Our Story
Our core values of trust, respect, and compassion are more than words on paper-they are the foundation of who we are as a home care company.
For Melissa Morrison, AHSC President, this commitment began early in life as she witnessed her mother's dedication to caring for her grandmother. Her sense of family and commitment to care became deep-rooted in her youth, inspired by the acts of compassion she saw as her parents supported their aging parents.
Well into her teen years, Melissa was blessed to have all four grandparents living nearby, indelibly imprinting upon her youth and development. As they aged and defined, Melissa noticed her mom moved firmly into the role of primary caregiver, tending to day-to-day needs, providing transportation to appointments, and taking on the long-established tradition of dinners together each Sunday where events of the week were recounted with humor and grace. The core family members, always in attendance, were often joined by neighbors and friends; a memorable attendee with no family or support systems arrived weekly, like clockwork. Melissa says of those dinners, "When I reflect on it, no one required Mom to do it. It was just who she was."
Melissa’s mother, Gale, and her grandmother, Anne Elizabeth “AE” MacKenzie
Melissa graduated from the University of Vermont, earning her BS in Business Administration in 1992 with a concentration in marketing and additional coursework in Gerontology. After graduation, she held regional sales and marketing positions with Elder Service Plan, a Pace site in Massachusetts, and with Genesis Eldercare. Melissa then became the Chief Operating Officer for Charles River Senior Living, overseeing the operations and marketing of retirement communities in Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
“The relationships she had built over the years and her commitment to compassionate care made it clear that serving Vermont’s seniors was her life’s calling.”
In 2005, Melissa returned home to Vermont with her husband, intending to raise their family. However, she was soon drawn back into the world of home care due to her expertise and the deep-rooted connection she felt to her community. The relationships she had built over the years and her commitment to compassionate care made it clear that serving Vermont's seniors was her life's calling.
In the winter of 2006, she oversaw the start-up, marketing, and operations of Equinox Village, a premier independent living community in Manchester, Vermont. During her time as Executive Director, she met Mary Lou Morrissette, owner of At Home Senior Care (AHSC), through shared clients. This professional relationship grew, and when Melissa stepped down from Equinox Village to focus on the birth of her second child, she began working with AHSC on a temporary basis.
In 2009, she formally joined AHSC as Director of Marketing, a role that evolved into Client Services Manager, then Chief Operations Officer in 2012. In 2016, when Mary Lou was ready to retire, Melissa purchased the business, becoming its owner and President.
“Under her direction, the business expanded to include four office locations in Bennington, Manchester, Rutland, and Middlebury.”
Melissa oversees all aspects of At Home Senior Care, from day-to-day operations, business development, staff management, and client satisfaction. Under her direction, the business expanded to include four office locations in Bennington, Manchester, Rutland, and Middlebury. As an independently owned, non-franchised home care agency, it successfully navigated the Covid pandemic with tenacity and thoughtfulness, coming out stronger on the other side.
The future of AHSC shines bright with Melissa at the helm. The principles of trust, respect, and compassion guide every aspect of her life-including at the family Sunday dinners she continues to host! These three values are ingrained in her identity, inspired by the personal experiences that shaped her and At Home Senior Care's commitment to providing exceptional home care for seniors.