When his wife began losing her memory to Alzheimer’s disease, Ling Guang Yang came to the painful realization that he could not continue caring for her alone.

“My wife would leave the house and get lost all the time. She would be gone for hours,” he says. “Once I looked all over town for her and couldn't find her. Then a bank employee we knew saw her out in the street and called me to come get her.”

Faced with Mrs. Yang’s increasingly complex needs, Ling Guang began looking for services that would enable her to remain living at home. His search took him to On Lok, where he learned about PACE, a groundbreaking model of coordinated healthcare and support services, created by On Lok to empower frail seniors aged 55 and older who are at risk of institutionalization to age safely in their community, instead of a nursing home

Once enrolled in On Lok PACE, Mrs. Yang received a personalized care plan with a focus on prevention, health, and wellness, coordinated by a care team comprised of primary care providers, nurses, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, activity therapists, dietitians, home care nurses, and caregivers and drivers.

After witnessing her experience firsthand, Ling Guang decided to join On Lok PACE, too. "My wife attended the On Lok PACE center five days a week, while I would go twice a week." For the next ten years, the couple received all the care and services they needed to live independently at home.

At 87, Ling Guang is still a regular at his On Lok PACE Center, where he enjoys socializing with peers and exploring new interests, such as a poetry appreciation group. Now that he has mobility issues and can no longer get around on his own, he appreciates how On Lok drivers take him to the center and to his medical appointments and back, making sure he gets to his destination safely. On Lok PACE provides him with nutritious meals, help with his personal care, and a social worker.

More than ever, he says, “I am grateful for the services I have received from On Lok PACE.”

Do you know a senior or caregiver who may benefit from On Lok PACE?

On Lok was founded over 50 years ago on the belief that everyone should be empowered to age with dignity and independence in the community. Let them know about On Lok PACE today!

Whom should you refer? individuals who:

  • Have difficulty getting to medical appointments or managing medications

  • Have limited or stressed family support

  • Need ongoing, coordinated medical care

  • Need more social interaction

  • Are eligible for Medicare and/or Medi-Cal

Individuals qualify if they:

  • Are 55 years of age or older

  • Live in San Francisco County, Santa Clara County, or the cities of Fremont, Newark, or Union City in Alameda County

  • Need a nursing home-level of care

  • Can live safely in the community

Tell a friend to call 1-855-973-1110, TTY: 711 or visit onlok.org for additional information.

On Lok PACE covers all Medicare and Medi-Cal services. When enrolled in On Lok PACE, services must be received through On Lok contracted providers or you could be personally liable for costs incurred, unless it is an emergency or urgent situation.