Neighbors Care Alliance
Southern Arizona Senior Pride Community Cares Program – Tucson
By Lavina Tomer, Executive Director & Lee Crosby , Program Coordinator Southern Arizona Senior Pride Community Cares Program (CCP) - Tucson offers friendly visits and phone calls for people who are LGBTQI+ and 55 years of age or older, or an LGBTQI+ person with a disability of any age. Our mission is to end isolation in the LGBTQI+ community. Our recipients are isolated and/or homebound and may be living in continuing care communities including independent living, assisted living, and nursing home facilities. CCP is the only program of its kind in Pima County serving LGBTQI+ older adults. Services are provided at no charge to recipients. Our volunteers are also LGBTQI+ persons who attend a training program, complete a background check, and regularly report to co-coordinators for supervision and assistance. CCP is a member of the Neighbors Care Alliance (NCA), administered by Pima Council on Aging. We attend monthly meetings at NCA which provides networking, problem solving, announcements, resources, and support. The CCP has been in place for close to 4 years. We currently have 18 recipients and 16 volunteers. Volunteers and recipients are matched according to mutual interests and personal choices. Calls and/or visits occur weekly. We poll our recipients annually for feedback about our program
and some of the recent comments help demonstrate the impact we have: “The visits and calls have taken me from being in a down space and I can laugh again.” “My Volunteer is a gift from God, she is like my sister.” “I am back in touch with humanity thanks to Community Cares Program.”
Left to right: Judy Jennings & Judy O’Brien; Photo credit: Kay Smith
If you are interested in becoming a recipient and receiving friendly calls or visits, please contact us at (520) 351- 2724 or community@soazseniorpride. org. Interested volunteers please use the same contact information. We have periodic volunteer orientation programs in person and/or on zoom. We will notify you of upcoming orientations. Senior Pride of Tucson offers many programs beyond CCP. Please check our website soazseniorpride.org for a listing. You will find many opportunities for connection including a Book Club, Park Meetings, Speaker Series, etc. We hope to see you soon!
Left to right: Mike Paluda & Stephen Higley; Photo credit: Kay Smith
Southern Arizona Senior Pride – CCP; Photo credit: Cosmo B-Z
April 2022, Never Too Late | Page 29
Pima Council on Aging
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