🌟The Unseen Support: Independence in Perspective 🌟
Meet Evelyn, an 83-year-old participant of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (#PACE). Once a fiercely independent woman who raised a family, tended to her garden, and danced at family gatherings, her life has now shifted. Today, she relies on PACE for meals, transportation, and bathing assistance.
When Evelyn sits down to complete her HOS-M survey, she thinks, “I can dress myself, I can cook, I can bathe.” However, she doesn’t consider the PACE supports that enable her to do these tasks. She can dress herself, yet it’s made possible by the help of her trusty reacher and a shoe horn for her non-slip slippers. She can cook, but she wasn’t before her PACE dietician taught her to prepare healthy microwave meals. She can bathe, but it’s facilitated by the help of an aide, a non-slip shower mat, a shower chair, and grab bars.
These supports often go unnoticed when participants assess their independence on surveys like HOS-M. The survey is intended to be completed as if they did not have PACE support. However, participants often overestimate their independence, leaving PACE with an unrealistic amount of funding to care for very frail and complex participants.
This innocent oversight leaves millions of dollars unclaimed each year. At care.coach, we address this issue. Our avatars educate participants on the importance of the survey and how it is intended to be filled out to minimize overestimated independence. They remind participants that they can have help with the survey and we notify PACE if a participant does need help.
Consider this: a mere 0.1 increase in your Plan Wide Frailty Factor translates nearly into a $120,000 annual impact on payments for just 100 participants. This statistic alone highlights why it’s imperative we address overestimated independence head-on.
By ensuring accurate survey completion, we not only secure appropriate funding but also honor the dedicated teams providing invaluable support. Let’s acknowledge the unseen support that allows our participants to maintain their independence and quality of life. Let’s bring the unseen support into the light.
National PACE® Association PACE Association of Michigan MassPACE Association Matt Hudson North Carolina PACE Association