Medical Care
PACE is able to provide varying levels of medical assistance to ensure our physical and mental wellbeing. When you join PACE, you are provided with a primary care physician who specializes in senior health. That medical professional, called a gerontologist, will help coordinate the supports you need. They will assess you for chronic health conditions, identify any safety issues in your home, and provide you with home care assistance or home care services if you need them.
You’ll also be screened for signs of depression and offered behavioral health care for seniors.
Some participants may benefit from attending the PACE adult day care center. PACE offers four centers in Rhode Island. There’s one in Westerly, Woonsocket, Newport and East Providence. Transportation to and from the center will be provided. If day center services are right for you, you will have a light breakfast upon arrival, activities throughout the day, a nutritious lunch and a safe ride home each afternoon.
Because participants’ needs change regularly, your care team will meet regularly to talk about your progress and where you might need some more help as you age. Each PACE employee you meet will play a role in observing and communicating changes in your physical, social and emotional health so that adjustments can be made to improve your quality of life.
You may not come into the adult day care center every day, but you will make visits to the adjacent health clinic which will become your senior health care hub. You’ll no longer have to look for a specialist or try to schedule an appointment for a test. PACE will coordinate those errands. We’ll even give you a ride to your primary care appointment and to any specialists that you may need to see.
PACE clinicians will also come to your home if you need a medical visit.
Home health care from PACE can be offered at a variety of levels. Perhaps you forget to take your heart medication some days or aren’t consistent consistently taking your blood pressure if you have hypertension. PACE can provide medical home care services to assist you in monitoring your health conditions and maintaining your medications. We’ll provide you with the prescriptions and remind you when to take them. Most importantly, home health aides work on the same team as your primary care provider, so there will always be clear communication regarding your care.