Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly: What is PACE?

Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) empower seniors to age in place on their terms, in the comfort of their own home. PACE programs support seniors by providing coordinated medical and social services to older adults who would otherwise need to live in a full-time care facility.

In this post, we’ll break down the benefits of all-inclusive care for the elderly, how to know if your loved one meets the qualifications for PACE program enrollment, and how to find PACE services near you.

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What is PACE?

PACE care programs connect seniors with a variety of coordinated medical and social services to provide top-notch care without requiring seniors to relocate to a nursing home or other long-term care facility.

Enrollees are provided with an interdisciplinary team of medical professionals who will assess their needs, develop a care plan, and deliver all of the proposed services. All medical teams will include:

• Primary care provider
• Registered nurse
• Master’s-level social worker
• Physical therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Recreational therapist or activity coordinator
• Dietitian
• PACE center manager
• Home care coordinator
• Personal care attendant or representative
• Driver or representative

What Services Are Covered by PACE?

PACE benefits include, but are not limited to, any services normally covered by Medicare or Medicaid:

• Adult day care
• Dentistry
• Emergency services
• Home care
• Hospital care
• Laboratory/X-Ray services
• Meals
• Medical specialty services
• Nursing home care
• Nutritional counseling
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Prescription drugs
• Primary care (including doctor & nursing services)
• Recreational therapy
• Social services
• Social work counseling
• Transportation

Any services not on this list may still be covered by PACE if they are deemed medically necessary by the patient’s medical team to improve or maintain their health.

PACE Program Requirements: Who is Eligible for PACE Programs?

Seniors are eligible for support if they meet the following PACE program requirements:

• Must be 55 or older
• Must live near a PACE program in their state
• Must be eligible for nursing home care according to their state’s Medicaid agency
• Must be able to live safely in their community with the help of PACE services at the time of enrollment

You do not need to be enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid to apply, and personal finances have no impact on eligibility. However, seniors who are enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or both may not take advantage of certain programs if they choose to also enroll in PACE. These include:

• Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) 1915(c) waivers
• Medicaid prepayment plan
• Medicare Advantage
• Medicare Hospice Benefit
• Medicare prescription drug plan other than Medicare Part D

Patients also cannot be enrolled in hospice services or other similar programs.

How to Find PACE Program Support in Your State

There are 198 PACE programs available in 33 states and Washington DC. For help finding your local PACE programs for the elderly, you can use the National PACE Association’s Find a PACE Program tool or browse their List of PACE Organizations by State.

To learn more about our home care services, contact our caregiving team today at 1-800-GRISWOLD or find a Caregiver near you.