Health and Human Services: PCOA has been serving our community for 40 years

On Saturday, April 21, Pima Council on Aging will celebrate 40 years of service in our community with a gala evening of dining, music and dancing at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort.

Jim Murphy and Cecilia Salaz will be in attendance, looking mighty proud.

Murphy is the corporate relations director for PCOA. He recently told us about a number of the programs that PCOA provides to complement and enhance our community’s health and human services.

For example, PCOA offers extensive information and supportive services for people who are caregivers.

Collaborating with other organizations, PCOA helps provide a caregiver Web site (arizonacaregivers.org), a video lending library, and caregiver training and support groups.

Through its “Neighbors Care Program,” PCOA assists neighborhoods (e.g., homeowner associations) and faith communities in developing or strengthening volunteer caregiver programs.

It also trains seniors to be of assistance to their neighbors through their home owners associations or faith communities.

Recently, PCOA, in cooperation with the Regional Transportation Authority, instituted a program through which it provides funds to organizations that are part of the “Neighbors Care Alliance.”

These funds enable the organizations to reimburse their volunteers who are driving their cars to transport or assist clients.

If your organization wants to participate in this program, you should contact PCOA.

A new area for PCOA is the “Mature Worker Connection.”

This program is a free referral and job placement service that connects experienced workers, age 50 and older, with employers interested in hiring mature workers for full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs in Pima County. (Call 623-3304 if interested.)

Cecilia Salaz directs PCOA’s “Retired and Senior Volunteer Program” (RSVP).

This program is a placement and referral service for adults age 55 and older who wish to volunteer. RSVP has placed seniors in volunteer positions throughout the county.

RSVP volunteers receive a brief orientation on their role in the community. After placement, they receive in-service instruction and supervision. Accident and liability insurance is provided to volunteers as a secondary coverage while on assignment.

These programs are just a few of the ways in which PCOA can be of service to you and your organization.

Call 520-790-0504 or go to the web site, PCOA.org to learn more about these and other programs.

PCOA is 40 years old. It’s a great cause for celebration.

(Arleen Boyuls and John Geiger are members of the Executive Board of the Green Valley Community Coordinating Council.

They chair two committees that focus on enhancing health and human services and volunteering. Visit them and their colleagues at the “ GVCCC Volunteer Booth” on March 20 at the Health Fair to be held at the GVR West Center, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For further information, phone 648-1936 or e-mail: gvccc@theriver.com.)