Plans for the expansion of the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly are just around the corner!

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Many of us have elderly loved ones and we want the best possible care for them. The Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE, helps keep senior citizens out of nursing homes for longer, and it could be coming to the Toledo area.

PACE is described as a “nursing home without walls.” The seniors are bussed to a PACE Center during the day and then taken back to their homes at night. That way they can continue living at home while getting care similar to what they’d receive in a nursing home.

“It provides all needed healthcare services from long-term care to pharmaceuticals to social services to just getting a hot meal to individuals living in the community who are nursing home eligible so they can remain in their homes or in the community longer,” said Patrick Schwartz, the Director of Government Affairs & Communications at LeadingAge Ohio.

There is already a PACE Program in the Cleveland area and advocates say it is a huge success. Ann Conn is in charge of the program there, and she says the seniors love having a good quality of care while still being able to sleep in their own beds at night.

The PACE Program also takes a burden off the shoulders of caregivers. The time for PACE expansion is now,” said Conn. “We can’t wait another two years to see how the program rolls out. It’s been proven in other markets, it’s been proven in other parts of the country and Toledo need a PACE organization now.”

Learn More about plans for PACE expansion in Ohio.