STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Jovita Pina was born in Hailey’s Blaine Manor Hospital before it was transformed into a care center for seniors.

Now she has stepped into the role of leadership caring for the Wood River Valley’s growing senior population. She is one of only a couple Hispanic women leading nonprofit organizations in the valley.

Pina took over the leadership of the Senior Connection from Teresa Beahen Lipman this week. Lipman plans to take a couple months off this summer to spend time with her husband, children and move to a new home in Quigley Farm. She will return as a consultant this fall, working on fundraising and other projects she did not have the time to address while overseeing daily operations at The Senior Connection.

Pina now oversees 22 staff—half of them caregivers helping seniors stay in their homes

“Jovita worked with my husband at DL Evans Bank when we first moved here in 2004. I was on the lookout for a good employee so three years later I hired her as business manager for the Wood River YMCA,” recounted Lipman. “I hired her again when I moved to the Senior Connection with the idea that she would be my successor. She’s incredibly intelligent, super strong fiscally, well-spoken and a great listener. And, when she shares something, you’d better listen because her suggestions are very thoughtful.”

Pina grew up on the Deer Creek Ranch where her father worked from the time he was 17. He passed away last fall, but Jovita’s mother and five siblings remain here, each contributing in their own ways as a court interpreter, elementary schoolteacher, St. Luke’s Wood River employee, farm equipment salesman and retired Army vet.

Pina attended the University of Puget Sound after receiving more scholarships than any other Wood River High School student before her. But she ended up getting a business degree at Lewis Clark State College in Lewiston.

“I did not like the city life in Tacoma,” she said. “I felt insignificant, people didn’t say ‘Hello,’ I was really homesick and I missed that small hometown feeling.”

The mother of a high school junior and seventh-grade twins, Pina has a heart for older people, said Lipman.

“I have a heart for helping people in need, and seniors drew me in because they have such basic human needs that need meeting,” concurred Pina. “Sometimes they’re defenseless -like children, in need of help to stay in their homes. I did not grow up with my grandmother—she lived in Mexico. But she spent the last four years of her life here and we had a great relationship. She had vision problems so I helped her walk around.”

In 2016, during Lipman’s tenure, The Senior Connection started its Cocktails for a Cause fundraiser when the board didn’t know how it was going to cover payroll. The fundraising event held every October raised $50,000 the first year; not it reaps a half-million dollars each year.

The Senior Connection, built 37 years ago, has been remodeled inside and out and is currently undergoing a kitchen expansion.

“It’s always tough to see the seniors go.  But, when they do, I’m so grateful they found us and we them because I know we added quality to their end of life,” said Lipman. “The silver lining of the pandemic is that we’ve got all sorts of new faces. People who thought they’d never need us realized they could use some help. And, so, they’re sharing the last quarter or third of their lives with us.”

Lipman said many of the newcomers can’t believe a senior center in such a small community has the services this one does. And the need is only growing, she added.

Blaine County has a larger percentage of seniors than Idaho and the United States. And it’s growing at a rate of 53 percent over a 10-year-period compared with 32 percent for Idaho and 20 percent in the United States.

The Senior Connection hopes to address growth by putting additional parking in the alley, building a parking pad for its Meals n Wheels vans and consulting with the city as it plans parking improvements  around Roberta McKercher Park.

The Senior Connection is opening a free vision and hearing clinic for seniors in Ketchum this month. And it’s examining strategic models to attract and retain homecare staff, said Lipman.

“Our compensation package is very attractive with health care reimbursements and housing allowances. Maybe we could look at more satellite care,” she said.

Pina started an annual outing taking seniors to Smiley Creek where they stay in yurts, go on wildflower walks and enjoy campfire time. And, yes, she goes with them.

“I’m most looking forward to helping more people,” she said. “We need to get the word out about what we do here. I know we have so many more people we need to help.”

BOARD CHAIR CHANGES HANDS, TOO

Michael Beck, who has been the board chair of the Senior Connection since 2015, has passed the baton to Don Cunningham. Beck will remain the board treasurer, while Dr. Joseph Fastow, the Senior Connection’s medical advisor, will assume the role of board vice chair.

Other board members: Mardi Shepard, who serves as board secretary; Rick Allington, Erin Buell, Mary Colhoun, Shelley Seibel, Trish Wilson and Bob Kaplan.