view the brochure! - Pima Council On Aging

PART III
PUBLIC NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS
The Area Plan on Aging Public Needs Assessment Process began in our community in 1975,
and has been updated in three-year cycles to culminate in this most recent effort. In the 2012-
2013 planning cycle, the community needs assessment and issue identification process was a
collaborative venture of the City of Tucson, Pima County, Town of Marana, Town of Oro
Valley, Town of Sahuarita, City of South Tucson, Greater Green Valley Community
Foundation, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, Community Foundation for
Southern Arizona, Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona, Direct Center for Independence
and the U of A Center on Aging. These are local funders with major planning responsibilities
for human and social services in Pima County. The “Report to the Community on Aging
Services” (See Appendix 6) identifies the changing nature of our area’s senior population,
anticipates future trends, identifies advocacy issues, best practices, successful programs that
already meet the needs of local seniors and summarizes comments received as part of the
needs assessment process.
Data was collected over a three-month period using a three-pronged approach proven
effective in past years. Input was obtained from:
focus groups of professionals working and providing services in the field of gerontology;
2,330 survey responses tabulated through Survey Monkey from individuals 60 years of
age or older, including homebound, senior club and organization members, service
recipients and readers of “Never Too Late”, and
ten public comment meetings held throughout the county, with Spanish language
interpreters, including Tucson, Green Valley, Sahuarita, Marana, Tucson Estates and
Oro Valley
First, representatives from health and social service providers were invited to participate in
focus groups held at various locations in Pima County during the month of October, 2012. The
questions to be discussed were sent to participants in advance of the focus groups.
Individuals not able to participate in the discussions were invited to complete the questionnaire
in writing and return it for inclusion in the final report. Thirty (30) agencies provided written
and/or verbal responses.
The second method for identifying problem areas for older Americans was the distribution of
surveys, printed in both English and Spanish. The survey was available for completion on
Survey Monkey; included in a publication of PCOA’s “Never Too Late newsletter” and
distributed to congregate and home delivered meal participants, members of numerous senior
clubs and organizations, service recipients of various social service agencies and through faith
communities and neighborhood associations. 2,330 surveys were received and tabulated with
responses coming from all geographical areas of the County.
Third, service needs, concerns and advocacy issues were identified at ten public comment
meetings held in various locations throughout Tucson, Green Valley, Marana, Sahuarita,
Tucson Estates and Oro Valley. At each meeting, a panel of Agency staff, a member of
PCOA’s Board of Directors, Chairperson of the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council, and
representatives from the collaborative partners were present to listen and respond to advocacy
issues, identification of individual service needs and proposed changes that should be made to
existing services. Notice of these meetings was sent to newspapers and radio stations, an
article was published in “Never Too Late” and the information was distributed to senior clubs,
organizations, centers and service providers in the area. Over one hundred and fifty-six (156)
individuals attended and shared their comments and concerns.