Our history

Working out of a one-room office, Dr. William L. Gee and social worker Marie-Louise Ansak create On Lok, a community-based model of healthcare and supportive services, as an alternative to a nurse home. On Lok means “peaceful, happy” abode in Cantonese.

On Lok launches one of the country’s first adult day health centers with support from the Administration on Aging, providing hot meals and services to seniors living at home.

California Assemblymember Willie Brown introduces legislation setting aside $300,000 for adult day health services. On Lok establishes its first Medi-Cal contract for reimbursement of adult day health care services.

With a second grant from the Administration on Aging, On Lok adds in-home supportive services, home-delivered meals, and a social day program.

On Lok seeks financing from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to build housing for low-income seniors at 1441 Powell Street in San Francisco. Board members Dr. Gee and Maylian Lee personally guarantee payment for the site. On Lok raises $1 million for On Lok House with funding from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.

On Lok opens a second adult day health center on Bush Street.

The Health Care Financing Administration provides On Lok with a four-year grant to develop a Medicare-funded model of long-term care.

On Lok opens On Lok House, offering 54 HUD-subsidized apartments co-located with a third adult day health center and a primary care clinic, one of the first co-locations of senior housing and services in the nation.

With the Medicare demonstration ending, On Lok applies for waivers from Medicare and Medicaid. The State of California requires substantial financial reserves before it approves Medi-Cal payments. Board members Dr. Gee, Harding Leong, and Ms. Ansak apply for and obtain a bank loan, putting up their own homes as collateral.

On Lok begins a three-year waiver demonstration to test a new healthcare financing system, in which a fixed, per person (or “capitated”) monthly payment from Medicare, Medi-Cal or private pay covers all primary, acute and long-term care services for individuals who require a nursing home level of care.

Responding to the need for senior housing, On Lok negotiates the purchase of property at 1000 Montgomery Street, with the help of the Chinese Community Housing Corporation. The Campaign for Dignity is launched, raising $2.5 million for the purchase and renovation with support from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.

With the help of the Chinese Community Housing Corporation, On Lok negotiates the purchase of 1000 Montgomery Street to build additional senior housing. The Campaign for Dignity raises $2.5 million for purchase and renovation of the site, with support from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.

On Lok successfully completes testing of its model of care and financing. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funds a one-year grant to study the feasibility of replicating it nationwide. Federal legislation authorizes waivers for up to 10 organizations to do so.

With multi-year funding from the Robert Wood Johnson and John A. Hartford foundations, On Lok launches the national replication project known as the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). On Lok selects six organizations to test replication of the model.

Volunteers led by Beatrice Wong form the Friends of On Lok (FOL) to support fundraising and community outreach. FOL will raise over $2 million over the years through the group’s strong ties and dedication to the community.

On Lok opens a multi-use building with 35 units of senior housing, co-located with a fourth adult day health center and primary care clinic at 1000 Montgomery Street.

The first four new PACE organizations in four different states receive Medicare and Medicaid waivers to operate the On Lok model. On Lok’s dream of bringing PACE to seniors in different communities is a reality.

Executive Director Marie-Louise Ansak retires. The board of directors selects Jennie Chin Hansen as her successor.

On Lok opens the Dr. William L. Gee Center in San Francisco, co-locating an adult day health care center and primary care clinic, administrative offices, and 42 units of housing. The project is funded by a $2.5 million capital campaign, grants, and bond financing through the California Health Facility Authority and Cal-Mortgage Loan.

As the first replication sites complete waiver demonstration, On Lok leads the formation of the National PACE Association, a nonprofit organization of PACE sites.

The 30th Street Senior Center, founded in 1979 and San Francisco’s largest multipurpose senior center, becomes a part of On Lok, providing activities, meals, and bilingual services to a vibrant community of active seniors.

On Lok opens a PACE center in partnership with the Institute on Aging and a fifth PACE center at the 30th Street location, co-located with the 30th Street Senior Center.

In the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, PACE becomes a permanent provider type under Medicare and a state option under Medicaid.

On Lok 30th Street Senior Center becomes a demonstration project for the UCSF Community Healthy Activities Model Program for seniors, now Always Active.

On Lok opens a day center serving the City of Fremont and later the Tri-City Area of Southern Alameda County.

Jennie Chin Hansen steps down as On Lok’s CEO. Robert Edmondson is selected by the board of directors as her successor.

The City of San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) funds the 30th Street Senior Center to become lead agency of the Always Active program. On Lok creates PACEpartners, an NPA-recognized technical assistance center offering comprehensive support and expertise in all areas of PACE development.

On Lok and four other California PACE organizations form CalPACE, the first statewide PACE association.

On Lok opens a new PACE Center in San Jose.

DAAS selects On Lok 30th Street Senior Center as a lead agency for the Healthier Living disease self-management program.

On Lok 30th Street Senior Center joins San Francisco’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program and receives a computer lab.

On Lok opens the Peralta PACE Center in Fremont, in partnership with Eden Housing. The center is co-located in Eden’s 98-unit, low-income senior housing project.

On Lok purchases an adult day health care center in East San Jose, originally created by MACSA, the Mexican American Community Services Agency. The On Lok East San Jose Center opens as an adult day health care center and PACE alternative care setting.

On Lok 30th Street Senior Center becomes the leading agency for the Aging and Disability Resource Center, funded by DAAS.

On Lok House, serving low-income seniors, undergoes a complete renovation, with financing from HUD.

Robert Edmondson retires and the board of directors selects Grace Li as On Lok’s fourth CEO.

On Lok makes major capital investments to upgrade the Powell PACE Center and 30th Street building in San Francisco.

With a new 5,200 square-foot medical clinic, the On Lok East San Jose Center becomes a fully operational PACE Center.

On Lok House is renamed in honor of On Lok Founding Executive Director Marie-Louise Ansak.

On Lok creates the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg On Lok Memory Care Center at 1000 Montgomery Street in San Francisco, providing specialized dementia programming for seniors with more advanced dementia.

With additional funding from DAAS, the congregate meals and home-delivered meals programs at 30th Street Senior Center are expanded to meet growing needs: Mission Nutrition is born.

On Lok partners with Openhouse, a leading voice and service provider for LGBTQ seniors, to co-design a senior program with and for the LGBTQ community.

On Lok expands its PACE service area to the Cities of Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy and celebrates 10 years of PACE service in Santa Clara County.

On Lok 30th Street Senior Center commemorates its 40th anniversary with a new 850-square-foot mural, created by Precita Eyes artists and the community in the center’s garden.

Always Active opens its 21st San Francisco location, now serving more than 1,000 participants, in partnership with On Lok 30th Street Senior Center (lead agency), San Francisco Senior Centers, the University of San Francisco’s Exercise and Sports Science Department, and the Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS), formerly Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS).

On Lok launches Connected Care, a pilot program to provide wellness coaching to older adults, in partnership with California Pacific Medical Center’s Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) Unit. In response to COVID-19, On Lok launches virtual programming and online activities, telehealth, and increased home-based care to continue providing care and services to PACE participants sheltering in place. On Lok 30th Street Senior Center offers a variety of online activities; On Lok’s Mission Nutrition meal program begins serving takeout and home-delivered meals, quickly reaching over 22,000 meals served per month.