PACE | Altamed
AltaMed PACE Can Help Keep Seniors Healthy and Independent at Home
The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE, was established by Medicare to help independent seniors with complex medical needs. The program helps participants avoid nursing homes and instead, receive the care and services necessary to help them stay safe, comfortable, and healthy living in their own home.
PACE offers care coordination, transportation, social services, and meals, all in a positive, comfortable environment. It’s health care that puts the focus on ‘care,’ connecting seniors with peers in their community as well as the PACE staff who are committed to treating participants with dignity, respect, and compassion.
A Track Record of Success
PACE has been a cornerstone of AltaMed’s success since 1996. In fact, AltaMed was California’s first licensed and accredited PACE program. The AltaMed PACE program has grown to 11 centers, serving more than 3,000 seniors each year.
Who’s Eligible for PACE
PACE is for independent seniors (55+) who may need assistance in performing activities of daily living but can still live in their homes and navigate their communities with the help of PACE services. Medicare-eligible seniors who live in the PACE service area are encouraged to apply.
See Real Stories from PACE Participants
Every PACE Participant is different, and so are their needs. Let a few of our seniors tell you about their experiences -- and what keeps them coming back.
With clean, modern facilities, no wonder so many seniors say PACE is their “home away from home”.
Our Facilities
No one enjoys going to the doctor – but seniors around the country love the PACE program. AltaMed designed our PACE facilities to house exceptional care facilities and include a comfortable environment that feels welcoming and inclusive to our daily visiting participants.
They’re modern and clean, equipped with the latest medical equipment.
Most importantly, PACE facilities are located in the heart of the communities we serve.
Health Screenings After 50
Even if you’ve lived a healthy life, as you enter your 50s, your risk of developing chronic diseases, such as arthritis, heart conditions, cancer, diabetes, and even depression increases.
At home, you’ve got your family. Here, you’ve got a dedicated team, with each person playing an important role.
A Team Approach
PACE is much more than just “adult day care:” we are committed to helping participants thrive, physically, mentally, and even emotionally. That means that each participant has a team of staff and specialists behind them, offering personalized attention on a regular basis.
When you sign up for PACE, you’ll get your own care plan – a detailed course of action that’s designed to keep you healthy and strong while addressing any current or potential health risks. It may sound like a lot, but you’d be surprised by how much you can do when you have the right team behind you.
In addition to doctors and nurses to address physical and mental well-being, PACE staff includes social workers who can help you find community resources that can make you and your family’s lives easier. This team model has been proven to deliver better care, and higher participant satisfaction rates. It’s a win-win!
Learn more about our PACE program by calling
Fight Alzheimer’s by Keeping Your Brain Sharp
September 21 is World Alzheimer’s Day. At AltaMed, we’re dedicated to helping our members do whatever they can to fight this debilitating disease.
Our PACE vans provide comfortable transport for participants and make life easier for caregivers, too.
Transportation
Seniors should never feel like they’re a burden on their caregivers, and PACE transportation can help you feel more independent, as well as providing an opportunity for daily socializing outside your home.
The PACE vans have become a fixture in our communities – in fact, for many, it’s their first experience with AltaMed. As part of their PACE program, seniors will be picked up from their homes and then dropped back off at the end of the day in these colorful vans.
Those PACE participants who require additional support may also receive transportation and a helpful escort to get them to specialist appointments.
Learn more about our PACE program by calling
Help for Caregivers: Recognize the Signs of Cognitive Impairment
One of the most difficult parts of being a caregiver is watching someone succumb to age. Living a healthy, active life is a good way to fight off many signs of aging and disease, but even the healthiest of us get older, and that sometimes means becoming debilitated in both body and mind.
Going from doctor to doctor can be exhausting and take all day. That’s why many PACE services are under one roof.
Health Services
PACE was originally created to meet the needs of seniors with complex health conditions that required numerous trips to the doctor and other medical professionals. The idea is that by having all of these services in the same place, it’s easier for participants, and they’ll also enjoy a higher standard of care. Not to mention, it takes some of the pressure off of caregivers and family members.
When your care team can share information about your health and progress, they can give you the best treatment and recommendations. PACE has you covered, from head to toe. We also offer services to help you make better decisions about your health, as well help you take advantage of resources in your community
PACE services include:
- Nursing
- Personal care
- Physical/occupational therapy
- Prescription/pharmacy services
- Recreational therapy
- Social services
- Meals & nutritional counseling
- Audiology (hearing)
- Social work
- Dentistry
- Optometry
- Podiatry (feet)
- Medical care
- Speech therapy
- Home health care
- Respite care
Learn more about our PACE program by calling
Get the Most Out of Your Telehealth Visits During a Pandemic
As a way to keep our members safe and continue to meet their health needs, AltaMed now offers telephone and video visits. You’ll still get the same excellent quality of care and level of attention that you’re used to, all without leaving your house.
With therapy comes the strength and confidence needed for seniors to stay happy and independent.
Physical & Occupational Therapy
Movement isn’t supposed to hurt! Activities like walking, playing with your grandchildren, and even getting out of bed and moving throughout your day should make you feel good. If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort instead, PACE has two different services to keep you moving forward:
Physical therapy (PT). PT is the practice of restoring proper movement throughout the body. By working on your strength and flexibility, or range of motion, our goal is to make it easy and pain-free to move through your daily life.
Occupational therapy (OT). OT is different from PT: even though both focus on helping you feel better, OT is about helping you develop or improve the skills and confidence you need for daily living and working.
Even if you’ve never exercised before, you can still do these therapies and see results.
Learn more about our PACE program by calling
All About Arthritis
Our bodies are amazing machines that outperform and outlast even the most advanced technology. But like a car or a washing machine, over time, things in our body break down.
All PACE locations provide you with the medications you need to maintain your health.
Pharmacy
If you have complex health conditions, you may be taking a number of medications. It’s easy to lose track. And then what happens if you’re down to your last pill, but can’t find a ride to the pharmacy?
Having your medications available to you at the PACE center makes it easy to stay compliant with your medications. When all of your medications are in one place, a pharmacist can watch for potential drug interactions, which helps keep you safe. Plus, we’ll remind you when you’re due for a refill.
And now, instead of going to the pharmacy and standing in a long line, you can pick your medications up when you’re at your local PACE center.
Learn more about our PACE program by calling
The Services to Help You Grow Healthy and the Protection to Keep You Safe
For the past 50 years, our top priority has been helping our patients grow healthy. Our locations remain open and safe to support you and your family’s health needs.
Some seniors need a little extra help. PACE provides in-home visits so they can stay safe and happy at home.
Home Health Care
To help you stay healthy and comfortable at home, qualified participants receive house visits from PACE caregivers, who can lend you a hand with tasks ranging from cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping to personal hygiene and dressing. Your care team will determine the help you need.
With a friendly PACE professional pitching in on these essential tasks, you and your family or caregiver can enjoy more quality time together.
Learn more about our PACE program by calling
Healthy Aging: What’s Normal Versus What You Should Worry About
As the saying goes: growing old isn’t for the faint of heart! It takes a lot of work to make it through 50 or 60 years in this world.
PACE participants have access to a social worker who can help them find and apply for additional resources.
Social Services
Good health is so much more than how your body feels – it includes feeling like you’re connected to family, friends, and your community, and that you have all the essentials you need to thrive. PACE offers comprehensive social services to help participants meet these needs.
Your PACE social worker can help you find and then apply for federal, state, and community programs such as financial assistance, food benefits, in-home services, disability, advocacy, and more.
Learn more about our PACE program by calling
Help for Caregivers: Recognize the Signs of Cognitive Impairment
One of the most difficult parts of being a caregiver is watching someone succumb to age. Living a healthy, active life is a good way to fight off many signs of aging and disease, but even the healthiest of us get older, and that sometimes means becoming debilitated in both body and mind.
It’s a fact: being happy makes you healthier! PACE offers fun activities and the opportunity to make friends.
Activities
There’s no U.S. recommended daily allowance for it, but joy is an important part of living an active, healthy life. PACE centers feature a fully-equipped room where participants can enjoy a wide variety of activities – all designed to encourage socialization, keep your brain sharp, and be fun for all ability levels.
Maybe you’ll pick up a new skill, such as knitting. Show off your dancing skills. Enjoy some friendly competition: around here, we love Bingo, cards, board games, and even video games on a Wii. PACE participants also get to go on occasional off-site field trips.
PACE activities give you the chance to try new things, and even flex your mental muscles. Attendance is always optional, but highly encouraged.
Learn more about our PACE program by calling
Heart-Healthy Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure
If you’re like many Americans – about 100 million, or almost half of all adults, according to the American Heart Association – you have high blood pressure.
With delicious meals for participants and advice on choosing the right foods at home, PACE helps seniors eat healthy.
Meals and Nutrition Counseling
The next-best-thing to home delivery: PACE participants receive meals that are prepared not only for their health and dietary needs, but are fresh, delicious, and culturally familiar.
PACE participants also receive personalized counseling so they can make the right choices about nutritious meals at home.
Learn more about our PACE program by calling
Why You Need Vitamins and the Best Places to Get Them
When it comes to getting the right amount of vitamins, grabbing a quick pill might seem like the easiest option. But what most people don’t know is that there’s almost no proof that multivitamin pills offer any long-term health benefits.
Special Notice:
AltaMed PACE participants must receive all needed healthcare services (other than emergency services) from AltaMed PACE; or from an entity, person or company authorized by AltaMed PACE. AltaMed PACE participants may be fully and personally liable for the costs of unauthorized or out-of-network services.
Notice of Transportation Reasonable Modification
"Lock-in" Provision
When you enroll with AltaMed PACE, we will be your sole service provider and you agree to receive medical services exclusively from our organization, except in the case of an emergency or for urgently needed services. You will have access to all the care you need through our staff or through arrangements that AltaMed PACE makes with contract providers, but you will no longer be able to obtain services from other doctors or medical providers under the traditional fee-for-service Medicare and Medi-Cal system. Enrollment in AltaMed PACE results in disenrollment from any other Medicare or Medi-Cal pre-payment plan or optional benefit.
Electing enrollment in any other Medicare or Medi-cal prepayment plan or optional benefit, including the hospice benefit, after enrolling in AltaMed PACE is considered a voluntary disenrollment from AltaMed PACE. (Please note that any services you use before your enrollment will not be paid for by AltaMed PACE unless these are specifically authorized.)
PACE Locations
PACE is a vibrant presence in the communities throughout Los Angeles County. Find the facilities most convenient to you.
Contact us at (855) 252-7223, TTY: 711
Not sure if you qualify? AltaMed works with seniors and caregivers to help determine PACE eligibility. Let us help!