Milestones                  1970's

* Helped create the Whitman County Council on Aging (which later became Council on Aging and Human Services, a non-profit agency serving Whitman County) to receive federal and state monies for seniors.

* Started Pullman Meals on Wheels, working first with the Pullman public school system and the FISH organization.  Meal providers have included Pullman Convalescent Center (aka Palouse Hills Nursing Center, and currently Avalon Care Center), Whitman Senior Living, and our current provider Bishop Place.

* Helped sponsor HUD housing for seniors, leading to the dedication of Pioneer Square and Kenwood Square in 1979. (Kenwood Square later was purchased by Community Action Center and is currently not limited to senior residents.)  Pioneer Square has been managed for many years by Catholic Charities of the Spokane Diocese. 

* Worked with Kiwanis Club to landscape the grounds at Pullman Convalescent Center (now called Avalon Care Center).

Milestones                  1980's

* Sponsored the creation of Home Health & Hospice in Pullman in 1983 (now operated privately as Home Care and Hospice).

* Helped sponsor the Respite Care program in 1983 (discontinued in 2000).  The opening of assisted care facilities greatly reduced the need for this type of program.  PCCoA continues to support the need for respite programs, especially for family caregivers.

* Advocated for a full-time director for the Senior Center, as well as for dedicated city-owned space for the Center. 

Milestones                  1990's

* Advocated to bring a retirement community facility to Pullman, with studies and surveys over an eight-year period.  Ridge Pointe Retirement Community was one of the results of this committee’s work, as well as movement towards the development of Pullman’s first assisted living center (Bishop Place).  PCCoA continues to advocate for the building of a new nursing care facility on Pullman Regional Hospital’s campus, to replace Avalon Care Center’s aging facility.

* Advocated for more senior-oriented classes at WSU.  Supported early WSU efforts to provide community service opportunities to students (1995 - Pullman Volunteer Corp Pipeline).  After the initial funding grant for PVC Pipeline ran out in 1997, PCCoA provided two years of financial support for the initial Service to Seniors program through WSU’s Center for Civic Engagement, made possible by a generous bequest from Ruth Warnke.   PCCoA continues as a community partner for student volunteer placement.

* Strongly advocated for full-time Senior Center Coordinator position through City of Pullman.

* At the urging and funding of long-time PCCoA member Ray Scott, created Guide to Senior Services in 1999, covering social services, residential options, and health care/pharmacy facilities in Whitman County.  Council continues to publish updated editions, distributed free throughout the community.  j&h Printing continues as an instrumental partner in this project, even donating the initial typesetting services.

Milestones             2000's

* Provided financial support and project management for major remodeling of Senior Center kitchen in 2001, from which twice-weekly CoA&HS nutrition lunches are prepared.

* With the receipt of a generous bequest from long-time member Agnes McQuarrie, in 2008 created foot care clinics to offer regular opportunities and funding support for seniors to receive this vital and often-neglected aspect of health care.  This bequest has also supported on-going support of senior programs, as well as meeting individual needs.

* After the existing handicap-accessible ramp on Kamiaken Street was deemed unsafe, PCCoA funded access improvements to Pioneer Square between 2008 and 2010. These included the stairway to and handrails along Kamiaken Street, as well as a wheelchair-accessible path between Pioneer Square’s parking lot and Paradise Street (named “Swindal Way” in recognition of Rita Swindal’s tireless efforts for Pioneer Square).

Milestones            2010's

* After the discontinuation of WSU’s Service to Seniors program, an ad-hoc PCCoA committee was formed to find a way to replace and even expand these services.  After three years of hard work, the Senior Chore Service was established in January 2013.  A part-time coordinator provides consistent administrative support, but the rest is entirely volunteer-driven.  Volunteers from both the community and universities serve Pullman’s seniors by providing extra help in whatever ways will allow seniors to remain in their homes as long as possible.