Mercy Life - A PACE Organization

PACE is for CaregiversYou want the best care for your aging loved one, but getting that care can be frustrating. You know what it is like to drive your loved one to different appointments. You know managing medications and coordinating care between doctors can be challenging and time consuming. You struggle with leaving your loved one at home alone during the day.It doesn't have to be this way. Thousands of families across America have found a different and better kind of care for their aging loved ones through PACE programs. Trinity Health PACE and our programs across the country can coordinate all the care and services your loved one needs. A nursing home doesn't have to be in their future. Here are some tips to help you cope as a caregiver. You can also see if your loved one qualifies for PACE services.10 Tips for Family & CaregiversCaregiving is a job and respite is your earned right. Reward yourself with respite breaks often.Watch out for signs of depression and dont delay in getting professional help when you need it.When people offer to help, accept the offer and suggest specific things that they can do.Educate yourself about your loved ones condition and how to communicate effectively with doctors.Theres a difference between caring and doing. Be open to technologies and ideas that promote your loved ones independence.Trust your instincts. Most of the time theyll lead you in the right direction.Caregivers often do a lot of lifting, pushing, and pulling. Be good to your back by learning safe lifting techniques.Grieve for your losses, and then allow yourself to dream new dreams.Seek support from other caregivers. There is great strength in knowing you are not alone.Caregivers often do a lot of lifting, pushing, and pulling. Be good to your back by learning safe lifting techniques.Stand up for your rights as a caregiver and a citizen.Trinity Health PACE is a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).As an alternative to nursing home care, Trinity Health PACE's care model gives participants and caregivers far more than medical services. Our full-circle care offers many advantages: We partner with you with complete and coordinated care from our team of healthcare experts who specialize in senior care. This interdisciplinary team has primary care providers, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, therapists, social workers, dieticians, and home health aides - all working together to design care plans centered around individual health needs. This team is what makes our model of care special. With this full-circle care, we can treat the whole person in mind, body and spirit. PACE offers the freedom and independence you long for, as we provide care that helps seniors live safely at home as long as possible.  Our participants' dignity and independence are our priority. Our goal is to positively impact our participants' health and overall well-being where they are most comfortable and connected in the community the sacred place they call home.  Our multi-touch approach to program participants provides peace of mind to both participants and their families. Our team takes the time to organize and coordinate all services needed with personalized care plans. We partner with you to ease the stress of managing appointments, medications and more. Our extensive list of medical and support services gives participants more resources and options than other long-term services and support plans. Contact Mercy Life in Mobile, Alabama at 251-287-8420 to find out how the PACE program can help you.

What Do You Mean By PACE?The Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) creatively coordinates the care of each participant enrolled in the program based on his or her individual needs with the goal of enabling older individuals to remain living in their community. Getting older and staying independent is not always easy. You may have trouble with daily activities like getting to primary care provider's appointments, bathing, and getting dressed. Mercy LIFE of Alabamas PACE program can help you do all of these things while living safely at home, and your team of healthcare providers at LIFE will help you live as healthy as possible. Who does Mercy LIFE of Alabama serve?Mercy LIFE of Alabama serves seniors in the community and in our center. Staying independent and remaining at home is important for seniors, but sometimes living safely at home can be a challenge. Mercy LIFE of Alabama understands this and we help seniors live safely at home. Seniors in our program benefit from a wide range of healthcare services provided in our PACE center or in the home, 365 days a year. Who pays for the program?Program payment is determined based on Medicare and Medicaid eligibility. Typically, services are free to those who qualify for Medicare and Medicaid, but some participants are required to pay monthly fees if they are over income or asset limits determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Who qualifies?Many participants are enrolled in Medicare and qualify for Medicaid. You are likely eligible for this program if you: Are 55 or older.Live in the service care area.Are certified by the state at a nursing home level of care.Have been assessed by our care team and can live safely in the community without helpful services. Is preventative care covered?Yes. The focus of every PACE organization is to help you live in the community for as long as possible. To meet this goal, PACE programs focus on preventive care. What if my health limits my ability to come to the centers?  Can I have home care?Those who are eligible will receive home care services. The Mercy LIFE of Alabama interdisciplinary team will let you know if your care plan includes home care services. Is transportation provided?We'll provide transportation to Mercy LIFE of Alabama for activities or medical appointments. We'll also provide transportation to appointments scheduled by LIFE in your community. If I enroll in Mercy LIFE, do I have to change doctors?Participants at Mercy LIFE of Alabama must receive care from our program's care team and through our network of providers. You will need to see our primary care provider, but your specialists may be a part of our network. Our team will let you know what doctors you will be able to see when you begin the enrollment process. What Would My Day look like at Mercy LIFE of Alabama?Participants are picked up by our LIFE transportation and brought to the center in the morning. You'll have breakfast with other participants. You may see your doctor or nurse if you have an appointment in the clinic. You might also see your physical therapist or occupational therapist. Participants can enjoy a wide range of activities and groups at the center. You'll have a healthy lunch, and transportation will bring you back home in the afternoon. What are the Eligibility Requirements?You may qualify for LIFE services if you:Are age 55 or olderLive in one of the service area zip codesHave been assessed by the state as needing nursing home careAre able to live safely at home with services provided by Mercy LIFE of AlabamaMercy LIFE of Alabama services are typically free to seniors who qualify for Medicare and Medicaid or Medicaid only. For participants who do not qualify for Medicaid, there is a flat monthly fee. To learn more about Mercy LIFE of Alabama, please contact them at 251-287-8427. 

Why You Should Schedule Your Mammogram We had the chance to sit down with Dr. Joyce Alexandar-Hines, our executive director for the North Carolina PACE center, LIFE St. Joseph of the Pines and asked about her experience with breast cancer. She shared why getting the mammogram on the calendar is so important and why she believes her story is meant to help other women. In July 2023, I had my annual mammogram, and they saw something in my left breast. They said they dont think its cancer, but can you come back in six months? Dr. Joyce says of how her story began. She returned in January for another mammogram and said they needed to do an ultrasound. The lady took a while, reaching for Dr. Joyces lymph nodes as she tried to figure out what was going on. The doctor came in shortly and said they had found a cyst, and they saw something black behind the cyst.  Showing the image to Dr. Joyce, she asked how big it was? They said it was very small, about 3 millimeters, saying she never would have felt it. The next step was a biopsy. Dr. Joyce called her surgeon, scheduling the biopsy for February 20. During that appointment, she recalls lying on the table and the doctor saying, I believe this is going to be a good outcome. I thought he would say I did not have cancer. The following Sunday before church an alert came over my phone letting me know there was a new test result in my records. Immediately it came up: You have ductal carcinoma in Situ. I looked at my husband, and I said, I have breast cancer. I felt numb.  Something told Dr. Joyce to look at her results again and she saw that the cancer had not moved. She considers herself very fortunate.  The surgeon said, It is really small, only 3 millimeters. We got this. We will remove it so you will be cancer free. Dr. Joyce scheduled her surgery for early March to remove the cancer. When she went back for her follow-up appointment, and they let her know she was cancer free. They did recommend sending her to radiation and oncology so she could understand her options.  I went over there and never ever thought I would walk in the cancer center as a patient, Dr. Joyce said.  They helped her learn about her cancer, saying that it was made up of nothing but hormones, offering her the option of radiation treatment or a pill to stop the hormones. Dr. Joyce proceeded with the pill and the radiation, leading to exhaustion (in part due to her being anemic). Radiation was only 5 days, 10-15 minutes each day. The week after radiation, I was so tired I could not keep my eyes open, Dr. Joyce said. She went on to say how scared she was at this time.  At one time I questioned my faith and asked God why this was happening to me. It is now clear to hear that God wants her to talk to people about breast cancer and mammograms. Her staff knew she was sick and out of the office, but they did not know what was going on. So, Dr. Joyce had a meeting and shared her story.  Thank God, because two of my staff members said it had been ten years since their last mammograms, and they went to get them scheduled. A similar situation happened at her church where Dr. Joyce talked about her experience and reminded women in her congregation to get mammograms.  Dr. Joyce remembers giving the ultrasound technician a hard time but went on to say that she saved her life. Dr. Joyce got her a card and gift and went to visit her so she could tell her that she saved her life.  My surgeon said she didnt know how the tech found it, that some of these technicians have different techniques, but somehow her technique found it. Dr. Joyce told her surgeon: No, God pointed her instrument to where it needed to be. He wanted me to be here to do more. Pictured above is Dr. Joyce ringing the bell at the cancer center after her last treatment. She mentioned she has gone back for oncology appointments to make sure she is healing and how she is doing with the pill, if any aftereffects from radiation.  God felt that I needed another chance and I got that. Mammograms are important. Please, everybody. If you feel ANY type of lump, even if you had a mammogram two days ago, go back to the doctor. There are so many advances in breast treatment people are living longer and being cured. Its important to put your health as number one, Dr. Joyce advises.  To find out more about the Mercy Life PACE program and the services that they provide, please call Mercy Life of Alabama at 251-287-8420.

10 Ways to Stay HydratedBeat the Heat with These HacksWe are often dehydrated before we even feel thirsty. We lose water through sweating, urinating, and breathing.  According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, women should drink 11.5 cups a day, and men should drink 15.5 cups a day.Does keeping up with your fluid intake feel daunting? Read on for different ways you can stay on track from Registered Dietitian Lila Cornelio.Start Your Day with a Glass of WaterKickstart your hydration first thing in the morning with a glass of water. This can help replenish fluids lost overnight and set a good hydration habit for the day.Carry a Reusable Water BottleHaving a reusable water bottle on hand makes it easier to sip water throughout the day. Choose one that's easy to carry and holds a good amount of water to encourage regular drinking. Infuse Your Water with Fruits and HerbsAdd a burst of flavor to your water by infusing it with fruits like lemon, lime, berries, or herbs like mint and basil. This can make drinking water more enjoyable and encourage you to drink more.Eat Water-Rich FoodsIncorporate fruits and vegetables with high water content into your diet, such as watermelon, cucumbers, oranges, and strawberries. These can contribute to your overall hydration.Set RemindersUse your phone or a hydration app to set regular reminders to drink water. This can help ensure youre drinking consistently throughout the day.Opt for Hydrating BeveragesWhile water is the best option, other beverages like herbal teas, coconut water, and electrolyte-enhanced drinks can also help maintain hydration levels, especially if youre active.Monitor Your Urine ColorA simple way to check your hydration status is by the color of your urine. Light yellow indicates good hydration, while darker urine suggests you need to drink more fluids.Stay Cool with Ice PopsHomemade ice pops made from water, fruit juice, or blended fruits can be a refreshing way to boost your fluid intake while enjoying a summer treat.Hydrate Before, During, and After ExerciseIf youre engaging in physical activities, especially outdoors, make sure to drink water before, during, and after exercise to replace the fluids lost through sweat.Limit Caffeinated and Alcoholic BeveragesCaffeine and alcohol can have a diuretic effect, leading to increased fluid loss. Balance these with plenty of water to maintain proper hydration.Hydration is crucial during the summer, as higher temperatures increase the risk of dehydration. Staying well-hydrated helps regulate body temperature, supports metabolic functions, and maintains overall health, making it essential for enjoying the season safely and energetically.-Lila Cornelio, MS, RDN, LDN is a Registered Dietitian at our Florida program, Trinity Health PACE of Pensacola. With education and expertise in public health, sports nutrition, and plant based nutrition, her passion lies in educating others how to nourish their body and mind in a fast paced world.   Mercy Life of Alabama is a PACE that offers numerous services for Seniors.  Learn more by visiting their website at: https://www.trinityhealthpace.org/alabama/mercy-life-of-alabama/.