Headline

Case studies and evidence on how PACE organizations adapted to challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Context

The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is an established model for serving older adults with functional limitations and other chronic care needs who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. PACE is associated with improved health outcomes and can enable individuals to avoid institutional care and remain in home and community-based settings longer. Like many health care programs, PACE sites faced significant challenges in keeping participants and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Altarum systematically tracked innovations and program adjustments made at PACE sites nationwide in 2020 and 2021, offering insights into best practices and key lessons.  

Findings

Drawing on a series of quantitative and qualitative surveys, along with in-depth interviews, this resource features six reports highlighting PACE sites’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Key focus areas include complex care, telehealth, flexibilities granted by the public health emergency, and supporting the PACE workforce. Within these reports, notable program adaptations are highlighted, including the implementation of “all-hands-on-deck” staffing approaches for care provision and innovative strategies employed by PACE sites in repurposing their physical locations.  

Takeaways

By offering a focused snapshot into how PACE sites responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, this resource highlights opportunities for improvement for PACE and other similar community-based programs serving older adults. While many of the reports note promising practices adopted by PACE sites throughout 2020 and 2021 that may continue to be important beyond the pandemic, the authors also underscore the importance of expanding access to PACE beyond the pandemic.