Most seniors prefer the warmth and familiarity of their own homes to nursing homes. The Program of All-Inclusive Car for the Elderly, or PACE, assists seniors who wish to remain in their homes by providing care and services similar to those provided by nursing homes.
Seniors who use PACE are assessed by a team consisting of professional and paraprofessional staff. The team creates a care plan tailored to an individual senior’s needs and delivers many services to the senior’s home, including acute care services and nursing facility services. Other social and medical services are completed in an adult day health center. These include adult day care, dentistry and prescription drugs.
To qualify for PACE, seniors must be at least 55 years old, qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, live in an area serviced by PACE, and be eligible to receive nursing home care from an appropriate state agency.
Seniors who use PACE pay a monthly premium, but all Medicare services are covered if the senior is eligible. The premium amount is dependent on the senior’s financial situation. Medicare also covers a small portion of the monthly premium.
The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 founded PACE as a national service and established it as a permanent part of the Medicare program. A similar program operated in California as early as the 1970s. The program is currently available to all eligible seniors near one of its 75 centers in 29 states.
In New York, the law firm of Littman Krooks LLP features Certified Elder Law Attorneys nationally recognized by the National Elder Law Foundation who can help seniors plan for their futures. To learn more, visit http://www.elderlawnewyork.com/blog/ or call 914-684-2100.
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