PCOA (Tucson, Az)

SENIOR CITIZEN FIRE ACADEMY
Wednesdays, October 22 - November 19, 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Drexel Heights Fire Station, 5030 S. Camino Verde
Learn about your fire district & about senior risks for home fires & falls.
Sponsored by the Drexel Height Fire District in partnership with PCOA & the Pima County Health Dept. For more information & a registration form click here, or call 883-4341.

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NEW PCOA FOSTER GRANDPARENTS PROGRAM
A unique mentoring program that offers adults 60 & older an opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child or adolescent with special needs is starting up under the auspices of Pima Council on Aging.

Volunteers who meet the required limited income criteria will receive a stipend as well as other benefits. Volunteer locations include schools, Head Start preschools & various non-profit social service agencies in Pima County. For information click here, or contact Josie Tanner, Program Coordinator, at 520-790-0504 or email jtanner@pcoa.org

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NEIGHBOR'S CARE OUTREACH COORDINATOR POSITION OPEN
For information more, click here

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PIMA MEALS ON WHEELS THANKS THE COMMUNITY

An August 11 article in the Arizona Daily Star described the financial crisis faced by Pima Meals on Wheels, a program overseen by PCOA, due to soaring gas & food prices. The community responded with more than $35,000 in donations. Read Pima Wheels on Meals Thanks the Community from the October issue of Never Too Late, PCOA's monthly newsletter.

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NEW PCOA COMMUNITY OFFICE OPENS AT INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES
A new Pima Council on Aging Community Office opened in July at Interfaith Community Services, 2820 W. Ina Rd., to serve northwest residents.

Older adults and their caregivers who live on the northwest side now can schedule appointments to meet with PCOA specialists at the Interfaith Community Services building.

To make appointments & learn more about the weekday schedule of PCOA Services, call:

Mature Worker Connection - 623-3304 (Monday & Tuesday appointments)
Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) –546-2002 (Friday appointments)
Medicare Insurance Counseling –546-2011 (Wednesday appointments)
Elder Rights and Ombudsman –790-7262 (Wednesday appointments)
Caregiver Services –790-7262 (Thursday appointments)

For more information, view the PCOA Press Release.

For a map of the new Community Office location, click here.

A new health program sponsored by PCOA in partnership with Pima County Health Dept., Public Health Nurses, and City of Tucson Parks & Recreation, includes 3 evidence-based personal health promotion programs for adults 60 years & older. Sign up now to begin your journey to improved personal health!

HEALTHY LIVING
6-week series about self-care for those living with a diagnosed chronic condition.
Contact: Janice Campos, Pima County Health Nurse (520) 243-2869 or PCOA (520) 790-0504

ENHANCE FITNESS
1-hour session 3-times weekly led by a certified instructor; classes can be taken seated or standing.
Taking reservations now for January 2009 classes.
Contact: Pauline Nunez, Parks & Recreation (520) 791-5787

A MATTER OF BALANCE
Eight 2-hour classes presented over 4 weeks includes exercises to improve strength, build coordination & balance, & information on a home safety evaluation.
Contact: Tom Pylman, Parks & Recreation (520) 791-5787

For more information on all 3 programs, including a schedule of classes for Fall 2008 and a printable registration form, click here.

PIMA COUNCIL ON AGING'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2006-2007
Pima Council on Aging's Annual Report for fiscal year 2006- 2007 is now available. Click here.

"SENIOR ISSUES IN PIMA COUNTY: A REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY"
This report is included in PCOA's Area Plan for 2007 - 2010, available above.

PCOA WEEKLY COLUMN IN THE TUCSON CITIZEN

Read PCOA's "GENERATIONS" column in the Tucson Citizen every Tuesday in the Family section. To read the latest column, click here and scroll down to "GENERATIONS". Have a question for the column? Send it to generations@tucsoncitizen.com

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2008, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
"safeTALK" SUICIDE ALERTNESS TRAINING
Pima Council on Aging, 8467 E. Broadway
A half day training that prepares anyone 15 & over to identify persons with thoughts of suicide & connect them to suicide first aid resources. For more information and to register, call 790-0504. View the brochure.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2008, 2:00 - 4:00 PM
"NEW TO MEDICARE" WORKSHOP
Pima Council on Aging, 8467 E. Broadway
For people becoming eligible for Medicare for the first time, this workshop will present the basics and the options that now go with Medicare. Seating is limited; call to register 546-2011
(Medicare Info Line)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2008, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
"BUILDING A CARING COMMUNITY"
St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church, 4440 N. Campbell
Information and resources for seniors, persons with disabilities, and caregivers. Presented by Pima County Interfaith Council & St. Philip's in the Hills, in partnership with PCOA. RSVP not required but appreciated; please RSVP to Melanie Nelson at 212-5255. For more information & specific workshops throughout the day, contact Leah Sandwell-Weiss at 661-8696.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
"ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION"
Hosted by Council of Senior Citizen Organizations (COSCO)
TMC Senior Services, 1400 N. Wilmot
Presentation by Albert Sterman, Vice President, Arizona Consumer Council. Candidates for the Arizona Corporation Commission have been invited to participate. Call PCOA at 790-0504 to reserve your seat. For more information and a map, click here.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008, 12:00 NOON - 1:00 PM
"GYNECOLOGICAL CANCERS IN AGING WOMEN"
Advances in Aging Research Lecture Series
Kiewit Auditorium, Arizona Cancer Center, 1515 N. Campbell
Presentation by Ilana Addis, MD
For more information call 626-5812.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2008, 2:00 PM
ARIZONA LONG TERM CARE SYSTEM (ALTCS) WORKSHOP
Pima Council on Aging, 8467 E. Broadway
For family members and older persons to learn about the ALTCS. Call the PCOA Help Line at 790-7262 to reserve your seat.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2008, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
"safeTALK" SUICIDE ALERTNESS TRAINING
Pima Council on Aging, 8467 E. Broadway
A half day training that prepares anyone 15 & over to identify persons with thoughts of suicide & connect them to suicide first aid resources. For more information and to register, call 790-0504. View the brochure.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008, 9:00 AM - NOON
10th ANNUAL ARMORY PARK MEDICARE HEALTH FAIR
Armory Park Senior Center, 220 S. Park Ave.
For more information call Lydia Baker at 546-2011 or view the brochure.

MONDAY NOVEMBER 17 & TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2008, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
"ASIST" APPLIED SUICIDE INTERVENTION SKILLS TRAINING
Pima Council on Aging, 8467 E. Broadway
A two-day skills-building workshop that prepares caregivers to provide suicide first aid interventions. For more information and to register, call 790-0504. View the brochure.

UPCOMING LOCAL CONFERENCES

NOVEMBER 6, 2008,
POSITIVE AGING FOR WOMEN CONFERENCE
"LOOKING AHEAD"
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, St. Paul's Methodist Church, 8051 E. Broadway Blvd.
Annual event of Ward 2, City of Tucson, with St. Paul's, TMC & PCOA
Donation of $7 suggested; lunch included. Register by calling Monica Frisbie-Garcia, TMC Senior Services, at 324-1953.

NOVEMBER 12, 2008,
13th ANNUAL CAREGIVER CONSORTIUM CONFERENCE
"A CAREGIVER'S HARVEST: HELP, HOPE, HUMOR"
7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Hilton El Conquistador Resort, 10000 N. Oracle Rd.
A day of education & guidance for family & professional caregivers. Keynote speaker JoAnn Contorno. Family Caregiver $25; Professional $45; includes continental breakfast & lunch. Call 258-5077 by October 31 to register.

MEDICARE UPDATE CONFERENCES

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 8:00 - 11:30 AM
West Social Center, 1111 Via Arco Iris, Green Valley

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, AM & PM SESSIONS
TMC Marshall Auditorium, 5301 E. Grant Rd.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, AM & PM SESSIONS
The Fountains at La Cholla, 2001 W. Rudasill Rd.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 8:00 - 12:00 PM
Sun City Social Hall, 1495 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Oro Valley

Conference cost: $5 per person.
For registration & information call Anne Ciampa at 324-1960
To view the brochure, & for information on the November 6 Medicare Health Fair, click here.

NOVEMBER 21 - 25, 2008,
GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA'S 21st ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING
"RESILIENCE IN AN AGING SOCIETY"
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor, MD
www.agingconference.com