CenterLight Healthcare PACE celebrated participants aged 90 and above with a memorable event honoring their lives and contributions, featuring arts and crafts, heartfelt speeches, and live music. The celebration emphasized the importance of community, connection, and recognizing the invaluable experiences of older adults as they continue to shine bright at every age.
BRONX, N.Y., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- CenterLight Healthcare Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) celebrated the lives, experiences, and contributions of participants 90 years young and beyond during its "Shining Bright at CenterLight: Honoring Living Legends" celebration. Although not everyone was able to attend, CenterLight is privileged to serve over 300 participants who are over the age of 90.
The celebration began with a hands-on arts and crafts activity where participants created their own potpourri bags using essential oils, cinnamon sticks, and pinecones. Each participant decorated and personalized their bag, creating a souvenir from the celebration.
When the program turned its attention to our honorees, Kathleen Keegan, Director of Therapeutic Recreation, reflected on the lives and experiences of the living legends and the importance of celebrating participants who have reached this milestone. She said, "You've earned our love, our respect, and our admiration. We are so lucky to have you as part of our CenterLight family. Today is all about celebrating you, your incredible lives, and the memories you continue to make with us."
CenterLight Healthcare PACE President and CEO, Tara Buonocore-Rut also addressed participants and their families, reflecting on the relationships created through the PACE program and the knowledge and experiences older adults continue to share with those around them. "Clinicians, professionals, or administrators, we have a lot of different places that we can go, but we choose to come and be part of the PACE program because of you. Because we get to have a meaningful relationship with all of you, and that is priceless. We're so proud and grateful to have you in our family," said Tara Buonocore-Rut.
Each honoree received a certificate and a rose recognizing them as living legends whose lives and experiences have helped shape their families, communities and generations to come.
The celebration was especially meaningful because participants could honor one another. Pamela Rose, a participant from CenterLight Healthcare PACE's Westchester site, took the microphone to express her gratitude to CenterLight and recognize her peers. "I am so happy to be here shining bright at CenterLight Healthcare honoring our living legends and thanking the CenterLight team …," she said. She encouraged her fellow honorees to cherish the occasion and celebrate how far they have come, adding, "Love you all. God bless you, and I hope we all will see many more years to come."
A live band performed the rest of the night. As soon as dinner ended, participants took to the dance floor, bringing the evening to life with music, laughter and dancing. The full house celebrated not only the milestone ages of the honorees, but also the friendships and community they have built at CenterLight.
For CenterLight Healthcare PACE, events such as these are about more than celebrating a milestone. They are opportunities to bring joy, connection and recognition into participants' lives while reminding them that you can continue to shine bright at every age.
About CenterLight Healthcare:
CenterLight Healthcare PACE, a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, serves adults 55+ throughout New York City, Westchester, Nassau, and Western Suffolk Counties. Designed for those with Medicare and/or Medicaid, the program empowers older adults to continue to live independently at home and in their communities. CenterLight's PACE program is one of the largest nonprofit PACE programs in the country and operates 11 PACE centers and one Alternative Care Setting (ACS) where participants can receive on-site socialization, social and personal care services, therapeutic recreation, meals, and transportation. Our PACE centers also offer medical services, rehabilitation, prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications to thousands of New Yorkers by an interdisciplinary team (IDT) of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, nutritionists, recreational therapists, and other professionals who work together to provide care as unique as the diverse participants enrolled in the plan. Learn more at www.CenterLightHealthcare.org.
Media Contact
Alexandra Maceda, CenterLight Healthcare, 1 9297093179, [email protected], centerlighthealthcare.org
SOURCE CenterLight Healthcare
Share this article