A representative from LifeCircles came over today to talk to us about Dad participating in their program. He would be required to go to their facility at least once a week, although he would start at two times a week. A bus would pick him up and drop him back off at home.
The program is part of Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and is supported by Medicare and Medicaid. Dad just barely qualifies as he has a pretty good income, but just squeaks in under the income limit. The program provides innovative care for aging individuals according to their brochure.
The coolest thing is that it will not cost us anything and all of his health and medical needs would be taken care of. They have their own doctor’s, dentist’s, Optometrists, hearing, podiatry, cardiology and so forth. Also prescriptions and over-the-counter meds are taken care of as well. They also provide rehab and durable medical equipment when needed.
What the program does is helps people live in their own community rather than go into a nursing home unless absolutely necessary. Dad can live at home, go to the facility for the day from one to four times a week, and have everything taken care of. I would have a time of respite while he was out having fun and getting his needs met at the same time.
It almost seems too good to be true and I wondered if anyone out there has had experience with LifeCircles/PACE? I would love to hear what you think and if you do know about the program, what are your thoughts – good and bad.
We are going to give it a try, but if there is something I’m not seeing I want to know!
What I think I will do is update this site as we work toward getting Dad into the program and possibly later if/when he goes into a nursing home. That way hopefully we can help others find a way to meet the needs of their loved one as well.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Kater // Aug 11, 2012 at 8:47 am
Hi!
My father is 92 and still living at home, but he wouldn’t be there if I didn’t live 2 minutes away from him. This allows me to visit and check in on him at least once a day.
I have never heard of Lifecircles or PACE and am wondering if it’s available in my community. Who would I call to find out more on this. I’m going to Google Lifecircles, but was wondering if you had a recommendation. Does a doctor have to refer a patient. Thanks!
2 Edie // Aug 11, 2012 at 10:49 am
Kater,
The program is through Medicare and the person has to be nursing home eligible, at least in Michigan they do. Here is a link to the state locator or you can Google Medicare PACE and find the locator link there. I’ll see if this link will work in the comment section. I may also add it to the article for people to use as well.
http://www.payingforseniorcare.com/longtermcare/resources/pace_medicare/provider_list.html
It think it’s great that your father can still live on his own. Dad actually does pretty good and probably could live on his own, but my sister moved in to take care of Mom with her dementia and stayed after Mom died. We just got into the belief system that someone needed to be with him, and I’m not sure that was really the case.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope this link helps.
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