Keeping Your Parent Home: A California Family Caregiver's Guide to PACE

If you are reading this, you are probably carrying a weight that is difficult to describe to people who haven't experienced it. You are watching a parent age, managing their appointments, worrying about falls and medications and whether they are eating, and trying to hold together your own life at the same time. Caregiver burnout is real, and it is one of the most underacknowledged challenges facing California families today. PACE was designed, in part, to address exactly this situation.

What PACE Looks Like for Your Parent Day to Day

A typical PACE participant attends an adult day health center several days per week — usually two to five days depending on their care plan. The center provides medical monitoring, therapy, meals, social activities, and connection with peers. Transportation is provided door to door. On days when your parent is not at the center, in-home care aides may visit to assist with personal care, medication management, or other needs identified by the care team.

The care team — which includes a physician, nurse, social worker, therapist, and others — meets regularly to review your parent's care plan and communicate with family members about any changes. Many PACE families describe the care team as the first time they have felt truly supported in managing a parent's complex health needs, rather than navigating a fragmented system alone.

How Transportation Works

One of the most immediate practical benefits for caregivers is transportation. PACE organizations operate accessible vehicles that pick up participants at home and return them after the day at the center. Medical appointments within the PACE network are also covered by transportation. For adult children who have been taking time off work to drive a parent to appointments, this single benefit can be transformative.

What Happens in a Medical Emergency

If your parent has a medical emergency, they call 911 as they would under any other coverage. After stabilization, the PACE care team takes over coordination — managing the hospital admission, communicating with the hospital team, and planning the discharge back to home or to a short-term rehabilitation facility. The PACE team is your family's point of contact throughout the process, which is a significant relief compared to navigating a hospital discharge alone.

How to Start the Conversation with Your Parent

Many seniors are resistant to the idea of a "program" or anything that feels like a loss of independence. The most effective framing is usually to lead with what PACE adds rather than what it changes. Emphasize the transportation, the social connection at the center, the fact that they stay in their own home, and the peace of mind for the family. Avoid framing it as a medical necessity or a response to decline — frame it as a way to stay home longer and more safely.

If your parent is open to it, a visit to the PACE center before enrollment can be very helpful. Most PACE organizations offer tours and introductory visits. Seeing the environment and meeting the staff often addresses concerns that are difficult to resolve in the abstract.

Getting Started

The first step is checking whether PACE is available in your parent's ZIP code. Use the ZIP checker on our homepage or request a callback. A licensed agent will explain which PACE organizations serve the area, walk through the eligibility criteria, and help initiate the referral process — at no cost to your family. Final eligibility is determined by the PACE organization and the State of California, not by this website.

Next steps for families: How to Qualify · PACE Costs · How to Enroll.

About the Author

Leslie Kaz, RHU is a licensed California insurance agent specializing in Medicare and PACE programs, operating through Syndicated Insurance Agency, LLC (CA License #0B32530). Leslie has guided many California families through the PACE enrollment process and understands firsthand the challenges of caregiving.