PACE Your Life, a comprehensive medical and social services program for nursing home-eligible adults 55 and older who reside in their home, opened its doors at the Milford Wellness Village May 20 and is now accepting participants to enroll in the all-inclusive program.

PACE, which stands for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, is unique to southern Delaware for individuals who reside in Kent and Sussex counties. It gives participants the ability to stay in their home while receiving essential services, and maintaining independence and physical and emotional well-being.

By enrolling in the PACE Your Life program, individuals will have access to the state-of-the-art PACE day center, an 18,400-square-foot facility inside the Wellness Village that provides a variety of services including medical care, personal care, rehabilitation, social/recreational services and meals. Transportation is provided to allow individuals to get to and from the day center and other medical appointments. All care is fully managed by the PACE Your Life team and network of contracted healthcare providers.

“Providing the PACE Your Life program at our innovative Milford Wellness Village is another way we are filling the healthcare gap in southern Delaware,” said Meir Gelley, CEO of Nationwide Healthcare Services, owner and operator of the Milford Wellness Village and PACE Your Life program. “We know that seniors have many medical care needs, and it can be overwhelming and stressful for them and their families to deal with those needs alone. PACE presents a solution and a way to provide for all these services under one roof so older adults can keep their independence, and maintain their physical and emotional well-being.”

Services are provided in the PACE Center at the Wellness Village, and in the participant’s home or within the PACE Your Life community network. Program Director Lisa Bond has spent most of her career serving in Delaware’s aging, health and human services agencies and programs. She was twice appointed by Delaware governors for key leadership positions leading programs and operations, including deputy cabinet secretary for Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services.

“We focus exclusively on maintaining older adults in the community by managing chronic health conditions, addressing functional impairments and supporting family caregivers,” said Bond. “PACE is a nationally recognized program that provides care with the goal of improving the lives of older adults. We are proud to bring this program to Kent and Sussex counties.”

PACE services are free to seniors who qualify for Medicare and Medicaid as well as for seniors who qualify for Medicaid only. Individuals who live in southern Kent and northern Sussex counties are eligible to enroll in the program. The new program at the Milford Wellness Village is part of the National PACE Association, recognized among consumers, healthcare providers and government leaders as an innovative, accessible, valuable and effective model of care promoting the highest level of independence for individuals with significant healthcare needs.

“The City of Milford is pleased the PACE Your Life program has opened its doors in our community,” said Sara M. Bluhm, Milford economic development and community engagement administrator. “The residents of Milford and the surrounding area are beyond lucky to have services such as medical care, personal care, rehabilitation services, social/recreational services and meals all in one state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Milford.”

To enroll or learn more, go to paceyourlifemwv.com.