Most changes around us happen gradually, a slow progression from one state of existence to another. Growing from infant to child and child to adolescent occurs gradually as does graying in later life. Changes occur so slowly they seem barely imperceptible until the bigger picture is examined. Mental and physical capabilities diminish over time; executive function lapses and mental acuity dims. Navigating a flight of stairs becomes harder as each year passes, as do many other physical tasks.
When changes occur to the people around us, there tends to be a natural denial process overlooking some of the obvious changes that have taken place. How do we know when it is time to start considering nursing homes or similar alternatives, such as Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)? Being nursing home eligible is one of the key indicators in making this choice. PACE centers offer alternatives to the 24/7 care model of the traditional nursing home by providing support during the day, allowing the participant to return home with their family or caregivers in the evening. In order to qualify for the PACE program, the state in which your loved one resides must certify the need for nursing home level of care.
Another indicator that PACE enrollment may be appropriate is the inordinate amount of time being spent on care management for your loved one. It takes a great deal of time speaking with and coordinating the efforts of several physicians—not to mention actually taking your loved one to each doctors’ appointment. Managing multiple medications and making sure each is given correctly without adverse reaction requires a great deal of effort as well. PACE programs also offer transport to medical appointments, ensuring that each appointment is kept as well as a variety of other care coordinating services.
If visits to the local emergency room are a frequent occurrence, PACE care coordination will also help manage the chronic conditions that are causing these frequent trips. One of the main goals of any PACE program is to manage medical diagnoses and to prevent an exacerbation of those conditions. With proper medical management and clinical professional oversight, chronic medical conditions can be kept under control, decreasing the number of visits to the emergency room.
Asking for help is never easy, but asking for help to care for someone that may have cared for you your entire life can be an even more difficult. However, there is never any reason to think that you as a caregiver possess super human strength and should be able to manage the care needs of your entire family singlehandedly. PACE centers offer an additional level of care and support that allows for your loved one to have the comforts of home and family while being in a socially active and clinically supervised setting during the day.
To learn more about eligibility for the PACE program, click here.