PACE (Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) is celebrating its 10-year anniversary and discussing its evolution with three staff members who have been with the program since the beginning. They feel called to be at PACE@Home, doing what they love – helping seniors remain in their community surrounded by loved ones.
“This is a special place,” says Finance Director Nadine Balint. “We offer socialization and healthcare providers on site so seniors can feel comfortable coming to our center to receive holistic care.”
“We have become specialists for people who are in their later years of life,” says Betsy Ellington, Licensed Clinical Social Worker. “When I first started, we had a few participants in their nineties, but now it’s not uncommon to have participants in their nineties. This means their caregivers may be getting older too and often find themselves needing additional resources like those found at PACE@Home.”
“The mission is why I work here,” says Amanda Justus, Intake Director. “PACE@Home supports families just like mine who have experienced the stress of caring for loved ones. It’s the best thing in the world to offer hope.”
As specialists in geriatric care, PACE@Home has had the privilege to witness and participate in many changes over its 10 years of service, Starting out, there were only a few staff members like Amanda, Betsy and Nadine, but the program has grown over the last decade and evolved to provide the essential services older adults need today like never before.
PACE (Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) is a federally funded program administered by states through Medicaid waivers. It provides comprehensive care coordination and services in the community while also providing an option to transition from long-term institutional settings such as hospitals or skilled nursing centers back into their homes. The benefits are numerous: It can be less expensive than hospitalization because the program is structured to efficiently provide the wide variety of medical services that participants may need, along with food and transportation services. For more information about PACE@Home, visit pace-at-home.org or call 828.468.3980, TTY: 800.735.2962.