Fallon Health opens a PACE program location in Dartmouth

Governor Maura Healey attended the grand opening of the Fallon Health Summit ElderCare PACE Center in Dartmouth on Wednesday, Oct. 5. The center officially opened in October, welcoming patients in for treatment. They specialize in memory care and chronic illnesses as well as general healthcare. 

“Today is really a joyous day, celebratory,” said Healey, “It shows us what’s possible in the state and how Massachusetts leads.”

In Massachusetts, an estimated 63 million people are caregivers. According to Healey, 73% of caregivers work a job, 29% are also caring for children and 24% live in households that make below $50,000 annually. 

The PACE program, which stands for Progressive All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, focuses on providing all-inclusive care for those who need it with a focus on home care and support for caregivers. The on-site clinic is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, but offers 24/7, around the clock nurses. 

“It’s not just about living longer, it’s about living better,” said Manny Lopes, the president and CEO of Fallon Health. 

This is the seventh PACE center in Massachusetts, and will serve a 30 mile radius around Dartmouth. Fallon serves about 1,500 people in Massachusetts and expects to serve hundreds more in the next few years, according to Kristine Bostek, the senior vice president of PACE programs. 

The opening celebration featured a panel discussion with Daniel Cohen who is the director of integrated care and PACE advisor at MassHealth, Te-Ana Harris who is a physician at center and Jennifer Hoadley, the regional director of Southeastern Massachusetts Alzheimer's Association for the Massachusetts and New Hampshire chapter. 

During the panel, the speakers emphasized that the goal is to extend care beyond the clinic, and offer support to those caring for their loved ones. This works to create a team that works in partnership to help those who need extra care. 

“Caregivers are the bridge between the patient and the care team. They read the symptoms and express concerns accurately, which is beneficial for the patients who have cognitive, physical or language barriers,” said Harris, “When we work together, they provide a powerful partnership safety, improves health outcomes and overall satisfaction for participants.”

The on-site building provides 11 disciplines of medical care including primary care, physical therapy, dental care and dieticians. The program provides transportation so everyone is able to receive the care they need. 

Besides medical care, the organization offers a salon, library and a day program. The day program offers seniors a chance to socialize and in-house made lunches, which also gives caregivers a chance to have time for their own needs and know their loved ones are cared for. 

The program is covered by Medicare and MassHealth, also known as Medicaid. The PACE Center is located at 491 Faunce Corner Road. 

“When it comes to caregiving, as it was said earlier, it does take a village and we found our village at [another Fallon location],” said Colleen Kennedy, whose mother is in the PACE program. 

“We want to do everything we can to support aging in Massachusetts, and we want to be very intentional and clear that we value so much our older adults, and we want to give them and their families what they need, programs like Fallon’s Health Summit Eldercare,” said Healey.