PACE Program Gives Caregivers Peace Of Mind

Caring for an aging parent takes great coordination, from organizing doctor appointments, managing paperwork, providing social interactions, staying in the loop on health and daily living needs and more.

If you’re caring for an aging parent or other loved one, either at home or long-distance, and find yourself needing support, you’re not alone. Millions of people assist others with daily living activities and medical tasks each year. Approximately 34.2 million caregivers have provided unpaid care to an adult in the last 12 months. Caregivers also spend, on average, 13 hours per month researching available services and information on diseases, coordinating physician visits or managing financial matters for a loved one.

To help combat the real-life challenges caregivers face, Franciscan Health’s Senior Health & Wellness offers a program that can help. Franciscan Health’s Senior Health & Wellness offers PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), a program administered by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid).

PACE is a community-based healthcare program created for people 55 or older who need nursing home level of care but want to safely remain in their homes. The program brings older adults together to engage in social activities, enjoy healthy meals and receive needed medical services in one convenient location.

Franciscan Health offers four PACE locations in Indiana: Dyer, Michigan City, Lafayette and Indianapolis. The PACE program caters to people 55 and older who require a level of care equal to that of nursing facility care. The goal – keep older adults safe in their homes and living independently.

“We know Dad is in good hands with PACE,” said Linda Schreiber, whose father is able to live at home while participating in Franciscan Health’s PACE program. “They do so much to help him. When he was having some issues with his leg, a doctor even came over to the house to see him. It is such a blessing to have a program like this, which allows him to be able to still live at home and be independent.”

How Does PACE Support Caregivers?

It’s not always easy to understand the behaviors and medical needs of a loved one. Caregivers can question if something is typical, if slight changes are normal or how to decide the readiness for nursing home care.

“There are many complexities caregivers face,” said Alexandra Mull, MSN, RN, PACE Center Manager at Franciscan Health Senior Health & Wellness Center in Lafayette. “PACE can be a bridge. It can bring a caregiver peace of mind. Our interdisciplinary team keeps an eye on the participant and determines what, if any, changes are occurring, how they are doing socially and how well they are functioning cognitively.”

PACE is all-inclusive, with a collaborative team working with experts across specialties.

“Caregivers might face stressors such as understanding what ‘nursing home level of care’ means, effects of medication changes or managing durable medical equipment needs,” Mull said. “We don’t expect caregivers to figure these out. Our team is happy to do it, and many caregivers are surprised at how many people qualify for nursing home level of care.

A caregiver can call and speak to the social worker, nurse or nurse practitioner at any point, said Mull.

“We make ourselves available without red tape. Many caregivers we work with live farther away,” she said. “They’ll often say, ‘I touch base with mom every night, but sometimes I can’t tell if she’s giving me the full story,’ and they’re asking for a weekly update to ensure all is going well. Based on the caregiver’s preference, we can communicate through scheduled phone calls or secure messaging through MyChart.”

PACE also can hold virtual meetings with long-distance caregivers to answer questions and discuss care plans and ways PACE can support the caregiver.

“They are encouraging, helpful and faithful,” said Schreiber. “The team at PACE provides hope and encouragement. It is truly a vocation and they are phenomenal. I would tell anyone interested, try PACE, you won’t be disappointed.”

Adds Mull, “We enroll participants but care for the whole family.”

How Does PACE Help Participants With Coordinating Medical Care And Other Needs?

The PACE program offers a complete healthcare solution for its enrolled participants, Mull said.

“We offer several valuable services that bring not only peace of mind to the caregiver but quality, comprehensive services that make a difference in the lives of older adults,” she said.

The PACE program services include:

• Medical clinic services – Participants access primary care services, including annual check-ups, wellness visits, sick visits and coordination of care for multiple chronic conditions. A medical team of physicians, nurses, therapists, case managers and others provide services and makes house calls if necessary.
• Rehabilitation therapy services – Participants receive on-site or in-home physical and occupational therapy. The team helps to uncover any barriers that might contribute to necessary nursing home care.
• Transportation services – Participants can access transportation services to help them get to necessary medical appointments and transportation to the day center.

“Some benefits of PACE are having an integrated team watching every aspect of a participant’s care,” said Mull. “Our clinicians are involved in all aspects of a person’s well-being and work to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.”

Beyond medical services and transportation, the PACE program at Franciscan Health Senior Health & Wellness offers day center services to help participants remain connected to others. These include:

• Day center and socialization services – Participants can visit the day center to connect with others, experience interactive events, receive respite care, enjoy a lunch with others, and even participate in outings such as farmers markets and bowling. Participants enjoy socializing with others and the participant-driven approach to programming. The monthly advisory committee evaluates what’s going well and what’s not and coordinates daily activities within the day center.
• Nutritious meals and nutrition guidance – Participants enjoy a daily hot lunch while socializing. A dietitian can provide nutritional counseling and help keep track of weight and lab results – essential components for those with chronic kidney disease or other comorbidities.
• Respite care for caregivers – Franciscan has preferred providers to facilitate respite care so caregivers can attend appointments, get away for the day or take a family week vacation.

Is My Family Member Eligible For PACE?

Mull says caregivers want the best for their loved ones and often don’t know where to start or how to determine if someone is eligible for PACE services. Mull offers answers to some of the most common questions faced.

Who Is A Good Fit For The PACE Program?

Are you wondering if your aging parent or other loved one would be a good fit for PACE services through Franciscan Health Senior Health & Wellness? Below are some of attributes that make a participant a good fit:

• Age 55 or older
• Can remain safely in their home
• Live in the Franciscan Health Senior Health & Wellness service area
• Require additional caregiver support
• Have socialization needs
• May struggle to keep track of medication
• May be living at home but lonely while the caregiver goes to work

Does PACE Offer Respite Care If I Travel For A Week Or Need A Break For The Day?

If the participant can’t be in their home alone for a week, the PACE program works with community respite providers where participants can go while the caregiver is unavailable.

“We can also increase our contact with the participant to ensure they’re safe,” said Mull. “Sometimes the safest option is to have 24-hour support, which we facilitate.”

What If My Loved One Qualifies For Medicare But Not Medicaid?

Franciscan Health Senior Health & Wellness does offer a private pay option if a participant doesn’t qualify for either Medicaid or Medicare. With Medicare and Medicaid benefits, there is no out-of-pocket cost for the program, medications, supplies, copays or deductibles.

“Our Medicare-only population has an out-of-pocket cost to cover benefits that Medicaid offers that Medicare does not,” said Mull.

How Do I Enroll My Loved One In The PACE Program?

Enrolling in PACE through Franciscan Health Senior Health & Wellness is easy. You do not require a physician referral, and participants do not need to be existing Franciscan Health patients. Interested caregivers can contact the PACE program near them to learn about the enrollment process.