Well-Spring Retirement Community’s President Steve Fleming cut the ribbon Sunday, May 22, in a gala celebration of the opening of PACE of the Triad, a new program of care for the elderly who want to receive community-based services in their home rather than in a nursing home.
The model for PACE, an acronym for Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, is a new concept, centered around the belief that it is better for the well-being of seniors with chronic care needs and their families to be served in the community whenever possible. “Our goal is to improve the health and overall well-being of our participants, reduce hospitalizations and emergency room visits and avoid premature admission to long-term nursing home care for those who can safely live at home with our support,” says Ursula Robinson, PACE’s executive director in Greensboro.
PACE provides a new alternative to nursing home placement for individuals who qualify for skilled nursing care due to medical needs but prefer to live at home. PACE of the Triad includes adult day health and comprehensive medical services.
To be eligible for enrollment in the PACE program, individuals must be 55 years of age or older, reside in Guilford or Rockingham Counties, be able to live safely in the community at the time of enrollment, and be certified by the state as needing nursing home care. Once an individual is enrolled, PACE becomes the primary care provider and handles all health care services. There is no cost for participants with Medicaid and Medicare; however, if an out-of-network provider is used, the participant may be fully liable for the cost, except for emergency services.
Health care services provided and covered by PACE enrollment include an adult day health center, primary care, medical specialty services, home care, laboratory services, transportation, social services and counseling, nutritional counseling, physical, occupational, speech and recreational therapies and hospital and nursing home care, if needed. Participants attending the adult day health program receive lunch, enrichment activities and exercise. Additionally, PACE can coordinate home-delivered meals, ramps and home modifications to improve safety.
Located on the corner of East Cone Boulevard and Summit Avenue in Greensboro, the PACE Center is staffed by a full-time physician, registered nurses, certified nursing assistants; physical, occupational, recreational and speech therapists; a dietitian and social workers.
Well-Spring Retirement Community, Moses Cone Health System, Advanced Homecare and Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro together provided seed money to open the facility. PACE will receive monthly capitated payments from Medicaid and Medicare to cover all of the participant’s needs including primary care, specialists care and hospitalizations.
“PACE was first authorized by Congress in the 1980s as a pilot project. Today there are 75 programs throughout the country,” says Steve Fleming, Well-Spring’s CEO who serves as PACE board president. “PACE is a lower cost alternative to hospital and nursing home stays. Keeping seniors healthier is a proven method for reducing cost in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, both of which are experiencing tremendous funding pressures.”
For more information or to tour or refer someone for PACE services, call 336-550-4040. You may email info@pacetriad.org or view the website www.pacetriad.org.