our programming to specialize in caregiving for people with dementia through Dementia Capable Southern Arizona, we built the Raskob-Paulus Caregiver Skills Lab at the Katie, and acquired the CareGiver Training Institute. In our current year’s survey, 23% of respondents reported being a caregiver. In comparison, the total caregivers reported in 2016 were 362 people and the total number in 2022-2023 were 732 caregivers. In addition to showing increased need in this area, the increase in reported caregivers may also result from successful education of staff, volunteers, and community members about identifying as a caregiver. Aging in Place
Aging in place–older adults choosing to stay in their homes and community as they age–was amongst the top concerns in the 2016 community needs assessment. In 2016, 27% of respondents rated their community as an excellent place to age, while 45% rated it as a good place to age. As a result, PCOA conducted significant advocacy and public policy efforts to increase funding for in-home services that enable people to stay in their own homes and communities as they age. Since 2016, the State of Arizona has increased more than $10 million in funding to these services, with PCOA taking one of the lead roles in advocacy for this change. We have also worked to address the previously identified in-home care workforce shortage through a significant investment in both training and public advertising.
In the 2022-2023 survey, 40% of respondents rated their community as very easy for them to age in place, while another 40% said it was somewhat easy to age in place. Though there is still work to do, the work we have done has been of benefit for many older adults in Pima County. What is “Aging in Place”? When older adults choose to stay in their homes and community as they age. Using our Community Needs Assessment, including our Community Health and Aging Survey, we have identified important issues
and problem areas that PCOA and our community partners can work to improve over the coming years. The following high-level recommendations are ways in which we, as community providers, can help to make a positive impact and difference, for older adults in our community.
A Report to the Community
Pima Council on Aging
9
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online