Alabama has more than 956,000 people age 65 and older, or 11% of the state's population. But those of us working in aged care insist that there needs to be a better way to support this growing population.
PACE can be part of that solution.
PACE (Program of Comprehensive Care for the Elderly) is a model of home and community-based support for older adults who require nursing home-level services but are able to live independently at home or with family members.
In Alabama and a few other states, the acronym for the PACE program is LIFE, or Independent Living for Older Adults.
For many people, especially those who don't want to leave their homes, PACE is a highly desirable option. Family members can also play a role, but they may lack the time or expertise necessary to serve as a full-time caregiver.
The PACE program can help tens of thousands of seniors and their loved ones, but if you've never heard of it, you're not alone. The first PACE center opened in 1971, and there is still only one in the entire state of Alabama and only 300 in the nation.
More than 83,000 seniors in the United States are enrolled in PACE. That's enough numbers to suggest the PACE model is working, but still not enough to fill Bryant-Denny Stadium on game day. Given the above, PACE has plenty of room to grow at both the local and national levels.
Unlike many senior care models, PACE offers a one-two punch of value and quality: top-level service at relatively low costs.
PACE participants include a multi-member multidisciplinary professional team that includes primary care providers, health center certified nurses, home care certified nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, recreational therapists, social workers, and dietitians.
The team works together to provide a 360-degree view of the person's care. Medical care can occur at home or at a PACE center, and caregivers can use PACE to arrange transportation to medical appointments at the center or another facility.
Is it effective? That's exactly right. Participants benefit from proven results in reducing hospital admissions.
In a recent survey of more than 1,100 PACE participants in 12 different states, 96% said they would recommend the program to a friend or relative. People who know about PACE respond favorably.
The PACE program is funded by both Medicare and Medicaid, and approximately 99% of participants qualify for one or both. PACE's out-of-pocket fees are very affordable.
My background is in hospice nursing and I knew little about PACE when I joined the mobile-based center in 2021. But I quickly fell in love with the mission, especially when I saw firsthand how much of a difference PACE was making in the lives of seniors.
Find out how our team of care professionals is committed to PACE's mission and providing excellent care to our participants.
In fact, after seeing the differentiating aspects of the PACE model, I was fascinated by its possibilities. I thought that if we were helping just a few people, PACE could help even more people.
Currently, funded participant slots are limited to 200 participants.
Still, there are many people in Mobile and Baldwin counties who could benefit from what we have to offer. I look forward to adding more slots. There is no other program in Alabama that can support people like we do.
If small pockets of states can benefit from PACE, imagine how much good could be accomplished if we scaled it up across the state.
According to my statistics, there are approximately 44,000 PACE candidates across the state of Alabama. If we provided enough capacity to allow just 4,000 of them to participate in the PACE program, the state would save approximately $144 million annually in health care costs, or $3,000 per participant per month.
It seems like a win-win for both seniors and their families.
If you want PACE to expand into your community, please contact your legislators, including Governor Ivey. Request that more centers and more funded slots be authorized.
Let your elected leaders know that by making more PACE centers available in Alabama, you can positively impact the lives of seniors and their families. Seniors in our state are entitled to PACE as a long-term care option.
Together, we can accomplish this.
Kathryn Overton is a registered nurse and executive director of Mercy Life of Alabama.
