Element Care’s Second Annual Healthcare from the Heart Gala Highlights Partnerships Connecting Healthcare, Housing and Community Support
Element Care, a provider of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and Senior Care Options (SCO), will host its second annual Healthcare from the Heart Gala on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the Seaport Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. The event will bring together healthcare leaders, housing organizations, community partners and supporters to recognize collaborative efforts that help older adults maintain their health, independence and quality of life.
This year’s gala will follow the theme “Building Communities that Care,” highlighting the importance of connecting healthcare services, affordable housing and community-based support to meet the evolving needs of older adults. Through its work across Massachusetts, Element Care focuses on helping seniors remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible while receiving coordinated medical care and other essential services.
The annual event will celebrate organizations and individuals working to create stronger support systems for older adults. It will also raise funds for initiatives addressing senior housing affordability, housing insecurity, caregiver needs, social engagement and access to resources that help older adults live safely and independently.
Hosted by emcee Candy O’Terry, the gala will feature remarks from Element Care Chief Executive Officer Doug Thompson and a short film sharing the experiences of Element Care participants. The film will highlight how coordinated healthcare, housing and community services have supported participants’ health, independence and connections with the people and communities around them.
Building on the success of its inaugural event, which raised more than $400,000 for enrichment experiences for Element Care participants, the organization aims to expand the impact of this year’s gathering. The funds raised will support a broader range of initiatives intended to improve the lives of older adults and the caregivers who support them.
Gala Focuses on the Connection Between Healthcare and Housing
The theme “Building Communities that Care” reflects Element Care’s approach to senior health and well-being. The organization recognizes that healthcare outcomes are influenced by more than medical appointments and clinical treatments. Access to safe housing, nutritious meals, reliable transportation, social relationships and assistance with daily activities can also affect an older adult’s ability to remain healthy and independent.
For many seniors, maintaining independence becomes more difficult when housing costs rise, mobility declines or family caregivers struggle to balance caregiving responsibilities with other demands. These challenges can affect access to medical services and make it harder for older adults to remain in familiar surroundings.
By connecting healthcare services with housing providers and community organizations, Element Care aims to address several of these needs together. The approach recognizes that older adults may require a combination of medical care, long-term support and assistance with everyday living rather than isolated services delivered by separate organizations.
The Healthcare from the Heart Gala will bring together stakeholders who contribute to this broader support network. Participants will include healthcare providers, community health centers, housing organizations, sponsors and other partners aligned with the organization’s mission.
Doug Thompson, CEO of Element Care, emphasized that a person’s health is closely connected to the circumstances in which they live.
“Good health doesn’t start and stop at the doctor’s office. It depends on having a safe home, a ride to your appointment, a good meal, and people around you who care,” Thompson said.
He added that collaboration is essential to helping older adults achieve better outcomes and that the gala provides an opportunity to recognize partners working together to strengthen communities.
The event will therefore serve both as a celebration of existing partnerships and as an opportunity to encourage continued investment in programs that support seniors.
Funds to Support Housing, Caregivers and Social Engagement
The second annual gala will build on the fundraising achievements of last year’s event. The inaugural Healthcare from the Heart Gala generated more than $400,000, which helped provide enrichment experiences for Element Care participants.
For the 2026 gathering, Element Care intends to direct funds toward a broader set of priorities connected to senior independence, housing stability and community well-being.
One key focus will be supporting affordable housing for older adults. Housing affordability can be a significant concern for seniors living on fixed incomes, particularly when rent, utilities and other household expenses compete with the cost of food, transportation and healthcare-related needs.
The funds will also help address housing insecurity, which can place older adults at greater risk of disrupted care and reduced stability. Access to secure housing can help seniors maintain routines, stay connected to their communities and receive services more consistently.
Another priority is supporting caregivers. Family members and other informal caregivers frequently provide assistance with daily activities, transportation, appointments and other responsibilities. While this support can help older adults remain at home, caregiving can also create physical, emotional and financial pressures.
Element Care’s fundraising priorities include caregiver respite, which can provide caregivers with temporary relief from their responsibilities. Access to respite services may help caregivers manage their own needs while continuing to support the older adults who depend on them.
The gala will also help support adaptive recreation, essential household needs and opportunities for social connection. These resources are intended to help participants remain engaged in activities, maintain relationships and experience a better quality of life.
Through contributions from sponsors, donors and community partners, Element Care hopes to strengthen the network of services that helps seniors live with dignity, independence and security.
Community Health Leadership Award to Recognize Michael Curry
A central part of the evening will be the presentation of the Community Health Leadership Award to Michael Curry, Esq., president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers.
Curry has spent more than 30 years working in areas including civil rights, health reform and health equity. His work has focused on addressing barriers to healthcare access and advancing initiatives intended to improve health outcomes for underserved communities.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Curry co-chaired the Massachusetts Senate Health Equity Task Force. The task force’s work took place during a period when the pandemic highlighted differences in healthcare access and outcomes among communities.
Curry also co-founded the Health Equity Compact, a coalition comprising more than 80 leaders of color. The organization filed what the announcement describes as the nation’s first omnibus health equity bill, reflecting an effort to address health disparities through a broad legislative approach.
The award recognizes Curry’s leadership and contributions to improving access to healthcare and promoting more equitable systems of care.
The recognition also has a particular connection to Element Care’s history. The organization was founded as a joint venture between Lynn Community Health Center and Greater Lynn Senior Services.
That founding relationship reflects the importance of bringing healthcare expertise together with community-based services to address the needs of older adults. The collaboration between healthcare and social support organizations remains relevant to Element Care’s current work.
By recognizing Curry, the organization is highlighting the role that community health centers, advocacy groups and public policy leaders can play in strengthening healthcare access and supporting underserved populations.
The award also reinforces the gala’s broader theme of partnership, recognizing that efforts to improve health and well-being often require coordination across healthcare providers, community organizations and policymakers.
Building Communities that Care Award to Honor Magnolia Contreras and the Solimine Family
Element Care will also present the Building Communities that Care Award to Magnolia Contreras, David Solimine Jr. and the Solimine Family.
The award recognizes their leadership in connecting affordable senior housing with healthcare services in Lynn, Massachusetts. Their work reflects a commitment to improving access to stable housing and coordinated care for older adults.
The Solimine family’s involvement in community giving builds on a philanthropic legacy established more than 60 years ago by Mary Jane and David Solimine Sr. Their commitment to supporting others established a tradition of giving back that continues through the family’s community initiatives.
A significant part of the family’s recent contribution involves the redevelopment of the former Union Hospital site in Lynn.
Following the hospital’s closure in 2020, David Solimine Jr. purchased the property and donated the land to 2Life Communities, a nonprofit organization focused on housing and services for older adults.
The site is now being developed into Solimine House, a planned affordable housing community featuring 150 apartments for adults aged 62 and older. The project is named in honor of Mary Jane and David Solimine Sr.
Magnolia Contreras, a healthcare executive and health equity advocate, has helped lead the project. Her involvement supports the initiative’s goal of connecting housing with healthcare and community services.
The development is especially relevant to Element Care because Solimine House is being built next to the organization’s headquarters and PACE center. An enclosed walkway is planned to connect enrolled residents directly to care, providing a physical link between the residential community and healthcare services.
The project is scheduled to open in 2027.
By placing affordable senior housing near a healthcare center, the development aims to make access to care more convenient for participating residents. The arrangement also reflects a broader approach to senior support in which housing and healthcare are considered complementary parts of a coordinated system.
The planned community demonstrates how partnerships among housing organizations, healthcare providers and philanthropic supporters can help address multiple challenges faced by older adults.
Element Care Expands Its Reach Across Massachusetts
Element Care has provided comprehensive healthcare services to older adults in Massachusetts for more than 30 years. The organization currently serves more than 1,200 PACE participants across Essex County, the Merrimack Valley and parts of Greater Boston.
Its services are delivered through seven locations, and the organization reports that it has welcomed more than 400 new participants over the past 15 months.
This growth highlights the organization’s continuing role in providing coordinated care to seniors across the communities it serves.
PACE, or the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, is a federally and state-funded healthcare program that provides a range of services to eligible older adults. These services can include preventive care, primary care, acute medical services and long-term care.
The program is designed to coordinate different aspects of healthcare and support so participants can continue living in their communities when appropriate, rather than relying solely on institutional care.
Depending on individual needs, coordinated services may involve medical assessments, treatment, care planning and assistance with ongoing health requirements. The model is intended to bring services together around the participant instead of requiring individuals and their families to navigate separate systems independently.
Element Care also operates as a managed care provider for Senior Care Options, extending its involvement in healthcare services for older adults.
Its work reflects the growing importance of integrated care models that consider medical needs alongside practical factors affecting daily life. For seniors who require support with transportation, housing stability or long-term care, coordination among providers can help make services more accessible and manageable.
The organization’s expansion and continued partnerships are intended to help meet the needs of older adults while supporting their ability to remain in familiar communities.
Partnerships Bring Healthcare Services Into Senior Housing
Element Care is working with housing organizations to connect PACE services with senior residential communities.
Its housing partners include 2Life Communities, Harborlight Homes and the YWCA of Greater Newburyport.
These partnerships are intended to bring healthcare services closer to older adults who may benefit from coordinated support. Integrating care with senior housing can help residents access services while remaining in their homes and maintaining connections with their communities.
The partnership with 2Life Communities is particularly visible in the Solimine House development. Its planned location next to Element Care’s headquarters and PACE center, combined with the enclosed walkway connecting enrolled residents to care, illustrates how physical proximity can be incorporated into a broader care model.
Housing partnerships can also provide opportunities for healthcare organizations to work with residential providers on the needs of older adults. Such coordination may help identify support requirements and connect residents with appropriate services.
However, individual care arrangements depend on eligibility, program requirements and each participant’s circumstances. The goal is to provide appropriate support while helping seniors maintain as much independence as possible.
Element Care’s relationships with housing organizations reflect its belief that health, housing and community services are closely connected. By collaborating with partners that address different aspects of senior well-being, the organization seeks to create a more supportive environment for older adults.
The Importance of Community-Based Care for Older Adults
As communities respond to the needs of an aging population, integrated approaches to healthcare and housing are becoming increasingly important. Older adults may face overlapping challenges involving medical care, mobility, housing affordability, social isolation and access to everyday necessities.
Addressing these needs separately can create additional complexity for seniors and their caregivers. A coordinated model can help bring different services together and support more consistent care.
Element Care’s PACE program is designed around this principle, combining preventive, primary, acute and long-term care services within a coordinated framework. Its partnerships with housing providers extend this approach beyond clinical settings and into the communities where older adults live.
The Healthcare from the Heart Gala provides a platform to recognize the people and organizations contributing to this work. Through its awards, fundraising efforts and participant stories, the event will highlight the role of collaboration in supporting healthy aging.
The gathering also creates an opportunity for healthcare providers, housing organizations, community partners and donors to strengthen their relationships and explore ways to support seniors more effectively.
Element Care’s second annual Healthcare from the Heart Gala will celebrate the partnerships connecting healthcare, affordable housing and community support for older adults. Scheduled for October 29, 2026, at Boston’s Seaport Hotel, the event will bring together supporters of the organization’s mission under the theme “Building Communities that Care.”
The gala will recognize Michael Curry for his leadership in community health and health equity, while Magnolia Contreras, David Solimine Jr. and the Solimine Family will be honored for their contributions to bringing senior housing and healthcare together in Lynn.
Funds raised will support affordable housing initiatives, caregiver respite, adaptive recreation, essential household needs and social engagement opportunities for Element Care participants.
With more than 30 years of experience serving older adults, over 1,200 current PACE participants and partnerships with organizations including 2Life Communities, Harborlight Homes and the YWCA of Greater Newburyport, Element Care continues to focus on coordinated services that help seniors live safely and independently.
The gala underscores the organization’s central message: supporting older adults requires more than healthcare alone. Safe housing, community connections and coordinated support are also essential to helping seniors maintain their dignity, independence and quality of life.
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