When it's time to care for those that cared for you… LIFE-NWPA can help.
What is LIFE-NWPA?
The LIFE – Northwestern Pennsylvania (LIFE-NWPA) model, which is nationally known as The Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), can be traced to the 1970s, when the North Beach community of San Francisco saw the pressing needs for long term care of families whose elders had immigrated to the area. From that need a successful community-based system of care was born.
LIFE-NWPA is centered around the same successful belief that it is better for the health of seniors with chronic care needs and their families to be served in the community if possible.
LIFE-NWPA participants must be certified by The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to need nursing home care. LIFE-NWPA participants may be able to delay or eliminate the move to a nursing home; in fact only about seven percent of LIFE participants nationally reside in a nursing home. If a LIFE enrollee does need nursing home care, the LIFE program pays for it and continues to coordinate the enrollee's care.
LIFE-NWPA is committed to assist the older Pennsylvanians in maintaining self-respect and independence in their lives by fostering the essentials of a quality life within the needs of the individual utilizing the environment of a holistic approach to medical and social services.
LIFE-NWPA endorses a nondiscriminatory policy as to its operations such that it shall operate without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin or handicap.
How is the care provided?
LIFE-NWPA’s team of physicians, nurses, personal care assistants, activities staff, therapists, social workers, dieticians, spiritual support and transportation workers provide the base of how an “Individualized Care Plan” will be administered.
The difference between LIFE and waiver programs is LIFE approaches care from a holistic standpoint. An individual care plan of services approved by you, or your loved ones care team is based on specific needs and can change as conditions warrant to keep the participant living IN THIER OWN RESIDENCE as long as safely and medically possible.
Parts of your approved care plan may include:
- Environmental Modifications
- Personal Emergency Response
- Extended Physician Services
- Adult Daily Living Centers
- Attendant Care
- Medical Equipment & Supplies
- Transportation
- Transition Services
- Personal Care
- Companion Services
- Counseling Services
- Home Health Services
- Home Delivered Meals
- Socialization
- Activities
Imagine all of these services with no deductibles, co-payments or hidden costs for most participants. Best of all the participant continues to live in their own home for as long as possible.
What are the Enrollment Criteria?
Basic Enrollment Criteria
- Age 60 or older; Certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as eligible for nursing home level of care;
- Residents of a specified geographic area LIFE-NWPA is operating in, with the permission of The Department of Public Welfare, which is initially Erie County, specifically including, but not limited to, zip codes 16501, 16502, 16503, 16504, 16505, 16506, 16507, 16508, 16509, 16510
- Be determined to be financially eligible for Medical Assistance by The County Assistance Office or be willing to pay privately.
- And, at the point of enrollment, can be, and is willing to be, safely cared for in a community setting by LIFE-NWPA and its network of providers.
If you or your loved one meets the above criteria please contact:
- LIFE-NWPA
- 814-456-5433
- A GECAC Intake Worker or your Case Manager
- 814-459-4581
- The Erie County Assistance Office
- 814-461-2000
- Your hospital Social Worker
- Your Primary Care Physician
- The Village At Luther Square
- 814-452-3271
- www.VALS.org