On Aug. 19, Community Care opened the doors of its Belle City Adult Day and Health Center — the first PACE community center in the greater Racine area.
PACE, which stands for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, is a Medicare and Medicaid program that provides comprehensive medical services for eligible seniors who qualify for nursing home care.
“It allows members to live and thrive in their own community, instead of having to move into a nursing home or long-term care facility,” said Jennifer Haney, R.N., regional program director for Community Care.
The Belle City center, open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is a beautiful new facility designed to feel like a home away from home, with plants, art and comfortable furnishings — and under the same roof is a fully functional medical clinic, dental clinic and more.
Each member of the PACE program is given an individual care plan and is assigned a team of practitioners, including a nurse, social worker, physical or occupational therapist and dietitian.
This wide range of medical services has been increasingly needed in Racine, Kenosha and South Milwaukee, where a growing number of seniors choose to remain at home and age in place.
“We’re also taking some of the burden off of families,” said Haney. “Caregiver stress is a real thing, so when family members have to work or just need a break, their elders can be well cared for here.”
Physical, emotional and cognitive care — all under one roof
Many people first come to Belle City for the recreational and social activities it offers — exercise, art and music, gardening, educational workshops and special events from make-your-own-pizza day to holiday celebrations. There are also computers and tablets for the new tech-savvy generation of seniors.
A complete catered lunch is served every day, with attention paid to each individual’s needs and dietary requirements, with assistance provided for those who need help when eating. And transportation to and from the center is provided for anyone who needs it.
Activities and a good meal may be the initial draw, but it also opens the door to medical care.
“A lot of people don’t want to go to the doctor, they don’t want to see a dentist, but when they’re here at the center, we can do a really good health assessment,” said Haney. “How are they eating? How are they moving? Do they need a pain management plan? And when we see a need, the clinic is right there for them.”
The idea is to catch small problems before they become bigger ones, to notice an infection, for example, and provide antibiotics before it escalates and hospital care is required.
“Our main goal is to improve the health outcomes of our members,” said Haney. “We want to make sure that they're getting their baths, they're getting proper skin care, they're getting proper medical treatment and they're getting proper dental care.”
Older adults age 55 or over, who are on Medicare or Medicaid and qualify for nursing home care, may be eligible for PACE. To learn more about the requirements and to apply, click here.
And for more information about the Belle City Adult Day and Health Center, visit communitycareinc.org.
