SIOUX CITY | UnityPoint Health -- St. Luke's Siouxland PACE program expects to begin offering services at its new location, 1200 Tri View Ave., beginning April 5.
The $3 million expansion into the former Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield building, which has been closed since early 2013, will triple the program's space and allow for future growth.
Siouxland PACE, which provides health care and support services to enable aging individuals to remain at home, will occupy about half of the building.
Since its inception in 2008, PACE has leased 10,000 square feet of space on the south side of a former Hy-Vee grocery store at 313 Cook St. The Siouxland Center for Active Generations occupies the north side, and will remain there after PACE moves.
"We'll be moving from about 10,000 square feet to about 30,000 square feet," PACE director Randy Ehlers said. "The building was the right building. It was a good fit for renovating into a PACE program.
The new building, which is being renovated by W.A. Klinger, will allow the program to gradually grow its census from 150 currently to 270.
"We will basically be able to continue with the current services that we now provide at the current location, but being able to grow our census to 270," Ehlers said.
Siouxland PACE coordinates and provides health care and supportive services to frail individuals ages 55 and older who are dual eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. By keeping seniors in their homes as long as possible, the program reduce hospitalizations and avoids more expensive nursing home placement.
Buses bring participants from Woodbury, Plymouth, Monona and Cherokee counties to Siouxland PACE daily or a couple times a week.
