Charleston Senior AdvisorBy Charleston Senior Advisor Care Team · September 30, 2026
BoldAge PACE serves Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties from a center on Ashley Phosphate Road. It replaces Medicare and Medicaid coverage with one team that handles all care. It fits people 55 and older who meet nursing facility level of care and want to stay home, and who are willing to use PACE's own doctors.
What PACE is
PACE, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, is a Medicare and Medicaid program that takes responsibility for all of a participant's care: primary care, specialists, prescriptions, hospital stays, nursing home care if needed, therapy, home care, transportation and a day center. One interdisciplinary team plans and coordinates everything.
For years the Lowcountry had no PACE program. BoldAge PACE opened its North Charleston center at 2801 Ashley Phosphate Road in October 2024, and SCDHHS's program data shows it serving Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties, with 139 members in its October 2026 enrollment snapshot.
Who qualifies
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Age | 55 or older |
| Location | Lives in the program's service area |
| Level of care | Meets South Carolina's nursing facility level of care |
| Safety | Can live safely in the community with PACE's help when enrolling |
| Payment | No premium for most people with both Medicare and Medicaid |
People with Medicare only can enroll by paying a monthly premium for the Medicaid portion. For middle-income families that premium can be steep, which is why most participants are dual eligible.
Who PACE suits best
PACE tends to work well for a frail parent with several chronic conditions, frequent emergency visits and a family stretched thin by appointments. Having one team responsible for everything, with transportation to the center and coordinated home help, can keep someone at home far longer than a patchwork of separate providers.
It also suits families who value a structured day. The center offers meals, activities, therapy and medical visits under one roof, which gives a family caregiver predictable time off.
Who might prefer another route
The trade-off is choice of doctors. PACE participants use PACE's own physicians and contracted network. A parent deeply attached to a longtime physician may prefer the Community Choices waiver, which pays for home and community services while leaving regular Medicare and doctors in place.
People who are fairly independent may not meet nursing facility level of care, and people who want to remain in a particular assisted living building should ask how PACE works with that building before enrolling.
A week in PACE
A typical participant might attend the day center two or three days a week, riding PACE transportation from home. At the center they may see the PACE physician or nurse, attend physical therapy, eat a hot lunch and join activities. On other days, PACE may send aides to the home for bathing or other help, depending on the care plan.
Because one team plans everything, a change in condition can lead quickly to a change in services, such as more home visits or added therapy, without separate approvals from several insurers.
Questions to ask at intake
Ask which hospitals PACE uses and how a participant gets emergency care at night. Ask which nursing homes PACE contracts with, in case long-term placement becomes necessary, and how often the care team reviews the plan with the family.
Ask, too, about leaving PACE. Enrollment is voluntary, and a participant can disenroll, but returning to regular Medicare and Medicaid takes some coordination. Understanding the path in both directions helps a family decide with confidence.
How PACE compares with assisted living
PACE is not a place to live; it is a way of organizing care while a participant lives at home or, in some cases, in another setting. A family weighing PACE against assisted living should compare the whole week: how many hours of help at home PACE would provide, who is with the parent at night, and whether the house itself is still safe.
For a parent who mainly needs medical coordination and daytime support, PACE can delay or avoid a move. For a parent who needs someone nearby around the clock, assisted living or memory care may still be the safer choice, and PACE may or may not continue depending on the arrangement.
How to start
Contact BoldAge PACE to arrange an intake visit. The program assesses the applicant at home and at the center, SCDHHS confirms level of care and Medicaid eligibility, and coverage begins on the first of a month. The Trident Area Agency on Aging has partnered with BoldAge PACE on Medicaid applications and can explain the options side by side.
Ask about transportation from your parent's address, how many days a week participants attend, after-hours coverage, and which hospitals and nursing homes the program uses. More detail is on our BoldAge PACE guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which counties does BoldAge PACE serve?
SCDHHS's PACE program data lists Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. Confirm your parent's specific address with the program, since service areas can be drawn by ZIP code.
Does PACE cost anything?
Most participants with both Medicare and Medicaid pay no premium. People with Medicare only pay a monthly premium for the Medicaid portion of PACE.
Can a PACE participant keep their own doctor?
Generally no. PACE participants use PACE's physicians and contracted network. That is the main trade-off for having one team coordinate all care.
What happens if a PACE participant needs a nursing home?
PACE continues to cover the participant, including nursing home care when it becomes necessary, as part of its responsibility for all Medicare and Medicaid services.
