Jordan Valley Community Health Center (JVCHC) is officially approved to provide the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in the Springfield area. PACE care includes medical and personal care, rehabilitation, social interaction, medications, transportation and more, all in one place so participants can live at home. Jordan Valley Senior Care (JVSC) is the first PACE model to launch in southwest Missouri and the third in the state of Missouri. The program is currently launching the assessment and enrollment process, and should begin caring for participants in July.
“PACE is perfectly aligned with Jordan Valley’s mission to improve access to quality health care for the underserved,” said JVCHC’s President and CEO Dr. Matt Stinson. “The PACE model also has a strong track record of high-quality outcomes for participants including lower hospitalization rates and reduced emergency room* visits.”
The PACE model approaches care through an interdisciplinary team of professionals that provide all of the coordinated care a participant needs. These professionals are also experts in working with older people. They work together with participants and families (as appropriate) to develop the most effective plan of care.
Enrollment in a PACE program is voluntary. To enroll, individuals must meet the following criteria:
· 55 years old or older
· Live in the service area of a PACE organization
· Certified by the state as meeting the need for the nursing home level of care
· Able to live safely in the community with the help of PACE services at the time of enrollment
According to the National PACE Association (NPA), the average PACE participant is 76 years old and has multiple, complex medical conditions, cognitive and/or functional impairments, and significant health and long-term care needs. Approximately 90 percent are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.
“PACE is going to be a game-changer for some of our community’s most vulnerable seniors,” said Jordan Valley Senior Care’s executive director Deanna Beckenholdt. “Our day center is an incredible resource, not only for accessing care and therapies outside the home, but also to keep participants connected to the community and their peers.” Beckenholdt also noted that JVSC will also address a significant obstacle to care by providing transportation to the day center and other medical appointments.
“PACE improves access to health care for senior participants to prevent more serious and costly issues downstream,” said Jordan Valley’s Vice President of Operations, Ryan Kruger. “Families and caregivers for PACE participants are largely supportive of the model. Research found that 95% of family caregivers would recommend PACE to a someone in a similar situation.”**
For more information about eligibility requirements and the enrollment process, call Jordan Valley Senior Care at 417-851-1550 or visit our website at Jordan Valley Senior Care.
Sources:
*NPA “Pace by the Numbers” Infographic; Segelman, M., Szydlowski, J., Kinosian, B., et al. (2014). Hospitalizations in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 62: 320-24. Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, Executive Office of Elder Affairs. (2005). PACE Evaluation Summary. Accessed online on May 25, 2011. x Kane, R.L., Homyak, P., Bershadsky, B., et al. (2006). Variations on a theme called PACE. Journal of Gerontology Series A, 61 (7): 689-93.
** NPA “Pace by the Numbers” Infographic; Vital Research and CalPACE (2022). i-SAT.