2024 Impact Report
PROGRAM OF ALL-INCLUSIVE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY
Introduction Letter
Eric Nilsen
Regional VP, PACE Operations
As we reflect on the past year, we are proud to share significant milestones in our journey at Senior CommUnity Care PACE. This year has been marked by remarkable growth in both our Maryland and Jefferson County programs, underscoring our commitment to enhancing the lives of seniors in our communities. In 2023 we announced the opening of our new facility in Louisville, KY, as well as expansion into Northern Kentucky in 2024. These new locations not only broaden our reach but also allow us to provide our vital services to more individuals and families in need. Our team has worked tirelessly to ensure that each new facility embodies our mission of compassion and support, delivering high-quality care that promotes independence and well-being.
As we continue to expand, we remain deeply grateful for the support from our dedicated board members, staff, vendors, and partners at both the federal and state levels. It is through these collaborative efforts that we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve. Thank you for your continued interest in and support of Volunteers of America Senior CommUnity Care PACE.
Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is designed for adults 55 and older. PACE facilitates the necessary support so that individuals can safely live in the homes they love and families can have peace of mind. PACE works to promote and provide for the independence of aging adults. It is a personal approach to meet the individual needs of our community members.
- By utilizing PACE- designated providers, individuals work with a team of health professionals to receive coordinated care, including primary care, physical therapy, and social support.
- Additional services such as home health, transportation, dentistry, and social connections are included. For most participants, the comprehensive service package enables them to remain in their community rather than receive care in a nursing home.
- We are available 24/7/365
- Referrals into the program are welcome from practitioners, family, friends, or self.
Mission Statement
“Our mission is to enhance the quality of life and independence
for 55+ adults by providing services, which help them stay
in their community and in their own residence.”
PACE Participants
in 4 states
PACE Staff
in 5 States
Who We Are
North Carolina, since 2013
Wake, Durham, and a portion of Granville Counties
Maryland, opening 2025
Prince George’s County
Northern Kentucky, since 2024
Services Boone, Campbell, Kenton, Gallatin, Carrol, Owen, Grant, and Pendleton Counties
Kentucky, since 2023
Serving Jefferson County
Jefferson County, opening December 2024
Jefferson County
Michigan, since 2015
Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties, and portions of Shiawassee and Jackson Counties
Colorado, since 2008
Delta and Montrose Counties
Testimonials
“I am no longer lonely. I have made friends at the day center that I attend five days a week. I have an aide who comes in the morning to help me get dressed before transportation arrives to take me to the day center. While there, I work out in the rehab gym with my physical therapist, and I also engage in chair exercises with my friends at the day center.”
– Nelly R.
“My life was not as stable before PACE. I have stayed in the same home and have received healthcare from PACE for some years now. It has been good stable care.”
– Barbara H.
“Bo had initially resigned himself to believe that he would never walk again and was terrified of the prospect of having to live the rest of his days in a nursing home. PACE is able to transcend the ordinary boundaries of the healthcare system in order to keep individuals living safely in the community.”
–Bo H.
Executive Director Impact Statements
Jane Venick
Executive Director, SCC North Carolina
This year, SCCNC enhanced our activities programming by expanding the number of small participant groups to include gardening, a jewelry club, a cooking club, and a digital literacy group. We expanded our community visitors and resumed community outings including a new monthly Farmer’s Market outing from May through September which has been well received by our participants. Our innovative programs are designed to address both the physical and psychosocial needs of our seniors, maximizing their independence and increase quality of life.
SCCNC has integrated two technology platforms into our care planning to have objective data for IDT members to use to improve participant care and implement appropriate interventions. A group of our participants received a remote monitoring device on their assistive device provided by WalkWise. This device provided data on how often our participants used their devices. IntusCare which provides business analytics tracked these participants and found that walking-related falls were decreased by 16% and falls with harm were decreased by 48% in the first 7 months after implementing WalkWise.
Diversity Equity and Inclusion (D.E.I.)
SCCNC is dedicated to creating and fostering an inclusive environment where employees and participants feel respected and valued, bringing their authentic selves to the site. 75% of our participants are persons of color, and 66% are women. This year, we celebrated many cultures and holidays with participants and staff. To name a few events this year, DEI hosted our 4th annual MLK breakfast celebrating the legacy of Dr. King. Staff and participants were able to learn about the Jewish High Holy Days and Christmas and Easter traditions around the world. The participants also enjoyed the Pride parade celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride month and a Juneteenth Luncheon supporting locally Black-owned businesses. We strive to continue to learn about the diversity all around us.
Senior Community Care of North Carolina wins WalkWise Program of the Year
WalkWise is excited to announce that Senior Community Care of North Carolina (SCCNC) has won the WalkWise Program of the Year Award, which was announced at the 2024 National PACE Association Annual Conferencein San Diego. This achievement highlights SCCNC’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve the well-being of seniors, which aligns perfectly with this award’s core values and objectives.
A dedication to communication and driving meaningful interventions has marked the parternship between WalkWise and Senior CommUnity Care.
SCCNC has successfuly integrated digital solutions into their care workflows, allowing for remote monitoring and better health outcomes. The impact of adopting new technology can be seen in the remarkable accomplishments they have achieved to benefit their participants, such as reducing falls with injury by 48% and inpatient days by 51%
SCCNC’s open communication, dedication to follow-up, and integration of other care teams at their PACE program has been crucial to the success of their technology adoption. They have set a standard for excellence and innovation, and this award celebrates the power of collaboration to drive meaningful change.
We extend our congratulations to the entire team at Senior CommUnity Care of North Carolina, whose hard work and dedication have been crucial to the ongoing success of their program. Together, we are committed to improving the lives of seniors and making a lasting impact.
PACE Impact
“The PACE program is a great service to the community. I enjoy seeing the way the team of professionals who work there, partner with our participants to meet their needs. This benefits all of our participants in maintaining their independence and connections within the community.”
– Kristen N. (SCC of Michigan)
Executive Director Impact Statements
Becca McKenna
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
SCC MICHIGAN
We’ve seen a 10% increase in participant enrollment over the past year, with a 3% rise just since the start of the fiscal year. This growth truly reflects the trust and confidence our community has in our program. I’m also happy to report that our participant satisfaction surveys show a 96% satisfaction rate, highlighting the amazing work our staff is doing to provide caring and high-quality support.
This year, we introduced in-house Behavioral Health programming, including the addition of a Behavioral Health Therapist. The feedback has been incredibly positive, and we’ve already seen a significant improvement in our participants mental heatlh. These new programs are designed with the utmost care to meet the needs of our aging adult population.
PACE National Overview
The average age of participants is 76.
76% Live in the community
23,564 Meals Served
156 PACE Organizations
326 PACE Centers
States pay PACE programs on average 12 percent less than the
cost of caring for a comparable population through
other Medicaid services, including nursing homes and home and
community-based waiver programs.
81.76% participants are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare
17.41% participants are Medicaid-only
81.76% participants pay a premium (Medicare-only and other)
In Medicare, payments to PACE organizations are equivalent to the predicted costs
for a comparable population to receive services through the fee-for-service program.
Executive Director Impact Statements
Cara Helmick
Executive Director | Senior CommUnity Care Colorado
Our community outreach team has made tremendous strides in building relationships with community providers and expanding our presence in the areas we serve. Through attending numerous community events, hosting ice cream socials, and carrying out random acts of kindness, we have strengthened our community ties. Additionally, Dr. Schoo has been instrumental in forging professional connections within the medical community, presenting continuing education at Montrose Memorial Hospital, with plans to extend these opportunities to Delta Health and other medical partners.
This year has been one of growth, increased satisfaction, effective utilization, organizational restructuring, and community achievements, all contributing to the ongiong success and impact of SCCCO on the Western Slope.
GROWTH
Over the course of the year, we successfully achieved an enrollment of over 300 participants in our program, with 65 new participants joining and only 28 disenrolling. This reflects our ongoing dedication to reaching those who can benefit most from PACE services. We are optimistic about increasing our growth rate in the coming year as we continue to focus on serving our community.
UTILIZATION
SCCCO has consistently met and exceeded our utilization goals, maintaining low hospitalization and ER visit rates. We attribute this success to the diligent efforts of our Interdisciplinary team (IDT) and Care Teams, who work tirelessly to manage the care of our participants within their homes and the community. We are also proud to have maintained our goal of keeping 90% of our participants living in the community, rather than in nursing homes.
SATISFACTION
We are proud to report that the SCCCO participant satisfaction rate increased from 90.8% to 95% in 2024. This significant improvement underscores our commitment to providing high-quality care and services to the participants enrolled in our PACE program. Additionally, the number of participants who would recommend PACE to a friend or family member rose by nearly 8%. This rise in confidence and trust indicates that our participants feel secure in the care they receive, which enables them to continue living safely within the community.
STAFF RESTRUCTURE
The year 2024 brought significant organizational changes to SCCCO. We welcomed Cara Helmick as our new Executive Director, with Trisha Martinez taking on the role of Center Director in Montrose and Acacia Ator as Center Director in Eckert. Additionally, we re-established Integrated Care Managers in both counties, with Terrica Garrison in Eckert and Mari Moreno in Montrose, to enhance care coordination for participants who visit local hospital and to provide better oversight for those residing in residential facilities. We also hired a Provider Relations Representative to serve as a liasion between SCCCO and our community-contracted providers. This role aims to foster stronger working relationships and support the resolution of contracting, claims, and operational issues.
Participant Satisfaction FY2024
| Michigan | North Carolina | Colorado | Kentucky | |
| Overall Satisfaction | 96% | 87% | 95% | 100% |
| Would Recommend | 95% | 88% | 94% | 93% |
Executive Director Impact Statements
Chiquita Booker
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
SCC KENTUCKY & JEFFERSON COUNTY
Our programs are all located in Louisville, Kentucky, and we currently serve 68 participants, all residing in Jefferson County. I would like to highlight the impact our program has had on the community since we have opened the first program in August of 2023.
Participant Growth and Satisfaction: We have seen a 183% increase in participant enrollment this year, demonstrating the trust and confidence our community has in our program. Our participant satisfaction surveys indicate a 100% satisfaction rate, a testament to our staff’s commitment to providing compassionate and high-quality care.
ENHANCED SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
This year, we were excited to receive approval from the Commonwealth of Kentucky to launch our new program, Senior CommUnity Care of Jefferson County. We plan to begin serving participants at this new program in January of 2025. This program is located in the south end of Louisville, which will better serve the local population.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND RECOGNITION
We love to recognize the efforts of our staff here in PACE. As a relatively new program, often it is a requirement that our staff wear multiple hats in order to meet the needs of our participants and what the day has to offer. PACE can be a very challenging but rewarding career, and we are so thankful for the dedicated staff members that serve our participants every day. As a team we believe that it is the mission and not the position that one is called for.
GROWTH
The team at Senior CommUnity Care of Kentucky has enjoyed and overcame the challenges of the PACE model of care. As the first new program VOANS has launched in almost a decade, we have relied on our partnerships and supports across the country to assist with our financial and operational success. While we initially had a slower than anticipated start to our program, we have found our footing this year and have steadily increased the number of participants we serve. We continue to reach new referral sources as marketing and outreach spreads the word of this awesome and robust model of care.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS
We have strengthened our partnership with Christian Care Communities. Our downtown Day Center is located on the garden level of Christian Care Communities’ Friendship House, an affordable senior housing building. By offering the full array of PACE services on the campus, residents are able to maintain their independence with PACE and enhance their quality of life. Currently, there are over 30 participants in the PACE program that reside in Friendship House or the nearby Chapel House.
Making Headlines
SCC of Northern Kentucky PACE hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 17th.
Senior CommUnity Care (SCC) of Northern Kentucky is celebrating the opening of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) serving eligible participants residing in Northern Kentucky – including Boone, Campbell, Kenton, Gallatin, Carroll, Owen, Grant, and Pendleton counties.
SCC of Northern Kentucky is a partnership of Volunteers of America National Services (VOANS) PACE Holding Company, a recognized PACE operator, and St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
Additional community supporters include VOA Mid-States, continuing their commitment to the vital services to this region. St. Elizabeth Healthcare and its affiliated physicians have partnered with PACE to provide care for the program’s participants. Baptist Life Communities is also a sponsor of this program.
State and city leaders cut the ribbon on a new PACE program in Louisville, KY, that will begin serving older adults in Jefferson County on July 1st.
Older adults who prefer to stay at home instead of going into a nursing home now have a new option in Louisville. State and city leaders on Friday cut the ribbon for the new Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in Louisville.
Starting July 1st, the federal-state program will start serving eligible people over the age of 55 in Jefferson County, as it does in more than 300 locations nationwide. In Louisville, it will operate in the lower level of Friendship House on South Fourth Street in Old Louisville.
WDRB News: LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB)
For More Information & Inspiring Client Stories:
For Inquiries:
Eric Nilsen
Regional VP, PACE Operations
enilsen@voa.org
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