InnovAge

Creativity and color were in full bloom last Saturday at InnovAge Colorado PACE-Pueblo. Our Craft Fair showcased the work of both participants and staff, with everything from flower arrangements to quilts to jewelry to paintings for sale (for a nominal fee covering supplies and labor). Residents of Pueblo were invited to attend, and they enjoyed the diversity of the artwork, as well as the opportunity to learn more about everything InnovAge PACE offers to local seniors and their families. The inaugural Craft Fair was such a success, the Center plans to make this an annual event!

In the town known as “the home of heroes,” this was the perfect presentation. InnovAge Colorado PACE–Pueblo recently welcomed Tom Tudor, one of a select group of military sentinels and commanders responsible for guarding The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. He spoke to InnovAge PACE participants about the history of the Tomb, which honors soldiers who died in service without identification. Based in Colorado Springs, Tom is one of many veterans in our area, including a record number of Medal of Honor recipients. Our Pueblo Center alone has 43 participants who are proud veterans! Tom’s audience thoroughly enjoyed learning more about this meaningful memorial, and he plans to return to InnovAge PACE in March for Women’s History Month, with a presentation on The Women of Arlington. #TomboftheUnknownSolider #lifelonglearning #puebloveterans

Our InnovAge Florida PACE Tampa and Orlando centers will be closed for the rest of this week due to Hurricane Milton. We urge all of our participants and their families to take all precautions necessary to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. We will continue to reach out directly to all of our participants and their caregivers to share important information, guidance, and support. If it is an emergency please call 911. Otherwise, we will have center staff, as well as staff in other locations, prepared to help.

InnovAge PACE leaders in the spotlight! Check out the recent #PopHealthPodcast episode as Maria Lozzano and Shadie Qaqish share insights on PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), and why it’s often referred to as “the best-kept secret in health care.” Host Gavin Ward has personal experience with the PACE program, having toured our center in Crenshaw, CA, where he was “blown away” by the modern, technology-driven facility and the warmth and energy of the InnovAge PACE team. Thanks to Gavin and 24 Hour Home Care for leading a lively and informative discussion!

While fall prevention is a serious topic, InnovAge PACE Centers brought the fun to a week-long celebration: FALLAPOLOOZA! Led by our physical therapists, participants enjoyed games, skits, and informative sessions focused on raising awareness of ways to prevent falls, the leading cause of injuries and death for adults 65 and older. Here are a few highlights from last week’s creatively themed Fall Prevention Month activities at InnovAge PACE Centers nationwide: Crenshaw, CA:  Name That Tune for songs with “fall” in the title, and Fall Trivia, Family Feud style! Denver, CO:  Name That Tune, Fall Bingo, Fall Charades (great teamwork and lots of laughs), Falls Trivia (goodie bags for the winners), and Fall Scavenger Hunt (even more goodies at the end of the hunt!). Orlando, FL:  Fall Bingo, fall prevention discussions, and coloring activities. Roanoke, VA:  Name That Tune, Fall Bingo, and a skit with Ms. Magoo and her cat, Mischief, demonstrating the importance of safety around pets. Tampa, FL:  Group discussions with personal stories of falls, identifying hazards in the home (including pets – using a stuffed monkey for laughs), and great giveaways (including nightlights, gripper socks, and InnovAge coolers). Thornton, CO:  Strengthening exercises to help prevent falls, risk assessments, selfie photo frames, and the chance to spin the wheel for prizes. Thanks to our amazing InnovAge PACE team for making Fallapolooza an entertaining and educational week for all!

Remember that famously ridiculed commercial about a senior falling and not being able to get up? Falling down is a dangerous, sometimes deadly, problem for seniors. Thank you, Metro PA, for highlighting the critical value of PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) in preventing falls in older adults. Read Metro PA article here: https://birdeye.cx/hwb5y6 “Falls are a leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries,” says Dr. Ann Wells, InnovAge's Chief Quality & Population Health Officer. “A fall with a major fracture is very difficult for a geriatric individual to recover from. This is why our focus on fall prevention is so important." “I’ve been to other medical facilities, and it really touched me to see how safe I am here,” says Kermit, an InnovAge Virginia PACE Blue Ridge center participant. “My trainer is working with me now. We go walking so I can get around. That’s one thing about PACE. They take you to the next level so you can do it on your own. I can do things now that I couldn’t do before. I can get on the bus, and I can go to the market, and I can come back. You just don’t know how that makes me feel.” #KeepingSeniorsSafe #HealthyIndependence #PACE #InnovAge ~ Metro Philadelphia

In honor of Women in Medicine Month, InnovAge PACE celebrates the exceptional work of all of our women clinicians, including our nursing leadership at PACE Centers throughout the U.S. We asked these caring professionals what inspired them to join the ranks of other health care professionals, and why they find fulfillment and purpose as part of the InnovAge PACE team. Senior participants are able to continue living independently in their own homes, and the support of our nursing team is a big reason why! PAMELA BERTRAM Nursing Services Director, InnovAge Colorado PACE Thornton Center “My grandparents were my care providers, and I have always had tremendous respect for our senior population. InnovAge PACE is unique in our ability to provide many additional services and programs to our seniors that no other health care plan can offer. It truly is all-inclusive care for our aging population.” KAREN M. HOOFNAGLE, RN, MS Nursing Services Director, InnovAge Colorado PACE Aurora Center “For much of my nursing career, I have had a fondness for the senior population, with the mindset that I would be a part of that population someday! In looking for a career change, InnovAge PACE was a perfect fit. It allows for caring for and overseeing the health and needs of the senior population.” RACHANEE “COOKIE” POSELL Nursing Services Director, InnovAge California PACE Crenshaw Center “I grew up in a healthcare household of dentists and medical professionals. I feel a sense of duty to contribute to my community and at the same time, it has brought a strong sense of personal fulfillment and purpose in life. InnovAge PACE is an organization driven by making a difference in peoples’ lives, and empowering them, especially for our seniors in the community.” Please join us in thanking these dedicated health care professionals for making InnovAge PACE such a special place for seniors – this month, and all year long.

“I feel like I’ve been reborn again.” Daniel shares his emotional experience being a part of InnovAge PACE. After having a stroke, then joining the Thornton center, he went from a wheelchair to a walker. “And now, I can walk around the block. This means so much to me.” We see each person as an individual. We create customized care plans, with their partnership, based on their unique needs. It is our mission to help as many Daniels as we can find as much health, happiness, and purpose, for the rest of their lives. www.InnovAge.com

Each September, we celebrate Women in Medicine Month, a time to acknowledge and honor the significant contributions of women to the field of health care. InnovAge PACE shines a spotlight on some of our many women physicians who share why their service is so meaningful and rewarding. They not only provide exceptional care and support to InnovAge PACE participants and their families – they are working to ensure a more inclusive and equitable health care landscape for all. ANN WELLS, MD Chief Quality and Population Health Officer “My father was a neurologist and great mentor, and he encouraged me to consider a career in medicine. I joined the Air Force to pay for medical school and to serve my country. I have tried to pay forward some of the mentorship that I have received by mentoring others and helping them to pursue their goals. When I learned about the PACE model of care, I saw the opportunity to meet an unmet need to provide a higher level of care to keep our seniors independent and happy.” DIANE EARLE, DDS, MBA VP of Dental Care Services “My sisters and I took care of my mother for the last two years of her life in my home. We experienced firsthand what it took to balance our busy careers and manage her medical, physical and emotional needs. It was important to her and our family to keep her out of a nursing home. After being introduced to the PACE model of care, I knew InnovAge was an organization committed to creating a world-class health care system which protects patients and allows providers to provide quality of care to their patients.” SARAH THORNE-SMITH, MD Center Medical Director, InnovAge California PACE San Bernardino Center “My journey to becoming an internal medicine physician in geriatrics was largely inspired by watching my own family’s struggle with my grandmother’s dementia and other complex healthcare needs. I love being there for a fragile and vulnerable patient population that is easily overlooked in health care. InnovAge is exciting because we have the support from leadership to work as a team to provide the best care and quality of life to our participants.” EMILY ROGERS, MD Center Medical Director, InnovAge Aurora “Choosing to care for older adults was something I learned to love through medical school. It is a special population of people that have decades of life experience and medical care that usually requires complex care management. I recognized early in my training that a PACE setting is the best way to provide comprehensive care to older adults. I wanted to be a part of a team that could fully support a patient, align ourselves with their goals, and do our best to keep them at home while simultaneously providing quality care.” Please join us in thanking these inspiring health care professionals for making InnovAge PACE such an exceptional organization for seniors – this month, and all year long.

“There’s no financial cost to me for being involved with InnovAge. None!” As a participant at the Henry Avenue InnovAge PACE center in Philadelphia, Carolyn is able to continue live independently in her own home. Her Medicare and Medicaid coverage pays for all of her care and support needs. InnovAge PACE has been here for seniors and their families for nearly 35 years, working together with them, to create customized care plans. Carolyn says she has a full care team in her corner, from her doctor, nurse, social worker, and dietician, to her driver, who transports her to and from the center, as well as to all medical appointments. “To me,” says Carolyn, "InnovAge PACE is a godsend.” #HealthyAging #IndependentAging #InnovAge #PACE