Develop Your Health, Happiness, and Independence

The Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS OC) educates older adults about what depression is (and is not) and helps them develop the skills they need for self-sufficiency and more active lives. It has demonstrated nationwide effectiveness in reducing depressive symptoms, increasing quality of life, and advancing health equity in aging.
PEARLS OC offers coaching services that:

  • Empower older adults by teaching them problem-solving skills necessary to make healthy life changes to have more active and rewarding lives.

  • Support a participant-driven team-based approach.

  • Enables older adults to participate in six to eight PEARLS sessions over the course of four to five months, from the comfort of their homes or other accessible community settings.

  • Improve quality of life, as well as reduce depressive symptoms.

  • Support older adults regardless of their backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.

“I like having a safe place to talk.” -Kathy, 68
“I have my coach encouraging me to be more healthy and doing physical activities that I needed to do.” -Helen, 72
“I feel more confident.” -Orlando, 62
“It feels good to accomplish small goals throughout PEARLS.” -Harry, 77
“I felt anxious and stressed doing things, but PEARLS helped me to just do it.” -Lola, 66
“I enjoyed having PEARLS coach to talk to.” -John, 74
“I said “I love you” to my son for the first time and now we express to each other often.” -Martin, 71
“I started communicating with my daughter in law again through PEARLS.” -Darlene, 63

Short-Term Sessions with Nationally Recognized Results

PEARLS OC is a no-cost program that takes place in six to eight sessions over the course of four to five months in an older adult’s home or a community-based setting that is more accessible and comfortable.

The program is part of a cultural shift to manage depression for aging community members. Most models address depression in older adults through therapy and/or medication; PEARLS utilizes a skill building and problem solving approach.

The PEARLS model is delivered by 179 organizations across 30 states nationwide.  It’s evidence-based practices are endorsed by Administration for Community Living (ACL), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults, and the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP).

PEARLS OC Program Eligibility

Older adults do not need to be clinically diagnosed with depression to participate in PEARLS OC. It is a program for all older adults, especially those who have limited access to depression care because of systemic racism, trauma, language barriers, low income, and/or where they live.

  • Orange County adults aged 60+

  • Individuals experiencing isolation, depression, and/or chronic health conditions

  • Individuals willing to participate in the program

Get Started for Success

PEARLS OC is offered in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Farsi and to Veterans.
Interested in more information? Call us at (714) 492-1874 or please submit an inquiry form and we will get back to you.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Program funded by the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) and delivered in partnership with the University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center (UWHPRC) and OCAPICA.