History And Mission
Board Of Directors
PCOA Staff

HISTORY AND MISSION

Pima Council on Aging is a private non-profit corporation that serves as the designated Area Agency on Aging for all of Pima County, Arizona. As the Area Agency, PCOA is responsible for developing a local system of social and nutritional support services to assist elderly persons to remain independent in their homes and communities.

PCOA is part of the National Network on Aging and can assist individuals and families by directing them to Area Agencies on Aging in other states.

Since 1967, PCOA has identified the needs of older adults and responded to those needs with innovative programs and services. Individuals, regardless of background or income, have turned to the Council for relevant information about how to prepare for events and changes that accompany their maturity. The Council can provide inter-agency referrals and access to information on a vast array of services.

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. PCOA utilizes public monies, private donations, grants, bequests and trusts to implement and sustain its services and programs. The largest single income source is Title III of the Older Americans Act through the Administration on Aging. Other major funders include Arizona Department of Economic Security, Aging & Adult Administration, Corporation for National Service, Pima County, City of Tucson, United Way and private donations.

PCOA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PCOA STAFF