Vermont Program Hailed As Model For Elder Healthcare

In the U.S., an average trip to the Emergency Room costs more than $1,200. A one-month stay in a nursing home will run about $7,000 a month.

These skyrocketing costs, coupled with the nation's aging population, are pushing the government to reign in Medicare spending and improve the health of older Americans.

A program that links health care and other services to affordable housing complexes in Vermont is doing both. As Nina Keck of Here & Now contributor Vermont Public Radio reports, it may become a model for other states.