Loretto’s vision is to “always be a place to live with purpose, wholeness, and dignity,” and you can see that vision come to life in the impact the services have on both participants and their families during their time of need.

Patrick Lawler’s mother, Gayle, began showing signs of cognitive decline in her early 60s when she began making mistakes at work, a job she knew well after working there for almost 20 years. That was her family’s first indication that something was wrong.

Gayle was officially diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at 65 years old. Unsure of how to proceed, Patrick and his siblings, Meghan and Sean, decided to inquire about PACE CNY services.

He said, “At first, we didn’t know if our mom was a good fit for PACE CNY. She was young, and she didn’t need all the services that PACE provides, but after she was enrolled, we saw how it was helping her manage her Alzheimer’s and overall care.”

Gayle’s medical care was managed by Desta Anthony, a Nurse Practitioner who specializes in the treatment of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Desta grew close to Gayle and her children during the three years she cared for their mom, and she helped transition Gayle from living in a Loretto community to her daughter’s home before she passed.

Patrick said it was the all-inclusive care, like the medical equipment, supplies, and in-home support, that made a difficult time easier for his family. PACE CNY set up a room with a mechanical bed and a Hoyer lift so Gayle could spend her last days surrounded by family. A PACE CNY aide came three times a day to provide personal care, and Desta would visit regularly for assessments.

Patrick believes PACE CNY made a difficult time easier. “Over the course of five weeks, my brother, sister, and I never left her side, and we had the honor of being there for her last breath. I always tell people this, and it sounds so crazy, but it was the hardest and most beautiful experience I’ve ever gone through. And if I could go back, I would. I would do those five weeks over again, and that’s because PACE made it possible.”