A comprehensive range of health care and social services for older adults in Cuyahoga County just became a lot more accessible.
Senior care leader, McGregor, recently expanded its community-based program known as PACE, or Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, which provides medical, social and personal care through a network of community centers. The cornerstone of the program is its mission to enable older adults to age in their own homes safely instead of in a nursing home.
The new facility, located in Brooklyn, is McGregor’s third PACE location in Cuyahoga County. The other two are in Warrensville Heights and on McGregor’s main campus in Forest Hill (East Cleveland). McGregor officials project a significant increase in enrollment, thanks to the new facility’s centrally located site, just off I-480 and Ridge Road.
PACE is a national model operating in over 30 states. McGregor is currently the only manager of the program in Ohio, but that is changing. The Ohio Department of Aging is in the process of seeking providers to roll out PACE programs across the state, including in Franklin, Hamilton, Montgomery, Lorain, Lucas and Summit counties.
“We are a small program with a mighty impact,” says Dr. CynthiaBalina, PACE medical director and
geriatric medicine specialist with University Hospitals. “We have unlimited capacity at this new Brooklyn center — it is spacious and beautiful.”
Participants must be at least 55 years of age, live in Cuyahoga County and qualify for nursing home care. The proven PACE senior care concept, founded in the early 1970s in California, is known for delivering comprehensive high-quality service and improved health outcomes. It is recognized as a cost-effective model and consistently receives high satisfaction ratings from participants. According to the National PACE Association, 97.5% of family caregivers would recommend the program.
“People who have dementia or other illnesses — or people with disabilities — can, in fact, be supported living in the community,” adds Balina. “They just need a little bit of help. We focus on pain relief and reduction of symptoms.
We ask, ‘What is this person’s goal?’”
Tangi McCoy, CEO, McGregor PACE, explains how an interdisciplinary team develops a personalized plan of care for each participant.
“Once someone enrolls in the program, all the wraparound services and medical care are included,” she says. “Each person is assigned a team of professionals from 11 different disciplines, including doctors, nurses and social workers, as well as a variety of therapists, a dietitian and even transportation.”
McCoy says that participants also enjoy meals and social activities at the centers. In addition, prescription drugs, home care and hospital visits are included, as well as medical equipment, dental, vision and hearing.
“Participants don’t pay for anything and don’t have to worry about extensive wait times to see the medical or clinical professional, because all the services are offered in the centers every day,” adds McCoy.
McGregor also operates a continuum of senior living options on its 45-acre estate in East Cleveland, including independent and assisted living facilities, nursing care, rehabilitation and hospice.