SENIOR CARE

For the past 20 years, AltaMed has offered PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), a comprehensive senior care package. PACE patients are aged 65 and older, and qualify for nursing home level care, but remain living independently in their own homes. Many of these seniors live alone and are unable to leave their homes without a reliable form of transportation. While the program includes managed medical care to ensure seniors receive all the health services they require, PACE goes even further to focus on the whole patient. The program includes transportation to and from traditional health care services, as well as social and educational activities that promote interaction and cognitive activity. Participants get to take art classes, play with petting zoo animals, make projects in woodshop and play bingo–all while interacting with their neighbors. The seniors have responded so positively that we are hoping to further engage participants in active learning with new language and technology classes in the near future. By helping our seniors remain cognitively active, AltaMed allows them to stay healthy and in their own homes longer.

With PACE, we have made significant progress in making sure our elderly patients are not living in isolation but are engaging with friends and continued learning. As the aging population grows rapidly, however, these programs are becoming more critical than ever. With your help, we can ensure that the elderly in our community remain social, healthy and independent for as long as possible.