Blue Ridge Care Marks 45 Years, Highlights PACE Program That Helps Seniors Stay at Home

Blue Ridge Hospice has been part of the community for decades. Now the organization is celebrating a milestone, and reminding the community that its services go far beyond hospice care.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the first hospice patient served by the organization, who was cared for on Valentine’s Day 1981. Since then, leaders say the mission has grown, and so has the name. The organization now operates as Blue Ridge Care, an umbrella that includes hospice services, thrift stores, grief support, chronic illness care, and a growing program called PACE.

PACE stands for the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and it’s designed to help older adults stay safely in their homes, even as their medical needs increase.

What is PACE?

PACE began in 1973 in San Francisco, created by doctors and nurses who saw a problem: many seniors wanted to remain at home but were using the emergency room as their main source of care. The model was built around providing coordinated help early, before small health problems turned into major emergencies.

Today, there are about 189 PACE organizations nationwide, operating in 33 states. Virginia’s first PACE program launched in 2007, and there are now 14 programs in the Commonwealth. Blue Ridge Care’s PACE program is one of only three nonprofit PACE programs in Virginia.

Blue Ridge Care opened its PACE program in October 2024 and currently serves 85 participants across a large region.

Where does the program serve?

PACE is available only in approved service areas. Blue Ridge Care’s PACE program covers 75 designated ZIP codes, including:

• All of Warren County, Frederick County, Clarke County, Loudoun County, and the City of Winchester
• All of Rappahannock County
• The northern portions of Shenandoah, Page, and Fauquier counties

Program leaders describe it as a service area that generally stays within about an hour’s drive, though, as many locals know, Northern Virginia traffic can change that.

Who qualifies?

PACE is intended for adults who need significant support but still want to remain in their current living situation, whether that’s a house, an apartment, a trailer, or living with family.

To qualify, a person must:

1. Be 55 years or older
2. Live in the program’s service area
3. Be able to live safely at home with support
4. Qualify for a nursing home level of care, determined through a Uniform Assessment Instrument (UAI)

Importantly, qualifying for nursing home-level care does not mean someone has to move into a nursing home. It means their health needs are serious enough that they could require that level of care within about 30 days, and PACE is designed to help prevent that move when possible.

The program focuses on seniors who may struggle with activities such as walking, bathing, eating, dressing, or personal hygiene but do not need a full-time caregiver in the home.

“Our goal is a diversion program,” the program explained, keeping people at home as long as it’s safe to do so.

What services are included?

PACE is built around “all-inclusive” care. Participants can receive medical services and support that often include:

• A full medical team coordinating care
• Help with prescriptions and medical equipment
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Social work support
• Meals and activities at the center
• Transportation to medically necessary appointments

A major hub of the program is the day center at 2333 Valor Drive, where participants can visit as often as their care plan requires, from rarely to 5 days a week. The center includes a medical clinic, therapy services, activities, and three meals a day when participants are there.

The program also provides medical transportation, which can be crucial for people who need dialysis or early-morning specialist appointments and don’t have reliable family support nearby.

What does it cost?

Costs depend on a person’s situation and coverage, which may involve Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or private pay.

Program staff described several pathways:

• Private pay: Some people may pay $8,100 per month, which the program notes covers a wide range of services that would otherwise be paid separately.
• Spend-down options: Some individuals may have income or assets that require a “patient pay” arrangement until resources are reduced.
• Dual-eligible Medicare/Medicaid: For those who meet financial eligibility requirements (often limited income and minimal assets), PACE can be covered, meaning the participant may pay little or nothing out of pocket.

Why it matters

One of the biggest issues facing seniors isn’t just medical care — it’s isolation. Families are more spread out than they used to be, and many adult children are balancing full-time jobs while also helping aging parents.

PACE is designed to bridge that gap, offering coordinated support while keeping participants involved in their own care. That’s why the program uses the word “participants,” not “patients,” emphasizing that people aren’t being managed — they’re actively part of the plan.

Program leaders say many people don’t know PACE exists until a crisis hits. Their goal is to educate families earlier, so they can plan before a loved one becomes “trapped in their own home” without transportation, social contact, or help managing appointments.

For more information about PACE eligibility, services, and enrollment, contact Ben Weber directly at 703-606-5002 or by email at bweber@blueridgecare.org. Blue Ridge Care’s main number is (540) 313-9333, or visit its website at https://brih.org/.