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On Lok Celebrates PACE Program and Innovative Elder Care

On Lok serves adults age 55 and older who are nursing-home eligible but wish to remain in their communities. What sets PACE apart is its integration of primary and long-term care, two systems often separated in traditional healthcare systems. Instead of focusing solely on medications or chronic disease management, PACE takes a whole-person approach, addressing medical, social, and emotional needs.

Published

6 months ago

September 10, 2025

Oakland Post

On Lok van. Courtesy of On Lok.

By Carla Thomas

Cruising along Bay Area highways or parked on neighborhood streets, the brightly decorated vans of On Lok are mobile works of art.

Boasting a larger than life photograph bubble wrapped over the entire vehicle, the illustration depicts the warmth and glow of a dedicated care giver and smiling gray-haired elder, symbolizing the nonprofit’s signature service, PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly).

This September, On Lok celebrates PACE not only as a transportation program for seniors but as a real pathway to independence.

“Through PACE we provide a healthcare delivery system, offering both primary and long-term care so that seniors can live the way they want to live,” said On Lok Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ben Lui.

Unlike fragmented healthcare models, On Lok’s interdisciplinary teams bring together physicians, nurses, therapists, and social workers to provide wraparound support. The nonprofit operates as a one-stop resource for aging adults, relieving families of the overwhelming responsibility of navigating complex healthcare needs on their own.

“A senior’s health is more than their medical needs,” said Dr. Lui, who has served the leadership team for five years.

“Everyday support, social engagement, and community all play a role. It truly takes a village, and the continuity of care we provide helps promote long-term well-being.”

Funded mostly through Medicare and Medicaid, the program ensures that cost is not a barrier to care, with 95% of participants fully covered by the public insurance programs.

For more than 50 years, On Lok has been a lifeline for Bay Area seniors. By integrating healthcare, home support, transportation, meals, and social activities, the organization helps participants remain independent, active, and safe at home. More than 2,200 clients currently take part in a wide range of services at On Lok’s neighborhood centers, where they receive not just medical care but also meals, exercise classes, and meaningful activities from arts and crafts to live music.

“It’s a joy to work with dedicated staff members who are really making a difference in the lives of our seniors every day,” said Dr. Lui. “Our team is compassionate, committed, and truly believes in this mission.”

Dr. Lui is a Yale Medical School graduate with 20 years of healthcare leadership experience, including eight years with the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH).

In March, On Lok PACE was honored by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) as an Age-Friendly Health System — Committed to Care Excellence. The award recognizes healthcare organizations that have demonstrated a strong commitment to providing evidence-based and person-centered care for older adults.

The recognition is based on the IHI’s Age-Friendly Health Systems movement, which promotes the “4Ms” framework for high-quality care:

What Matters: Focusing on each individual’s health goals and care preferences.
Medication: Reviewing medications to ensure they do not interfere with what matters to the patient.
Mentation: Preventing, identifying, and managing dementia, depression, and delirium.
Mobility: Ensuring older adults can move safely every day.

Founded in 1971 by social worker Marie-Louise Ansak and physician Dr. William Gee, On Lok began as a day health center in San Francisco and expanded PACE nationwide, now serving over 86,000 clients.

For more information, visit www.onlok.org

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Oakland Post: Week of March 4 – 10, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 4 – 10, 2026

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4 days ago

March 7, 2026

Oakland Post

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

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1 week ago

March 1, 2026

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Chase Oakland Community Center Hosts Alley-Oop Accelerator Building Community and Opportunity for Bay Area Entrepreneurs

Over the past three years, the Alley-Oop Accelerator has helped more than 20 Bay Area businesses grow, connect, and gain meaningful exposure. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and community-building to help participants navigate the legal, financial, and marketing challenges of small business ownership.

Published

3 weeks ago

February 21, 2026

Oakland Post

Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Golden State Warriors and Chase bank hosted the third annual Alley-Oop Accelerator this month, an empowering eight-week program designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs bring their visions for business to life.

The initiative kicked off on Feb. 12 at Chase’s Oakland Community Center on Broadway Street, welcoming 15 small business owners who joined a growing network of local innovators working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At its core, the accelerator is designed to create an ecosystem of collaboration, where local entrepreneurs can learn from one another while accessing the resources of a global financial institution.

“This is our third year in a row working with the Golden State Warriors on the Alley-Oop Accelerator,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Chase’s Coaching for Impact team for the West Division. “We’ve already had 20-plus businesses graduate from the program, and we have 15 enrolled this year. The biggest thing about the program is really the community that’s built amongst the business owners — plus the exposure they’re able to get through Chase and the Golden State Warriors.”

According to Garcia, several graduates have gone on to receive vendor contracts with the Warriors and have gained broader recognition through collaborations with JPMorgan Chase.

“A lot of what Chase is trying to do,” Garcia added, “is bring businesses together because what they’ve asked for is an ecosystem, a network where they can connect, grow, and thrive organically.”

This year’s Alley-Oop Accelerator reflects that vision through its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical learning. Participants explore the full spectrum of business essentials including financial management, marketing strategy, and legal compliance, while also preparing for real-world experiences such as pop-up market events.

Each entrepreneur benefits from one-on-one mentoring sessions through Chase’s Coaching for Impact program, which provides complimentary, personalized business consulting.

Garcia described the impact this hands-on approach has had on local small business owners. He recalled one candlemaker, who, after participating in the program, was invited to provide candles as gifts at Chase events.

“We were able to help give that business exposure,” he explained. “But then our team also worked with them on how to access capital to buy inventory and manage operations once those orders started coming in. It’s about preparation. When a hiccup happens, are you ready to handle it?”

The Coaching for Impact initiative, which launched in 2020 in just four cities, has since expanded to 46 nationwide.

“Every business is different,” Garcia said. “That’s why personal coaching matters so much. It’s life-changing.”

Participants in the 2026 program will each receive a $2,500 stipend, funding that Garcia said can make an outsized difference. “It’s amazing what some people can do with just $2,500,” he noted. “It sounds small, but it goes a long way when you have a plan for how to use it.”

For Chase and the Warriors, the Alley-Oop Accelerator represents more than an educational initiative, it’s a pathway to empowerment and economic inclusion. The program continues to foster lasting relationships among the entrepreneurs who, as Garcia put it, “build each other up” through shared growth and opportunity.

“Starting a business is never easy, but with the right support, it becomes possible, and even exhilarating,” said Oscar Lopez, the senior business consultant for Chase in Oakland.