The PACE CNY Scheduling Team is helping older adults who qualify for nursing home care remain living at home by coordinating clinic visits, outside specialist appointments, and the nurse and home health aide visits they need to continue living independently in their homes. The Home Care Scheduling Team of 12 Loretto employees coordinates the daily home care of the over 600 enrolled PACE participants, some of whom require daily care while others receive care less frequently, based on their care plans.
“I love how we can help people,” says Home Care Supervisor Brandie Coleman. “We do what we can to help keep them safe, clean, and comfortable while living in their own home.”
PACE CNY stands for ‘Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly of Central New York,’ and its mission is to help people live in their homes and communities by providing the medical, rehabilitative, social, and personal services they need.
Each PACE CNY participant has a care plan tailored to their needs, which may include only in-home care, day center support, or a combination of both.
For those whose care plans include in-home support, the scheduling team coordinates the services and support they need.
“The scheduling department acts as a central hub, coordinating the in-home care for our participants,” says Home Care Manager Lauren Winterfield. “Each week we schedule around 10,000 visits for daily, weekly, and monthly services including medication reminders, personal care assistance, laundry, and light housekeeping.”
Most participants require only a few visits a week, while some require multiple visits a day, and for Lauren, managing the scheduling of over 150 Certified Home Health Aides and 25 Licensed Practical Nurses is like a puzzle.
She said, “What is unique about PACE CNY is that our nurses can administer medications, so we prioritize those visits to ensure all participants receive their medication when they need it. We then schedule our Certified Home Health Aide visits, which are critical to ensure the health and safety of our participants.”
The majority of visits are made by Certified Home Health Aides who assist participants with daily activities of living, like dressing and assistance with personal care, and they can also provide medication reminders and assist with other tasks to ensure they are safe and well cared for in their homes.
Both Lauren and Brandie say that the best part of their job is how the home care team comes together to ensure the health and wellness of the people they serve. Lauren says, “We truly are a team with participant satisfaction as our shared goal. The puzzle is easier to put together because of the people I work with, and I’m thankful for that.”