A PACE physical therapist leads a fall prevention
presentation with group of participants.
Photo by Estefania Valdovinos Courtesy of Providence ElderPlace PACE Everett - South
EVERETT — His throat cancer swelled up and shut off breathing, and a trach tube surgically applied opened up an airway passage through a hole in his throat. But David Gudde is now prospering, and a lot of that may be because of the services of one program in Everett that supports healthy living for older people.
Providence ElderPlace PACE in Everett is the only Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in Snohomish County, a federal elder care program that serves people age 55 and older.
Gudde was referred to Providence ElderPlace PACE for his medical recovery and follow-up appointments.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them,” said Gudde.
Just before being referred to Providence ElderPlace PACE, Gudde was at work eating lunch May 2, 2023, when everything went black, he said. He woke up at Providence Everett hospital with a tracheostomy tube, IVs in his arms, heart monitors on his chest, and a feeding tube in his stomach. “They told me I died three times,” he said.
The trach that was applied at the hospital saved his life.
“That’s how I survived, that’s what kept me alive,” said Gudde.
Laura Anis helped take care of him while he went through all of his radiation treatments and chemotherapies at Providence Everett hospital, he said. Anis is the owner of his adult family home.
“I went from 98 pounds to 128 pounds. And I went through 47 radiation treatments and six chemotherapies and I am now cancer-free and trach-free,” said Gudde. “I just have the hole in my throat from where the trach was.”
According to Janet Abel, the manager of PACE Operations at Providence ElderPlace PACE Everett - South, the Everett location opened in April 2022. The program started with four participants and is now up to 220 participants as of this month.
According to Abel, when Gudde moved back home to his adult family home, a residence that is contracted with Providence ElderPlace PACE, Anis referred him to the PACE program because they could continue to provide his care once he was discharged from the hospital.
“Our mission is really to serve the poor and vulnerable in the community. At PACE, we serve predominantly a Medicaid population. People that are low income and benefit from those types of support,” said Abel.
For those who qualify financially, Providence ElderPlace PACE accepts Medicaid to help cover the cost of medical services.
“There is a desire to control health care costs. To keep people out of the hospital… to keep people out of more institutionalized settings” said Abel. “And PACE is a really wonderful way to do that.”
Gudde said he appreciates the mental health benefits of the recreation provided at the center, a day program that he attends twice a week.
“We play poker, we play cornhole,” said Gudde. “Keep people happy to where they don’t get depressed because depression is no good for this type of recovery. You’ve got to stay positive.”
Each day, the organization transports about two dozen participants from their homes to the center for activities such as crafts and exercise and a meal.
“And it’s a chance for them to get out of the house and socialize and be around their peers,” said Abel. Everett’s Providence ElderPlace PACE provides a primary care clinic, Adult Day Health program, physical therapy on-site, and a rehab gym, Abel said.
“But if our participants are better served in their homes,… if they’re better served in their adult family home, their assisted living facility, or their personal residence, we will bring the care to them,” said Abel.
According to the Providence ElderPlace PACE website, “Homebound participants or those who cannot attend the health and social center are seen by their primary care team at home. Doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers and others will make house calls per the participant’s care plan or as needed.”
“The whole goal is to keep people living in community and out of institutionalized settings like nursing homes,” said Abel.
Gudde’s cousin Dalene Countryman said that Providence ElderPlace PACE kept Gudde from being unhoused when he had throat cancer.
“I am very grateful that they stepped in when they did because he was not mentally or physically able to take care of himself,” Countryman said. “They took excellent care of him and have continued to do so.”
If it weren’t for the existence of this program, Countryman said she doesn’t believe that Gudde would be where he is.
“What a successful program to help somebody like this who had no other resources or any way to take care of himself,” Countryman said. “I’m so thankful that they came through.”
For questions about the Providence ElderPlace PACE program, call 206-320-5325.
Reporter Rochelle Dimalanta is a News Lab student journalist from the University of Washington. She can be reached at rdima12@uw.edu.
