LIFE PACE, Inc.

PROJECT PURPOSE

LIFE PACE, Inc. is planning to open a 13,400 SF clinic in Tulsa, OK. This clinic has a capacity to serve 400 patients, nearly double our current patient capacity. This clinic is part of a larger campus for seniors, and it is part of the Roma Berry Center for Seniors located at 4821 S. 72nd E. Avenue. It includes the renovation of a 39,000 SF former Tulsa Public School building situated on nine residential acres. Plans for LIFE PACE specific to the Roma Berry Center for Seniors includes eight well-appointed exam rooms, a physical therapy clinic, family consultation, and provider space. LIFE PACE (Program for All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) is a comprehensive, coordinated senior healthcare program. Qualifying participants in the LIFE PACE program are transported to the LIFE PACE/Adult Day Health Center for rehabilitative and recreational activities. The heart of LIFE PACE is the care provided by an interdisciplinary team of nurses, nutritionists, social workers, pharmacists, home care coordinators, occupational therapists, and primary care physicians. This team approach results in superior health outcomes and dramatically reduces hospitalization and fall rates forestalling or eliminating the need for costly nursing home care. Plans for LIFE PACE specific to the Roma Berry Center for Seniors includes 13,400 in clinic space, including eight exam rooms, a physical therapy clinic, family consultation, and provider space. The clinic will have the capacity for 400 PACE patients, nearly double the current patients.

EVIDENCE

LIFE PACE participants demonstrate higher quality of life scales, better physical and mental health outcomes, and offers ultimately a less costly model of senior care. PACE began in 1971 and has expanded to 30 states. The interventions allow the elderly to live safely at home as long as possible. The LIFE PACE Clinic at the Roma Berry Center for Seniors will be part of a larger campus including an Adult Day Health site and an Active Senior Center. The collaboration will create greater efficiencies among programs and better outcomes for seniors.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Seniors, especially LIFE PACE's low-income seniors, were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. LIFE PACE, Inc. did not experience a break in clinic services, but PACE patients could not attend Adult Day Health programming when it was temporarily suspended. With more severe physical implications from COVID-19, coupled with an already disproportionately isolated population, seniors faced dire impacts from the pandemic. The proposed LIFE PACE Clinic will meet these challenges head-on by providing superior health care, an answer to social isolation, transportation, greater access to essentials, behavioral health supports at a site demonstrating collaboration with a continuum of senior care.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

LIFE PACE, Inc. began more than five years ago. It is part of the national PACE alternative to nursing home care. An interdisciplinary care team of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, therapists, van drivers, and aides - coordinates and provides preventative, primary, acute, and long-term care services, enabling older individuals to continue living in the community. The nationally replicated, federally funded program has 138 PACE programs operating 272 PACE centers in 30 states helping elderly individuals maintain their independence, dignity, and quality of life. LIFE PACE, Inc. has an existing clinic alongside an Adult Day Health site in North Tulsa. The project performance continues to be measured by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. The need to expand the physical footprint of the clinic has been identified, and we look forward to the new space accommodating patients and care team members.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma