For three years, Joyce Ramon has served tirelessly as a Senior Companion in Sells, Arizona.  Sells is located in the heart of the Tohono O'odham Nation, in a rural area about 100 west of Tucson.  This very large Nation extends throughtout southern Arizona into Mexico, with nearly half of thte tribal members living in Mexico.  As such, the Tohono O'odham Nation covers a vast area of rural and frontier land, with elders often living in extremely isolated areas and receiving little human contact.

Joyce is a special volunteer who has singlehandedly served as a beacon of hope to elders on the Tohono O'odham Nation.  As happens in Sells, Joyce drives long distances to spend time with her elders.  One day a week Joyce volunteers at the Nation's award winning nursing home, Archie Hendrix, which sits another 25 miles outside of Sells.  Joyce's friendly smile, warm handshake, and gentle countenance bring hope and relief to elders in Archie Hendrix.  They wait anxiously for her visit every week!

Joyce is Tohono O'odham and has the rare ability to communicate with her elders in three languages:  English, O'odham, and Spanish.  Recently, Joyce volunteered for a 96 year-old gentleman who lived at home in a very isolated area on the Nation.  He was also blind.  She visited weekly to read mail and the newspaper to him.  They listened to O'odham radio together.  This client has since passed away, but Joyce brought him fulfillment and happiness in his last years, allowing him to remain supported and in his own home up to the very end.  He was grateful to have a Senior Companion who could understand his culture and language.  Without Joyce, his outcome would have likely been quite different.  Joyce was his lifeline to continued independent living.

Joyce also helps out at the Senior Center in Sells.  She sits with her clients and enjoys a nutritious lunch.  She spends time with seniors playing bingo. Again, she has the rare ability to communicate in a language and culture that is obscure outside of the southwestern United States.

The elders of Sells love being able to speak O'odham with Joyce.  They appreciate Joyce's dedication, knowledge of the culture, and her gentle kindness.  Joyce is the only Senior Companion in Sells, as many people in this region do no thave access to an automobile and therefore cannot volunteer.  Outreach efforts continue for more SCs in Sells, but only Joyce has stepped forward in the past three years.

By herself, Joyce Ramon reached out to her Nation's elders in a way few could.  She is a unique volunteer with a strong ethic of service.  Her efforts have been responsible for many O'odham elders being able to really live healthy futures.  She exemplifies the spirit of service Senior Corps stands for, and deserves to win the Service Impact award.

Submitted by: Fran Coleman, Senior Companion Program Manager, Tucson, AZ