Element Care COO Outlines Vision for PACE Program Expansion and Senior Care Innovation

Calay Ip, Chief Operating Officer of Element Care, brings over 20 years of healthcare leadership to her role at this leading provider of senior care services. She has extensive expertise in developing and managing innovative programs, including PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), Senior Care Options (SCO), and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). As the new COO of Element Care PACE, Ip's top priorities include ensuring operational excellence, strengthening financial performance, and expanding access to interdisciplinary, coordinated care.

What drew Ip to Element Care's PACE model specifically was the organization's 30-year legacy of delivering compassionate, comprehensive care to older adults in Massachusetts. The PACE model enables participants to receive care in the comfort of their own homes and communities for as long as possible. For three decades, Element Care has coordinated every aspect of care from transportation to scheduling appointments and at-home visits. Ip emphasized that PACE is unique because it takes a holistic approach to healthcare for older adults, bringing all medical care under one roof with an emphasis on preventive medicine and personalized attention.

Unlike fragmented systems where patients and families must navigate the burden of coordinating payments, appointments, and transportation, Element Care PACE integrates these services, which reduces hospitalizations, lowers costs, and improves quality of life. The organization also partners with 2Life to offer affordable housing for participants, maintaining their independence while providing on-site access to medical care. Ip brings lessons from leading large-scale turnarounds and expansions, emphasizing that success hinges on data-driven decisions, operational efficiency, and team empowerment.

Regarding innovations in care delivery, Ip expressed optimism about technology-enabled care, including remote patient monitoring, telehealth, and AI-powered data analytics. These tools allow real-time health monitoring and proactive interventions before crises occur. She also highlighted integrated models that bridge healthcare and social services, like the partnership with 2Life, as promising for improving outcomes. Looking ahead, Ip predicts PACE will expand nationally over the next 5-10 years, particularly in underserved areas, as the U.S. population ages rapidly.

With projections indicating that a quarter of the U.S. population will be 65 or older by 2060, programs like PACE are positioned to become more widely recognized as cost-saving solutions that enhance quality of life. Ip advises emerging healthcare leaders to be lifelong learners and prioritize the human element, building strong relationships and advocating for innovative solutions. The work is challenging but rewarding, contributing to programs that allow older adults to live with dignity and independence.