Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly provides day, health services
Portsmouth, VA – March 18, 2010 – Sentara Life Care cut the ribbon today on its newest PACE location at Churchland Shopping Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. PACE is an acronym for the federally-supported Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. The Portsmouth site will open to participants in early April.
“PACE is one of the best solutions available for families who want their senior loved ones to live at home with them,” says Bruce Robertson, vice president and administrator of Sentara Life Care. “It provides a safe, supportive social environment during the day when family members have to be at work.”
PACE provides transportation to and from the center each morning and afternoon. Meals and activities are provided. There is a health clinic and a family physician on-site, a rehabilitation room, social workers to assist with financial issues and even a beauty parlor to keep participants looking and feeling their best.
PACE participants would normally qualify for Medicaid support in a nursing home. However, many seniors’ families would like for them to live at home but cannot afford to be full time caretakers. PACE accepts monthly reimbursement from Medicaid and Medicare as appropriate for each participant and within that budget provides the services mentioned plus hospitalization and short-term nursing home rehabilitation as required.
“PACE provides families with peace of mind,” Bruce Robertson continues. “Participants enjoy safe, stimulating days with their peers and everybody wins with this program.”
The PACE site at 5788 Churchland Boulevard is centrally located for families from Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Suffolk. About ten participants from the PACE site on Newtown Road in Virginia Beach will transfer to the new one.
For more information on PACE, contact Sentara Life Care at 892-5400.
Sentara.com