attention delivered in the familiar surroundings of home, with the team coordinating closely with Visiting Nurses and Hospice as needed. It is especially well-suited for families navigating long-distance caregiving, where a responsive, relationship-driven approach can reduce family stress and preserve dignity for someone who resists institutional settings. Those who prioritize a highly standardized, corporate care model or who are sensitive to the owner's personal operating style may want to consider alternatives.

The strongest asset here is the caregivers' warmth and professionalism. Reviews repeatedly highlight Patty and her team as genuinely caring, patient, and devoted to doing what it takes to meet the loved one where they are. The care teams are described as loving and capable of handling challenging moments, including Alzheimer's-related behaviors, while maintaining a dignified home environment. The caregivers also integrate smoothly with nurses and hospice providers, ensuring that medical plans, comfort needs, and daily routines stay aligned. Families report that this approach helps a fragile loved one stay comfortable at home longer and can ease the emotional burden on relatives who cannot be there round the clock.

A related strength is the practical, relationship-focused approach that reduces isolation and supports continuity of care. Several reviews note that the caregiver's presence becomes a meaningful link to family and friends, helping a loved one feel connected and engaged. The owner's style - while described as distinctive - also yields a deep level of personal engagement that many families value, including efforts to reconnect generations and maintain a livable, respectful home atmosphere during difficult health declines. For families managing care from afar, the ability to count on reliable, creative problem-solving and flexible scheduling translates into real peace of mind.

However, the downsides are real enough to require careful consideration. A subset of feedback points to personality- and style-related friction with the owner, ranging from perceptions of bluntness or rigidity to concerns about professional boundaries. There are mentions of rudeness in certain interactions and a sense that the owner's approach may not align with every family's expectations or preferences. Billing practices also surface as a potential point of friction for some: one review notes a preference for traditional, "old-school" payment methods rather than auto-billing, suggesting a mismatch between client expectations and the agency's administrative style. These experiences underscore the reality that success hinges on alignment with Patty's operating philosophy and the family's comfort with that approach.

These strengths and weaknesses offset each other most effectively when the care plan centers on home-based, relationship-rich support with robust medical coordination. The cons aren't prohibitive, but they are real enough to demand upfront clarity: interview thoroughly, ask for concrete care plans, insist on written expectations, and establish boundaries and communication norms before care begins. Consider requesting a trial period or structured check-ins to assess fit, continuity of caregivers, and responsiveness to evolving needs. It also helps to confirm billing preferences up front and to set a clear process for handling conflicts if they arise. In short, success with Silverleaf hinges on a strong match between the family's expectations and the owner-led care style, above all else.

Bottom line: for families prioritizing compassionate, home-first dementia care with a team that can work in concert with healthcare professionals, Silverleaf In-Home Care offers a compelling, deeply human option. It delivers meaningful benefits in keeping loved ones safe, engaged, and at home, often with less family disruption than facility placement. Those who value a highly personal, adaptable approach and a strong caregiver relationship will likely feel confident in this choice. Families who need a uniformly corporate experience, or who require strict, impersonal boundaries and a more formal billing process, should explore alternatives to avoid misalignment.

This area of Essex Junction, Vermont offers a variety of amenities and services that may be beneficial for seniors looking to settle down in a vibrant community. With multiple cafes nearby such as Jules on the Green and Scout & Co., there are plenty of options for socializing and enjoying a cup of coffee. In terms of healthcare, there are several physicians' offices including UVM Medical Center Adult Primary Care - Essex and pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens within a short distance, providing convenient access to medical services and prescriptions. Additionally, there are restaurants like McDonald's and The Scale for dining out, as well as parks such as Essex Overlook Park for leisurely walks or picnics. For those needing transportation, Burlington International Airport is close by. The proximity to hospitals like The University of Vermont Medical Center also offers peace of mind in case of any medical emergencies. Overall, this area provides a mix of convenience, comfort, and opportunities for social engagement that may appeal to seniors looking for a welcoming community to call home.

Cafes

• Jules on the Green (0.9 miles)
• Green Mountain Coffee (2.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.1 miles)
• Jericho Cafe & Tavern (4.1 miles)
• Starbucks (5.4 miles)
• Scout & Co. (5.6 miles)
• Starbucks (6.1 miles)

Physicians

• UVM Medical Center Adult Primary Care - Essex (0.9 miles)
• Revision Military (2.2 miles)
• Essex Pediatrics (2.2 miles)
• Evergreen Family Health (3.7 miles)
• Mary Val Palumbo, NP, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (4.2 miles)
• Essence of Beauty (4.2 miles)
• Vermont Lung Center (4.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)
• UVM Medical Center Pharmacy (4.2 miles)
• Fletcher Allen Pharmacy - Fanny Allen Campus (4.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.1 miles)
• Walgreens (5.3 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (6 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (1.1 miles)
• Black Flannel Brewing (1.1 miles)
• McDonald's (2.8 miles)
• The Village Scoop (4.2 miles)
• The Scale (4.9 miles)
• Burger King (5.1 miles)
• McDonald's (5.2 miles)

Parks

• Essex Overlook Park (3.4 miles)
• Sharp Park (6.2 miles)

Transportation

• Burlington International Airport (BTV) (5.2 miles)

Hospitals

• UVM Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (6.3 miles)
• The University of Vermont Medical Center (6.4 miles)
• Vermont Regional Genetics Center (6.4 miles)
• UVM Medical Center McClure (6.4 miles)
• UVM Medical Center Registration (6.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Joseph Church (7.1 miles)