Information & Referral

Helpline & Online Resources

PCOA is here to help with reliable information about resources and services for older people and their families in Pima County. You can access that information by calling our Helpline 520-790-7262, through our website, or by searching our online resource directory.

Our Helpline is staffed by experienced, certified information and referral specialists who can help with just about any question or issue related to older people in Pima County. Staff will listen to your concerns and provide you with information about options available to you, and may refer you to a program offered by PCOA or other community partners. They will take your individual situation into account and help identify resources to meet each of your needs.

Many of the resources you may be looking for are also available on our website, where you can learn more by visiting pages related to your concerns, or search our online resource directory to locate the help you need.

[sc name="hr-line-30" ][/sc]

Make a Referral to PCOA

Need to make a referral to PCOA? Click here to begin the process. 

Our Valued Partners in Service

PCOA’s work would not be possible without the partners who fund services for older adults, those who help us carry out that work, and the collaborative spirit of our community. [imgGrid] [/imgGrid] [hrline_30]

Major Funders

[col2]

• Federal Older Americans Act through AZ Department of Economic Security, Division of Aging and Adult Services
• Federal Social Service Block Grant through AZ Department of Economic Security, Division of Aging and Adult Services
• State of Arizona through AZ Department of Economic Security, Division of Aging & Adult Services
• Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services through AZ Department of Economic Security, Division of Aging and Adult Services
• City of Tucson
• Pima County
• United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona
• Pima Association of Governments, Regional Transit Authority
• Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) through Mercy Care and Banner
• National Council on Aging
• The David & Lura Lovell Foundation

[/col2] [hrline_30]

Partners in Service

[col2]

• Accent Care
• Addus
• Aires
• Arcadia
• Arizona Children’s Association
• Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona
• City of Tucson (Parks and Recreation)
• Community Home Repair Projects of Arizona (CHRPA)
• La Posada at Park Center
• Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
• My House
• Philips Lifeline Systems, Inc.
• Pima County Health Department
• Soreo
• Southern Arizona Family Services
• Southern Arizona Legal Aid
• Sunlife
• United Cerebral Palsy

Thank you! [tribe-tpp-success]

PCOA’s mission is to promote dignity and respect for aging, and to advocate for independence in the lives of Pima County’s older adults and their families. We are Pima County’s leading experts on aging well, advocacy, and unbiased information for older people and their families. Founded in 1967, PCOA was among the first aging services organizations in the nation. We are passionate about improving the experience of aging in our community. Over more than five decades of service to Pima County’s communities, we have developed an unparalleled network of programs and service partners for older adults. This allows us to continually find new ways to serve our community through direct services and partnerships. We strive to be innovative and integrated into the fabric of our community. Whether you are looking for assistance with Medicare, improving your own health or helping a loved one remain independent and safe at home, our team of professional staff and dedicated volunteers is here to help. When you reach out to us, you can trust we are giving you reliable information and have your best interests at heart.

The Older Americans Act 

The Older Americans Act, passed in 1965 and reauthorized in 2016, is a core piece of federal legislation that provides the framework for the network of Area Agencies on Aging around the country and provides funding for key supportive services.   Through its various titles, the Older Americans Act establishes the Area Agencies on Aging and funds the following: 

• The Eldercare Locator
• Supportive home and community-based services, including some of the following: 
  • Shopping 
  • Housekeeping 
  • Attendant Care (bathing, dressing, and more) 
  • Legal services 
  • Information and referral
• Provides grants for respite care, support groups, training, and assistance for family caregivers 
• Supports the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) through the Department of Labor 
• Provides greater supports for the Native American, Native Alaskan, and Hawaiian aging programs due to the greater economic and social disparities experienced by those communities 
• Establishes the Long-Term Care Ombudsman to prevent elder abuse 

Pima Council on Aging is one of eight Area Agencies on Aging in Arizona, and one of 622 nationwide. Under our federal charter, through the Older Americans Act, we are obligated to advocate for the needs and future well-being of older adults in Pima County. 

Medicare 

Medicare began in 1966 under the Social Security Administration and is now operated through the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), at the federal level, to provide health insurance to people age 65 and older who have worked and paid into the system through payroll deductions and taxes.  Medicare is a complicated system that provides four categories of coverage called “Parts.” Medicare Part A covers hospital visits, skilled nursing, and hospice services. Medicare Part B covers outpatient services. Medicare Part C covers the Medicare Advantage Plans, which is supplemental Medicare insurance you can buy to cover more than what traditional Medicare offers. Finally, Medicare Part D covers prescription drug plans.  At PCOA, we provide unbiased Medicare Counseling through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). SHIP is federally funded and allows us to give free two-hour presentations followed by a one-hour Q&A and individual Medicare counseling appointments. Since the system is a complex one, it can be difficult to manage or decide what Medicare coverage you will need or want. SHIP allows people to get personalized help to understand individual Medicare coverage and to work with Medicare to get the lowest prices for participants.  As the SHIP for Pima County, we see firsthand how Medicare changes the lives of older adults and their families. That is why we advocate for funding for programs like SHIP and the Senior Medicare Patrol – a program designed to reduce Medicare fraud and abuse – at the federal level. 

Medicaid 

Medicaid was authorized by the Social Security Act of 1965 and is now operated, at the federal level, out of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicaid provides low-income individuals with health insurance that covers children, pregnant women, adults without children, older adults, and those with disabilities.  In Arizona Medicaid is known as the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and has multiple programs to address the needs of low-income Arizonans. For older adults AHCCCS has the Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS), which pays for long-term care for those in need.  Since many older adults are living longer and having to stretch retirement savings, ALTCS becomes critical for paying for long-term care or in-home services. At PCOA we monitor changes in funding and policy at both the state and federal levels, and advocate appropriately to maintain critical benefits for older adults. 

Social Security 

Social Security was passed in 1935 in the heat of the Great Depression to reduce poverty among older adults. Currently, those who pay into the Federal Insurance Contribution Act payroll deduction (FICA) are eligible for Social Security when they retire. If you are or were self-employed, if you pay into the Self Employed Contributions Act (SECA) throughout your career you are also eligible to receive Social Security when you retire. For the most part, everyone who is a legal resident and works in the United States is eligible through their Social Security number to receive Social Security at retirement.  When people have discrepancies with Social Security, they can call their local Social Security office or the office of their member of Congress. Each member of Congress has Constituent Services staff who are dedicated to help resolve issues between constituents and the Social Security Administration.  As the aging advocate for Pima County, PCOA actively advocates for sustained funding for the Social Security Administration and continues to look into the financial sustainability of the program.  For more information on PCOA’s advocacy program and how you can become an aging advocate, call 520-790-7573 x5060 or email skregar@pcoa.org.

Sign Up for Advocacy Alerts - Keep up to date on issues affecting older adults in Pima County.

Donors to PCOA make a difference for older adults

Because of thoughtful donors like you, older adults receive the care, information, and support they need to live happy, healthy, independent lives. PCOA donors give so much more than dollars – you give the gifts of compassion, hope, and dignity. Each year more than 3,000 individuals, businesses and foundations partner with PCOA to serve the older adults of Pima County. Collectively your donations, whether $5 or $25,000 make it possible for PCOA to serve nearly 20,000 people each year. Take a look at our 2023 Annual Report to see how generosity makes a difference for the older adults in our community.

Make a Donation

• Call our office at 520-790-0504 to make a credit card donation over the phone.
• Mail a check to PCOA at 8467 E. Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85710 or drop one off during regular office hours – 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM every weekday.
• Donate appreciated securities (stock, bonds, mutual funds) or make a distribution from your IRA. Contact Sara Mathis at SMathis@pcoa.org or 520-790-7573 ext. 5042 for more information.
• Make a legacy gift through your estate plan. Visit our Legacy Gift page for more information.

PCOA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 86-0251768) and a Qualified Charitable Organization for the Arizona State Tax Credit (QCO Code: 20313).  All or part of any donation may be tax deductible as a charitable contribution. Please consult a tax advisor.

[gravityform id="36" title="true" description="true" ajax="false"]