Current Members: 510-653-1843
Become a Member: 844-319-1150
Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Monday through Friday
1497 Alcatraz Ave
Berkeley, CA 94702
Serving our respected elders in Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, Kensington, North Oakland, Claremont, Rockridge, Temescal, Emeryville
Our Berkeley PACE center offers a full-service medical clinic, a large social center and a fully equipped gym.
Elders who are enrolled in our all-inclusive healthcare plan often visit this center to eat a tasty lunch with friends, enjoy performances or activities, speak with their social workers or see their nurse, doctor or spend time with their physical therapist.
This center features a rooftop outdoor patio to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.
Take a Video Tour
People You'll Meet at Berkeley PACE Center
DIRECTOR, BERKELEY CENTER
Katherine Samimi
“Our elders are major contributors to our society, culture and history. It’s always been a priority and honor for me to work with seniors.”
Our elders are major contributors to our society, culture and history. It’s always been a priority and honor for me to work with seniors. Since I was in high school, I always felt called to work in an elder healthcare capacity. I strongly believe in the mission here at Center for Elders’ Independence and am beyond excited to be a part of this incredible team.
I earned my bachelor’s of Gerontology at California State University, San Marcos and shortly after graduation, I started my career in a variety of director positions in the Residential Care Community setting. I moved from San Diego to the SF Bay Area in 2017 and worked at a local assisted living and memory care community serving over 200 older adults. I am drawn to the PACE model of senior healthcare because of the holistic and easier ways to provide the care and attention seniors need and deserve while remaining at home for as long as possible.
I am a Certified Dementia Practitioner as well as certified in Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE). Fun fact: I also hold a sommelier certification and have a deep appreciation of wine and the wine making process.
For fun, travel is a big part of my life having visited over 30 countries in the last 15 years with future plans to explore more of the United States with my husband. We enjoy going to live music concerts and exploring all the food, art, wine, and hikes the Bay Area offers. We also love taking our two dachshunds to the beach.
MSN, AGPCNP-BC, ACHPN PACE BERKELEY
Sara Benson
“Connecting with older adults about what matters most to them while helping them improve their health is my ultimate goal. I want them to do all of the things they truly enjoy in life!”
To honor my grandmother, I trained to become a geriatric primary care provider as well as a palliative care and hospice nurse practitioner. Connecting with older adults about what matters most to them while helping them improve their health is my ultimate goal. I want them to do all of the things they truly enjoy in life!
I received my training at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), earning a master’s degree in nursing with three minors: geriatrics, palliative care, and HIV care. I graduated as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner after doing a year-long clinical rotation at the Center for Elders’ Independence in East Oakland.
After completing my studies, I moved to rural Humboldt County, California to provide full-spectrum primary care, urgent care, and palliative care to older adults. I returned to the SF Bay Area to continue working with older adults with complex health needs in San Francisco and all around the East Bay. I am thrilled to return to Center for Elders’ Independence and collaborate with on-site multidisciplinary experts. It deeply inspires me every day.
In addition to English, I speak conversational Japanese and medical Spanish.
For fun, I spend as much time as possible outdoors hiking, camping, backpacking, paddling, and mountain climbing. I also volunteer with the Berkeley Free Clinic and Remote Area Medical, providing free healthcare to those in need. Originally from Chicago, I moved to San Francisco in 1995 and have lived in the East Bay since 2011.
NP, MSN, APRN, A-GNP PACE BERKELEY
Iva Esparza
“I started volunteering in hospice when I was 19 and have grown very attached to the older community since.”
I love the extensive backgrounds of each individual participant I meet. I appreciate the complexity of their needs. I started volunteering in hospice when I was 19 and have grown very attached to the older community since.
Working in PACE gives me the opportunity to contribute to the cause to remove all barriers to medical care, mental health and physical fitness for the senior community.
I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from San Francisco State University and then graduated 10 years later with my Master of Science in Nursing from Yale University. After graduation, I volunteered in a student-run clinic for the homeless. This led me to begin my career caring for seniors with dementia, diabetes and other emergency services. I moved back to San Francisco in 2022 to join Brown Physicians as an Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner before joining Center for Elders’ Independence in late 2023.
I speak English and Spanish. During my off time, I enjoy trail running, baking and sewing.
CEI provides PACE services to older adults who live in the following East Bay ZIP codes:
94501 City Of Alameda
94502 City Of Alameda
94505 Discovery Bay
94506 Danville/Blackhawk
94507 Alamo
94509 Antioch
94511 Bethel Island
94513 Brentwood
94514 Byron
94516 Canyon
94517 Clayton
94518 Concord
94519 Concord
94520 Concord (North)
94521 Concord
94522 Concord
94523 Pleasant Hill
94524 Concord (West)
94525 Crockett
94526 Danville
94527 Concord
94528 Diablo
94530 El Cerrito
94531 Antioch
94540 Hayward (Airport)
94541 Hayward (North)
94542 Hayward (South)
94544 Hayward (South)
94545 Hayward (South)
94546 Hayward/Castro Valley
94547 Hercules
94548 Knightsen
94549 Walnut Creek/Lafayette
94550 Livermore
94551 Livermore
94552 Hayward/Castro Valley
94553 Martinez
94556 Moraga
94561 Oakley
94563 Orinda
94564 Pinole
94565 Pittsburg
94566 Pleasanton
94568 Dublin
94569 Port Costa
94570 Moraga
94572 Rodeo
94575 Moraga
94577 San Leandro (Marina/DT)
94578 San Leandro (Chabot)
94579 San Leandro (South)
94580 San Lorenzo
94582 San Ramon
94583 San Ramon
94586 Sunol
94588 Pleasanton
94595 Rossmoor
94596 Walnut Creek
94597 Walnut Creek
94598 Walnut Creek
94601 Fruitvale, Seminary
94602 Dimond
94603 Elmhurst
94605 Seminary
94606 San Antonio
94607 West Oakland
94608 Emeryville
94609 Temescal
94610 Lake Merritt, Trestle Glen
94611 Piedmont, Montclair, Downtown
94612 Downtown
94613 Mills College
94618 Rockridge
94619 Millmont
94621 Eastmont
94625 Port of Oakland
94626 Oakland
94627 Oakland
94702 Southwest Berkeley
94703 Southwest Berkeley
94704 East Berkeley
94705 Upper Ashby
94706 Albany
94707 Albany, Berkeley
94708 North Berkeley, Kensington
94709 Grizzly Peak
94710 West Berkeley
94720 UC Berkeley
94801 Richmond
94802 Richmond
94803 Richmond, El Sobrante
94804 Richmond
94805 Richmond, San Pablo
94806 Richmond
94820 El Sobrante
CEI Service Area Map
