ORANGEBRUG, S.C. – Orangeburg County is using federal dollars to help solve a growing health issue.
The Orangeburg County Senior Helping Center provides dementia-related health care services through the program for all-inclusive care for the elderly, better known as PACE.
The center serves as a one-stop shop for primary care visits, physical and cognitive therapy, and daytime care for patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia-related diseases, along with senior citizens. It’s at no cost with Medicaid or Medicare funding.
Orangeburg County ranked eighth in large counties across the country for Alzheimer’s and dementia prevalence.
That research also shows dementia-related illnesses are 34% more likely to impact Black people in South Carolina – 25% more likely in Orangeburg County.
Experts explained that the resources provide not only much-needed care for patients but also improve the lives of family caregivers.
“No one person can provide 24/7 because what it does is, it puts their health at risk. Approximately 35% of family caregivers pass away before the person with the chronic illness,” Gerontologist Dr. Macie Smith said. “Having centers and services and resources like this in Orangeburg county and ultimately sign their loved one up for the services that way family caregiver can get their life back. They can get back to being who they were before they started taking care of their loved one.”
The University of South Carolina has also issued a questionnaire asking African Americans in rural communities to help design in-home health monitoring for African Americans with dementia.
The contact information for the PACE Center is 803-268-5301. For questions on the USC questionnaire, contact Dr. Shaun Owens at 803-777-0384 or owenso@mailbox.sc.edu.
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