Bluegrass PACE Care Helps Kentuckian to Walk Again

December 15, 2023

Barbara Harris, current participant in Bluegrass PACE Care, believes that enrolling in PACE is the best decision she ever made for her physical, mental and emotional health. At the Bluegrass PACE Center, she’s found a new community outside of her home, made new friends and receives patient-centered medical care. As a result, she’s learning to take her first steps post-amputation. 

“The Bluegrass PACE Center is wonderful because I love my home and I want to be there, but at the same time, you get tired of sitting in the house with nowhere to go and nothing to do,” Harris said. “So they pick you up and bring you to the Center where you have all day to socialize, can eat a good meal and get your medicine.” 


Transportation is provided by the Bluegrass PACE program to and from the Center, as well as to and from any appointments arranged by the PACE team. At the PACE Center, participants receive primary care, therapy, meals, recreation and personal care, as well as meals and the opportunity to engage in social activities. 


At the Bluegrass PACE Center, participants receive the full continuum of medical care, social care, long-term services and support needed by elderly adults so they can live safely in their homes. Upon enrollment in PACE, participants and their caregivers meet with an interdisciplinary healthcare team that includes doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, dietitians, personal care aides and van drivers among others. This team develops an individualized care plan that addresses the participant’s needs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. 


“Bluegrass PACE Care has improved my quality of life by being able to get out of the house and socialize,” she said. “I feel younger, and I haven’t had this much get up and go in quite a few years,” she said. 


Several years ago, Harris’s leg was amputated due to poor circulation. She was unable to walk because her prosthesis was too heavy and didn’t fit correctly. The team at Bluegrass PACE Care measured Harris for a new prosthesis and the therapists are working to strengthen her legs to prepare her to walk when the new leg arrives. 


“Bluegrass PACE Care is having a new prosthetic leg made for me, and they’re also giving me therapy to learn to walk with it, which is a big help,” she said. “I’m proud of my progress because the other leg, I couldn’t use; it was just a door stopper.” 


Bluegrass Care Navigators was the first PACE program to enroll participants in Kentucky and currently serves Fayette, Jessamine, Franklin, Woodford and Anderson counties; participants must live in these counties to qualify. 


For those with Medicaid and Medicare, PACE services are 100 percent covered. For Medicare only, private insurance or private pay, contact Bluegrass PACE Care to discuss associated fees. To qualify, PACE participants must be aged 55 or older, qualify for a specific level of care that may otherwise require a nursing home, live in the service area of Bluegrass PACE Care, and be able to continue to live safely in the community with the help of PACE services. 


To schedule a free consultation with a member of Bluegrass PACE Care to discuss eligibility and services, ask questions, tour the PACE Center and meet the team, please call 859.687.9410, toll free at 866.422.6722 (TTY 800.648.6056). For more information, visit bgcarenav.org/PACE. 

Bluegrass Care Navigators Partners with God’s Pantry to Address Patient Food Insecurity

June 29, 2026
Bluegrass Care Navigators has partnered with God’s Pantry to provide food boxes to patients experiencing food insecurity across its service lines. In the first month alone, team members and volunteers delivered 50 boxes to medically frail older adults. By addressing barriers like transportation, mobility, and limited income, this collaboration extends patient care beyond clinical needs to better support overall health and quality of life.
Caregiver testimonial

When Caring for Mom Gets Too Heavy: Jen’s Story

June 11, 2026
For the women holding it all together—until it’s too much.
Grief support for Father's Day

How to Honor His Memory on Father's Day

June 4, 2026
For many, Father’s Day can be particularly challenging day after the loss of a father or paternal figure. This day often brings back waves of grief—even if you thought you had already worked through those feelings. Everyday moments, like passing by Father’s Day displays in a store or participating in one of your father’s favorite activities, can unexpectedly trigger emotions and memories. As you navigate this difficult day, it is essential to give yourself permission to grieve. Take time to reflect on the joyful moments and cherished traditions you shared with your father.
From Medically Fragile to Safely Housed: How BCN Provides New Beginnings

From Medically Fragile to Safely Housed: How BCN Provides New Beginnings

May 26, 2026
For many individuals experiencing homelessness, medical hardship and housing instability are deeply intertwined. BCN’s Medical Respite Program bridges that gap by providing a short-term, hotel-based recovery program that offers compassionate care to unhoused individuals who need a safe place to heal and receive medical care.

Team BCN Provides Memory-Making Art Activities in Inpatient Units

May 26, 2026
Supported by a grant from the CommonSpirit Health Community Health Improvement Grants program, BCN’s Integrative Medicine created memory-making kits now used by social workers and volunteers to support patients and families in hospital settings.
Mother's Day flowers on pink backdrop

How To Honor Her Memory on Mother's Day

April 30, 2026
For many, Mother’s Day can be a particularly challenging day after the loss of a mother or maternal figure. This day often brings back waves of grief—even if you thought you had already worked through those feelings. Everyday moments, like passing by Mother’s Day displays in a store or seeing flowers, can unexpectedly trigger emotions and memories. As you navigate this difficult day, it is essential to give yourself permission to grieve. Take time to reflect on the joyful moments and cherished traditions you shared with your mother.

Bluegrass Care Navigators Supports Families Through Every Step

March 24, 2026
Marla Sowers was never defined by titles though she held many. A pianist and Miss Morehead State University, a valedictorian, a beautiful singer, and an excellent writer, she carried the practical wisdom of her farming family into everything she did. As a public school elementary music teacher, Marla shaped hearts by inviting students to see kindness as strength. When a dementia diagnosis altered the rhythm of her days, her husband Richard cared for her at home and then with the help of an assisted living facility for as long as he could. After several years, the facility referred her to Bluegrass Care Navigators (BCN) for hospice services.
Bill Papania's mother

Bluegrass Care Navigators Provides Family with More Moments

March 24, 2026
When Bill Papania thinks about Bluegrass Care Navigators, he doesn’t just remember the end of his mother’s life, he remembers the time, comfort, and connection Team BCN made possible.
The Coleman Family

Bluegrass Care Navigators Offers Hope, Support and Connection to Grieving Family

March 19, 2026
In 2024, the Coleman family’s world was shattered with a devastating cancer diagnosis and unexpected loss of Jessica, devoted wife and mother. Kyle and his three daughters were overwhelmed by grief and the daily reminders of life without her. They connected with Bluegrass Care Navigators’ (BCN) grief team whose compassionate support and counseling helped the family find comfort, connection and the tools to heal together.
Bluegrass Care Navigators Expands Bluegrass Transitional Care Program with Grant Award in Partnershi

Bluegrass Care Navigators Expands Bluegrass Transitional Care Program with Grant Award in Partnership with Saint Joseph London

March 17, 2026
Expansion will improve access to care and chronic disease management for high-risk patients across Laurel, Jackson, and Whitley Counties