Community Wellness Partners to launch PACE program with $2.6 million state grant

CLINTON — PACE, which is short for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, is described as a “transformative initiative” designed to help older adults live independently in their communities while receiving coordinated care. Community Wellness Partners of Clinton says it will use a state grant of $2.6 million to establish a PACE program, per its Nov. 24 announcement. The money comes through the New York State Department of Health’s Statewide Residential and Community-based Alternatives to the Traditional Model of Nursing Home Care, according to Community Wellness Partners. The state grant builds on a “growing foundation of support” from key regional partners. Community Wellness Partners has also received funding from Oneida County; The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc.; the Mother Cabrini Foundation; and the J. M. McDonald Foundation. Their investments have played a “crucial role in laying the groundwork” for the PACE initiative and strengthening the organization’s capacity to expand services for older adults. “We are honored to receive this significant investment in the health and independence of our region’s older adults,” Lenora D’Apice, chief strategy officer at Community Wellness Partners, said in the announcement. “PACE represents a proven, person-centered model that supports seniors and their caregivers with compassion, dignity, and comprehensive care. This grant, along with the support of our valued funding partners, accelerates our ability to bring this vital service to the community.” Community Wellness Partners says it will be seeking additional support in the coming year from community partners to further expand PACE services and enhance care for the region’s growing senior population. “We will be working on specific fundraising efforts related to PACE that will engage the community to be a part of this transformational service to our region,” Jim Messa, VP of development at Community Wellness Partners, said. “This program is one of a kind for Oneida County, with the next closest PACE centers in Syracuse and Schenectady. We are proud to bring this service to our community.” With its integrated, team-based approach, the PACE model ensures access to medical care, rehabilitation, social supports, transportation, nutrition, and other essential services. Those services are all coordinated through a central care team and delivered at home or at Community Wellness Partners’ dedicated PACE center, which will be located on its Clinton campus. By focusing on prevention and early intervention, PACE programs help reduce hospitalizations, delay nursing-home admission, and improve quality of life, Community Wellness Partners said. “With this new funding, we can build a program that not only meets the needs of our aging population but also strengthens the regional continuum of care,” Jeremy Rutter, CEO of Community Wellness Partners, said. “In just Oneida County alone there are 1,528 eligible PACE enrollees, with the potential to reduce the need for nursing home stays as well as aid in annual savings to Medicaid by millions. It supports a better quality of life for the seniors in our community, which is the root of our mission. We look forward to partnering with families, healthcare providers, and community leaders as we bring PACE to our area.”

About Community Wellness Partners

Community Wellness Partners is a faith-based network of nonprofit organizations that supports wellness through the provision of community services, housing, and health care. With more than 150 years of combined service, Community Wellness Partners is one of the largest senior-care organizations in Central New York. It employs hundreds of people who serve over 1,000 older adults daily through a continuum of care that includes home care, care management, adult daycare, independent living, assisted living, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing.