Providence ElderPlace expands comprehensive program of healthcare and adult day health services to seniors in Snohomish County

"We are so excited to offer our program to seniors in Snohomish County,” said Providence ElderPlace Executive Director Susan Tuller. “We truly believe that if this program did not exist, many of our participants would need nursing home care or would be at significant risk for hospitalization because they're not in settings providing all the care they need.”

Most participants come to the Providence ElderPlace centers at least once a week for exercise, regular doctor visits, lunch and a chance to socialize with other seniors. For the first time since the COVID pandemic started in March 2020, prospective participants and their loved ones will be allowed to tour the centers in-person. Residents of Snohomish County who qualify will be enrolled at the Providence ElderPlace center at 8632 160^th Ave. NE, in Redmond. All transportation to and from the center is provided as part of Providence ElderPlace’s wrap-around services.

“During the pandemic we saw a lot of family members who simply needed a break from taking care of their elderly loved ones,” said Jeremy Edmonds, Providence ElderPlace outreach and marketing liaison. “And yet, they couldn’t imagine sending them to a skilled nursing facility or assisted living home. Providence ElderPlace offers the perfect alternative to keep these beloved seniors in their home, and to get them the services they need to be healthy and to thrive.”

In the 26 years that Providence Elderplace has operated in King County, time has proven the program works. At a time when healthcare systems are penalized for hospital re-admissions, Providence ElderPlace's numbers outperform the average population. While the latest hospital re-admission rate for the general Medicare population is 17.1 percent over a 30-day period, it's 16 percent for Providence ElderPlace.

A 2020 patient satisfaction survey of Providence ElderPlace residents in Washington found:

Because Providence is paid a monthly rate per participant, the program is incentivized to keep its participants as healthy as possible by closely monitoring their health, their medications, and their well-being to keep them out of the hospital and the nursing home.

Robert Hellrigel, chief executive of Providence Home and Community Care, which oversees Providence ElderPlace, said many people come to the program as their lives are spiraling out of control. "They can't manage their chronic conditions. They don't understand their options. They fear going to a nursing home and don't know where to turn. Providence ElderPlace wraps you up in this big warm blanket and says `you're covered, we're going to get your symptoms under control.’"

Added Edmonds: “Providence ElderPlace is flexible, proactive and reactive at the same time. We use a team approach and will be with you and your loved ones every step of the way.”

Providence ElderPlace is part of the national Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), which started in 1990 and serves about 55,000 participants in 30 states.

Mimi Smith is marketing coordinator for Snohomish County participants. Reach her at LaMeisha.Smith@providence.org or 206-760-6312. Kathryn Gruber is marketing and enrollment specialist for Providence ElderPlace in Redmond. Reach her at 206-496-4830 or Kathryn.Gruber@providence.org. Dr. Yan Chen is primary care physician at Providence ElderPlace Redmond. She oversees medical care for all ElderPlace participants at that location and is fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. Registered nurse case manager Daniel Betew is fluent in English, German, Arabic, Amharic and Tigrinya. Find more information about Providence ElderPlace at ElderPlace Redmond | Providence.

See How Lisa Finds Help for her Mom | Providence ElderPlace PACE Washington - YouTube