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Huron Valley PACE outlines eligibility and day‑center services to help older adults remain at home
Summary
Lindsay Mann Shanahan of Huron Valley PACE told Ann Arbor Inclusive that the program helps adults 55+ with complex health needs remain at home through a day center, on‑site clinic, transportation and in‑home supports; she described enrollment steps and the counties served.
Lindsay Mann Shanahan, a representative of Huron Valley PACE, outlined the program's eligibility rules and services during a segment of the Ann Arbor Inclusive podcast hosted by Claire Moore.
Shanahan said PACE — the Program of All‑Inclusive Care for the Elderly — is designed “to help keep seniors safe at home and, out of nursing homes.” She described a mix of day‑center services, on‑site medical care and home‑based supports intended to maintain participants’ safety and independence.
The program has four core enrollment criteria, Shanahan said: participants must be at least 55 years old; live inside Huron Valley PACE's service area; meet Michigan nursing‑home level‑of‑care requirements; and be able to live safely at home with PACE supports. “There’s 4 main criteria,” she said, summarizing age, geography, level‑of‑care and home‑safety requirements.
Shanahan listed Huron Valley PACE's service area as all of Washtenaw and Monroe counties and parts of Livingston, Oakland and Wayne counties — reaching north to Howell and south to the Ohio border at Temperance. She said exact service boundaries vary by PACE program and that interested people should contact Huron Valley PACE to confirm eligibility for a specific address.
Enrollment begins with a phone screen (the prospective participant, a family member or a social worker can call), followed by a home safety visit and intake assessment. A social work assessment is completed either at the participant’s home or at the Ypsilanti day center; once eligibility is confirmed, enrollment can begin the first of the following month.
At the day center, Shanahan said participants typically start with a light breakfast, then attend physical, occupational or speech therapy, exercise and recreational activities; lunch is provided and a clinic on site can address medical needs. “Everything you need right at the day center,” Shanahan said, noting participants can also pick up meals, supplements or medications there.
She added that if a participant prefers or cannot come to the center, PACE staff can deliver therapy and activities in the home. Shanahan illustrated the model with a client story: she described enrolling a woman initially characterized as bed‑bound who, with consistent supports and therapy, regained mobility, began using a walker and wheelchair instead of remaining bedridden and later adopted a dog.
Moore and Shanahan emphasized the importance of consistent caregivers and social connection for recovery and ongoing well‑being. Shanahan said reliability and familiarity with caregivers can make a substantial difference in participants’ willingness to engage in care and therapy.
For more information, Shanahan directed listeners to huronvalleypace.org, the program’s main phone contact as given in the interview, the Huron Valley PACE Facebook page, or by visiting the day center for a tour. Host Claire Moore also pointed listeners to Disability Network Washtenaw, Monroe and Livingston (dnwml.org) and CTN’s online channels for related programming.
The episode closed with an invitation to learn more and to visit local resources for disability‑related services.
