May is Older Americans Month and a
great time to
reiterate to your aging loved ones just how important it is to plan for
their
long term care needs.
“Too
often we find ourselves trying to learn about our long term care options
in the
midst of a crisis when we have to make decisions very quickly,” said
Shawn Bloom, President and CEO of the National PACE Association. “Many
loved ones have the goal of remaining at home, which is much more likely
if
families take the time to educate themselves and plan in advance.” The
celebration of Older Americans Month can provide the opportunity to have
the
difficult discussion with elderly family members and friends about their
plans
for their future.
With
the recession impacting state budgets and national health care reform
changing
the health care landscape, the National PACE Association is using the
May
celebration of Older Americans Month to urge families to look more
closely at
how aging loved ones are planning for their care needs. For some
families this
means having the tough conversations about the eventuality that a loved
one may
need to access long term care services and supports. To assist families
better
understand their long term care options, the National PACE Association
encourages families to visit www.PACE4You.org, an easy-to-understand
Web site that provides background on the Program of All Inclusive Care
for the
Elderly (PACE) model of care.
When
the time comes to make these difficult decisions many people are unaware
that
PACE programs exist as an option that will allow a loved one in need of
nursing
home care to remain at home. PACE is rapidly growing as an innovative
model of
care that provides older Americans with the care services and supports
that
enables them to live in their own homes and age with dignity.
Developed
more than 30 years ago, the PACE model of care provides an innovative
alternative to nursing homes paid for by Medicare and Medicaid. The
common
sense approach that the PACE team uses to provide medical care and
coordinate
support services helps keep people in their homes so they can be near
friends
and family.
It
is the hands-on approach and individualized patient attention that makes
PACE
unique from every other long term care option and so successful in
helping
seniors remain healthy and independent. To help families understand and
learn
more about PACE programs, The National PACE Association’s Web site, www.PACE4You.org, is an easy-to-understand
portal that provides background on the PACE model of long term care.
Visitors
can view a PACE video that tells the stories of PACE participants and
their
families, read testimonials and access a PACE Program Finder that helps
people
find a PACE program in their community.
“As
society gets older and 77 million Baby Boomers near retirement, it’s
crucial to provide education on long term care options. Technological
advancements have allowed people of all ages, from seniors to
caregivers,
access to medical care information online,” said Bloom “Because of
this, www.PACE4You.org was created to offer a
straight-forward, yet
comprehensive resource featuring the benefits of coordinated care to
improved
quality of life that a PACE program offers.”
With
73 PACE programs now operating in 30 states, older Americans around the
country
have an even greater opportunity to benefit from the PACE approach. The
popularity of these programs has increased quickly because PACE
effectively
maintains the health, independence and dignity of seniors with long term
care
needs as they age by emphasizing preventive and primary care as well as
nutrition,
transportation and most other services that support the health and
well-being
of program participants.,
At
the core of PACE is a team of caregivers that forms a medical home for
each
participant to ensure all aspects of their medical, social, and
therapeutic
needs are met. Although consider by many to be a cutting edge care
concept,
PACE has employed the medical home model since its inception. “The care team is the magic of PACE. It’s
this
team of providers, who know their patients so well and interact with
them
daily, who make it possible for seniors to live at home and age with
dignity,” said Bloom. “By coordinating the care needs of each
senior, the PACE team provides the helping hands so important to the
health and
well being of aging adults.”
PACE
programs’ documented results in preserving wellness, supporting healthy
outcomes, and promoting quality of life help reduce hospital visits and
avoid
nursing home admissions.
By
avoiding these costs, PACE programs reduce expensive care interventions
and
provide families with piece of mind that their loved one is receiving
the best
possible care in the most appropriate setting.
“Older
Americans Month is a great opportunity for Americans to begin talking
with
their loved ones about where and how they want to receive care when the
time
comes,” said Bloom. “By going to www.PACE4You.org, people can
learn more about PACE, its availability, and why it may be the best care
option
for them.”
About
NPA:
The
National PACE Association works to advance the efforts of Programs of
All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to support, maintain,
safeguard and
promote the provision of quality, comprehensive and cost-effective
health care
services for frail older adults. More information on NPA and PACE is
available
at www.npaonline.org.
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