The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly is an optional benefit under both Medicare and Medicaid. PACE focuses only on older people, including Veterans, who are frail enough to meet their State's standards for nursing home care.
PACE features medical and social services that can be provided at an Adult Day Health Center, a home, or inpatient facilities. For most people, the service package allows them to continue living at home while receiving services.
A care team assesses the Veteran's needs, develops a care plan and delivers needed services.
PACE is available only in states that have chosen to offer this program under Medicaid. For a list of PACE organizations nationwide, visit www.cms.hhs.gov/pace/pacesite.asp.
The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is not a VA service. It is an optional benefit under both Medicare and Medicaid. Your eligibility for PACE is based on clinical need and service availability.
You must:
- Be at least 55 years old
- Live in the PACE service area
- Be screened by a care team and found to meet your state's nursing facility level of care
- At the time of enrollment, be able to safely live in a community setting
Talk with a VA social worker to find out if you may qualify for PACE.
PACE offers and manages all of the medical, social and rehabilitative services needed to:
- Preserve or restore independence
- Remain in your home and community
- Retain quality of life
The service package must include all Medicare and Medicaid services provided by your state. The PACE program provides additional services the care team identifies as needed.
Services provided include primary care, social services, restorative therapies, personal care and support services, nutrition counseling, recreation therapy and meals. These services may be provided in an Adult Day Health Center, but may also include in-home and other referral services.
The care team has frequent contact with you, which helps to detect subtle changes in your condition and make changes to the mix of services so that your current needs are met.
You can use a Shared Decision Making Worksheet to help you figure out what long term care services or settings may best meet your needs now or in the future.
There's also a Caregiver Self-Assessment. It can help your caregiver identify their own needs and decide how much support they can offer to you. Having this information from your caregiver, along with the involvement of your care team and social worker, will help you reach good long term care decisions.
Your physician or other primary care provider can answer questions about your medical needs. Some important questions to talk about with your social worker and family include:
- How much assistance do I need for my activities of daily living (e.g., bathing and getting dressed)?
- What are my caregiver's needs?
- How much independence and privacy do I want?
- What sort of social interactions are important to me?
- How much can I afford to pay for care each month?
If the PACE Program seems right for you, your VA social worker can help you with making arrangements. You can also use the Helpful Websites listed in the Guide to Long Term Care to help you locate services in your community.
Boy, am I glad they have this PACE program in my town. I want to stay in my home and community as long as I can. The PACE program has people who give me monthly health checkups, help with my oxygen tank and help me get out to the Adult Day Health Care Center so I can see my buddies.
Hal, Veteran
We've been married for 51 years and I have my own health troubles. This program lets my wife stay home with me and she still gets the help that she needs. They have folks that come to our home and help her with her therapies for swallowing and deliver meals.
Mike, Veteran's husband and caregiver
