Meet the Owner!

Melissa has been in healthcare since 2006. She has worked both in patient care and administration. She graduated with an Associate’s Degree focused in Health Sciences and Liberal Arts, in 2008 and then began pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Florida. While in Florida Melissa gained extensive knowledge in the field and simultaneously lost her grandmother who had raised her. Melissa’s grandmother was an amazing soul and someone she missed greatly. So she wanted to do something in her honor. In 2018 the opportunity began! She and her husband created the first part of Ava’s which incorporated two sides of home care; as many in Florida needed help both with their home, and help with their care. In 2020, she and her family moved back to Vermont during a brief illness. In January of 2022 she began reopening Ava’s and by February 2022, Ava’s Home Care Services was officially reopened!

Melissa spent many years working for other healthcare facilities and took away from those experiences both what she would have liked, and what she truly did like; then mixed that with the core persona of her grandmother and Ava’s Home Care Services was born!

Melissa searches for the perfect caregivers and takes her time to pair them with the client that creates the best fit. She doesn’t hire just anybody, they have to represent who her grandmother was both on and off the clock. She works hard to make her team feel they are part of her family and feel supported because she believes that if someone doesn’t feel happy or supported, it impacts their entire life. With this mindset, it helps to grow her team and continue to support our community on an indirect level and direct level. Melissa is always welcoming more amazing caregivers to join her team, if you believe you fit the mold, give her a call today (802)236-1997!

Melissa and her team; partner with several agencies and facilities throughout Rutland County, Bennington County, and Addison County to promote safety and aging in place. Her belief is the comforts of home are part of a person’s entire health and healing. She is passionate about the ability to be home… where the heart is! 

Since being opened in Vermont, Melissa has formed many solid partnerships and to recognize this, she was the proud recipient of the 2024 Partner of the Year Award from the Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging and in 2025 she and her team received the Spirit of ADA Award from the Vermont Governor's Committee Hire Ability, VABIR. Melissa’s goal is to continue building these relationships in the community which will have a trickle down effect of helping other’s, the most important common goal. She believes that there is enough work to go around and that this is not a competition but instead a journey that we are all taking together to make sure those in need have the supports that they need whether it be with Ava’s or another agency. Ava’s works hand in hand with any agency that supports the common goal of all of our community.

Melissa and her team proudly support community residents with needs such as homemaking, light cleaning, organizing, meal planning and prep, home management, safety monitoring, medication cuing, standby assist personal care, companion care, respite, and errands! If you or someone you may know could benefit from these services, Melissa can be reached at (802)236-1997 or Melissa@avashcsvermont.com.

In Melissa’s free time, she spends time with her family which includes her young granddaughter who is her pride and joy! Melissa enjoys decorating her home, spending time outdoors, finding a great restaurant, watching a great movie, watching sunrises and sunsets, and sitting by the water or the fireplace (depending on the season)!