August 23, 2006

GRAND RAPIDS – A ribbon cutting ceremony today in Grand Rapids marked a new era of long term care in West Michigan, as the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) and Care Resources jointly opened a new Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program in the area.

"We believe very strongly that this new PACE model for the people of west Michigan represents the wave of the future for long term care models in Michigan," said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. "We are thrilled to now offer two PACE models in Michigan – one being in west Michigan and the other in Detroit."

The PACE program – headquartered at Care Resources in Grand Rapids – features a comprehensive medical and social service delivery system that uses an interdisciplinary team approach in an adult day health center. The center is supplemented by in-home and referral services for seniors, Olszewski said. The PACE service area covers all of Kent County.

"The PACE program will offer another long term care option for the citizens of Kent County. Care Resources was established through a unique partnership between long standing local community organizations whose missions are to provide services to stimulate a higher quality of life for the citizens of Kent County. The partner organizations are HHS, Health Options, Holland Home, Metro Health Hospital, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, and The Grand Rapids Dominicans. We are very honored to be awarded this PACE contract for Kent County and we look forward to opening our doors for services" said Denise Zoeterman, Care Resources Board Director and President and CEO of HHS, Health Options.

Nationally, the PACE model is centered around the belief that it is better for the well-being of seniors with chronic care needs and their families to be served in the community whenever possible. PACE programs around the country serve individuals who are aged 55 or older, determined by their state to need nursing home care, able to live safely in the community at the time of enrollment, and live in a PACE service area.

Services provided by PACE organizations include:

· Delivering all needed medical and supportive services, the program is able to provide an entire continuum of care and services to seniors with chronic care needs while maintaining their independence in their homes for as long as possible.

· Adult day care that offers nursing; physical, occupational and recreational therapies; meals; nutritional counseling; social work and personal care

· Medical care provided by a PACE physician familiar with the history, needs, and preferences of each participant

· Home health care and personal care

· All necessary prescription drugs

· Social services

· Medical specialists in audiology, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, and speech therapy

· Respite care

· Hospital and nursing home care when necessary

The PACE model of care can be traced to the early 1970s, when the Chinatown-North Beach community of San Francisco saw the pressing needs of families whose elders had immigrated from Italy, China, and the Philippines for long term care services.