PACE provides independence for seniors

A community where seniors can be independent at home. The Pace program offers seniors just that. With support and care, letting seniors honor their individual. Let’s go on the record from Wpbf 25. This is on the record with Natalie Pozo. Good morning. Pace stands for program of All Inclusive care for the elderly. Palm beach Pace is all inclusive care that provides medical and social services support while promoting independence. Here to tell us all about the program this morning is Paola Pupa Nisbett, the vice president of Community based services. Paola good morning. Thank you so much for being here. Good morning. Thank you for having me. So tell us more about the Pace program and what kind of services are available. Sure. The Pace program is a national model. Essentially, it is a comprehensive medical and long term care program that helps support the seniors to be able to stay at home, to maximize their independence as long as possible. Safely. So we provide services such as medical care. We are also the part D plan their pharmacy, so all their medications are provided and procured through the Pace program. But the best part, as well as medical is the long term care services they receive. A lot of the seniors who wants to stay at home, and and need a lot of support, need home care services. They may need transportation to attend their doctor’s appointments. They may need socialization. So daycare is also a service that we provide. So it’s really a comprehensive program. We wrap around all the needs of the senior. Sometimes nutrition is an issue. So we make sure that we have a dietitian that evaluates the member to make sure that they get the proper meals, the proper support in order to stay healthy. So who is eligible for the program? So, the not the national program has the same, eligibility across all the, all the states. You have to be 55 and over. You have to meet a nursing home level of care. Even though our members don’t live in a nursing home. But you have to meet that level of care. You need assistance. Whether there’s a cognition issue or whether you have a physical issue that, keeps you from being independent. You have to live in the area where the Pace program operates. So each Pace program, has certain ZIP codes that they’re allowed to provide services in. So as long as you have a permanent address in that area, you are eligible. And you have to be safe to be in the community. So we help, to make sure that you meet those eligibility. And then you can enroll in the program. And how, how does the program function? How is it funded? It is funded through Medicare and Medicaid services. In order for the program to be an out of and no out-of-pocket expense for the member, as long as you qualify for Medicare and Medicaid, that’s who funds the program. But there’s there’s also a solution for people who don’t meet Medicare and Medicaid criteria. There’s a private pay option. And it’s individualized based on the client and their needs and their financial situation. Pace is unique because of the insurance open enrollment. Can you talk a little bit about that? So most insurances because essentially when when the participant when a member joins pays, we act as their insurance provider. So we’re not only their insurance provider but we also provide the services. Right. Most insurance plans, especially for seniors, you have to wait to open enrollment to, change and re and request to be a, a member of a new plan pays as long as you qualify, the application gets approved. You can enroll any month of the year. So that’s what differs between us and the other, HMO plans or Medicare plans. So you mentioned that you have to, live within a certain zip code. Is or what? What are the zip codes for our area? Not that I expect you to know them all. Sure, but what are they? Sure. So in the state of Florida, you know, our our license, is for Palm Beach County. We recently received an extension to also provide services in Martin County. So our Palm Beach based program serves the entire Palm Beach County, all of it from North Jupiter, all the way out west to Belle Glade, Pahokee area, all the way town to Boca. And we now recently started serving Martin County as well, certain areas of Martin and Lawton. All right. Okay. So, when it comes just to the Pace program, I know you talk a little bit about the funding, but, you know, we have some current federal and state just, you know, budget cuts that we’ve been hearing about coming out of Washington. Has that impacted the peace program? It has not. You know, Pace is unique in the way where, you know, we get allocated slots every year. So at the beginning of the fiscal year, when the government when the state looks at their budget, they know exactly how many slots each program within their state has. So they’ve already allocated those funds to be provided to help support that program. So once those funds are allocated, then it’s there so they don’t take it back. So we’ve been very fortunate that none of those cuts pertain to pace, and we were able to continue to provide the services to our seniors in the community. Does Pace partner with any other, community organizations here in our community to support seniors? Absolutely, absolutely. So as a as a medical provider, you know, we have to partner up with multiple, specialist groups. So we have cardiology, you know, neurology, different doctors in the community. We, we partner up with Meals on Wheels programs, daycare programs in the community because we want to be sure that aside from coming to our pay centers, if our clients, need to go see someone outside of our, you know, what we have available within our centers, they have that opportunity to do so. Why are you so passionate about the Pace program? Because pace is very interesting, and it’s one of those medical models that I see. Makes sense because we don’t have really any red tape. If the whole interdisciplinary team that’s part of the Pace program feels that this is what is needed for a member. We just make it happen for them. You know, we don’t have to, you know, get permission from any other provider. You know, we just make sure that, you know, our clients have what they need because our goal is to keep them at home. We want to make sure that they’re maximizing the independence and staying healthy at home. So I like that. I like the fact that, you know, we can as a group, you know, we assess, we do evaluations constantly on our members to see what has changed, what has improved, what more services are needed and if they need it. And we can prove that this is what’s necessary to keep them healthy. We make it happen for them. Independence is key, right? Well, I thank you so much for your time this morning. Coming up, we sit down with the medical director of the Pace program. You’re watching on the record on Wpbf 25. We continue our conversation this morning with Doctor Julio DeFeo, the medical director with the Pace program. Doctor DeFeo, thank you so much for being here with us this morning. Talk to us just about how health care plays a role in the Pace program. Yeah, so so the Pace program is an all inclusive care for the elderly. And so it is for us to take care of people who are getting older. You need a whole team for it. And that includes physicians, nurses, home health aides, physical therapists, which include occupational therapy, rehab, speech therapy, nutritionist. And we have to create that team around that patient. And so what we call patient centered care. And so the health care that is provided at pace, it plays a big role, you know, for for the older adult, including the physician who is kind of guiding some of the medical care, medications, therapy that are needed, approving consults and things like that. Yeah. Doctor DeFeo, so you were mentioning so many different aspects of one of health. You know, I think sometimes when you think of health, you’re just thinking about, you know, a certain a certain road. But there’s so many different aspects of it. Like you just mentioned. So what does that do for someone’s health, being able to have all those different resources. So it makes it a very, inclusive program where, you know, when you’re treating, older adults who have accumulated a lot of, restriction in mobility or, health, diagnosis, that affect their overall performance in life. They need the support to keep them healthy. And it could be a home health aide that goes twice a day to their home and provide some of the care so they can get up. But have breakfast and then things like that. I would think that this also provides a sense of comfort for for family members as well, knowing that someone is coming and checking on their loved one. It’s funny that you mention that, because sometimes the most difficult to please is the family. Because they’re really kind of, you know, following through, and kind of, trying to make their family member be more functional and be happier and be cared for. So Pace program is able to provide that because we have a team. If I’m the physician only prescribing medication and, it’s very hard to, to be sure that they’re eating right. Right. And just by prescribing pills. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. I want to talk a little bit about dementia. We have here in our population, high, high cases of of dementia, the Pace program. What are you doing for it? For people who are unfortunately suffering with with dementia. Yeah. So as we know, you know, we’re getting closer to some treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common, dementia. There is around 70% of the type of dementia out there. But, the biggest, thing that you can do for, for cognitive impairment is educating the family and the patient about their deficits. So they can start planning for their support system that will keep them healthier and more functional as they get older and the disease progresses. Do you have patients with early on dementia or Alzheimer’s that still want that independence? But, you know, family is saying we want someone there to help them, but they’re not ready to maybe be put anywhere else. That’s that’s an excellent question because that’s our goal, really. And pace is to try to keep the patients as functional as they can in their environment that they want to live in. Some people unfortunately, some some, some, older adults or even younger people with restriction of mobility or cognitive impairment, they don’t want to live in a nursing home. They don’t want to live in a, in a, in an assisted living facility. And we try to provide all the care that we can at home so they can remain there. At one point, people just thrive in the right environment or care, and they have to move on. But we try as much as well. And I would think in the early in the early onset to just to be in your environment with things that, you know, you know, is, is definitely maybe more comforting. In what regard? When I’m saying when someone is going through maybe early stages of dementia, having someone from the Pace program there and not changing their environment, that is correct. Exactly. Because we have a cohesive approach to caring for them. It’s not only about their, you know, their memories, about their mobility, their disease is medications that they take and then about their memory issues. What about technology and artificial intelligence? We’re seeing just so much, so much in the medical world when it comes to AI and AI taking part. How is that playing a role? So there are some patients that we see a big benefit for it. And so we have, we have already, something, for example, that we use Care Coach, which is is an avatar avatar that we use in people that have, the capacity to use them. And we put these monitors at home so when they can relate to the, artificial intelligence avatar. Avatar. So that that’s something that we look forward to as it evolves. We also use some type of, of, of, advancement in technology to monitor the patient vital signs and, telemedicine. Yeah. Why is it so important for you to be involved with with the Pace program? So I’m, I’m a internal medicine physician that trained I did two years in geriatric medicine in New England, and so, it has been my passion because of all my experience I had with my grandfather when I was growing up. He was kind of my mentor. And then my dad, who was my my biggest mentor and coach. And so I always had a respect for the elder, if you can say that way. I prefer to say older adults just because sometimes, you know, every, every, every name have have a stigma to it. But, but but when I, when I, when I use the word elder, I’m just thinking about a very wise person that has gotten older and have a community around them taking care of it. You know, I mean, it takes a village, right? When when we’re little and when we’re born and it takes a village, you know, as we get older as well. Yeah. Stuck in the field. Thank you so much for being here with us this morning. And for everything you’re doing for people here in our community. Coming up next, we speak with a man who is taking part in the Pace program. Welcome back. We’re joined now by Steve White who takes part in the Pace program. Steve, what’s it like for you to be a part of this program? Well, you know, I’ve I’ve been a part of pace for more than nine years, and I’m not a person who stays around places that I don’t feel welcome. Okay. Pace I don’t I don’t really see a way of living without pace now because I’m getting older. And as we get older, there’s a lot fewer things that we can do. And with the provision of pace, you know, they provide so much. They provide activities, they provide, health care. They provide just comfort when you need comfort. I’ve been sitting around sometimes feeling low, depressed, like older people do. And one of the staff, and that’s the point I want to make, is one of the staff comes up and says, what’s wrong, Steve? And I say, nothing. They say, well, yes it is. I mean, so that kind of loving, that kind of care is important because we’re missing that as we get older. A lot of times and a lot of times people are by themselves and, they have nobody to care for them. So to have somebody and have a program like pace that, is really looking out for the patient or the client or whatever you want to call us. It’s just like you said, you know, sometimes it’s not. You think maybe it’s just about the physical, but it’s not. It’s it’s about the emotional support and care as well. Exactly. Exactly. And I make it a point, to be there for the other clients. Because I have a giving nature anyway. You know, a wife would tell you that, but I mean I, I give too much. But anyway, I make it a point to care for the other clients, especially the ones that I feel the need to make friends with, you know, and that’s another thing. There’s no such thing at pace that I found in nine years as racial discrimination or, or other kinds of discrimination. We’re family. We’re family. And those have been there for a period of time. They will tell you that, you know, Steve, how has it made life better for you and in what aspects. I’ll tell you in every aspect because I don’t have to make doctor’s appointments and wait 2 or 3 months before I get seen. If I’m at their activity center and I’m feeling bad, the clinic is right across. You know, I can go get checked out. I have a relationship with the medical staff. And I love them. I mean, I love what they do for a person who is getting older or, you know, I don’t like to admit it. I’m getting in order on a person who can’t take care of themselves, even though I don’t like to admit it. But, you know, it’s a good balance. It’s a you like, you have a sense of independence, but then the care that you need or support that you may need when you need it, it is there, right. And the thing about it is, you know, like I said, I like hearing from people. I like to feel like that my being there is helping someone else who is also there. And, you know, yeah, we’re seeing some video there of the, of the residencies. So what is it like to be living there? Well, I don’t live there. Right. Sorry. Or take part in it. Excuse me. Yes. It’s perfect. It’s perfect because it gives you an opportunity to do things that you wouldn’t do at home. You know, even though being at home is important and is is you know I like being at home too. But at the same time it gives you that opportunity to join in on the activities, to help with the activities. And I find that the activities is and is an important part of the program because it keeps the mind busy. Right. It keeps you busy, it keeps you thinking and keeps you doing things rather than just sitting on my feeling sorry for yourself. And you have the the social aspect of it too. Of course, of course. So for anyone who may be watching, this morning who’s thinking about taking part in the program, what would be your message to them on to where it’s come, come, come on. Because I haven’t I haven’t seen anything that would make anybody not want to be there. And of course, there’s little problems with everything, but you can’t leave without having a little problem. So you straighten out the problems. You keep going. So I love it. I love it. You know and matter of fact I get kind of upset when I can’t go. Well you know, so yeah I wouldn’t have it any other way. What are some of your favorite, I guess activities or services that that piece provides. Well, some of my favorite is, being that I’m a, I am a minister. You know, I enjoy Bible study. I enjoy talking about things that are spiritual. I enjoy helping people, even praying for people. I enjoy all that. I enjoy, you know, I enjoy being a part of a peace period. Even the food, the food, the breakfast, the lunch, you know, even with, you know, if I need extra and I’m at home, they send people to the house to give me an A. You know what? I guess when it when it comes to when it comes to the Pace program, what are some of the things that maybe surprised you about it that you didn’t know about going in? Surprised me. The food, maybe. No, that didn’t surprise me, too. But, surprises. Did I really have any surprises? It is. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I had I was surprised that everybody was so loving. And willing to give you care and willing to not be hypocritical about it. You know. So I enjoyed the genuine the genuine nature especially the staff. The staff is gorgeous, the beautiful you know the health care staff, the the people that are just there, the aides and whatnot. I, I have not had one problem and maybe that’s just me, but yeah, I find out the, you know, I like going, I like going, I, I go three days a week now and, and I enjoy it. All right. Well Steve, thank you so much for your time this morning. And, I think if anyone out there was maybe considering it, you you definitely, like, give him a lot of positive things. If they hope so. Thank you. Steve. Thank you. We’ll be right back after this. Thank you for making us a part of your morning. As always, we encourage you to be part of our discussion each and every Sunday, right here at 10 a.m. until then, you can watch this morning’s On the Record and every episode on our website. Wpbf.com, and on our free Wpbf 25 news app. Have a wonderful Sunday and we’ll see you here again next weekend. Yes.