Mountain View PACE’s new Corbin facility hoping to keep seniors at home for longer

Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, Corbin Mayor Suzie Razmus, Knox County Judge-Executive Mike Mitchell and Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White Jr. were among a group of VIP’s on hand for a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday morning to celebrate the opening of the Mountain View PACE – One Senior Care facility in Corbin.

Soon-to-be client Kenneth Helms cut the ribbon Tuesday celebrating the opening of the new Mountain View PACE center in Corbin.

However, it was soon-to-be client Kenneth Helms, who was the honorary ribbon cutter from his wheelchair.

PACE, which stands for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, is a program that helps older adults (individuals age 55 plus) with complex care needs avoid nursing homes, and instead helps them receive care and services necessary to help them be safe, comfortable and healthy while living in their own community.

Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman was on hand for the ceremony and said she was thankful for facilities like this, which fill the gap and help keep seniors at home for longer.

“This is the warmest best welcome in any state that we have had so thank you,” Marcie Campbell, vice president for marketing and intake for One Senior Care, told the crowd in attendance Tuesday.

“Kenneth, you are why we do what we do every day. We are so blessed to be able to help seniors, like Kenneth, stay in their own homes. As Kenneth ages we are going to be right with him where ever he goes to help him stay safe and healthy and independent.”

The PACE program services can include medical care, therapy, social work support, transportation and nutritious meals.

Coleman added that the opportunity the program will provide to people like Kenneth, will be life changing not just for him but also for his family, like his daughter, Camillia Howells, who was also in attendance at Tuesday’s ceremony.

The Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce presented Mountain View PACE with its new member plaque during Tuesday’s ceremony.

Coleman said facilities like this are critically important not just for the community, but also for the region.

“I am just so grateful that we have folks, who are going to stand in the gap and fill the void for so many folks in the region,” Coleman added.

Mitchell said he remembers going to a meeting about this facility one year ago with White and some other officials.

“I left there so pumped up. I remember coming back and talking to my staff about the potential impact this will be on our community,” he added.

Razmus noted that the Mountain View PACE center is a unique opportunity for the community.

“This is such a service that has needed to be brought to our area for so long,” Razmus noted.

Mountain View Pace is located in the Tri-County Square shopping center near Ollie’s in Knox County.

Mountain View held a ribbon cutting for a second facility in Pikeville Wednesday.

While Coleman attended Tuesday’s ribbon cutting in Corbin, Gov. Andy Beshear attended Wednesday’s ribbon cutting in Pikeville.

“The governor said, ‘We have to be there because this is such as an important program,’” Coleman added Tuesday.