This month, Community Connect turns its focus towards Pima Council On Aging, focusing on aging with dignity, independence, and belonging for all.
 

In 1967, the founders of St. Francis gathered around one conviction: a home where all means all. That same year, Pima Council on Aging was founded as one of the nation's first aging-services organizations. Nearly sixty years later, we're still pulling in the same direction, toward a community where no one is left behind.

As Pima County's Area Agency on Aging, PCOA believes every older adult deserves to age with dignity, independence, and belonging; words that echo what St. Francis means by love, grace, and inclusion. We'd love to share two things with your congregation: how you can be part of this work, and how we can support the people already in our community.

Ways To Get Involved
Volunteers are the heart of what we do, and there's a role for nearly every gift. You might bring warmth to people living with dementia as a Memory Cafe companion, check in on homebound elders as a friendly visitor, or help older adults navigate confusing Medicare decisions as a trained counselor. Others assist neighbors on limited incomes in claiming state tax credit of up to $527, or carry trusted information into the community as Ambassadors. There are quieter roles too, for those who love to organize, write, or work with numbers.

How Can We Help Your Members
We're also here for the members of St. Francis and the people they care for. If someone is trying to stay safely at home, we offer in-home support and meal delivery. If a family is facing Medicare, our counselors give free, unbiased guidance. If some one is caring for a loved one with dementia or illness, we run caregiver support groups across Pima County. We also offer legal clinics, a resource directory of more than 1,700 services, and through our partnership with Southern Arizona Senior Pride, support tailored to LGBTQ+ adults.

Upcoming Events
The founders of St. Francis dreamed of a church on the hill for all people. At PCOA, we hold a parallel dream; a community where growing older never means being left behind. We'd be honored to walk that road together.

Am I Truly Invisible? - An Ageism Discussion
Presented By Dr. Linda Hollis, MS, EdS, PhD

Gerontologist Associate Professor of Practice, University of Arizona
Sunday, July 12th at 11am
in the Celebration Center and Online
With adults 65+ making up a growing and increasingly diverse share of the U.S. population, understanding and addressing ageism has never been more critical. This engaging presentation challenges participants to examine their own beliefs about aging and take meaningful action. Dr. Hollis guides participants through the three faces of ageism; institutional, interpersonal, and self-directed while exploring how age intersects with gender, race, disability, and income to create compounding layers of invisibility that push people even further to the margins.

The Normally Aging Brain
Presented By Dr. Lynne A. Oland, PhD
Research Scientist Emerita Department of Neuroscience, University of Arizona
Sunday, July 19th at 11am
in the Celebration Center and Online
Come learn about the normal changes happening inside our heads, signs of mental decline to be aware of, and what we can do to optimize our brain health. We will explore important questions such as 'How do our attitudes about aging affect our brains?' and 'Why is chronic stress damaging to our brains?'.