Michigan is among the fastest aging states in the nation. This is according to 2019 reporting on the Network of Age-Friendly States, an AARP program. “By 2030, roughly 24% of Michigan’s population will be 60 and older — an increase of 32% since 2012,” according to Second Wave Media.
This means ways must be found to care for the aging population - and quickly! One answer is the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. PACE participants report that they are healthier, happier, and more independent than those in other care settings -- according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study.
PACE is a national program funded by Medicare and Medicaid with 147 affiliated programs operating in 32 states. PACE Southeast Michigan is the pioneer PACE program in Michigan and has been providing comprehensive care to older adults and support to caregivers since 1994. It has seven centers located in Detroit, Dearborn, Eastpointe, Pontiac, Southfield, and Sterling Heights.
PACE is a unique health plan that provides integrated care to eligible older adults who are 55 and older, living with chronic illness, and who want to remain in their own home. While most PACE participants are dual-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, there is also a private-pay option for those who do not qualify for Medicaid.
PACE Southeast Michigan provides a community setting in their day health centers, where participants enjoy delicious meals, feel purposeful, participate in recreational activities, and receive the medical care they need. Transportation to and from the day health centers and medical appointments is provided at no charge. In-home support is also offered.
In its nearly 30 years, PACE Southeast Michigan has served thousands of participants and their caregivers. Caregivers benefit from the PACE program by having the option for respite care, the ability to work while their loved one is safe and cared for at the day health center, full participation in developing the participant’s care plan, resources to help find appropriate housing for a loved one, access to support groups for spiritual care, and other aids that help lighten care responsibilities.
Additionally, twice a year, each PACE Southeast Michigan center hosts Caregiver Dinner and Dialogue sessions. They provide an opportunity for caregivers to visit the center, meet the care teams and ask questions, receive education, and get organization updates. PACE Southeast Michigan benefits from caregivers’ advice and recommendations on matters including quality of care, improvement plans, and dissemination of essential information.
“The support and services we provide is not just for our participants,” said Mary Kummer Naber, president and CEO of PACE Southeast Michigan. “It is also for the important and altruistic people in their lives who care for them. We want to make sure they have the resources they need to continue caring for their loved one.”
To learn more, call 855.445.4554, or visit www.pacesemi.org.