New Program Helps Seniors Build Skills for Self-Sufficiency, Lead More Active and Rewarding Lives

By Max Vásquez
[email protected]

Seniors have a new resource to help them retain their independence, increase social interaction, and improve quality of life after the Family Service Agency (FSA) launched the innovative Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS) to enhance older adults’ well-being. 

PEARLS aims to empower individuals with the skills and tools they need to thrive. 

“Through one-by-one coaching, we help seniors address challenges they are experiencing. They make a problem list and we help them find solutions. That could be finding ways to increase social activity or connecting them to a community resource to help them access food,” said Megan Young, Senior Services Case Management Program Manager.

PEARLS is free to Santa Barbara County residents 60 and older and is operated by FSA, which includes the Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center, and the Little House by the Park.

The program focuses on helping participants increase successful problem-solving, enabling them to approach life’s difficulties with greater confidence and effectiveness. PEARLS offers personalized support, allowing participants to work with trained professionals (coaches) who tailor their guidance to the senior’s unique needs and circumstances.

According to FSA authorities, conversations take place in an older adult’s home or a community-based setting that is more accessible and comfortable for the senior. PEARLS also allows for coordination with their current health care providers where appropriate, and the program is modeled after the original PEARLS program developed by the University of Washington. 

Funding is provided through a grant from the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC).