Older adults receiving homecare services can request a change in their designated caregiver, which may mean a switch in the company providing the services. Allowing care recipients to switch caregivers allows them to select someone with whom they feel more comfortable, be it due to language, cultural, or other factors. Additionally, services such as PCOA’s online resource database allow people to search for local resources, allowing them the freedom to search themselves, download lists, and contact vendors/providers on their own to address their needs. PCOA’s Guide to Services, published annually in print and digital formats, also provides community members to search for and select organizations from which to receive services. 10. Describe the planned efforts the agency will coordinate that will protect, detect, assess, intervene, and/or investigate elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults under Title VII? PCOA houses the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) where staff and trained volunteers advocate for residents of assisted living and long-term care facilities in order to resolve problems of individual residents and to ensure residents’ rights. LTCOP staff attend resident councils and offer presentations and training to facility residents and to facility staff on residents’ rights. PCOA also offers an Elder Rights and Benefits Program where staff advocate for older adults on a myriad of issues by meeting one-on-one, contacting creditors or other entities on behalf of clients, assisting clients in filling out forms, filing for property tax refunds, benefits enrollment, and much more. Individuals may be referred to Southern Arizona Legal Aid for assistance and attorneys who volunteer their time for our elder law clinics twice a month. At these clinics, individuals receive a thirty-minute consultation about their elder-law issues. Clients that are referred to PCOA from APS for in-home services receive priority for service authorization and delivery. PCOA staff participate in Arizona Attorney General Kris Maye s’ Taskforce Against Senior Abuse, the Pima County Taskforce (led by the local office of the Attorney General) called Stop Abuse and Financial Exploitation of Elders, and the Statewide Elder Abuse Coalition. PCOA participates in events and projects that are supported by all three groups.
11. Provide additional information as necessary.
Not applicable.
Region II: PCOA
Area Plan 2024-2027
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