Aging in place is a hot topic among seniors who want to live their retirement years at home. And although nursing homes have evolved into more home-like environments, we’ve all heard from our aging loved ones who are not thrilled about the idea of moving.
Luckily, the senior health care industry has worked to create new options for seniors who want to remain at home, but need more assistance. Enter, PACE® (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), a revolutionary program that’s changing the way seniors age at home.
PACE is a multifaceted program allowing nursing home qualifying seniors to receive the support they need while continuing to live in their homes. Participants receive in-home care and receive transportation to PACE centers where they meet with doctors, dentists, physical therapists, nutritionists and other health care professionals as part of the interdisciplinary team. Social activities and a meal round out the experience—a whole-person, preventative approach that’s revolutionizing health care for seniors. Best of all, participants who qualify for Medicare and Medicaid receive services free of charge.
The results are extraordinary.
A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study found higher quality of care and better outcomes among PACE participants* compared to home and community-based service clients. PACE participants reported:
- Better self‐rated health status
- Better preventive care, with respect to hearing and vision screenings, flu shots and pneumococcal vaccines
- Fewer unmet needs, such as getting around and dressing
- Less pain interfering with normal daily functioning
- Less likelihood of depression
- Better management of health care
*Leavitt, M., Secretary of Health and Human Services. (2009). Interim report to Congress. The quality and cost of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
Families find relief too. The interdisciplinary team of health professionals means everyone is on the same page. Family no longer need to take the lead in making sure therapists and doctors have the same information. And with regular trips to the PACE centers, family gain peace of mind that their loved ones are checked in on regularly.
PACE centers span 31 states and is a growing offering as seniors increasingly demand more in-home options for care. Immanuel’s Pathways program is proud to operate the only PACE center in Nebraska and two of only three PACE centers in Iowa. Our approach to PACE blends traditional PACE ideas with the mission-driven excellence of Immanuel’s 132+ years serving the community.
Immanuel Pathways serves nearly 600 community seniors, helping them remain in their homes through the center’s vast array of services. And despite the fact that 100% of PACE participants were nursing home eligible, the risk of being admitted to a nursing home long-term following enrollment was low, only 14.9%. With PACE services, participants were able to remain in their homes.
Friedman, S., Steinwachs, D., Rathouz, P., Burton. L., Mukamel, D. (2005). Characteristics predicting nursing home admission in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for Elderly people. The Gerontologist, 45 (2): 157-66.
Is Immanuel Pathways Right For You?
Making healthcare decisions with our loved ones isn’t easy. These aren’t decisions you’ll face often in your life and you want them to be right. Immanuel Pathways’ PACE model serves seniors in need of health support but are able to continue living safely in their homes. Participants must also meet certain eligibility requirements:
- Aged 55 or older
- Lives in an Immanuel Pathways service area
- Assessed to meet nursing facility level of care
- Able to live safely at home with the support of Immanuel Pathways
Visit our Immanuel Pathways website for more details on how your loved ones can age in place through PACE.
