LIFE Pittsburgh, a nonprofit program that provides comprehensive and integrated care to seniors who may not otherwise be able to live independently at home, continues to provide care to their participants by keeping them safe in their homes during these uncertain times. While adapting their process at their Adult Day Health Centers to ensure the health of current participants, LIFE Pittsburgh also left enrollment open for new participants who would benefit from access to their essential programs that help seniors at home.
LIFE Pittsburgh has been serving the elderly population in Allegheny County for over 20 years with a comprehensive program of support services that provide seniors the ability to maintain their independence in their homes and communities. The program model, known nationally as PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), provides the participants, family, caregivers, and professional health care providers the flexibility to meet those health needs with integrative care.
Eligible participants must be 55 years old or older, live in the designated service area, meet the state’s medical requirements for nursing facility level of care, be able to live safely in the community, and be financially eligible as determined by the Allegheny County Assistance Office (or be able to privately pay). Individual care plans are coordinated for each participant to assist in medical, social and daily living activities while focusing on providing care with respect and dignity as outlined in the Balanced Budget act of 1997 set forth by the National PACE association.
“The continuous coordination of care sets the LIFE program apart from any other care model, which ensures quality of life to its Participants,” says Deanna Guarnaccio BS, CTRS, Outreach Supervisor at LIFE Pittsburgh. Primary care and community services for participants provided through LIFE Pittsburgh’s Day Health Centers and the in-home program are based on an individual’s needs. “They receive the very best care from dedicated geriatric care professionals without sacrificing their independence.”
A participant of LIFE Pittsburgh’s team may include a doctor, registered nurse, master’s-level social worker, licensed therapist, personal care aid, and registered dietician – in addition to the center manager and staff. Care for participants can look like daily vital checking, solution-focused health routines, communicating with family members the participant’s ongoing needs, surveying home accessibility, and providing transportation to appointments with their LIFE Pittsburgh wheelchair accessible van fleet. To learn more about eligibility and the process of enrolling, contact LIFE Pittsburgh at 412-388-8050 TTY: 711 and ask for the Enrollment Department. Or visit their website at LIFEPittsburgh.org. “Please reach out if you need extra support, we are here for you,” says Ms. Guarnaccio, adding “stay safe and stay well.”
