AGING IN OUR COMMUNITY A Message from Our President & CEO, Robert Ojeda, PhD
A s I reflect on my first year as President and CEO of Pima Council on Aging, I am struck above all by the resilience of the older adults we serve and the extraordinary dedication of the people who stand beside them every day. This year has been one of listening, learning, and reaffirming who we are at our core. We have deepened our commitment to grassroots engagement and to a simple but powerful truth: aging with dignity is a human right. That belief guides every decision we make and every partnership we build. Across Pima County, our staff and volunteers work tirelessly to meet the most basic needs of older adults who are struggling to survive. People choosing between food and medication, wondering how they will pay rent, or trying to remain safely in the homes and communities they love. These are not abstract challenges; they are daily realities for thousands of our neighbors.
At the same time, our work has become more difficult. Rising costs, shrinking government funding, and growing uncertainty across our country place increasing pressure on aging services, just as the need continues to grow. Public funding remains essential, but it is no longer enough. That is why philanthropy matters now more than ever. Too often, people only learn about Pima Council on Aging when they are already in crisis. We want to change that. Our vision is a community where older adults are supported earlier, where dignity is protected before hardship becomes emergency, and where no one fades into the shadows because they lack resources or visibility. We cannot do this alone. I invite you to help us spread the word about our work and the resources we provide. I invite you to stand with us in supporting vulnerable older adults; your neighbors, your family members, and, one day, perhaps yourselves.
Robert Ojeda, PhD
Together, we can ensure that aging in Pima County means safety, connection, and dignity, not isolation or fear. With gratitude and resolve,
Robert Ojeda, PhD President and CEO Pima Council on Aging
March & April 2026, Never Too Late | Page 3
Pima Council on Aging
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