A day in the life at Bluestem PACE
Bruce Reisinger is a staple presence at the Bluestem PACE day center in Hutchinson. For more than a year, Reisinger has spent his days at the day center where he gets medical care, physical therapy, appointment management, meals, assistance with day-to-day tasks and time spent with new friends.
Bluestem PACE, or Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, supports individuals age 55 and better who have complex medical needs to remain living in their own homes by coordinating comprehensive care from one source.
The program operates from a primary location in McPherson, Kansas, and an alternative care site in Hutchinson, Kansas. Both locations provide on-campus access to primary care physicians, therapy services, social services and personal care, as well as a day center. The day center is a place for participants to spend time between on-campus care appointments or while their at-home caregivers tend to other responsibilities during the day. Transportation is a unique feature at Bluestem PACE. Drivers pick up participants at their homes and take them to and from the day center and to specialty appointments as needed.
For Reisinger, who lives on his own and deals with a variety of medical needs, Bluestem PACE was just the kind of thing he needed. Each week, Monday through Friday, Bruce arrives at Bluestem PACE in Hutchinson at 9:00 in the morning and heads back home at 3:00 in the afternoon. Sometimes he drives himself, but much of the time he takes advantage of the bus transportation he is provided through the program.
“I first found PACE because the things I was doing with my primary care physician weren’t working,” said Reisinger. “I had been having a lot of falls, and when you live alone, that’s a difficult thing to manage. I was referred to PACE, and we determined very early on that coming to the PACE center every weekday was in my best interest. They were worried about me being on my own.”
When he arrives each morning, he settles in at his favorite table and enjoys a cup of coffee while catching up with staff members and fellow participants.
“We definitely notice when Bruce isn’t here,” said Chelsea Yerges, a restorative aide. “He brings a lot of fun and laughter with all of his good-natured joking.”
Reisinger’s day-to-day at the Bluestem PACE center is determined by appointments he needs to attend either out in the community or if he needs to attend. From eye appointments to heart specialists, his care plan helps coordinate appointments and provides the necessary transportation to get there. He may see the on-site doctor to address a specific concern or to evaluate his progress in certain areas. Most days, Reisinger says, he is encouraged to do physical therapy.
“We’ve really been working on Bruce’s strength and balance to help eliminate his falls,” said Yerges. “He’s making really good progress, getting stronger, and the frequency of his falls have diminished significantly. That’s what we want to see.”
In between appointments or on days where he has fewer things scheduled, Bruce enjoys socializing and participating in planned activities at the day center. He can often be found playing cards with friends, and he’s known to be lucky at bingo. He’s also grateful to receive lunch at the day center, as preparing food on his own can be a challenge due to his limited mobility.
“It really is nice to have this kind of assistance,” said Reisinger. “Because I have PACE, I am able to do many things I couldn’t do if I was just getting by on my own.”