Southern Cross Article Highlights Georgia Care Innovators’ New PACE Program
By Kathleen Deloach Benton, DrPH, MA
President and CEO, Georgia Care Innovators
I was delighted to see our new PACE program featured in the November issue of Southern Cross, the publication of the Catholic Diocese of Savannah. The article, “Georgia Care Innovators Opens PACE Facility,” highlights the opening of our new Savannah facility and the tremendous opportunity PACE represents for older adults and families in our community.
PACE, which stands for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, is a model of care designed to help eligible older adults with complex healthcare needs remain safely in their homes and communities. Rather than requiring individuals and families to navigate a fragmented healthcare system, PACE brings medical care, therapies, transportation, nutrition, social engagement, and other supportive services together through one coordinated team.
As I shared with Southern Cross, healthcare is often far too disjointed, particularly for older adults managing multiple medical conditions. People shouldn’t have to wait months to see a specialist or struggle to coordinate appointments, medications, and other essential services. We can do better.
Bringing PACE to Georgia has been a labor of love. It required years of research, collaboration, and advocacy to help establish the legislative framework needed to make this model available in our state. I am incredibly grateful to the many people who helped turn that vision into reality.
What excites me most about PACE is its commitment to caring for the whole person. Our interdisciplinary team looks beyond medical diagnoses to understand each participant’s individual needs, interests, relationships, and goals. Whether that means coordinating specialized medical care, supporting emotional well-being, or helping someone continue enjoying a lifelong hobby, the goal is to help people live well.
At Georgia Care Innovators, we define innovation as identifying an unmet need in our community and taking meaningful steps to address it. PACE is a wonderful example of that philosophy in action.
I want to thank Southern Cross for sharing our story and Bishop Stephen D. Parkes for joining us to bless our new facility. We appreciate the opportunity to introduce more people to a model of care that has the potential to make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults and their families.
I invite you to read the full article in the November 2026 issue of Southern Cross, “Georgia Care Innovators Opens PACE Facility,” on page 26.
I hope you’ll share in our excitement about what PACE can mean for the future of healthcare in Georgia.
