Blue Ridge Independence at Home is pleased to announce the launch of its new Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), opening for enrolled participants on September 1, 2024. This innovative program offers comprehensive community-based care for seniors, enabling them to receive necessary medical and social supportive services while continuing to live safely and independently in their homes and communities.
“We are grateful to introduce PACE to our community to provide outstanding care to eligible participants,” said SueAnn Myers, who leads the dedicated team at Blue Ridge Independence at Home. “Our goal is to provide individuals 55 and older with the care and support they need to live independently and with dignity. PACE aligns perfectly with our mission to enhance the quality of life for aging individuals in the communities we are privileged to serve.”
Blue Ridge Independence at Home, affiliated with Blue Ridge Hospice, serves elderly individuals across Winchester City and the counties of Clarke, Frederick, Fauquier, Loudoun, Rappahannock, Page, Shenandoah, and Warren. Their interdisciplinary team of medical and nonclinical professionals work together to deliver personalized services that promote health, independence, and quality of life.
The PACE program offers a full spectrum of services, including preventative, primary, acute, and long-term health and personal care, along with social activities in a supportive environment. The interdisciplinary team includes physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, therapists, dieticians, transportation drivers, and personal care aides who coordinate all aspects of health and wellbeing to address each participant’s holistic needs.
“Today marks a pivotal moment for our community with the opening of PACE. It represents a profound commitment to keeping our seniors connected and cared for and underscores the dedication of the entire board—meeting the needs of our aging and seriously ill neighbors,” noted Richard Kennedy, Board Chair of Blue Ridge Hospice.
Personalized in-home care will support daily activities for safe living, while medical services will be provided at the Blue Ridge Independence at Home PACE Center, located at 2333 Valor Drive, Winchester. Open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the center is designed to meet the unique needs of the elderly and features a full medical clinic, recreational and dining areas, sensory and quiet rooms, and integrates medical, social, and long-term care services. Reliable transportation is available for trips to the center and specialty medical appointments.
Jason Parsons, President and CEO of Blue Ridge Hospice and Blue Ridge Independence at Home, added, “The founding purpose of these organizations is to meet the healthcare needs of our communities, and that mission remains to this day. With the opening of Blue Ridge Independence at Home, we are fulfilling our promise to expand to meet community need. This new PACE Center is a key part of our vision to build a world-class continuum of care, focused on community, quality, and access. We are dedicated to ensuring that everyone in our service area who is aging or facing chronic illness receives high-quality care with dignity and respect.”
Blue Ridge Independence at Home is open to individuals aged 55 and older who reside within the service area, live with chronic health care needs and/or disabilities, and meet specific criteria, including needing nursing home level of care but preferring to stay in their own homes. Most participants are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid benefits.