AllCARE for Seniors Celebrates Third Anniversary

AllCARE for Seniors, a program of Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens (AASC) and the Commonwealth of Virginia, celebrates its third anniversary this spring. AllCARE began serving Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell and Tazewell counties on May 1, 2008. Since its inception, AllCARE has enabled 63 frail elders avoid or delay nursing home placement.

AllCARE, a rural PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly), is a long-term care solution for individuals who need help taking care of themselves at home. PACE programs provide health care and social services for older adults who need nursing home services but want to continue living in their homes and communities.

Community health providers who contract with AllCARE for Seniors include Stone Mountain Health (Dr. Dia Owens and Dr. Patricia Vanover); C-Health (Dr. Hughes Melton, Dr. Brian Easton, Dr. Ann Townsend, Dr. Lori Nelson-Madison and Dr. Paul Phillips); The Clinic (Dr. Larry Mitchell, Dr. Toeya Piriz and Dr. L.Z. Claustro); and Dickenson Medical Clinic (Dr. Rimon Ibrahim). AllCARE’s Medical Director is Dr. Tahir Ahmed (Merit Medical Group of Richlands) and on-site nurse practitioner is Rebecca Barton.

Currently AllCARE for Seniors serves 39 participants. The program provides primary medical and specialty care, medications, physical and occupational therapy, home care services, nursing care, hospitalization, adult day health care, social services support, recreation and social events, meals, and transportation to and from medical appointments and the AllCARE PACE Center.

A team of healthcare professionals -- the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) -- provides AllCARE PACE care. The IDT includes doctors, nurses, therapists, personal care aides, social workers, and other healthcare workers needed to provide a specific care solution for the participant.

• Who is eligible to participate in AllCARE for Seniors?
  • People who are at least 55 years old.
  • Live in Buchanan County, Dickenson County, Russell County, or Tazewell County.
  • Who are considered by the state to need nursing home level of care and who are able to live safely in the community with support from family, friends, other caregivers, and AllCARE PACE staff.

AASC is one of Virginia’s 25 Area Agencies on Aging designated by the Virginia Department for the Aging to carry out the department’s mission to foster the dignity, independence and security of older Virginians by promoting partnerships with communities at the local level. AASC offers information and services for older adults residing in Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell and Tazewell counties. Visit the organization’s website at www.aasc.org or call toll-free at 1-800-656-2272.