Last verified: October 2026
What is the LIFE program in Pennsylvania?
LIFE (Living Independence for the Elderly) is Pennsylvania's version of the national PACE model: one provider delivers an all-inclusive package of primary and specialist care, hospital and nursing facility care, adult day health, in-home personal care, medications, therapies, meals and transportation, built around a LIFE day center.
In Pennsylvania the name matters: “PACE” also names the separate Lottery-funded prescription program, PACE/PACENET. LIFE is the all-inclusive care program.
Sources: PA DHS: LIFE.
Who is eligible for LIFE?
A person qualifies for LIFE at age 55 or older if they meet a nursing-facility level of care, live in a LIFE provider's service area, and can be served safely in the community; the county assistance office decides financial eligibility, or the person can pay privately.
Enrollment goes through the Independent Enrollment Broker at 1-877-550-4227.
Which LIFE providers serve the Pittsburgh area?
Each of our seven counties has at least one LIFE provider: Community LIFE and LIFE Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Community LIFE and SeniorLIFE in Westmoreland and Washington, SeniorLIFE in Fayette, and Viecare-run LIFE programs in Butler, Beaver and Armstrong counties.
| County | LIFE provider and phone |
|---|---|
| Allegheny | Community LIFE — (866) 419-1693 LIFE Pittsburgh — (412) 388-8042 |
| Westmoreland | Community LIFE — (866) 419-1693 SeniorLIFE Greensburg — (724) 838-8300 |
| Butler | LIFE Butler County (Viecare) — (724) 287-5433 |
| Washington | Community LIFE — (866) 419-1693 SeniorLIFE Washington — (724) 852-2273 |
| Beaver | LIFE Beaver County (Viecare), Aliquippa — (724) 378-5400 |
| Fayette | SeniorLIFE Uniontown — (724) 434-5433 |
| Armstrong | LIFE Armstrong County (Viecare), Kittanning — (724) 545-8000 |
Service areas follow ZIP codes; confirm with the provider that your parent's address is covered.
What do LIFE participants give up?
LIFE becomes the participant's source of care: services are delivered or arranged by the LIFE team, so a participant generally uses the program's physicians and network rather than seeing outside doctors independently.
For many families that coordination is the point. For someone attached to a long-time specialist, ask how the LIFE team would handle that relationship before enrolling.
Can a LIFE participant live in a personal care home?
A LIFE participant must be able to live safely in the community when enrolling, and LIFE may arrange personal care home or nursing facility care later as part of the participant's plan; room and board in a personal care home is generally the participant's own cost.
Ask the LIFE provider in your county how it handles a participant who moves into a personal care home.
LIFE: what it is and is not
| It is | It is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | PACE, all-inclusive | the PACE prescription program |
| Age | 55 and older | 65 and older only |
| Setting | home plus a day center | a residential facility |
| Doctors | the LIFE team | any outside physician |
