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My heart has always been full of respect and appreciation for seniors in my life whether they were family members, clients, friends, or residents of my local community. So, when I was invited to attend a Senior Advocacy Group of Ahwatukee - SAGA meeting, the organization’s name alone impressed me before I even got there. As a SAGA member, I have come to see and experience firsthand the passion this group of individuals and businesses share and live out on a daily basis. I am proud to be able to contribute my time, energy, and dollars to such a worthy “let’s make a local difference to improve the lives of seniors” cause.

As the Founder of SAGA, prior to our first formal meeting, I invested almost two years meeting people in the Ahwatukee area that had a connection to serving seniors, sharing the vision, and encouraging them to be a part of SAGA. My passion behind founding SAGA was inspired while advocating for my own mother during her five-year journey with dementia. Navigating through the ups and downs on our own, I felt there had to be a better way. I started SAGA so Ahwatukee seniors and families would have access to local experts, resources, and support as they went through their own journey in their golden years. SAGA is comprised of local experts, kind-hearted people volunteering to provide resources, and opportunities for education and advocacy to benefit seniors and their families in the Ahwatukee area.

We work, plan, dream, and look forward to our retirement years. We hope to maintain our lifestyle, independence, and health. As an advocate for senior support services, I gravitate towards others who share my passion to be a helper. I was fortunate to discover and connect with the community members of SAGA. When we face a health crisis, it is vitally important to know that we are not alone and that resources do exist to address our most pressing needs, as well as future ones. Knowledge eases worry. My involvement with SAGA has provided me with a deeper understanding of the aging experience and the resources our seniors need. It is an honor to join together to work towards the common goal of improving the quality of life of our most precious and treasured population.

Being a part of SAGA has allowed me to partner with people who share my deep and long-standing respect for the elderly. The culminating years of a long life does not have to be spent in loneliness and isolation. Hopelessness is not a necessary state of being. Concerned and empathetic volunteers can demonstrate their compassion for the elderly. My personal faith and professional experience compel me to respond. SAGA membership has enabled me to extend my reach, training and connecting people, so they too can add value to the sunset years of the older adults in our community.

During my almost daily visits to my mom in her facility, I began speaking with some of the other residents, specifically those who did not receive many visitors. They seemed to delight in our few minutes of conversation. Determined to do more than simply mourn the realities of loneliness that plague so many seniors, I sought out ways to help. I learned about SAGA and joined after attending only one or two meetings. Impetuousness did not prompt my decision. Instead, it was a clear sense that the people in the room genuinely cared. They pool their knowledge and their resources to help the vulnerable within our community. I wanted to be a part of that.