Page 2 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - August 2018 -25-08
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Page 2 Senior Times - August 2018
ALTERNATIVES FOR SENIOR HEALTHCARE – EXPERIENCE THE
CENTRACARE DIFFERENCE
As a senior are you tired of running from one doctor to another depending on your symptoms or condition? Does it become wearisome to try to navigate the current healthcare system? If you said, “Yes,” then you’re not alone. Many seniors have difficulty dealing with the complexities in today’s world of healthcare and they are looking for alternatives.
CentraCare and other PACE programs throughout the country have become a desirable alternative to the standard healthcare options
for seniors. The question is often asked, “What makes CentraCare and other PACE organizations different than traditional care services for the elderly?”
Most people don’t realize that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) looks very favorably on PACE programs because the outcomes for seniors have been proven to be much better than traditional healthcare.
An historical perspective of the PACE program may be beneficial to understanding how PACE organizations have come to experience this posi- tive reputation.
The PACE model of care can be traced back to the early 1970’s when, in response to community concerns for the older adults of San Francisco’s Chinatown, North Beach, and Polk Gulch neigh- borhoods, a committee was formed, headed by Dr. William L. Gee, a public dentist, to address the issue. The committee then hired Marie-Louise Ansak in 1971 to investigate potential solutions. This group, along with other community lead- ers, formed On Lok Senior Services to create a community based system of care. On Lok means “peaceful, happy abode” in Cantonese. It was
a place where frail older adults could gather in
a peaceful, happy place and receive hot meals,
By: Tim Mitchell, Fund Development Coordinator, CentraCare
health and social services, and supervision during the daytime, while returning to their homes in the evening.
Simultaneously, in the 1970’s the federal and state governments became increasingly interested in the development of community-based services. As a result, waivers of federal Medicaid require- ments allowed state governments to experiment with fee-for-service programs for frail elderly
and disabled beneficiaries. It was during this time that On Lok Senior Health Services became the first Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) recognized by CMS.
Recognizing the great benefits of the PACE model, in the mid-1980’s Congress authorized waivers for ten replication sites and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided start-up grants for these new ventures as well as funds enabling On Lok to provide technical assistance for the project. By 1994 there were ten new sites open using the PACE model of care. This demon- stration proved to be so successful that PACE was eventually established as a permanent Medicare program by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.
While PACE has continued to grow and evolve, the same basic principles that were demonstrated to be a highly sought after care model are the same principles that guide more than 240 PACE organizations in 31 states today. At a 2015 event in Washington, DC, commem- orating the 50th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid, Andy Slavitt, then acting administrator of CMS, called PACE a “glimpse into our future.” In other words, he believed the PACE model was the correct model for caring for our nations aging population. Additionally, in a study of PACE programs in multiple states, Dr. Victor Hirth con- cluded, “PACE has become the epitome of quality care for the elderly throughout the nation.”
CentraCare, with locations in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo serving Calhoun, Kalamazoo, eastern Van Buren, southern Allegan, and southern Barry counties, offers this same innovative model of care for the elderly. At these centers they provide acute and post-acute care, home care, and com- munity based services coordinated by an inter- disciplinary team of health care professionals in
a collaborative fashion at one single location to enable each participant to receive the most per- sonalized level of care while still living at home. Their staff is on call 24 hours a day and seven days a week for the care of the participants. All these services are provided at no out-of-pocket expense for 99% of the seniors involved in the program.
If you are a senior seeking an alternative to the traditional complex health care system, you may want to investigate the services of CentraCare. Your world may just become much less com- plicated by simply making a phone call to CentraCare at (269) 441- 9319. They will be glad to explain to you the “CentraCare difference.” You can also visit CentraCare online at www. mycentracare.com or https://www.facebook.com/ mycentracare.
Experience the CentraCare Difference!
The care you need to help you stay in the home you love!
When asked, most older adults say that they want to live in their own community as long as possible. For those with chronic con- ditions and limited resources, this can be a challenge. CentraCare serves to meet the health care needs of frail adults living in Calhoun, Kalamazoo, and Eastern VanBuren counties.
COORDINATED SERVICES INCLUDE...
“They help me so much with my medical care and everything else with my life. Really, everything. They gave me my life and freedom back.”
“I appreciate the personalized care. I feel that I am being cared for. I get treated not as a stranger, but as a part of the family.”
“I like that everything is offered at one place. I used to struggle to get help all over town, now it’s very convenient.”
• Physical and Occupational Therapy Services
• Quality Medical Care • Social Services
• Safety in the Home
• Socialization • Support for
Caregivers
Call us to find out if CentraCare is right for you or someone you love.
(269) 441-9319 or visit www.mycentracare.com
200 W. Michigan Ave, Ste 103, Battle Creek, MI • 445 W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI


































































































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