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Pima Council on Aging

What PCOA Is
Pima Council on Aging is a private non-profit organization which, since 1967, has identified the needs of the older adults of Pima County and responded to those needs with innovative programs and services. As the designated Area Agency on Aging, PCOA is the primary resource for advancing the social and economic issues of our community's older citizens.

In serving the elderly of Pima County, PCOA is an advocate, planner, coordinator, developer, and provider of services and programs. As advocate, PCOA represents the interests of the elderly and takes action to influence and change public or private attitudes, policies and regulations through presentation of information and data. PCOA works to sensitize the legislative, executive and regulatory bodies to the needs of older persons. As planner, PCOA has been designated to develop the area plan under Title III of the Older Americans Act in Pima County, as part of the Arizona state plan on aging. In this capacity, PCOA is responsible for analyzing the demographic characteristics of Pima County's elderly, identifying and evaluating the needs of the elderly, and transforming those needs into a system of service delivery. As coordinator, PCOA brings together sources of funds and providers of service to work together in delivering a full range of services. In this role, PCOA attempts to maximize the usage of funds and minimize the duplication of services. As developer, PCOA responds to emerging needs, by seeking new resources and cooperative alliances to help develop targeted programs and services. Many of these programs have become independent agencies. As provider, Pima Council on Aging directly operates, by contractual agreements, a variety of home and community based services.

What PCOA Does
Administers … the Ombudsman for the Elderly Program •Personal Budgeting Assistance •Long Term Care Certified Advocate Program •Medicare/Insurance Counseling •Health Related Benefits/Outreach (Multi-Cultural, Urban and Rural) •Pension Counseling •HOST & Co-HOST •Elder Care Counseling

Sponsors … the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program •Council of Senior Citizen Organizations Manages

Manages … the Coronado Hotel Apartments (Low Income Elderly and Disabled)

Publishes … Never Too Late, a monthly newsletter

Funds and monitors these community based services … Case management and Assessment •Chore Maintenance •Congregate Meals and Socialization •Home Repair (major and minor) •Legal Services •Lifeline •Personal Care •Pima Meals on Wheels (home delivered) •Primary Nursing Clinics •Respite Service •Transportation Subsidy •Caregiver Training •Caregiver Support Groups •Caregiver Information & Assistance •Assistance for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Maintains, staffs and catalogues … a Gerontological Resource Library

Assists … in the coordination of various wellness programs

Presents … Speakers and Senior Interest Community Forums

Partnerships … Annual Medicare Update Conference •Centenarian Celebration •OASIS •Service Learning Project •NAELA Law Clinic •Home for the Holidays

Caregiver Support Programs - What They Do

Funded by the Older Americans Act/National Family Caregiver Support Program through PCOA

The steadfast involvement of family and friends as caregivers is often complicated by issues such as one's own aging, work commitments, geographic distance from family members, and the competing demands of caring for children or grandchildren as well as providing care to an older adult. As you place calls in your search for services and solutions to problems, the following programs may help you get a head start so that you can develop a plan. Contact numbers are provided for each service.

Eldercare Information and Assistance - Your local Area Agency on Aging (Pima Council on Aging) is a clearinghouse of information on programs for the elderly. Staff members assist family caregivers in examining options and locating appropriate help through community resources.

Family Caregiver Lending Library - A variety of videos on caregiving are available to borrow. Contact Pima Council on Aging at (520) 790-7262 for these services.

Respite Services - The respite program provides short-term care and supervision either in the home or through a temporary stay in an assisted living home. Services are provided on a cost-sharing basis determined by income and ability to pay. Please call the Pima County Community Services System Central Intake at (520) 790-0504 to inquire about service provision.

Caregiver Training And Support Services
Pima Health System & Services, Caregiver Education and Support Program offers information and emotional support including support groups in different areas of town. Additionally, the Caregiver Education and Support Program provides training classes to assist and support informal family caregivers to expand and improve their caregiving knowledge and skills. Please call (520) 512-5599 or 512-5594 for further information on the training and support group services.

Jewish Family and Children's Service (JFCS) offers caregiver support groups and family facilitation meetings with an emphasis on minority and rural populations. For further information, please contact Jewish Family and Children's Service (520) 795-0300.
Disease-specific support groups are also available through other community agencies. (See "Using the Qwest Dex Yellow Pages").

K.A.R.E. Family Center, Arizona's Children Association assists caregiver families in accessing services to help them provide care for children under the age of 18. This "one stop shop" center for caregivers and adoptive families is located at 4710 E. 29th St., Tucson Building 7. For more information call (520) 323-4476.

8467 E. Broadway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85710-4009
(520) 790-7262
FAX (520) 790-7577
AREA AGENCY ON AGING

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Website Editor: Jan E. Sturges, M.Ed, LPC - Website written and compiled by
Jan Sturges, M.Ed, LPC unless otherwise indicated.