W. Mark Clark

Pima Council on Aging’s President & CEO W. Mark Clark will represent the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in Arizona on Governor Ducey’s recently-announced Task Force on Long-Term Care.

Governor Ducey announced on July 28, 2020 that he was establishing a task force on long-term care to develop recommendations and metrics on how and when visitation within long-term care facilities can be safely resumed  and what steps facilities can take before then to help residents and their loved ones maintain contact.

Across Arizona, COVID-19 has brought tremendous challenges to those living in long-term care facilities. For months, many family members and oversight agencies have not been allowed  to enter facilities for fear of infecting residents.

Pima Council on Aging serves as the local Long-Term Care Ombudsman for Pima County, representing the federally-protected rights of people in long-term care facilities.  Last fiscal year, PCOA resolved 900 complaints in Pima County’s long-term care and assisted living facilities, and the Ombudsman staff and volunteers have been available for telephonic and video consultation and mediation during the pandemic.

Pima Council on Aging continues to take precautions to safely serve the public. People in long-term care facilities can reach the Ombudsman by calling the PCOA Helpline at (520) 790-7262 or by emailing LTCO@pcoa.org.

About PCOA

Established in 1967, Pima Council on Aging is the designated Area Agency on Aging ( AAA) for Pima County, one of eight(8) Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in Arizona.

The nonprofit in Tucson is the gateway agency for adults age 60 and up to learn about and get access to a wide range of programs and services for older  individuals and those who love and care for elders.

Details about PCOA are online at www.pcoa.org