Love in Action

Serving Aging with Love

Imagine a community where every person ages with compassion, dignity, and hope.

For more than four decades, Duet: Partners in Health & Aging has quietly and steadfastly transformed that vision into reality. Founded in 1981 by The Reverend Dr. Dosia Carlson and the Church of the Beatitudes, Duet was built on one profound belief: one person helping another. What began as a few volunteers offering rides and companionship to homebound elders has grown into one of Arizona’s most trusted nonprofits, serving homebound adults, family caregivers, and grandparents raising grandchildren.

That founding spirit continues to guide everything Duet does. Whether it’s a volunteer driving an older adult to the doctor, a caregiver finding comfort among others who understand, or a grandparent receiving guidance while raising grandchildren, each act of service is a duet, a partnership rooted in empathy and purpose. “No one should face life’s aging challenges alone,” the team shares. “And at Duet, no one has to.”

A Legacy of Compassion and Connection

Duet’s culture of care is defined by dignity, compassion, and partnership. Supported by hundreds of volunteers and generous community partners, the organization offers free-of-charge services that restore independence, stability, and connection. Behind every statistic is a story of humanity. One caregiver, caring for her husband with dementia, joined Duet’s Finding Meaning and Hope series and found more than coping strategies; she found understanding and friendship. “I came for support,” she said, “but I left with a lifeline.”

This is the heart of Duet’s mission: to bring both help and hope. The organization’s work not only supports daily needs but rebuilds lives, proving that compassion can be one of the most powerful forces for change.

Meeting the Needs of a Growing Community

As Arizona’s older adult population grows, so do the challenges, including rising isolation, caregiver burnout, and homelessness among older adults. Duet stands in the gap, offering volunteer transportation, caregiver education, and kinship family support, all at no cost. With projections showing that Arizona’s population of adults over 60 will increase by nearly 40 percent by 2040, Duet’s role has never been more vital.

In response to a growing crisis, Duet is expanding its efforts to prevent homelessness among older adults by offering wraparound support, helping individuals remain safely housed through transportation, grocery delivery, social connection, and new financial coaching programs. With more than 44 years of experience, Duet remains a trusted bridge between care and community.

The Power of Volunteers

At the heart of Duet’s impact are its volunteers, more than 390 of them, who give thousands of hours each year driving older adults to appointments, running errands, and simply providing companionship. These relationships are deeply personal and often life-changing. “I’ve had the same volunteer for four years,” one neighbor shared. “We’ve become family. Before Duet, I had no one I could rely on. Now, I have both friendship and freedom.”

Every connection tells a story of shared humanity. It’s in these everyday moments that Duet’s true mission shines: transforming isolation into belonging, and service into love.

A Symbol of Hope and Renewal

Duet’s butterfly logo carries deep meaning. Two mirrored halves form one graceful whole, symbolizing partnership and hope. Hidden within are two faces looking toward each other—and toward a more hopeful future. Like the butterfly itself, those touched by Duet’s work often emerge renewed, rediscovering beauty and strength through compassion and connection.

A Vision Forward

Looking to the future, Duet envisions expanding its reach to Arizona’s diverse and growing communities, especially among Hispanic and Latino families. Its programs will continue to evolve, offering culturally responsive support, caregiver resilience initiatives, and homelessness prevention partnerships.

Through every evolution, Duet remains grounded in the belief that aging with dignity begins with community. Because aging, at its heart, is not a solitary act—it’s a shared journey. And for more than four decades, Duet has proven that when one person helps another, lives change forever.

Photo Credit: Duet: Partners in Health & Aging

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