By Dr. Kira Mengistu, BCSC PACE-West LA Provider & Mauricio Lopez, Marketing Director.
In the last decade, social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram have gained immense popularity, providing an entertaining escape with viral videos ranging from cats playing the piano to daring mountain leaps. While these videos offer a temporary respite from daily life, there’s an increasing need for social media to focus on impactful, life-changing content, particularly concerning our frail and vulnerable citizens – seniors aged 55 and older requiring assistance for independent and safe living.
According to Webster’s dictionary, ‘frail’ denotes physical weakness, encompassing five characteristics, as defined by Fried’s frailty phenotype: weakness, slowness, low physical activity, and unintentional weight loss. Studies reveal that 15% of older non-nursing home populations are frail, and 45% are pre-frail, with prevalence rising among women, minorities, those in supportive residential settings, and lower-income individuals. Frailty correlates with an increase in chronic diseases and disability prevalence.
Unfortunately, many frail senior citizens lack awareness of programs that can enhance their lives and health. This is where the importance of social media platforms discussing, showcasing, and recommending programs like PACE (Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) becomes important. PACE, existing for over 70 years, is a well-kept secret in healthcare, designed for frail seniors with medical needs, offering comprehensive and preventative care.
Since the 306 PACE Programs independently operating in the United States are managed and operated by different companies under a government-regulated set of common rules and regulations, they have all grown and flourished by providing the best Senior Care to a mainly Dual eligible (MediCare and MediCal) specific subset of the Senior Citizen population, so PACE can’t really be advertised broadly. However, PACE fills a crucial void for seniors requiring a robust health plan that addresses all their healthcare needs in one place. The focus is on intervention and prevention, intervening before it’s too late and preventing further health complications. Brandman Centers for Senior Care PACE in Reseda or West LA provides coordinated, comprehensive care for those 55 and older with frailty and medical needs, offering services such as primary medical and specialty care, dental, optometry, podiatry, caregiver support, and social services.
As a Geriatric Care Physician, I envision more social media content showcasing seniors benefiting from PACE programs, playing with their cats, and dancing at home. It’s crucial to shift our focus to the quality of life for frail and elderly individuals, as we all age and contemplate our future well-being.
