About Scotland House
The idea for creating The Scotland House, an Adult Day Program, originated in 2016 as a variety of community members and health care providers identified a pressing need and a gap in services. The Scotland House is designed to provide much needed respite and support to families and caregivers who are striving to keep their loved one at home. We are a community-based, non-residential program serving both Vermont and New Hampshire residents.
The Scotland House, located in Quechee, VT is a medical model program designed to meet the needs of individuals (age 60 and above or who have early onset dementia) who are frail, physically limited, or isolated. Socialization, nursing oversight, assistance with personal care, and a wide variety of activities help the individual who attends maintain their independence and promotes a sense of purpose. The Scotland House services also offer great benefit to family members. Caregivers can relax knowing that their loved ones are in a supportive, supervised, medical setting during the day and still be able to remain at home.
At the Scotland House our participants personal interest and choices are integral part of their wellness. As we spend time together, our focus is on what someone still has to offer, not on what abilities they may have lost. Our program has been, in part, designed by our participants. We are continually asking and listening to their ideas, so we respond with programs that fulfill their sense of purpose.
We have eliminated potential elderly abuse and have brought smiles to faces of people prone to depression and loneliness. Our participants enjoy meals together, receive dignified assistance with personal care, enjoy an atmosphere of acceptance, and get to have fun. Our families and caregivers enjoy much needed “me” time, ability to continue their employment, and have the needed support from our staff as a resource. Relationships with families and caregivers are enriched by the Scotland House program.
We Share the Care in the Upper Valley.
Mission and Vision
To care for vulnerable, valued participants and to provide support by helping them maintain available presence within their community and with their loved ones. To support each caregiver of those in the program by providing respite, relief, and an enhanced relationship with the person for whom they care.
The Woodstock Area Adult Day Services, Inc is a community-based non-residential program designed to assist adults age 60 and above who have physical and/or cognitive impairments by helping them remain as active in their community as long as possible. It seeks to maximize their health and independence, as well as to ensure their optimal functioning. Our program will provide a safe, supportive environment where participants can receive a range of professional health, social, and therapeutic services. This program will also provide respite, support, and education to family members, caregivers, and legal representatives.
As such, the Woodstock Area Adult Day Services, Inc subscribe to these three goals:
- High quality healthcare
- High client and caregiver satisfaction
- Reduced health care cost.
As a center for health and wellness, we are proud to state that we are more then just “day care.” We Share The Care with families and caregivers while maximizing the health and independence of our participants.
Meet Our Staff:
Eric Fritz, Executive Director
Before joining The Scotland House in June of 2021, Eric was the Executive Director at Woodstock Terrace Assisted Living for the previous 11+ years. Eric is a licensed nursing home administrator in three states, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He ran nursing homes in all three states before coming to Woodstock in 2010. Eric has a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from Western New England University in Springfield Massachusetts where he grew up. Eric is a certified Eden Alternative Associate, a member of the Woodstock Rotary Club and served on the Board of the Ottauquechee Health Foundation for seven years. He currently lives in Taftsville VT and enjoys exercise and outdoor sports.
Tonya Hoyt, Program Manager and Life Enrichment Coordinator
I grew up on a small dairy farm in Tunbridge, VT surrounded by family…literally. Was there anyone who I wasn’t related to within a 15-mile radius? My childhood was spent with my cousins in the cow fields, picking wild berries, wagon races, Tunbridge World’s Fair, and anticipating the arrival of the Schwan’s truck!
Growing up my dream was to be a doctor, because I wanted to help people. At four years old I watched as my Grandmother cared for my Grandfather eager to help when I could. Although, it wasn’t until my Grandmother Hoyt had a stroke that I realized helping people was truly my calling. I decided to take a year off after high school and in that time, I completed a Licensed Nursing Assistant course. I have over 12 years’ experience working as an LNA/MA. I have worked in a variety of settings such as: nursing home, Home Health Care, a local hospital where I had the privilege of being a part of the ElderCare Team and Planned Parenthood. In the mean time I had a beautiful daughter and graduated with my Associates Degree as a Medical Assistant.
I took on a new career path with Ottaquechee Health Foundation assisting community members find affordable dental care, caregiver referrals and assisting with grants to help cover unmet healthcare needs as their Program Coordinator. While adjusting to this new position, I got engaged, bought a house in White River Junction, got married and found out we were expecting a baby boy.
I love camping, going to the beach, gathering with friends and family and watching my children perform in plays and sports. Our house is finally complete after… one cat, two dogs, a three year old, a 14-year-old, and a 15-year-old.
I was so excited to start the next chapter of my career at The Scotland House and to be able to carry out my childhood dream of helping people.
Kerene Schwartz, Licensed Practical Nurse / Care Manager
Hello, my name is Kerene Schwartz, I am the newest member of the nursing staff here at The Scotland House. Let me tell you a little about myself and my journey thus far:
I grew up in Lyme Center, NH, with 2 older brothers and 1 older sister. I attended Lyme Elementary School and then Thetford Academy. I knew at a young age that I wanted to be a nurse “when I grew up”, and I never veered from that life goal. I went to Thompson School for Practical Nursing right out of high school, graduating in 1985. I worked one year in the private duty setting caring for a quadriplegic man in his home. From there, in September of 1986, I walked into the doors of what was then called Etna Valley Health Center, now Genesis Healthcare Lebanon Center. I instantly fell in love with geriatric nursing, and I remained there for the next 31 years.
While there I focused on gaining knowledge of the different aspects of care for our elderly population and received certificates in several areas, including Palliative Care, Wound Care, and End of Life Care, also taking many courses to aid in caring for those affected by dementia and other behavioral challenges. I “retired” in 2017 after reconnecting with my high school sweetheart. We have since established a small self-sustaining farm in Chelsea, VT and are engaged to be married in the near future. I have 2 adult daughters both with 2 children of their own, and with our new blended family we have 5 children and a total of 8 grandchildren so far.
In my spare time I enjoy crocheting, knitting and other crafts, and spending time with our families. Though I love caring for the wide array of animals we have on our farm (goats, chickens, guinea hens, rabbits, ducks, geese, pigs, dogs and cats) I found myself missing the nursing part of my life and when I saw the job opening at Scotland House I knew this was the perfect place to reconnect with my life passion.
Lisa Graham, Caregiver/Life Enrichment Associate
Hi I’m Lisa Graham. I am 50 years old. I was born and raised in Massachusetts. I live in Claremont, NH. with my husband and daughter. I have two older children, ages 27 and 25 who live in Lakeland, FL. This year will be my 30th wedding anniversary. Since a junior in high school, I have been working with the geriatric population. I actually met my husband in a nursing home! In 2002 I began working as a PCA in assisted living facilities and in 2005 I got my LNA in the state of Vermont. I am a crafty, artsy person who loves to have a lot of fun!
Meet Our Board of Trustees:
Vacant, President
Raymond Bourgeois, Vice President
Jill Lord, Secretary
Jennifer Baxter, Treasurer
Philip Bell
Richard Brooks, MD
Catherine Cullen
Catherine DuBeau, MD
Lydia Locke
Paul Regan
Scotland House Supporters
White River Junction Rotary Club
Community Capitol of Vermont
Hartford Revolving Loan Fund
Quechee & Woodstock Garden Club’s
Jack & Dorothy Byrne Foundation
Peter & Jennifer Brock
Thompson Senior Center
Gail & Alan Dougherty
Ben & Jerry’s Foundation
Woodstock Rotary Club
The MACAMORE Foundation