Our Services: Center for Elders' Independence
Center for Elders' Independence is an innovative program designed to enhance the ability of seniors to live safely in their homes with dignity and independence. We do this by providing access to the full continuum of medical services, including preventive, primary, acute and long-term care. We also provide emotional and social support in the form of recreational activities, meals and transportation to and from the Center and outside medical appointments. All services are coordinated by a CEI case manager, a geriatric social worker who is part of the inter-disciplinary care team. This relieves family caregivers of much of the day-to-day logistics of managing care so they can just enjoy life with their loved one. In-home personal care and light housekeeping are also available, depending on your loved one's needs.
With the help of Center for Elders' Independence, the person you care for can:
Live safely in the community for as long as possible.
Remain healthy with quality care that is coordinated just for him or her.
Stay engaged with social and emotional support as needed.
More about Center for Elders' Independence:
- Cost
- Eligibility
- Our service area
- Our comprehensive team approach
- The PACE Center itself
- 10 most asked questions
Cost
Center for Elders' Independence is a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a special kind of health plan set up through Medicare and Medicaid. If a person is eligible for Medi-Cal and Medicare, all CEI services are covered at no additional cost. Medi-Cal beneficiaries who have a share-of-cost remain responsible to pay their individual share-of-cost payments. We also accept private pay clients. Our services include all primary medical care, which is delivered at the Center for Elders' Independence PACE Center. We also cover specialty services, podiatry, optometry, prescription drugs and all medically necessary transportation.
Because we provide and are responsible for all of your loved one's medical care, any services received outside our plan without our prior approval will not be covered. Your loved one will be financially responsible for those.
Your loved one can leave our health plan at any time. To enroll or disenroll from our service, contact us directly at 510-433-1150. Your loved one cannot enroll or disenroll through the Social Security office.
Eligibility
Center for Elders' Independence enrolls seniors who are age 55 or older and live in northern Alameda County or West Contra Costa County (from Hayward to Richmond and El Sobrante ). To be eligible, your loved one must be certified as meeting the need for nursing home level of care, as assessed by CEI providers and determined by the CA Department of Health Care Services.
Many times our services mean the difference between staying at home and having to move to a facility. At the time of enrollment, your loved one must be able to live in a community setting safely, with CEI’s supportive services. He or she must also agree to have all services coordinated and approved through our inter-disciplinary team of medical providers and social workers. For more information about eligibility, cost and our service area, please call 510-433-1150, or request more information here: http://www.cei.elders.org/AboutCEI/ContactUs/tabid/209/Default.aspx (Return to top)
Our service area
We serve persons 55 and older who live in Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville, Piedmont, El Cerrito, Kensington, Richmond, San Pablo, El Sobrante, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Castro Valley, Hayward, Ashland/Cherryland and the City of Alameda.
(Return to top)Our comprehensive team approach
CEI’s unique feature is our personal approach to health care, delivered by an inter-disciplinary team of professionals experienced at caring for seniors. This allows us to make sure that you, your loved one and our staff all know each other well, so we can work together effectively on your senior’s behalf. Care is planned, provided and coordinated at each Center by an inter-disciplinary team that includes a physician, nurse practitioner, RNs, physical/occupational/speech therapists, social workers, geriatric aides, home care nurses and aides, recreation director and a transportation representative.
Each team member’s expertise is used to assess your loved one and additional specialists may be called upon if necessary. Together with you and your senior, they will create a care plan designed to address his/her specific needs and goals. Each CEI/PACE participant is reassessed every six months or whenever there is a change in condition, and the plan is modified to meet changing needs. The PACE model of care has been shown to improve health status and the ability of frail seniors to remain living safely at home.
The PACE Center itself
The Center for Elders' Independence operates four PACE centers. Each one includes a fully staffed geriatric clinic, a rehab gym for physical and occupational therapy, a day center for recreation, socialization, personal care and hot lunch. Transportation to and from the center and clinic scheduled specialist appointments is available using vans that are specially equipped to accommodate wheelchairs and other needs of the disabled.
Please contact us for a center tour and learn more about this unique program that promotes independence and quality of life. Call 510-433-1150 or request a FREE information kit at: http://www.cei.elders.org/AboutCEI/ContactUs/tabid/209/Default.aspx
10 most asked questions
1. What is the Center for Elders’ Independence (CEI)?
CEI is a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a long-term comprehensive health care program that enables older adults to live at home in their communities for as long as medically and socially possible. CEI is committed to helping older adults maintain their independence, dignity and quality of life. CEI is a Health Plan which provides all medical care (24-hours-a-day), a PACE Day Center, home care services and transportation.
2. What do you mean by PACE?
The PACE Program creatively coordinates the care of each participant enrolled in the program based on his or her individual needs. An inter-disciplinary team develops a Plan of Care with the goal of enabling older individuals to remain living safely in their community.
3. What services does CEI provide to those who participate?
For those who qualify to participate in CEI, services include but are not limited to:
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Physician, specialist, and nursing care
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Prescription drugs and durable medical equipment dental, eye and foot care
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Hospital, emergency and nursing home care
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Rehabilitative and recreational therapies
4. How much does CEI cost?
If you are eligible for Medi-Cal and Medicare, all CEI services are covered at no additional cost. Medi-Cal beneficiaries who have a share-of-cost remain responsible for their individual share-of-cost.
CEI also accepts Medi-Cal-only and private-pay individuals.
5. How does a person qualify to join?
You are eligible to join CEI if you:
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Are 55 years or older
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Are a resident of Northern or Central Alameda County (Hayward and north) or West Contra Costa County (El Sobrante and south to El Cerrito)
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Are able to live in the community safely
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Meet the level of care requirements as determined by the California Department of Health Care Services
6. How would I get to CEI and what would I do there?
Transportation is provided by CEI. One of our specially equipped vans picks you up at home and brings you to CEI for the day. You may get a medical clinic check-up, physical and rehabilitative therapy, depending on your needs. You will get a hot meal, plus social and recreational activities with other participants at our PACE Center.
7. What if my health limits me from coming to CEI…are there any in-home services I would receive?
Those who are eligible will receive in-home care services (these services must be necessary and you must be approved by our inter-disciplinary team to receive them), including but not limited to:
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Personal care (bathing, grooming, dressing)
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Light housekeeping
8. What about my personal doctors?
CEI participants agree to receive all health care services exclusively a from CEI inter-disciplinary team made up of a physician, clinic & home care nurses; social worker; physical, occupational, speech and recreational therapists; health care aides; and transportation staff.
As a participant of CEI you will have medical care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
CEI’s goal is to develop and provide a plan of care specifically for you, based on your needs. We coordinate your medical care, including hearing needs, foot and eye care, medications, rehabilitative therapy, nutrition, recreational activities, home care, and transportation.
9. If I want to join CEI, what do I do next?
First we schedule a home visit with you and your caregiver(s) to tell you more about CEI. Next we arrange a tour of the PACE Center for you and your caregiver(s), and finally we schedule a complete medical and social assessment by our inter-disciplinary team.
10. How can I get more information?
CEI’s outreach/intake representatives are available at:
510-433-1150 (TDD for the hearing impaired: 510-433-1165, M-F, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
They can answer your questions and arrange for a personal interview. You can also find information at our website: www.cei.elders.org
Click here for a printable handout and to view in other languages.
