On any given morning at McGregor PACE, you might find Karen Lisy greeting participants as they arrive at any of the 5 locations throughout Cuyahoga, Lorain and Summit Counties.
To many, she is the PACE Activity Director, bringing creativity and connection into the Adult Day Health Centers with assistance from her incredible Life Enrichment team. But to one participant in the program, she is simply “my daughter.” Karen’s Mother is enrolled in McGregor PACE. That fact alone speaks volumes.
“I trust my own Mom to be cared for here,” Lisy says. “PACE is the gold standard of care.”
That trust is rooted in history and experience. The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) began in San Francisco in the 1970s, when a group of physicians recognized a growing, unmet need among older adults who wanted to remain in their communities but required comprehensive support. What started as an innovative solution decades ago has grown into a nationally respected model of care – and for the past 15 years, it has been a cornerstone of McGregor’s services in Northeast Ohio.
The Adult Day Health Centers are the heart of the program. In five strategically located centers, participants enter welcoming, state-of-the-art spaces filled with conversation, laughter, music, art, exercise classes, and shared meals. Here, individuals and couples from all walks of life and cultures come together. Some attend daily, Monday through Friday, returning home by 5 p.m. Others participate as their needs and preferences dictate.
Today, McGregor PACE serves approximately 800 participants across Cuyahoga, Lorain, and Summit counties. It remains the only PACE provider in Greater Cleveland and continues to expand to meet increasing community needs.
What sets PACE apart, Lisy explains, is its interdisciplinary team approach. “We provide an umbrella of services through one front door,” she says. “At the end of the day, what separates us is knowing we are truly doing something meaningful – providing care, activities, companionship, and purpose for our participants.”
At McGregor PACE, care is centered around the individual. Every participant has unique medical, emotional, and social needs, and the program is designed to meet them holistically. Services include primary medical care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation therapies, nutritional counseling, and coordinated specialty care.
On-site medical professionals are supported by trusted partners such as MetroHealth, University Hospitals, and the Cleveland Clinic. PACE schedules appointments, provides transportation, and ensures continuity of care. For families, it feels like “one-stop shopping” for their loved one’s needs. Families consistently rave about the program.
“We do so much good in the community,” Lisy says. “We showcase our participants, their life stories and celebrate the day together. It’s beautiful to see.”
#homecare #McGregorSeniorLiving #PACE #LiveAtHome #AgeinPlace
