InnovAge Pennsylvania’s LIFE program (Living Independence for the Elderly) is dedicated to aiding seniors in maintaining the familiarity and warmth of their longtime homes with a sense of community. And when providing its seniors with meals and nutritional services in their homes and local community centers, InnovAge’s focus is on maintaining the healthiest, freshest, most varied dietary essentials — for daily living, and for those who may suffer from diabetes, hypoglycemia and other diet related issues.
“Our programs deliver high quality medical, critical care and social services to eligible individuals, which include those 55 and above who live in an organization’s InnovAge’s service area, who need nursing home-level care and who can live in the community with assistance from PACE,” said InnovAge regional director Jarod Champeaux, speaking broadly of its four LIFE programs located in Northeast and Northwest Philly. “LIFE programs cover everything Medicaid and Medicare cover, plus more, such as all medically necessary prescription drugs.
“Participants participate and receive an individualized care plan and identify social determinant of health and address needs within the home environment so that individual participants can remain at home with assistance and remain in their community,” Champeaux continues. “Our professionals are passionate about service to others and provide high level, innovative care that address immediate needs of participants while making the program fun and a desirable place to spend time meeting their friends in the LIFE center. LIFE programs are really the missing puzzle piece in terms of senior care, and InnovAge’s programs are exceptional.”
With PACE acting as an all-inclusive program with InnovAge as their healthcare provider and insurance company, maintaining fresh, custom diets for its elder participants — whether keeping them at home, or during their time at InnovAge community centers — is a necessary part of their existence whether they have issues such as diabetes and high blood pressure, or simply choose a health-conscious diet.
Susan L. Bires, a dietitian at InnovAge’s Allegheny location, handles upwards of 170 participants at its center and in their homes on a case-by-case basis.
“In the population we serve, maintaining a healthy diet is essential, especially as their well-being is often affected by diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure,” she said. “Making certain one’s sodium intake and weight gain is monitored is crucial. In older adults, sudden weight gain of even three pounds – which could mean fluid – is important to note. We want to keep our charges healthy and out of the hospital and nursing homes.”
This means that Bires is always educating or “constantly calling” her InnovAge clientele regarding issues of weight and diet as prevention and early detection is key to lengthening one’s life.
“People with diabetes don’t usually feel or notice the changes in their condition, so we stay on top of it with them, and help them keep track of their health,” she said. “We help make a difference in their lives while making sure they can help themselves make the difference.”
While InnovAge centers provide low sodium, tasty meals in house, when dealing with clients at home, education is a meaningful part of the day-to-day job of a dietitian.
“We’re not a hospital or a nursing home – we are about helping clients to remain independent – so we want people to know their healthful options and make the best choice for themselves,” said Bires. “It’s about education, discussing portion size, conversation. We know our clients so well; it’s not just about giving advice. It is, as if, we’re just talking.”
Even if Bires can make small differences in an InnovAge client’s dietary health – less sodium-laden breakfast meat and more fresh fruit, for example – she’s done a good day’s work. “Sometimes you don’t want to put people on a big strict diet or just hand them a piece of paper to follow… we want to interact with each of our clients, and help them to make the changes they need, and make those changes last,” said Bires.
Sponsored content produced in partnership with InnovAge
