Some of you might have heard Friday, August 21st is National Senior Citizens Day. In addition to honoring our elderly, this year the day is special in that the National PACE Association is working with the individual PACE programs (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) around the country to educate the public about PACE through health fairs and open houses.
PACE programs are integrated care providers offering high quality, coordinated care to elderly so they can remain in their own homes. Shawn Bloom, President and CEO of the National Pace Association writes, “With 70 programs in operation, I urge seniors, families and elected officials to visit a PACE program on August 21st…to learn about this unique model of care.”
What makes it a unique model of care?
- It is paid by Medicare and Medicaid and provides an alternative to nursing homes.
- An integrated team of doctors, nurses, and other health professionals provide medical care and support services to help the elderly stay in their homes.
- It offers individualized patient care.
- Each PACE center (in addition to medical care), offers a place for the elderly to meet with friends and eat meals together.
- Transportation is provided to and from the program.
The PACE program was developed 30 years ago, and continues to offer high quality, lower cost care while promoting health and wellness, through “timely medical interventions”. PACE’s quality keeps 93% of participants in their homes, maintaining their independence and quality of life, avoiding the high costs of institutionalization.
What a great alternative to our usual “fragmented delivery system of care” here in the US. So, if you’ve not heard of PACE before or just want to learn more about their wonderful programs, take the time to visit a program near you on August 21st. And, then share what you’ve learned with your family and friends. If there is no program near you, consider writing to your state’s governor. You can take both actions (as well as finding a sample letter to send to your governor) at the PACE website: http://www.pace4you.org/custom/programsearch.asp?id=18&linkid=18&navitemid=22
Remember, National Senior Citizens Day is a day for us to honor the elderly. One way we can do that is to educate ourselves and advocate on behalf of the elderly…. raising awareness of the needs and benefits of the PACE program!
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I’ve heard many good things about the PACE programs…and it makes so much sense too (keeping people at home for as long as possible at a lower cost)!
Thanks for the post, Dale. Great work!