Redwood Coast PACE, a program of the Humboldt Senior Resource Center, is celebrating National PACE Month during September. We are taking this opportunity to raise awareness and celebrate the difference that Redwood Coast PACE — a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly — makes in the lives of our participants, their families, and our community.
Redwood Coast PACE serves older adults age 55 or over who have chronic illnesses or conditions that necessitate assistance with day-to-day activities and care. The program’s service area stretches from northern Trinidad south to Scotia, and inland to Blue Lake and Carlotta. Redwood Coast PACE has centers in Eureka, serving the northern PACE service area, and Fortuna, primarily serving participants living in the Eel River Valley.
PACE provides not only comprehensive primary and specialty medical care, but also dental and vision care; hospitalization and emergency services; day center services; physical, occupational and other therapies; all round-trip transportation between home, the center and medical appointments; care coordination; in-home care; all medications; durable medical equipment; and more.
“Redwood Coast PACE is the ideal program for older adults with complex medical and care needs who wish to be as independent as possible and remain in their own homes with the help of our services,” noted Jennifer Heidmann, M.D., Medical Director and primary care physician.
What Is PACE?
PACE is a wholly integrated, coordinated, person-centered, provider-led, capitated and fully risk-bearing model of care. Driven by the objective of maintaining the independence of program participants in their homes and communities for as long as possible, PACE programs are the lifelines that enable frail older Americans to live at home instead of in a nursing facility.
Nationally, ninety-five percent of PACE participants live safely in the community. More than 96 percent of family caregivers of older adults are satisfied with the support they receive through PACE, and 97.5 percent would recommend PACE to someone in a similar situation. While nearly half of family members reported a high caregiver burden at the time their loved one enrolled in PACE, more than 58 percent experienced less burden after enrollment.
“We are proud of the comprehensive care Redwood Coast PACE provides and are pleased to see how our services benefit the lives of our participants as well as their families,” said Barbara LaHaie, Director of Redwood Coast PACE.
Referrals are now being accepted for both the Eureka and Fortuna PACE centers. To learn more about Redwood Coast PACE, call 707-443-9747 x4230, email [email protected], or visit www.humsenior.org.
