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Providence ElderPlace Opens New Center in Redmond to Help Keep Older Adults Independent

Developmentally delayed and suffering from diabetes, dementia and several mental health diagnoses, Hazel began to fall repeatedly while in the care of her aging sister. Her sister realized she was no longer able to care for Hazel and helped her enroll in Providence ElderPlace, an innovative program of healthcare and social services for older adults. Five years later, as a result of the wrap-around services she received, Hazel’s diabetes is now well managed. She lives in an adult family home that provides 24/7 caregivers and attends the adult day health program at one of the Providence ElderPlace centers, where she regularly interacts with members of her care team and other participants. She is able to live in the community, manage her anxiety and her relationship with her sister, who no longer needs to provide hands-on care for her.

Providence ElderPlace expanded its Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to Redmond in June. This allows the program to serve more participants on the Eastside of Lake Washington with medical care and social services so they can continue to live in the community and avoid or minimize stays in hospitals and nursing homes.

Providence ElderPlace Redmond is adjacent to Providence John Gabriel House, a new 75-unit low-income housing facility that Providence opened in April. Providence ElderPlace Redmond is the fourth PACE center in King County and expands Providence ElderPlace’s service area to include Redmond, Issaquah, Bothell, Woodinville, Kirkland and Sammamish. Providence ElderPlace previously served the west, southern and northern portions of King County with its centers in South Seattle, West Seattle and Kent, and facilities inside assisted nursing homes in North Seattle and Shoreline.

“The goal of Providence ElderPlace is to help seniors remain independent in their communities. People choose a town to work, to raise their families, and they want to be able to stay in those communities as they age – even if their care needs change,” said Providence ElderPlace Executive Director Susan Tuller. “We’re really excited to bring this service to seniors on the Eastside.”

Providence ElderPlace participant Wanda Wong plays Uno during a visit to the new facility in Redmond, which offers healthcare and social services to seniors. Photo by Yuliya Mailyan.

Providence ElderPlace opened the new center in response to a growing need by seniors who want to be able to see their doctor or their nurse, a dentist and other specialists, to get their medications, have lunch, and participate in activities with their peers all in one place. The new center will house a full medical clinic with a geriatrician, registered nurses, and physical and occupational therapists, in addition to offering social programs. Housing all of these medical and social services in one place allows participants to remain as independent as possible.

Another participant who has benefited from this program is George. When he joined the program in 2015, he was plagued with severe depression after suffering a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). He refused to perform or accept assistance with his daily hygiene, and rarely left his bed. George’s son sought comprehensive services to keep him out of a nursing home. The Providence ElderPlace team is able to serve George at the adult family home where he lives. Now, two years after joining the program, he gets out of bed, walks around his home, participates in activities, and talks with his caregivers and housemates. He tells others that he is now enjoying his life, thanks to his interdisciplinary team that provides seniors with comprehensive healthcare and social services, rehabilitation, housing (if necessary) and more.

This unique program, which serves many who qualify for Medicaid and/or Medicare, has been proven to not only save the government money, but has seen significant successes as well.

  • Only 2.8 percent of Providence ElderPlace participants live in nursing homes, with the rest of the nursing home-eligible population living independently or in other community based care settings.
  • While the 30-day hospital readmission rate for those on Medicaid and Medicare nationally is 20 percent over a 30-day period, it’s 12.8 percent for Providence ElderPlace participants.
  • Hospital length of stays average three days for Providence ElderPlace participants, compared to 5.6 days for the national Medicaid/Medicare population.
  • Mortality of those with deficits in more than six activities of daily living for the general Medicare population is 28 percent, compared to 16 percent for Providence ElderPlace participants.
  • While 52.2 percent of Medicare patients die in a hospital or nursing facility, only 14 percent of Providence ElderPlace patients do.
  • 92 percent of Providence ElderPlace patients have an advance healthcare directive, compared to only 60 percent of all Americans 65 years and older.
  • Eligible individuals must be age 55 and over, and in need of assistance determined by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services to qualify for Providence ElderPlace. It is ideal for individuals who qualify for Medicaid, can no longer live independently without dedicated case management and support, yet don’t want to live in a nursing home.

In addition to the new Redmond facility, Providence ElderPlace has centers on Martin Luther King Jr. Way South in South Seattle, Providence Mount St. Vincent in West Seattle and at Full Life Kent, plus two centers inside assisted living facilities. For more information go to http://washington.providence.org/senior-care/elderplace.

Contributor Cynthia Flash provides media and public relations consulting services.

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