Overview |
Who Qualifies | Who
Pays | Life Services |
OVERVIEW: ABOUT LIFE
LIFE St. Francis
Living Independently for Elders
LIFE St. Francis is the newest healthcare choice for elders living
in Mercer County and sections of Burlington County. We are a Program
of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), which can assist elders
to live safely at home while being helped by a team of healthcare experts.
There are many programs like LIFE St. Francis in 30 states
today
LIFE St. Francis is the first Program of All-Inclusive
Care for the Elderly (PACE) in New Jersey . LIFE is a different and
better type of health care for your aging loved one. It is a program
that provides and helps coordinate all medical care for elders living
at home. The program serves many health care and social needs of
the elderly, all in one place. Even transportation is included in
this unique model of care. With LIFE, cost is not a barrier to getting
the care that is needed. There are dozens of programs like LIFE St.
Francis in more than 30 states today.
LIFE is for Elders
Staying independent and remaining
at home is important for our community’s
elderly. Safety and proper care are serious concerns, though. LIFE
St. Francis understands this and helps seniors to stay healthy and
living at home. Seniors in the LIFE program benefit from a wide range
of healthcare services provided in our LIFE Center or at home, 365
days a year.
LIFE is for Caregivers
If you’re like millions
of other family caregivers, you want the best care for your aging loved
one. But getting that care can be frustrating. You know what it’s
like to drive your loved one to different appointments. You know managing
medications and coordinating care between doctors can be challenging.
And 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 like LIFE St. Francis. These families
have found LIFE can coordinate all the care and services your loved
one needs so you don’t have
to place them in a nursing home. LIFE St. Francis is a service of St.
Francis Medical Center, one of Central New Jersey’s most respected
healthcare providers since 1874.
LIFE is good
LIFE St. Francis offers many advantages for seniors and caregivers,
including:
• Elders stay in control of their lives, remaining
in the community and out of a nursing home as long as possible.
• A
team approach to care that keeps the senior and the family at the center
of healthcare decisions.
• Providing preventative health care
services
• Care is complete, preventative and ongoing.
• Help and
relief for caregivers and family members.
Who Qualifies: Who is Eligible?
There are no financial eligibility requirements to become a LIFE
participant. However, many participants are enrolled in Medicare and
qualify for Medicaid. You are 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.
• Can live safely at home with
the support of the LIFE Team
Call LIFE St. Francis at 609.599.LIFE (5433) to see if you or your
family member is eligible.
The LIFE St. Francis Service Area
Participants receive services at the LIFE Center in Hamilton Township
and in their homes. LIFE services are available for eligible
seniors within the following zip codes in Mercer and Burlington Counties:
08501, 08512, 08520, 08525, 08530,
08534, 08540, 08541, 08542, 08543,
08544, 08550, 08560, 08561, 08601,
08602, 08603, 08604, 08605, 08606,
08607, 08608, 08609, 08610, 08611,
08618, 08619, 08620, 08625, 08628,
08629, 08638, 08645, 08646, 08647,
08648, 08650, 08666, 08690, 08691,
08695, 08505, 08518, 08554.
How do I enroll?
Enrollment is easy. Our enrollment specialist will meet with you
and a family member or caregiver at your home to provide a detailed
understanding of the program. They will do an assessment of your eligibility
and schedule a visit to the center and a meeting with a doctor, nurses
and other key staff. You will receive a medical evaluation and a plan
of care can be established. We complete the enrollment paperwork so
you become an official participant. Enrollment is voluntary and you
may disenroll at any time by notifying the LIFE social worker.
Do you have more questions?
Call us today at 609.599.LIFE (5433) to learn more about this program
or to schedule a tour of the LIFE Center. We think you’ll agree
this is a great way to provide elder care.
Who Pays for LIFE?
LIFE accepts Medicare, Medicaid or private payment. There are no
out-of-pocket charges if participants qualify for both Medicare and
Medicaid or Medicaid only. For participants who do not qualify for
Medicaid, there is a flat monthly fee. Once signed up, LIFE St. Francis
will handle all paperwork and claims for participants. For services
to be covered, participants must follow the care plan approved by the
care team. Participants may be liable for unauthorized services. Call
our LIFE enrollment specialist at 609.599.LIFE (5433) to learn more.
At LIFE St. Francis, our goal is that the cost will never be a barrier
to receiving the care that is needed and the cost will not vary based
on the participant’s changing needs. LIFE St. Francis does not
discriminate in the delivery of services based on race, ethnicity,
national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, mental or
physical disabilities or source of payment.
LIFE Services
Participants receive all healthcare services from LIFE St. Francis.
Other than emergency care, all services must be authorized by the care
team. A provider within the LIFE network must deliver these services.
Participants may be personally liable for the cost of unauthorized
or out of network services. LIFE St. Francis services include:
• LIFE Center services (meals, exercise and fun activities).
• Dental
care, including dentures.
• Vision care, including glasses.
• Hearing care, including
hearing aids.
• Podiatry.
• Medical and specialty care, including a doctor
who knows elder care.
• Nursing care (including at home).
• Drug coverage (including
over the counter drugs).
• Transportation.
• Medical equipment and supplies.
• Help with meals and nutrition.
• Occupational and physical
therapies and equipment.
• Support for caregivers and family members.
• Home and personal
care.
• Mental health services.
• End-of-life care.
• Hospital and nursing home stays.
• Services such as lab
work, X-rays and surgery.
• 24-hour access to our care team.
In short, LIFE St. Francis provides all the medical and nursing care,
physical therapy, occupational therapy, nutritional services, and social
work support needed by a participant. When it is best for the
senior, these services can be provided at home. If hospital, nursing
home or home care is needed, it is coordinated through the LIFE St.
Francis team.
The LIFE St. Francis Center
The LIFE Center is an important part of this program. It is located
in Hamilton Township. Here, seniors receive health care, nutritious
meals, and participate in activities with others so they may remain
active, socialize and make new friends. The LIFE Center provides one
location where doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals can
provide treatment and monitor changes in an individual’s health.
We encourage seniors to do things for themselves so they can live independently
as long as possible. Transportation to the Center is included.
The LIFE St. Francis Team
The LIFE team will:
• Make a special healthcare plan for and with each participant.
• Manage
all healthcare services for participants.
• Help participants
to live safely in the community.
These experts provide valuable skills
and experience so that program participants remain comfortably at home.
They take the time to get to know each participant well.
LIFE team members
Geriatricians are doctors who care for the elderly.
These doctors spend more time with their patients and they treat them
so they can stay independent.
Nurses at LIFE St.
Francis also spend more time with program participants than in other
settings. Changes in health are watched closely.
Social Workers provide
ongoing help and answers for elders and their families.
Activities
Staff at our LIFE Center offer many
healthy and fun activities.
Nutritionists help participants
to eat healthy meals.
LIFE Specialists help with
personal care needs at home and at the LIFE Center.
Physical
and Occupational Therapists provide programs
to keep the highest levels of physical ability. Transportation
Staff is trained to meet the special
needs of seniors.
LIFE St. Francis Chaplain supports
the spiritual needs of participants and families as desired.
St. Francis Medical Center
LIFE St. Francis is a program of St. Francis Medical Center, which
is sponsored by Hope Ministries and is a member of Catholic Health
East. From Maine to Florida, Catholic Health East offers many health
care services through a wide variety of facilities and programs. Development
of LIFE St. Francis was supported in part by a grant from the New Jersey
Health Initiatives Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Top
|
