Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) attended the Thursday evening ribbon-cutting of a new Medicare-sponsored program designed to provide all-inclusive health care for eligible seniors, while allowing them to remain independent in their own homes.

            PACE—Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly—is the federal program that enables nursing home-eligible seniors to obtain all inclusive care, without moving into a nursing home facility. The Beacon of  Life PACE program will be run by Beacon Health and Social Services, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, out of the former Patterson Army Hospital on the closed Fort Monmouth Army post. Beacon of Life will serve eligible seniors from Monmouth County from its Stephenson Avenue location.

         “Given a choice, many seniors are much happier being in their own home as long as possible rather than going to a convalescent home,” Smith said. “Staying at their home can foster independence, healthy physical activity, more privacy and greater freedoms in general. Independent at-home living is a good option for many seniors, and Beacon of Life will offer this worthwhile service for older patients.”

         Smith helped launch the first PACE program in Hamilton, N.J. in 2009 with St. Francis Medical Center in Smith’s District. St. Francis, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), worked together to activate the Living Independently for Elderly (LIFE). LIFE today has grown to serve 323 seniors and is located on the Hamilton-Trenton border, serving the residents of all of Mercer County and portions of northern Burlington County. In addition to Life and Beacon of Life, there are currently three other PACE locations in New Jersey in Camden, Vineland and Jersey City.

         PACE is funded through Medicare and Medicaid. Smith voted to create the program in 1997.

         Using a team of doctors, nurses, physical therapists and other health experts, the pro­gram can manage all the care of the patient for a set fee paid by Medicare and Medicaid, but also assumes full risk for whatever care is necessary. Patients can be brought into a center during the week for continuous monitoring. The center will also provide meals and recreation. Staff will provide health care at the person’s home, including meals-to-go. Candidates must meet four main criteria: they must be age 55 and up; live in the hospital’s service area; require a nursing home level of care, and; be physically able to live safely in their home.

         For more information about PACE, visit the National PACE Association’s website at www.npaonline.org or the Medicaid website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PACE/.

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