Finding the PACE program was an absolute godsend for my siblings (Andrea, Kenny, Billy, and James) and me as we navigated my mother’s early onset Alzheimer’s and other serious health issues. My mother, who has lived in Chattanooga since 2006, was experiencing declining cognitive ability, and around the same time she was undergoing final Alzheimer’s testing, she was also diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. We were overwhelmed — trying to coordinate specialist appointments, manage medications, and figure out how to pay for care when nursing homes cost thousands of dollars a month and she had no financial resources.
PACE stepped in and took that burden off our shoulders.

Through Alexian PACE, every aspect of my mother’s health care is coordinated and covered — from her primary care and specialty appointments to her medications, therapies, and daily care needs. They helped us get her set up for Medicaid and created a comprehensive care plan tailored specifically to her medical, cognitive, and social needs. Instead of juggling multiple providers and worrying about bills, we have one dedicated team overseeing everything.

What has meant the most to us is the continuity of care. Before PACE, we would take her to appointments, and there were gaps in the communication of key medical details. Now, her PACE team helps us manage all of her care — scheduling appointments, transporting her, communicating with specialists, managing prescriptions, and ensuring follow-up happens. Her case manager serves as our central point of contact, keeping communication clear and consistent. We no longer worry about who is coordinating what.

Beyond medical care, PACE supports her daily living needs so she can remain safely in her own home, which is incredibly important to her. The team conducts routine home checkups to make sure her environment is clean and safe. If her health declines, they can quickly increase services — whether that means more in-home support, therapy, or medical oversight. Knowing her care can flex as her needs change gives us tremendous peace of mind.

My mother attends the PACE day center four days a week, Monday through Thursday — completely by choice. She can go as often or as little as she wants. An Alexian PACE bus picks her up and brings her home each day. While she’s there, she has access not only to social activities like bingo and field trips — which she absolutely loves and raves about — but also on-site medical support and supervision. The social interaction has been vital for her, as she can become somewhat of a recluse when she’s home alone.


- Matt and Margie Hayduk