Pittsboro site marks one year of service
Pittsboro staff celebrates with PACE participants Stella Chester (in red) and Billy Herndon, center. Also present were Executive Director Marianne Ratcliffe and Site Director Jeff Sumpter.
Today, the Pittsboro facility boasts more than 40 PACE participants, four times more than a year ago, when the site opened its doors for the first time. Last month, the site celebrated the one-year anniversary of providing a unique place for seniors to find daytime medical, social and health services at a low-cost. The second program of its kind for Piedmont Health SeniorCare, Pittsboro PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) hopes to ultimately reach its maximum participant level of 150.
The staff of 20 employees forms an interdisciplinary team responsible for coordinating each participant’s care daily. The care team includes physicians, social workers, nurses, certified nursing assistants, rehabilitative therapists such as occupational and physical therapists, recreational therapists, a nutritionist, a pharmacist, a home-care coordinator and transportation personnel.
Stella Chester, a PACE participant, told the Chatham News & Record, “With Piedmont, my life has improved so much,” she said. “I thank God for this place. It is just like a family. If anyone knows anyone who is at home and needs a place, tell them about PACE.”
Piedmont Health Services is celebrating its 45th year of service this year. Site Director Jeff Sumpter said they were thrilled to be in Pittsboro. “It is great to see how people do well and their quality of life improves,” he said. “It is rewarding to work within such an innovative model of care that is so effective.”
