Sacramento Nonprofit Offers Mental Health Coaching for Older Adults

ACC Senior Services' PEARLS program provides free one-on-one support to improve quality of life for seniors

Apr. 2, 2026 at 1:12pm

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ACC Senior Services in Sacramento has implemented the PEARLS program, which provides free one-on-one life coaching to help older adults improve their mental health and quality of life. The program, funded through a grant from the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, has served 176 seniors since launching in November 2023, with 38 graduates reporting improved mental health. However, the program's funding is set to end in June, and the nonprofit is seeking ways to keep it running.

Why it matters

Mental health is a critical issue for older adults, especially in the Sacramento region where a significant portion of the senior population identifies as Asian American and Pacific Islander. The PEARLS program aims to address the stigma and lack of access to mental health services that can prevent older adults from getting the support they need.

The details

The PEARLS program, which stands for the Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives, was first implemented by ACC Senior Services in July 2023. It consists of six to eight one-on-one coaching sessions over five to six months, where a trained care coordinator helps participants set achievable goals to improve their social interactions, motivation, and sense of purpose. This is followed by monthly check-in calls for up to four months after. The program is open to any adult aged 60 and over with depressive symptoms or social isolation, regardless of whether they have a mental health diagnosis.

  • The PEARLS program was first implemented by ACC Senior Services in July 2023.
  • The program's first participants weren't enrolled until November 2023.
  • Between November 2023 and October 2025, the program received 176 referrals and had 77 participants, with 38 graduating with improved mental health.
  • The program's funding from the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission is set to end in June 2026.

The players

Susan Kane

A former participant of ACC Senior Services' PEARLS program who spoke about the importance of mental health for older adults.

Soojin Yoo

The program manager of ACC's PEARLS program, who has been working with the nonprofit since 2012.

Connie Craft

A former PEARLS participant who said the program gave her someone to talk to and helped her feel better.

Macy Quan

A PEARLS care coordinator who helped Connie Craft set goals to let go of things she no longer needed.

Oanh L. Meyer

A social psychologist and faculty member at the UC Davis Department of Neurology who has been studying AAPI mental health for about 25 years.

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What they’re saying

“As an elder, my mental health is more important to me than it ever was before. I want to be as positive and as productive as I possibly can be. If my thinking is not good, the rest of me is not good.”

— Susan Kane, Former PEARLS participant

“It made me feel a lot better and to get out. It was nice to have someone to come and walk and just spend a few hours with.”

— Connie Craft, Former PEARLS participant

“A lot of older AAPI [adults] don't drive, and so they're socially isolated that way.”

— Oanh L. Meyer, Social psychologist and faculty member at UC Davis Department of Neurology

What’s next

ACC Senior Services is looking into ways to secure more funding to allow the PEARLS program to remain open after its end of June 2026 funding cut-off date.

The takeaway

The PEARLS program provides a valuable mental health resource for older adults in Sacramento, particularly those in the AAPI community who face unique barriers to accessing care. As the program's funding is set to expire, it highlights the ongoing need for sustainable mental health support services for the region's senior population.