Families with aging and ill relatives face complications keeping up with numerous doctors, prescriptions and barriers to care. It’s difficult to coordinate and overwhelming if you are trying to keep your loved ones in their home.
That’s why, after more than 27 years of providing adult day health care and personal care services to Kentucky families, Horizon has expanded its services with Horizon-PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly).
PACE is an innovative alternative to nursing homes. This nationally recognized model provides quality health-care services and functions as a health plan for seniors – many of whom are Medicare and Medicaid eligible. Horizon was one of the two entities chosen in the state to bring this service to the most vulnerable rural Kentuckians.
Its initial PACE program covers an 11-county service area of Madison, Estill, Jackson, Rockcastle, Pulaski, Laurel, McCreary, Wayne, Clinton, Warren and Barren counties with three PACE facilities located in Madison, Wayne and Warren counties. Horizon was recently granted 10 additional counties in Butler, Simpson, Logan, Bell, Harlan, Allen, Monroe, Cumberland, Adair and Russell counties. It currently serves 110 participants and has created 76 full-time jobs.
KHIC provided the financing for PACE to start up the centers in Wayne and Madison counties.
The ability to coordinate the care of each participant enrolled in PACE is key to the model. PACE programs coordinate and provide all needed preventive, primary, acute and long-term care services so participants can continue living in the community. The average participant is 76 years old and has multiple, complex medical conditions, cognitive and/or functional impairments, and significant health and long-term care needs.
“Although all Horizon PACE participants are eligible for nursing home care, 95 percent continue to live at home and maintain their independence because of the comprehensive care provided at our centers and in the home,” said Kelly Upchurch, president of Horizon.
Here’s what makes PACE different than other services and programs:
Interdisciplinary Teams: Teams comprised of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, therapists, van drivers, aides and others – all of whom are employed by the Horizon-PACE program – meet regularly to exchange information and solve problems as the conditions and needs of PACE participants change.
PACE Centers: PACE participants attend the PACE center an average of three days per week. The center includes a health clinic with an on-site physician and nurse practitioner, physical and occupational therapy facilities, and at least one common room for social and recreational activities.