Having access to comfort and care that is smart and safe doesn’t have to be a challenge.
During events like the Leesburg Lunch and Learn, seniors in the tri-county area are able to learn about resources available to them that can help increase their independence or maximize their wellness.
While enjoying complimentary subs, a room of seniors were able to be educated on and ask questions about Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) as an option to age safely at home. The Lunch and Learn event, sponsored by InnovAge, was held April 13 at the Leesburg Resource Center, 1041 County Road 468.
The Lunch and Learn event was hosted by Mobile Access Assistance of Florida as a part of bimonthly workshops and activities hosted for local seniors in the community.
Demica Paige, a Mobile Access Assistance volunteer and the event’s coordinator, said the event was an opportunity for community residents to learn more about health resources available to them.
The event was held one week after a senior health expo at the same location, where vendors including InnovAge provided health information and conducted screenings.
“Not many seniors are familiar with PACE and I just wanted to have a day of education about a different resource available,” Paige said. “The health expo was such a huge success. We had over 130 seniors participate. Three of the vendors did health screenings, including the Blood Bus. I was impressed we were able to get a lot of mobile screenings complete and help make sure people have access to care they need to increase their quality of life.”
InnovAge, a company headquartered in Colorado with a facility in Orlando, has offered home care to seniors through PACE for 35 years with the goal of helping them age in place as long and safely as possible.
PACE, part of a government program, can include benefits such as adult daycare, home care, meals, nutritional counseling, social work counseling, transportation and more. Each person who enrolls in the program receives a personalized plan for their medical, physical, emotional and social needs developed by an interdisciplinary provider team.
Steven Mezidor, healthcare sales and business development leader with InnovAge, explained to those in attendance that PACE was designed to keep patients in the community.
“We look at risk as clinical needs,” Mezidor said. “What that means is we don’t charge people for their care. Whatever is deemed medically necessary will be covered.”
To be eligible for the program, individuals have to be 55 years or older, make under $2,982 monthly and able to live safely in the community in stable housing during the time of enrollment.
Along with being eligible for nursing home care, people also are required to live in an area accessible to service of a PACE organization. To learn more about PACE, go to medicaid.gov.
A Senior Health Expo 2026 sponsored by CenterWell Senior Primary Care, KR Medical Research, Lake Port Square and Martellaro Law will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 4 at The Venetian Center, 1 Dozier Circle, Leesburg.
Along with having the chance to meet with more than 30 exhibitors, seniors can benefit from free health screenings and free phones for those who are hard of hearing.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
