Which option best describes PACE?

• A. A hospital-based outpatient program
• B. A retirement savings plan
• C. A program that provides medical and social services to help older adults live at home.
• D. A facility-based nursing home

Answer: (C)

PACE is a community-based, all-inclusive care model that coordinates medical and social services so older adults can live at home rather than in a nursing facility. It brings together primary and specialty medical care, hospital and post-acute services, home health, medications, transportation, meals, and social support under one unified plan managed by an interdisciplinary team. Eligibility typically includes being 55 or older and certified as needing nursing home–level care, with enrollment in the program allowing the care team to organize and fund most required services through Medicare and Medicaid. The aim is to keep people living independently in the community by providing comprehensive, integrated care and support, rather than placing them in a facility. This approach differs from hospital-based outpatient programs, which operate within a hospital setting; from retirement savings plans, which are financial tools; and from facility-based nursing homes, which house residents on-site.