Food is about more than a meal. It is comfort, it is culture, and it is one of the foundations of good health. Vista Community Clinic PACE (VCC PACE) helps participants eat well, stay safe, and keep the strength they need to live independently, with nutrition support built into each person’s care plan.
Nutrition built around you
Every VCC PACE participant is assessed by a registered dietitian, who looks at your nutritional needs and how food fits into your daily life. Your dietitian works with the rest of your medical team so that what you eat supports your health goals as well as your own tastes and traditions. When nutrition care is part of your care plan, it is included in your VCC PACE benefits at no added cost to you.
What a nutrition assessment looks at
When you enroll, and at regular check-ins after that, your dietitian reviews the things that affect how well you eat and stay nourished, including:
- Weight and appetite
- Medications and recent lab results
- The condition of your teeth and how comfortably you can chew
- Any difficulty with swallowing
- How easily you can get and prepare food at home
Ways we help
Healthy meals and snacks. Balanced meals and snacks are served at the VCC PACE Center, with home-delivered meals when your care plan calls for them.
Special diets. Meal guidance for diabetes, heart disease, kidney concerns, and food allergies, plus softer or pureed foods when chewing or swallowing is difficult.
Education and counseling. Practical guidance for you, and your family if you wish, on eating well and managing chronic conditions day to day.
Help getting food. Connections to community food programs and local resources when getting groceries is a challenge.
Meals at the center and at home
Participants who attend the VCC PACE Center are served a balanced meal and a snack during the day, prepared with everyday tastes and dietary needs in mind. When it is needed for your health or safety, a meal can be sent home for later, and home-delivered meals can be arranged as part of your care plan.
Coordinated with your whole care plan
Because your dietitian meets regularly with the rest of your care team, your nutrition connects to your medical care, your therapy, and your support at home. If swallowing is a concern, a speech therapist may join your care, and your social worker can help connect you with food assistance in the community. Nothing happens in isolation, so your nutrition supports your health as a whole.
Find out if VCC PACE is right for you
Frequently asked questions
Does VCC PACE provide meals, or just advice on what to eat?
Can I get meals delivered to my home?
Home-delivered meals may be provided when your care team determines they are needed for your health or safety, or when you or your representative request them and the interdisciplinary team approves.
Is there an extra cost for nutrition services or home-delivered meals?
No. When nutrition services or home-delivered meals are part of your VCC PACE care plan, they are covered in full, with nothing extra to pay.
Can the dietitian help with a health condition like diabetes or high blood pressure?
Yes. Your dietitian tailors meal guidance to conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney concerns, and high blood pressure, while respecting your food preferences. If swallowing is difficult, a speech therapist may become part of your care.
What if I have trouble affording or getting groceries?
Your dietitian and social worker can connect you with community resources such as food programs and local food banks, and help arrange support for getting groceries.
How often will my nutrition be reviewed?
Every new participant meets with a registered dietitian at enrollment. Your nutrition needs are reviewed as part of your regular care planning and reassessment processes, with additional check-ins whenever you, your representative, or your care team identify a need.
Wondering how nutrition support works at VCC PACE?
Ask how a registered dietitian becomes part of your care. We are here to help.