Page 13 - Pat Brown (1)

All About

Hope, Dignity, and Independence

An elderly woman pushes her walker past the receptionist, but to a business she loved. After all the freedom and personal growth
stops when she sees a young lady with a guitar slung over her her own company afforded her, she feared that she would not find
shoulder leaving. “I am sorry to have missed you. I really love your another career where she could be genuinely fulfilled. Then in 2008
music. I couldn’t make it because I was in rehab.” St. Paul’s PACE opened their doors, and Carol was hired soon
“That’s okay, maybe next time,” the volunteer musician says with a after. “It is a position that is similar to running my own business, just
big smile. magnified,” she said, and working at St. Paul’s PACE has given her
A few more seniors exit and some enter, and each one is acknowl- the opportunity to be creative and grow, and in her own words, it
edged with a warm “goodbye” or “hello” from the receptionist. There has been “very satisfying.” And indeed it must be when one sees
is some laughter, some teasing, and everyone seems genuinely the level of care the elderly receive at St. Paul’s PACE.
happy to be there. And where is this place? It’s called St. Paul’s As we walked through the facility different activities were taking
PACE, an all-inclusive medical, social, and homecare facility that place: A specialist was working with a group for psychiatric issues
allows frail while in the next room,
seniors to another group was doing a
continue to social activity. A cozy res-
live safely in taurant area also provides
their homes a nutritionally balanced
while provid- lunch each day. The facility
ing them a was immaculate and the
plethora of rehabilitation center was
services; bustling with seniors working
from medical on a variety of exercises.
care to reha- There is a full shower facility
bilitative care where a senior can get help
to day center if needed, and at the end of
activities the corridor a “Mini ER” as San Diego
which include Carol calls it. Their primary Woman
music, art, care clinic houses a Physi-
exercise, and cian, Physician Assistant,
field trips. registered nurses, voca-
And this tional nurses and a medical 13
is just the technician who manages
beginning. chronic and acute situations
To learn rather than sending the
more about elderly directly to a hospital.
these They can do intravenous
and other therapy, electrocardiograms,
services, I wound care, X-rays, and
was given a provide medications. St.
guided tour Paul’s PACE also has (on
by Carol site) a dentist, optometrist,
Hubbard, the podiatrist, psychologist, and
Executive Di- psychiatrist. They also have
rector at St. their own transportation that
Paul’s PACE picks up the seniors and
(Program of then takes them home again
All-Inclusive when their visit is over.
Care for the Some seniors come once
Elderly). After or twice a week, while some
spending come every day—it’s always
some time a case by case situation.
with Carol, it was clear how much she believed in St. Paul’s PACE. Through daily meetings, the Interdisciplinary Team—made up of the
Carol Hubbard, a graduate of Quinnipiac College in Connecticut, al- Center Director, doctor, nurse, dietician, social worker, home care
ways enjoyed taking care of people. In high school she volunteered nurse, representatives from transportation, recreation, and day ser-
in homes for developmentally disabled children and quickly found vices as well as the physical and occupational therapists—discuss
her passion in occupational therapy. For twenty years, Carol owned individual cases. This is the time when a full picture of a particular
and operated an occupational therapy business with up to ten ther- senior is formed; a daily meeting that really analyzes the needs of a
apists working for her. Unfortunately, due to the impact of Medicare senior from every angle. It’s through these meetings that steps can
fee schedule and regulation changes, she had to close her doors