LIVING WELL
Living With Hope
When Marilyn Brodbeck moved in to her apartment at Fort Myers Presbyterian Community a few years ago, she began hearing about Hope's PACE program.“so many belonged to PACE and kept talking about it, so I called,” she said.
PACE, which is an acronym for Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, helps seniors who want to remain independent and in the place they call home. Primary medical and nursing care is provided, as are medications and medical equipment, lab and diagnostic services, occupational and physical therapy, specialists, and home care aides. In addition, Hope PACE provides transportation to essential services as well as to the Hope PACE Care Center for social activities, nutritious meals and adult day health care.
“I'm so grateful for it,” said Brodbeck. “I told somebody the other day, if you're out on your own and need something and you call a doctor, they'll say they can't get you in until … so you go to a clinic and see a doctor you don't know. Here, you don't have to do that.”
All Brodbeck needs to do is talk to her assigned nurse at Hope PACE—OR call, if she hasn't gone to the center that day.
“My children are so happy I'm in Hope PACE.THEY know I'm OK,” she added. One son lives near Miami, a daughter near Gainesville and another son in Cape Coral.
Before she retired in 1993, Brodbeck worked in insurance, serving companies all over the world. Then she and her husband owned a bed and breakfast, taking care of guests at their Kansas property. Now that she's 84, she's grateful to be on the receiving end of a little caretaking herself.the Hope PACE team fills that need.
“They're paid to do a job, yes. But you can't pay people to do it the way they do. Their ability to take care of our needs is so unique and so special—to me, it's amazing,” she said.
Hope has helped arrange for a caregiver at home to help her with household tasks. A diabetic, Brodbeck was also pleased when Hope arranged for a fitting and a pair of diabetic shoes.“i have a support team.and they make it fun,” she said.
For about two years, Brodbeck has spent two days a week at the Hope PACE center in Fort Myers, from about 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
On this afternoon as another client plays “You Are My Sunshine” on a keyboard, Brodbeck leaves her lunch table to find a seat where others are playing bingo. She used to call bingo games at her apartment complex and still likes to play. Despite joining the game late, after a couple of numbers had already been called, Brodbeck gets the first bingo of the afternoon.
She'll no doubt tell her son about it when he calls that evening, as he often does, to ask, “How was PACE?”
Hope PACE can be life changing for participants and caregivers. To learn more about this program, visit Hopepace.org or call 239482-HOPE and ask to speak to a member of the Hope PACE team.