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Summit ElderCare opens new Charlton facility

Membership has more than doubled since 2004

Summit ElderCare, an innovative program designed to help senior citizens live independently in their own homes for as long as possible, announced today that it has opened a second adult day health center in Charlton, Mass. The renovated 4,700-square-foot building is located on the campus of the Overlook Masonic Health System and will house both medical and adult day health services.

“Our newly renovated site will enable us to provide our unique services to more people living in Central Massachusetts,” said Karen Longo, Executive Director, Summit ElderCare. “Our goal is to help elderly citizens ‘age in place’ in the comfort of their homes. Summit ElderCare offers an attractive alternative to nursing home placement.”

The program has grown rapidly over the last few years, with enrollment increasing by more than 67% since 2004. A third site is under construction in Leominster, Mass. Plans are underway to open the new Leominster facility by early 2007.

For Catherine Dowd, who will turn 101 later this month, Summit ElderCare has given her peace of mind. The centenarian, who has never set foot in a nursing home, lives independently in her Worcester home, and receives home health services from the program. She visits the East Mountain Street location once a week for her medical care and other social services.

Begun as part of a statewide project in 1995, Summit ElderCare is the only program of its kind in Central Massachusetts and one of 40 PACE programs nationwide (or Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly). As a national model of care, the program provides a fully integrated and personal care plan for each participant, which includes medical care, prescription drugs, support services at home, transportation to and from the adult day health center and many more services to address the complex needs of fail elders aged 55 and older.

About Summit ElderCare

Summit ElderCare is an insurance, medical care and social support program in one convenient package that includes: geriatric case management, home care, medical care prescription drugs and other services, when approved. Summit ElderCare is one of approximately 73 Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in the country, and the only one in Worcester County. Summit ElderCare operates 4 PACE adult day health centers which are located in Worcester, Charlton and Leominster. Since 1995, Summit ElderCare, sponsored by Fallon Community Health Plan, has served the needs of elders and their caregivers with its innovative and personalized approach to care.

About Fallon Community Health Plan

Founded in 1977, Fallon Community Health Plan is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit health care services organization. From traditional health insurance products available throughout Massachusetts for all populations, to innovative health care programs and services for seniors, FCHP supports the diverse and changing needs of all those it serves. FCHP has consistently ranked among the nation’s top health plans, and is the only health plan in Massachusetts to have been awarded “Excellent” accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance for its HMO, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid products. For more information, visit www.fchp.org.