As Summit ElderCare marks its 10th anniversary, it underscores a program that is committed to helping elderly citizens to 'age in place' in the comfort of a home setting as an alternative to nursing home care. Summit ElderCare is focused on caring for older adults in an environment that helps enhance their quality of life and autonomy by helping them to stay in their homes and communities.
Fallon Community Health Plan (Summit ElderCare's sponsor) is a recognized leader in providing health care solutions to Medicare-eligible individuals in central Massachusetts. In fact, Fallon Community Health Plan sponsored one of the first federal Medicare risk demonstration projects in the country. This resulted in the establishment of the Fallon Senior Plan in 1980. Today, over 30,000 individuals are enrolled in Fallon Senior Plan health plans.
In 1995, recognizing a community need for more comprehensive services, care and support for frail elders who want to remain independent, and their caregivers, FCHP founded the Elder Service Plan, now known as Summit ElderCare. It started as part of a statewide project in Massachusetts under the leadership of the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center's PACE program. The program began with just eight participants. Since then, hundreds of participants and their caregivers have received services from the program.
Today, Summit ElderCare is one of six PACE programs in Massachusetts and more than 40 programs nationwide. This Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) first became available to residents of Worcester County, the city of Marlborough and the town of Hudson in 1995. The program was provided permanent provider status by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in September 2002.
Summit ElderCare values the trust and confidence that participants and their caregivers place in us. We take quiet pride in sharing the care. Summit ElderCare participants are neighbors and friends. We look forward to continuing our mission of helping older adults maintain optimum levels of functioning, well being and independence in the comfort of their own homes and communities.