Treating the Whole Person, Not Just the Diagnosis
At CenterLight Healthcare Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), our goal is to enrich our participants’ lives and provide all the care they need to live safely and independently in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.
A Focus on the Whole Person
The PACE model centers on holistic care, recognizing health as more than medical treatment alone. It addresses the physical, emotional, social, and psychological needs of older adults while coordinating services under one roof and eliminating fragmented care. The focus is on the whole person, not just symptoms or diagnoses. For our participants, this integrated approach is especially important, as multiple chronic conditions, mobility challenges, and social isolation often overlap.
A Team-Based Approach
Each CenterLight PACE participant is supported by an interdisciplinary team that includes, but is not limited to, doctors, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, social workers, dietitians, and therapeutic recreation specialists.
The care team works together to share insights, adjust care plans as needed, and ensure that participants receive the care they need when they need it. It is important to note that not only do they meet regularly as a team, they also meet with those we serve and/or their caregivers for regular assessments and to ensure that they are an active participant in their own care.
- This approach ensures that medical, emotional, and social factors are considered together, not in isolation.
- Coordination of services under one program provides a complete picture of the participant’s health.
- This enables effective preventive care, reduces duplication of services, prevents negative medication interactions, and minimizes unnecessary hospitalizations.
Addressing Physical Health
CenterLight Healthcare PACE has locations across New York City, Westchester, and Long Island. At our PACE Centers, participants have access to:
- Medical and nursing care on-site
- Physical and occupational therapies
- Open gym
- Exercise programs and wellness activities that support mobility, strength, and balance
Holistic care extends beyond the walls of our PACE centers.
- Depending on their needs, participants may receive home care services.
- Caregivers are also supported through education, respite services, and guidance.
- Participants have access to a large network of community primary care providers and specialists.
- They receive necessary medications, vision and hearing services, and anything else that they need.*
- Participants do not have to worry about transportation to and from medical appointments and the PACE centers, as this is provided as part of their care.
Focusing on Mental Health, Social Connection, and Community
Holistic care recognizes that an individual’s mental and emotional well-being is just as important as physical health. CenterLight Healthcare PACE participants receive social work services, which may include counseling and referrals to behavioral health. The goal is to address conditions such as depression, anxiety, and memory concerns early to help improve participants’ overall quality of life and functional independence.
Social isolation can have serious health consequences for older adults. CenterLight PACE participants have access to our Day Health Center, which provides opportunities for social interaction through group activities, recreational programs designed according to their cultural traditions and personal preferences, and peer engagement. These connections foster a sense of belonging and purpose, which can be just as important as medical care.
Nutrition and Lifestyle Support
CenterLight Healthcare PACE participants who attend our PACE centers are provided with meals tailored to dietary needs. For all our participants, our dietitians provide nutrition counseling to support chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
Upon enrollment, CenterLight Healthcare PACE participants receive a My Needs Card with a monthly amount that can be used to purchase basic needs such as food, groceries, toiletries, over the counter items, and utilities.
Care as Unique as Our Participants
Holistic care demonstrates what’s possible when healthcare is designed according to the person’s unique needs. Instead of reacting to illness and aging, CenterLight PACE proactively supports wellness, independence, and meaningful living.
*As determined by the Interdisciplinary Team.
**Any unused monthly “My Needs Card” benefit amount expires and does not roll over to the next month. However, earned wellness rewards can be used until the end of the year. The My Needs Card does not substitute for required or already provided Medicaid and/or Medicare covered services under PACE.
***Rewards can be earned by completing eligible actions such as vaccinations, preventative screenings, advance directives, and more. See the My Needs Card catalog for details.
About the Author
This blog post is written by Tara Buonocore-Rut, President and Chief Executive Officer at CenterLight Health System.
In her own words:
"My passion for leading healthcare organizations to provide high quality services to those who need them springs from my personal experience with eldercare. I believe in providing care that you’d want your own loved ones to receive. To be able to do this, it is imperative to see things from the perspective of compassion, caring, and kindness. With more than two decades of leadership experience in this industry, I truly believe that PACE is one of the nation’s best-kept health care secrets."
H3329 Blog_HolisticCare Approved 02062026
Updated February 2, 2026