Bluegrass Care Navigators Opens Kentucky’s first Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly

Care Navigator • September 13, 2022

Bluegrass Care Navigators today begins enrollment for Kentucky’s first Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, also known as PACE, serving Fayette, Jessamine, Franklin, Woodford and Anderson counties.

PACE is an innovative healthcare program designed to help aging and frail adults stay independent, living at home for as long as safely possible, and supports caregivers by managing the many healthcare needs and access challenges for its enrollees. 


PACE is available to Medicare or Medicaid recipients aged 55 or older who qualify for a nursing home level of care, who live in the service area of the PACE organization, and who can continue to live independently with the help of PACE services.


Bluegrass PACE Care, offered through Bluegrass Care Navigators, will provide the entire continuum of medical care, social care, and long-term services and support needed by frail and elderly adults. Upon enrollment in PACE, participants and their caregivers meet with an interdisciplinary team that includes doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, dietitians, personal care aides, transportation drivers and others. An individualized care plan is developed to respond to all the participant’s needs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.


Many services will take place at the Bluegrass PACE Center, with convenient locations in Lexington and Frankfort. Transportation is provided by the PACE program to and from the centers, as well as to and from any appointments arranged by the PACE team. At the PACE center, participants receive primary care, therapy, meals, recreation, socialization and personal care. Additional services are provided at home, including skilled care, personal care, and equipment management such as ramps, grab bars and other tools needed for safety. 


“Our interdisciplinary team is directly involved in the participant’s care, interacting with them at the PACE Center and in their home frequently,” explained Liz Fowler, CEO of Bluegrass Care Navigators. “This allows us to quickly take notice of any changes to our enrollees’ physical, mental and physiological conditions, and quickly adjust their care plan to meet their changing needs.”


The PACE program serves as both the healthcare provider and the healthcare plan for its enrollees. This means that the PACE doctor works directly with patients to make decisions for a participant’s necessary care. Bluegrass PACE Care has created a high-quality network of providers to support PACE participants and is responsible for the quality and cost of all care provided, including specialist and hospital services. Participants who seek care outside of the PACE network may be personally liable for the cost of that care.


Individuals enrolled in PACE will have no copays or deductibles for services provided by the program. PACE covers the cost of all care and services normally covered by Medicare and Medicaid, as well as medically necessary care authorized by the participant’s care team that may not normally be covered by Medicare and Medicaid. Participants who are only covered by Medicare (and not Medicaid) will have a monthly premium that will be discussed upon enrollment in the PACE program. 


Bluegrass PACE Care is now enrolling new participants.  To schedule a consult with a member of Bluegrass PACE Care to discuss eligibility, ask questions or tour the PACE center and meet the team, please call 855-492-0812 (TTY 800.648.6056).

By Emma Powers, Music Therapist • September 14, 2026
I recently had the opportunity to work with a patient who was struggling with depression and grief as his illness progressed. As he lost abilities and became more homebound, the hospice team knew he could benefit from additional emotional support. However, he had repeatedly declined visits from the chaplain and social worker.
Massage therapy helps patients feel less alone.
By Jeff Zutaut, Massage Therapist • September 14, 2026
Over the years, I've seen how massage therapy can help ease physical discomfort, anxiety, and stress for hospice patients. But one of its most meaningful benefits is something less visible: helping patients feel less alone.
Massage therapy with Bluegrass Care Navigators helped lessen a patients anxiety.
By Jeff Zutaut, Massage Therapist • September 14, 2026
A patient living with Parkinson's disease and advanced prostate cancer was recently referred to our Integrative Medicine team. While his wife was a strong supporter of hospice care, she wasn't aware that Bluegrass Care Navigators also offers integrative medicine therapies such as massage, that complement the medical care for the nursing team.
An adult coloring in a coloring book.
By Whitney Clay, Integrative Medicine Program Coordinator • September 14, 2026
At Bluegrass Care Navigators, our Integrative Medicine and Volunteer teams have been working together to create new opportunities for meaningful patient connections through art and music. This year, we launched a program that trains volunteers to incorporate creative activities into companionship visits with patients.
Seniors music activity
September 11, 2026
Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) empowers seniors to remain independent at home with comprehensive support.
Grieving man sitting in chair with his hands folded and near his chin
September 2, 2026
After a loss, many people ask the universal question: “How long will my grief last?” This is especially true for a first loss. Some people ask for ways to hurry through the grieving process, but there is no shortcut. It is difficult to accept that one has little control, but with grief work, the sense of loss can slowly improve.
The Wilkins family with BCN Home Modfication Occupational Therapist.
September 1, 2026
For the Wilkins family, peace of mind came in the form of a handrail.
July 24, 2026
Bluegrass Care Navigators has received grant funding from Truist Foundation and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) to purchase an additional transportation van for Bluegrass PACE participants in Fayette County. The new van will expand Bluegrass PACE Care’s existing transportation fleet, helping meet growing demand and ensuring participants can reliably access the care and services they need.
Northern Kentucky Voluteer Flower Program Participants
July 9, 2026
The dedication of Bluegrass Care Navigators’ Northern Kentucky Flower Program volunteers was recently recognized at the Garden Club of Kentucky Annual Convention, highlighting the powerful impact of their service to BCN patients. In addition to celebrating 22 awards earned for a wide range of gardening projects throughout Boone County, the Boone County Garden Club was also honored with the prestigious Club of Honor for its outstanding partnership with Bluegrass Care Navigators. This recognition reflects the heartfelt commitment of our volunteers and the meaningful difference they make in our community.
Mom and family find hope through Bluegrass Grief Care
July 9, 2026
Grief arrives without warning. For Crystal Huddle and her children, it came in an instant, through a car accident that took her husband’s life and forever changed their family.