REDDING, Calif. -- Shasta Community Health Center is planning a new $25 million facility in East Redding to provide comprehensive care for seniors, aiming to keep them in their homes as long as possible. The project, known as the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), will be located at the corner of Churn Creek Road and Downard Lane.
Brandon Thornock, CEO of Shasta Community Health Center, said the facility will include a range of healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, mental behavioral health therapists, case managers, recreational therapists, and dietitians. "Their sole purpose is to keep these individuals as happy and healthy as humanly possible," Thornock said.
The health center hosted its first community input meeting Thursday to raise awareness and attract investors. "If there are great organizations out there who are interested in contributing to something like this, that could be the difference from us being able to bring it to this community or not," Thornock said. "It is a big puzzle piece on how we braid those things together."
The facility will offer free services to 250 to 400 seniors, with care costs covered by Medicare and Medicaid. Having recently completed a center for women, babies, and children, the health center is now focusing on senior citizens. "Now we are turning our attention to the senior citizens in our community, who could use our help," Thornock said. "We want to be there to provide that help."
Thornock emphasized the importance of creative solutions in senior care. He said, if an elderly woman loses her cat, you don't have to provide counseling or anti-depressants. You buy her another cat.
This will be the first PACE center north of Sacramento.