What is PACE? All-inclusive care for the elderly

PACE — the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly — is one of the best-kept secrets in senior care. It lets people who are frail enough to qualify for a nursing home stay in their own home instead, by wrapping all their care into one coordinated program.

How it works

A PACE organization becomes your one-stop care team. It provides — and pays for — virtually everything: doctors, nursing, therapy, prescriptions, adult day care, meals, transportation to appointments, home care, and even hospital and nursing-home care if needed. Most participants attend a PACE day center several times a week for care and socializing, then go home.

Who qualifies

To enroll you must be 55 or older, live in a PACE service area, be certified by your state as needing a nursing-home level of care, and be able to live safely in the community with PACE’s support. It’s designed precisely for people on the edge of a nursing-home placement.

What it costs

If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, PACE is typically free — no premiums, deductibles, or copays for covered care. With Medicare only, you pay a monthly premium for the Medicaid portion plus Part D drug coverage, but still no copays. Compared with paying privately for a nursing home, it can be a remarkable value.

The catch

PACE isn’t everywhere — there are a few hundred programs nationally — and you generally must use PACE’s providers, so you may change doctors. But for the right person, it delivers nursing-home-level support while keeping them home. Find PACE organizations and centers in the care explorer, and check the benefits screener to see what else you may qualify for.

This guide is general information, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Rules vary by state and change over time. For personalized, unbiased help, your Area Agency on Aging and your state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman are free.