PACE Your LIFE plans lively Sept. 30 happy hour in Milford

Music, food, drinks, raffles and tours will introduce the community to a program helping older adults live safely at home

MILFORD — PACE Your LIFE is turning its Sept. 30 open house into a community celebration, inviting seniors, caregivers, health care professionals and local leaders to enjoy an evening of live music, food, drinks and conversation at the Milford Wellness Village.

The free Happy Hour and Open House will run from 4 to 6 p.m. at the PACE Your LIFE Day Health Center, 21 W. Clarke Ave., Suite 1010.

Rather than offering a traditional presentation about senior services, PACE Your LIFE is creating a relaxed party atmosphere where guests can mingle, listen to live music by Smooth Sounds with Suzette and enjoy appetizers, beer and wine.

Giveaways and raffles will add to the festivities, while PACE Your LIFE team members will be available throughout the evening to answer questions and lead tours of the center. No reservation is required, allowing visitors to stop in at any time during the two-hour celebration.

The event is designed to be both informative and fun. Seniors can experience the center’s welcoming environment, caregivers can speak directly with members of the care team, and community leaders can see how the program supports older residents across southern Delaware.

A chance to experience the center

The open house allows prospective participants and their families to see the center while it is filled with music, activity and conversation.

Guests can explore the areas used for meals, recreation, social activities, rehabilitation and medical care. They also can meet the people who work directly with participants and learn what a typical day at PACE Your LIFE can include.

For an older adult who may be reluctant to consider a senior program, the happy-hour format offers a low-pressure introduction. Visitors do not have to schedule a formal appointment or begin an application. They can enjoy the party, tour the center and ask questions at their own pace.

The evening also offers caregivers a chance to meet other families and professionals who understand the challenges of helping an older person remain independent.

More than a daytime program

PACE Your LIFE is the local Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, commonly known as PACE. The program serves eligible adults 55 and older who meet the state’s criteria for nursing home-level care but can continue living safely in their homes with additional support.

Although its Day Health Center provides meals, recreation, activities, and social interaction, PACE Your LIFE is more comprehensive than a traditional senior day program.

Each participant receives an individualized care plan coordinated by a team of health professionals. Services can include primary and specialty medical care, nursing, prescription management, physical and occupational therapy, nutritional counseling, personal care, social work and assistance in the home.

Transportation to the center and medical appointments also may be included, along with caregiver respite, medical equipment, home-delivered meals and other services based on the participant’s needs.

The goal is to bring the different pieces of senior care together so older adults can remain in familiar surroundings and families do not have to coordinate multiple providers on their own.

A night for caregivers and community partners

The Sept. 30 celebration is not limited to seniors who are ready to enroll in PACE Your LIFE.

Adult children caring for aging parents, spouses managing a loved one’s health needs and other family caregivers are encouraged to attend. The evening can help families better understand what support is available before they face a crisis or must make an urgent care decision.

Hospital discharge planners, social workers, home care professionals, senior-living representatives and other service providers also can learn when PACE Your LIFE may be an appropriate referral for an older adult.

Community leaders, elected officials, nonprofit representatives and local businesspeople are invited to attend and become more familiar with an important part of Milford’s expanding health care network.

PACE Your LIFE operates within Milford Wellness Village, where a range of medical, rehabilitation, behavioral health, senior and family services are located on one campus.

Celebrating National PACE Month

The happy hour is being held as part of National PACE Month, which draws attention to programs that help older adults receive coordinated care while continuing to live in their communities.

The event is sponsored by IntusCare and ChorusRX.

For PACE Your LIFE, the Sept. 30 gathering is both an open house and an invitation to celebrate the seniors, caregivers, health professionals and community partners who make aging at home possible.

Visitors can come for the music and refreshments, try their luck in the raffles, meet the PACE Your LIFE team and leave with a better understanding of a senior-care option available in the Milford area.

To Go Box

What: PACE Your LIFE Happy Hour and Open House
When: Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Where: PACE Your LIFE Day Health Center, Milford Wellness Village, 21 W. Clarke Ave., Suite 1010, Milford
The party: Live music by Smooth Sounds with Suzette, appetizers, beer and wine, giveaways, raffles, center tours and opportunities to meet the PACE Your LIFE team
Seniors, family caregivers, health care and social-service professionals, community leaders, elected officials and anyone interested in learning about local senior-care resources
Admission: Free; no reservation required
Parking: Use the Polk Avenue or King Street entrance
Event information: Call 302-430-3870
Learn more: Visit paceyourlifemwv.com or call 302-865-3565