Meet the Faces of PCOA

Meet Claudia V, a dedicated Case Manager at Pima Council on Aging. In her role, Claudia coordinates care with community provider agencies to ensure clients receive essential in-home services, including personal care and housekeeping. Her work is vital to helping older adults maintain their independence and quality of life. 

Claudia joined PCOA nearly four years ago, moving from her previous role at Arizona’s Children Association, where she worked with children. She was drawn to PCOA by a desire to work with a different age group and make a meaningful impact on the lives of older adults. Reflecting on her time at PCOA, Claudia notes how the organization has evolved, now offering more than just care coordination to clients, but also broader support that addresses a range of needs. 

For Claudia, the most important aspect of her job is the strong communication she maintains with her clients. This ongoing dialogue allows her to build rapport and provide consistent, personalized care. She’s particularly proud of her ability to keep clients in their homes, supporting their independence for as long as possible. 

One of Claudia’s favorite parts of working at PCOA is the relationships she’s built with clients over the years. She values the continuity of care and the positive updates she hears from clients, which motivates her to come to work each day. Claudia also finds fulfillment in helping clients navigate challenging situations, such as finding housing before eviction and securing in-home services that enhance their daily lives. 

In her spare time, Claudia enjoys spending time with her family and indulging in a bit of shopping. Claudia sees PCOA as a crucial resource in the community, providing advocacy and assistance to those who need it most. 

Claudia’s commitment to her clients and her passion for making a difference make her an invaluable member of the PCOA team. Her dedication ensures that older adults in the community can count on PCOA for the support and care they deserve. 

Selina L serves as a dedicated Long Term Care Ombudsman at PCOA, a role that involves advocating for residents in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. Her work is critical in identifying, investigating, and resolving complaints made by or on behalf of residents, ensuring that their voices are heard and their rights are protected. 

Selina has been a part of the PCOA family for about seven years. Over this time, she has witnessed and contributed to the positive changes within the organization. “The most important part of my role is to advocate for the residents,” she shares. “I work to ensure their voices are heard in their community, creating positive changes that improve their quality of life.” 

Selina’s commitment to PCOA’s mission is unwavering. She hopes to continue dedicating herself to the older population and to bring a positive influence to everyone she interacts with. “What motivates me to come to work each day is knowing that what I do makes a difference in people’s lives,” she says. 

While she doesn’t pinpoint a specific favorite memory, Selina deeply appreciates the respect and kindness she experiences at PCOA. “I don’t have a favorite memory, but not only do I get to advocate for the older population, but I am treated with respect and kindness at the agency. I hope to retire at PCOA because there is no better place to work.” 

Outside of her professional life, Selina enjoys arts and crafts, traveling, and learning fun facts and history. Her passion for advocacy and helping others extends into her view of PCOA’s impact on the community. “PCOA gives a voice to people who are not always able to speak for themselves,” she explains. “PCOA is a safe haven for many people who do not know what is available in the community and need help navigating those resources and programs.” 

One of Selina’s proudest achievements at PCOA is seeing residents gain a better quality of life because of her advocacy. While she cannot share specific details due to the nature of her work, she finds great satisfaction in helping residents advocate for themselves. “It’s very satisfying to see a resident have a better quality of life because of something I was able to help them with,” she reflects. 

Selina’s passion for advocacy and her commitment to improving the lives of residents in long-term care make her a vital part of the PCOA team. Her work not only enhances the quality of life for those she serves but also embodies the compassionate spirit of PCOA’s mission. 

Meghan has been working for PCOA for two and half years as a Client Services Specialist in the Rights and Benefits department. She assists clients with many different topics including housing related issues, completing benefits screenings, helping make referrals for legal aid, property tax credit help, personal budgeting assistance and providing information and resources. When asked about what her role entails Meghan remarked, “I help them with anything and everything.” 

Meghan has worked in the Social Services field for over 25 years, mainly with non-profits. Prior to PCOA she was a Case Manager at Mercy Care for eight years. Since starting her position she strives to help older adults live their best lives. 

In her spare time Meghan enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, and can be found thrift shopping, going to see films and art shows and building LEGO. She especially likes to build quirky and whimsical pieces, such as amusement park rides for her LEGO chickens. While in the office, Meghan enjoys growing in her role at PCOA. She wants to continue to help others, to learn new things every day and is proud to be part of a great organization serving and advocating for older adults.