Orlando has introduced a new option for low-income seniors who might otherwise need to move into a nursing home. The InnovAge Florida PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) Orlando center, a 32,000-square-foot facility on Orange Blossom Trail, celebrated its grand opening on Wednesday. This center offers medical and social services to Central Floridians aged 55 and up who qualify for nursing home care but prefer to stay in their homes safely.

The center’s comprehensive services include primary, specialty, and dental care, along with transportation, care counseling, and recreational activities for residents of Orange, Seminole, Lake, and Osceola counties. These services are free for those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, and a limited number of privately insured individuals can also join.

The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a healthcare model that started in the 1970s, saw increased adoption during the pandemic due to widespread nursing home closures and federal COVID-19 relief funding. InnovAge, the largest PACE center operator in the nation, manages the Orlando facility.

“At its core, you know, this is about helping those who need a little extra help,” stated Patrick Blair, president and CEO of InnovAge, at the grand opening. “Our main goal is to keep people in their homes, with their families.”

Nursing Home Alternative: InnovAge Expands In Florida

InnovAge spokeswoman Lara Hazenfield mentioned that the Orlando center could serve up to 1,300 clients. This is InnovAge’s second Florida PACE Center, following the January opening of a Tampa location. It is Orlando’s first and only PACE center, set to welcome its initial participants on Saturday.

InnovAge aims to leave behind previous controversies with this Florida expansion. Some of its PACE centers in California and Colorado were sanctioned in 2021 due to quality of care issues discovered in surprise audits. These sanctions were lifted in 2023 after successful inspections.

“We are proud of the work our team has done to improve operations, standardize processes, and provide our seniors with high-quality, compassionate care,” stated Blair. “InnovAge is entering an exciting new phase of responsible growth.”

The Grand Opening

The grand opening was attended by elected officials, community leaders, and InnovAge board members, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. The center also announced a partnership with Orlando Health to offer additional resources for patients post-hospital discharge.