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ElderCare Update in South Florida...ElderCare Update in South Florida...ElderCare Update in South

PACE Expands Into South Miami

A Medicare/Medicaid healthcare pro- PACE, a wholly owned affiliate of Miami
gram designed to keep at-risk seniors out Jewish Health, provides care for low-
of nursing homes is expanding into South income seniors who are at-risk of being
Miami to better serve South Florida’s aged. placed in nursing homes. The program
The Program of All Inclusive Care for includes everything from daycare and hot
the Elderly, known as PACE, is growing its meals to exercise and recreation.
Westchester location by nine new zip Other services include nursing, physical
codes. A market study by Health therapy, occupational therapy, nutrition
Management Associates showed that more counseling, prescription drugs, dentistry,
than 1,300 seniors in the area could be eli- optometry and speech therapy.
gible for PACE services. Qualifying requirements are specific.
“We have a lot of referrals already from Seniors must:
those zip codes. From private homes and • Be 55 years or older
assisted livings,” said Astrid Montenegro, BY SALLIE JAMES • Live in a PACE service area
site administrator for Westchester. “There • Be certified as clinically eligible for
has to be the frailty factor – they may need nursing home care Alfredo Reyes, 71, a senior who uses the
help with dressing or taking a bath, simple • Be able to safely live in the community Westchester PACE center
things we take for granted, like being able with receipt of PACE program services
to get out of bed and getting dressed with- “Elderly doesn’t get you in,” Bauer “Good medical attention, good doctors.
out any assistance. explained. “You’ve got to be frail.” I feel happy,” said Reyes, an avid dominoes
Sometimes PACE is an elder’s only con- The program provides up to two weeks player. “I have a lot of friends.”
nection to the outside world. respite care and offers home visits from Frail seniors who live at home are eligi-
Every weekday, the center at 2700 SW aides and doctors in certain circumstances. ble for transportation to the PACE center
97th Ave. is abuzz with activity: seniors Care is team-based with a focus on preven- five days a week. Seniors who live in assist-
participate in group exercise classes, play tative care. PACE provides continuous ed living facilities usually travel to the
dominoes, relax in a dimly-lit sensory assessment, treatment planning and per- PACE center twice a week for social activ-
room scented with incense, or toss sonal care. ities and occupational and physical thera-
weighed balls in physical therapy. There’s just one rub – to participate in py. Reyes is one of them.
“People love it. They want to come on PACE, seniors must swap their own pri- “Everyone is nice, nice, nice,” Reyes said
the weekends but we just can’t,” said mary care physicians for the doctors affili- grinning.
Michelle Mierez, the day center manager. Michelle Mierez ated with PACE. Once enrolled in PACE, a “The PACE model is (designed) to keep
“Everybody is going all the time. It’s team of medical personnel handle every- the elderly out in the community as much
vibrant.” ment relations for Miami Jewish Health. thing from occupational and physical ther- as possible and prevent that nursing home
The Florida Legislature recently appro- Those living in zip codes 33156, 33185, apy to nutrition counseling and recreation placement,” Montenegro explained.
priated an additional $3.6 million to 33194, 33158. 33186, 33196, 33176, therapy.
expand the PACE program by 100 slots, 33193, 33193 and 33174 are now eligible “We coordinate all the scheduled med- For information about PACE eligibility, call
bringing the total at Westchester to 935, for PACE. The program also has offices in ical appointments,” Montenegro said. Stephanie De La Piedra, intake specialist, at
said Cliff Bauer, president of Florida PACE Miramar, Hialeah and on the main campus Miami resident Alfredo Reyes, 71, loves (305) 704-7646, ext. 66908.
Centers, Inc. and vice president of govern- of Miami Jewish Health. coming to the center.

Living With Dementia Takes Teamwork

Florida has the nation’s second-highest coaches spent time at the Miami Jewish who wrote the book ‘I Care.’ Kerry trains
number of residents with Alzheimer’s Health EmpathiCare unit with Chrystine people all over the country in nursing
disease. Kopcsik, LCSW, MSW, to learn about the homes on the specific way people with
In response, private organizations are benefits of music for residents. The Alzheimer’s should be handled,”
stepping up with innovative ways to sup- EmpathiCare curriculum devised by Dr. LoCicero said.
port patients and caregivers. Agronin teaches caregivers to actively Miguel Hernandez, M.D., ReServe
Among the new approaches is the engage with dementia patients rather South’s Dementia Care Program coordi-
ReServe® Dementia Care Coach than passively monitor them. nator, participates in the initial evalua-
Program. ReServe South Florida engages “These coaches work with individuals tion of an individual with dementia, as
retired workers age 50 and up, known as and families to alleviate fear and help well as the first meeting with family
ReServists, to help government and bridge the gap of where the person with members, to help them prepare for
social service agencies advance their mis- dementia is and where they probably are what’s ahead.
sions and fill critical staffing needs. Many going to end up. They help families to “The ultimate goal is for dementia care
Dementia Care Program coaches are understand there are a lot of things that coaches to be an asset to the community,
transitioning from successful careers in Dr. Marc Agronin can be done to help their loved one cope especially low-income areas that lack
health care and bring a wealth of empa- givers, the Dementia Care Coach in a very easy, friendly way,” said ReServe other resources. We want people to
thy and experience to the job. Program provides guidance to physi- South Director Doreen LoCicero. know we are affordable, and we want
ReServists who serve as dementia care cians, nurses, social workers and geri- LoCicero, who cared for parents with ReServe to become a household name,”
coaches undergo 30 hours of training, atric care managers. The coach’s role is to dementia, said ReServe’s decision to open Dr. Hernandez said.
including hands-on training at Miami educate paid and non-paid caregivers the program in South Florida was a nat- For outreach to families, ReServe part-
Jewish Health, to provide affordable care about the stages of dementia, help man- ural fit. ners with the Alzheimer’s Association,
for individuals with dementia, their fam- age expectations, offer advice, set goals, "It’s really needed, when you consider Easterseals and the Alliance for Aging.
ilies and caregivers. and provide connections to resources. that Florida has the nation’s highest per- The coaches also reach out to assisted
“Most people don’t know how to Coaches also provide company and centage of people age 60 to 80 and older. living facilities and skilled nursing
adjust to their new role when their loved empathy to individuals with dementia, We have people in their 60s who are car- homes.
one is diagnosed with dementia. This as listeners and companions. ing for their parents, and parents whose The hourly rate to hire a coach is $18,
program is addressing a societal need Dr. Agronin, clinical advisor to the children are living elsewhere, with no and LoCicero said the organization is
that will only grow in scale,” said Marc program, is the author of “The Dementia caregivers,” she said. applying for grants to help supplement
Agronin, M.D., a board-certified adult Caregiver: A Guide to Caring for The Dementia Care Coach Program the cost for low-income families.
and geriatric psychiatrist and vice presi- Someone with Alzheimer’s Disease and was initiated four years ago by the late
dent for Behavioral Health and Clinical Other Neurocognitive Disorders,” a ref- Laura Traynor, national director in New Information about ReServe’s Dementia
Research at Miami Jewish Health. erence used by the coaches. York for ReServe, a subsidiary of Fedcap. Care Coach Program can be found at
Besides assisting individuals and care- Besides training with Dr. Agronin, “Laura connected with Kerry Mills, www.reserveinc.org.

14 June 2018 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News