NEK Council on Aging Announces New Directors for Care and Support Services

St. Johnsbury, VT​ - A critical service provided to older Vermonters living in their homes by the Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging is case management. It is a collaborative process of assessment, planning, facilitation, care coordination, evaluation, and advocacy for options and services to meet the individual’s and family’s comprehensive social and health needs through communication and available resources to promote quality, cost-effective outcomes.

“Our dedicated team of case managers travel to some of the most remote areas of the NEK to visit our clients in their homes and cover a service area of over 2,027 square miles, which is actually larger than the entire state of Rhode Island,” said Meg Burmeister, Executive Director of the Council. “Our service area includes the counties of Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans.”

In an effort to more effectively provide case-management services to residents of the Northeast Kingdom, the Council is introducing a new administrative and supervisory structure. The position, Director of Care and Support Services, will be created for the northern and southern NEK service areas. One Director will work out of the Council’s Newport office and the other, out of the Council’s St. Johnsbury office.

“This position focuses on those being served by the Council from the moment they call our Helpline, meet with counselors to explore options, and are supported in the community by case management. They will help to manage a more structured support for the flow of work that helps people remain in the setting of their choice...or living in their community,” said Burmeister.

Lucy LeMay has been named Director of Care and Support Services North. She has served as a Case Manager with the Council managing clients in the upper NEK region for the past ten years. She previously worked for Northeast Kingdom Human Services as a Service Coordinator from 2003-2007. She received a B.A. in Psychology from Northern Vermont University in 2002.

“With over 15 years of experience working in this field, I have become very familiar with the resources available in this area that are of a benefit to our clients. Likewise, I have developed strong working relationships with many of our community partners. I believe these relationships not only help our clients, but also help further the goals of the Council,” said LeMay. She lives in Newport Center with her husband Todd and enjoys her two children and two grandchildren.

Megan Durocher has been named Director of Care and Support Services South. She received a B.A. in Psychology in 2012 and a M.A. in Clinical Psychology in 2014, both from Saint Michael’s College. She previously worked for Northeast Kingdom Human Services. During the 2016-2017 school year, she served as a School-Based Clinician and Home-School Coordinator at the Walden School, and as a School-Based Clinician for Lyndon Institute during the 2017-2018 school year. Since 2014, Megan has continued to gain personal experience with elder and hospice care as well.

“My experience as a Master’s level clinician has provided me with a great insight into the many needs of several populations,” said Durocher. “Individual, family, and interpersonal elements all combine to illustrate the unique and all-too-common experiences that elderly and disabled Vermonters face. In order to attune to their needs, it's important to provide a united and secure support system to aid them.” Durocher lives in Waterford and enjoys making handmade polymer clay sculptures in her home-based business, Megan Makes Art.