Membership has more than doubled since 2004
Charlton, Mass., January 10, 2007―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.