Member Spotlight – Bluestem PACE
Never interrupt BINGO. That’s one lesson Chamber Connection attendees learned September 28th at Bluestem PACE, 113 S. Ash. Of the many social activities offered in the day center, that’s the favorite.
PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) is a unique program designed to help older adults living in their homes and community as long as it is medically feasible. Executive director Emilie Rains said 97% of Bluestem PACE participants are able to stay home through end of life. Bluestem PACE is second nationally among PACE organizations its size to keep participants out of the hospital, which is critical to longevity and being able to stay in the community due to other infections and deterioration that can occur in hospital settings. Bluestem PACE does this by providing quality preventative care and by jumping on problems while they’re still small.
Between home visits and time spent at the PACE day center, staff get to know participants so well that they can recognize changes and make modifications to keep them at their best. Bluestem PACE services may include primary care, medical specialists, medications, transportation, the day center, rehabilitation, nutrition service, home care, and social services.
“This PACE is a family if you hang around long enough,” said Rains. “It’s ‘I love you’ and ‘I’ll see you later’ and ‘I’m going to miss you’ if I’m gone, and those kinds of things. That’s what sets PACE apart as a healthcare provider, and it’s what really helps us get to the bottom of what’s going on. If I go to the doctor, I’m going to get in and get out – they want that too because they have a million other appointments that day. But here at PACE, we’re here together, we want to dig into what’s going on so we can really meet what our goals are together.”
Bluestem PACE currently has 112 participants with space for up to 150 between the two centers in McPherson and Hutchinson.
Bluestem Communities invites you to support their mission in 2023 at this year’s Bluestem Gala November 2 at 6 p.m. at Meridian Center in Newton. This annual event is a special evening that helps provide for the needs of Bluestem residents and participants. For more information, contact the Fund Advancement Office at 620-327-3413 or register online.
For more information about Bluestem PACE, visit their website or Facebook. And check out the photos from the September 28th Chamber Connection.
