Worcester Senior AdvisorWhat is the difference between PACE and assisted living?
PACE is a health plan that provides medical care, a day center, home care, drugs and transportation through one team, while assisted living is housing with personal care; PACE does not pay rent, and assisted living does not provide a medical team.
In Worcester County, Fallon Health's Summit ElderCare runs PACE centers in Worcester, Leominster and Webster. PACE serves people 55 and older who need a nursing-home level of care and can live safely in the community with its support.
Can PACE participants live in assisted living?
Yes, and in Massachusetts it is common: AGE's 2025 census found that 7% of assisted living residents statewide were enrolled in PACE, and 11 residences had at least half of their traditional residents covered by PACE.
The combination works when a residence coordinates closely with the PACE team, which provides the medical and much of the personal care. Ask both the residence and Summit ElderCare how the arrangement works in that building.
Who is PACE a good fit for?
People with several chronic conditions who would benefit from one coordinated team and a day center, who are willing to use the PACE team's doctors, and whose families want help keeping them at home or in a residence rather than a nursing home.
People attached to their current physicians, or who do not want a day-center routine, may prefer a Senior Care Options plan or the Frail Elder Waiver.
How do we enroll in PACE?
Contact Summit ElderCare through Fallon Health at 1-800-868-5200; enrollment includes an assessment to confirm the person meets the level-of-care requirement and can be served safely, and a review of MassHealth or private payment.
Enrollment takes effect at the start of a month, so allow time, particularly around a hospital discharge.
What does PACE cost?
For people with both Medicare and MassHealth there is usually no premium; people without MassHealth can join by paying a monthly premium for the long-term care portion, which Summit ElderCare quotes individually.
Rent in an assisted living residence is separate in every case. Ask for the premium in writing and compare the total with private home care plus assisted living fees.
At a glance
| PACE | Assisted living | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A health plan with a day center and care team | A place to live with personal care |
| Pays rent | No | Rent is the core of the fee |
| Medical care | Provided by the PACE team | Arranged separately by the resident |
Sources include M.G.L. c. 19D and 651 CMR 12.00, the Executive Office of Aging & Independence's assisted living pages and 2025 Census Report, MassHealth's 2026 financial guidelines, DPH and CMS, and the CareScout and VA rate tables cited above; see our editorial standards.
