Advocacy
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) awarded PCOA with two Aging Achievement Awards at their Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA at the end of July. PCOA’s advocacy program was recognized as a nationally leading program for Advancing Advocacy Efforts Through Digital Platforms . According to the Pew Research Center, 61% of people between the ages of 70 and 87, 76% of those between 60-69, and 83% of those between 51-59 use the internet. For Generation X and Millennials, internet usage is almost universal. Older adults are increasingly active on the internet, including social media platforms like Facebook. Working through digital platforms like social media and our web-based advocacy platform, PCOA has been able to significantly increase engagement in advocacy efforts throughout the state. This increased advocacy, by people like you, has led to some of the most significant increases in funding the Arizona aging network has seen since the economic downturn in 2008. Your advocacy is critical to our success. To continue your support of PCOA or to become a new aging advocate, take action at advocate.pcoa.org! PCOA was awarded a second Aging Achievement Award for our program Helping People + Helping Pets: A Community Collaboration . PCOA, in partnership with the Pima Alliance for Animal Welfare (PAAW), Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona, Cody’s Friends, No Kill Pima County, and Spay and Neuter Solutions, developed a pet food delivery pilot program currently serving some of our Pima Meals on Wheels clients. The human-animal bond is critical to help prevent loneliness and social isolation among vulnerable older adults. Scientific research has found that having a pet can reduce blood pressure and levels of depression and anxiety. Not only does this program help to deliver pet food to socially isolated, homebound, low-income older adults in our community, but our partners at Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest go above and beyond in helping to ensure that pets have their vaccinations, are spayed/neutered, and have the best care possible. To get pet food delivery service from PCOA, you must be an existing client, receiving home-delivered meals through Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest. Helping People + Helping Pets is always accepting volunteers. Contact Jessica O’Donnell at jodonnell@lss-sw.org for more information. PCOA Receives Two National Awards
Why Complete the U.S. Census? Over the next few months, you will hear PCOA talking more about the Census and its importance. Not only is the Census important for Congressional representation, but it is also important for the distribution of billions of dollars in federal funding. Having a complete count of people in Pima County is critical to draw down federal funding to support older adults and their families. Title 13 of the U.S. Code protects your Census responses. Your answers can only be used to produce statistics. Under current law, the Census Bureau cannot share your information with immigration enforcement agencies, law enforcement agencies, or allow it to be used to determine your eligibility for government benefits. In 2020 the Census will be done online, but if you don’t have a computer, access to the internet, or just need help figuring out how to fill out the Census, PCOA is here for you. At the Katie Dusenberry Healthy Aging Center, opening this fall, we will have computers and people to help you to fill out your Census. If you cannot get to a place with a computer, the Census will also have a call-in option to fill out your Census. Finally, if after three solicitations by the Census you do not fill out the electronic or phone version, they will send you a full paper copy. We are here to help you with any Census-related concerns. Please reach out to our Helpline at 520-790-7262 if you have questions.
September 2019, Never Too Late | Page 27
Pima Council on Aging
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