Client Story
Embracing Active Aging: Juliet’s Journey with PEARLS
Active Aging Week, launched in 2003 by the International Council on Active Aging®, celebrates the vitality and resilience of older adults by promoting wellness, movement, and meaningful engagement. It’s a reminder that aging can be a time of growth, connection, and renewed purpose—especially when supported by programs that champion mental and physical health.
Depression affects nearly 7 million Americans over the age of 65 each year, according to the CDC. And for many, isolation and chronic pain can make it difficult to stay engaged in life. That’s where the PEARLS Program—Program to Encourage Active and Rewarding Lives—steps in. This evidence-based initiative empowers older adults to take charge of their emotional well-being through goal-setting, problem-solving, and active lifestyle changes. By encouraging movement, social connection, and joyful routines, PEARLS helps participants rediscover their strength and vitality.
A grant from the Junior League of Fort Worth, Texas, Incorporated helps support the PEARLS program, ensuring that more older adults have access to life-changing resources and compassionate care. Volunteers from JLFW play a vital role in planning PEARLS Connect events—gatherings that foster community and engagement—and also publish a monthly newsletter that keeps participants informed, inspired, and connected.
Juliet’s story is a testament to the power of active aging. When she first came to The Women’s Center, she was overwhelmed by grief, physical pain from scoliosis, and a lack of nearby support. Her past was marked by trauma, and her present felt hopeless. “I couldn’t stop crying,” Juliet recalls. “I remember calling and saying, ‘I have an emergency, I need help! I won’t be here a month from now—so I need help now.’ And they helped.”
Through PEARLS, Juliet began to set small, achievable goals that sparked big changes. She joined a new church and began participating in senior exercise classes, where she made friends and found joy in movement. She started physical therapy to ease her pain and began spending more time outdoors, listening to uplifting music and letting the sunlight in—literally and figuratively.
“Starting therapy has been one of my greatest joys,” Juliet shares. “Thanks to The Women’s Center, I made decisions that changed my life—like having back surgery to relieve the pain. I built a new support system, started a healthy relationship, and now I have a new husband! My life today is so wonderful compared to two years ago—a complete 180-degree turnaround. I used to keep the blinds closed all the time, but now I want the sun shining in. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. There is hope.”
Juliet’s transformation reflects the heart of Active Aging Week: that with the right support, older adults can thrive—physically, emotionally, and socially. PEARLS doesn’t just treat depression; it reignites purpose, encourages movement, and fosters connection. Thanks to the generosity of partners like the Junior League of Fort Worth, Texas, Incorporated and the dedication of its volunteers, programs like PEARLS continue to light the way toward a brighter, more active future.
To learn more about the PEARLS program, visit the website at https://www.womenscentertc.org/programs/general-counseling/pearls/.
Source:
https://depts.washington.edu/hprc/evidence-based-programs/pearls-program