Making Connections, Building Community
One of the most challenging aspects of life for older adults and people with disabilities is the isolation that happens as a result of limited activities and limited options for transportation. Older adults who are not able to stay engaged and connect with others report a much higher rate of loneliness, sadness and feeling overwhelmed.
In 2023, the Agency on Aging Area 4 led a collaborative effort to secure a grant from Sacramento County Mental Health Services to establish PEARLS (Program to Encourage Active Rewarding Lives). The Sacramento PEARLS Collaborative includes El Hogar Community Services, ACC Senior Services, Resources for Independent Living, Society for the Blind and Agency on Aging Area 4, which serves as the lead agency. So far, 350 older adults at Society for the Blind have participated in informational sessions about PEARLS. We are proud that 31 already have enrolled in the program, very close to our goal of 35, and we are just getting started.
PEARLS focuses on helping older adults develop the skills they need to maintain their health, happiness and independence. The program is part of a cultural shift in how depression and isolation are managed by and for aging community members. PEARLS focuses on skill building and problem-solving. The program is adaptable and flexible to the unique needs and perspectives of individuals and communities. It recognizes that different communities celebrate their elders in different ways and is designed to build on those strengths.
One of Society’s recent program participants struggled with depression for years. He said, “PEARLS gives me the tools to deal with depression. By going through the 7-step process, I am able to stop depression from overtaking me. I will continue to live with depression, but I’m no longer afraid of it, thanks to PEARLS.”
PEARLS coaches are the heart and soul of the program. They meet one-on-one with older adults for six to eight one-hour sessions. These sessions occur over the course of four to five months, starting with weekly sessions and tapering to monthly. This is a common skill-building technique used to support people in gradually learning to problem-solve on their own.
“Agency on Aging Area 4 is thrilled to partner with Society for the Blind,” said Anson Houghton, Program Administrator. “PEARLS is a free, evidenced-based program that is a tool for community-based organizations like Society to provide holistic services to older adults.”
PEARLS is open to anyone age 60 or older who is struggling with loneliness, feeling overwhelmed or challenged by day-to-day struggles. To learn more about PEARLS or make a referral, please contact: Dixie Nolasco, PEARLS Coach, at [email protected] or call 916-889-7513.
Working together, we can ensure that older adults with vision loss can discover, develop and achieve their full potential.