Secretary Kavulich is visiting AAAs across Pennsylvania to talk about how PDA’s new CAPE monitoring system provides specific feedback to help AAAs continually improve performance.  

The Comprehensive Aging Performance Evaluation (CAPE) allows the Department to do away with a simple pass/fail scoring system, and comprehensively ask “what does this local agency specifically need to improve?"

One day after Governor Josh Shapiro signed the 2026-27 budget into law, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) kicked off a statewide tour highlighting how the Department’s new approach to evaluating the performance of older adult protective services is delivering better results in keeping older adults safe, leaving behind a prior ineffective pass/fail system that did not provide adequate oversight of local aging agencies. 

That tool, the Comprehensive Aging Performance Evaluation (CAPE), is also providing historic levels of transparency and accountability of the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) network that provides an array of services to support older adults, including protective services. In the 26-27 budget, Governor Shapiro secured a $1 million increase for CAPE so the Department can continue to improve AAA oversight and accountability.

Through CAPE, monitoring results are now routinely posted to the Department’s website for the first time ever, with clearly defined, simple key categories for each AAA. For the first time in the Department’s history, the public can see exactly how well their local AAA is doing in programs including Protective Services, OPTIONs (help at home) services and Caregiver Support Program services. 

“CAPE challenged us to think differently. What impressed me most about the process was the transparency: clear expectations, defined timelines, measurable standards, and technical assistance. CAPE wasn't designed simply to tell us where we fell short — it was designed to help us improve.”  - Carin Tinney, Director of Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) 

“I applaud both COSA and the Pennsylvania Department of Aging for their tenacious commitment to strengthening Protective Services and addressing the issues identified through CAPE. Their collaboration is essential to delivering the safe, reliable, and respectful care that our seniors deserve.” – PA State Senator Tim Kearney

“CAPE has provided a vital framework for enhancing our operations and directly improving the services we deliver to older adults in Lehigh County.” – JR Reed, Executive Director, Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services

“I am grateful for the CAPE system, as it reflects the comprehensive and thorough nature of what it takes to provide the services we provide. The old system was simply pass or fail, which didn’t adequately reflect the incredible services provided by our amazing staff.  All too often, the results treated the system as all bad or all good.” - Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel

“CAPE provided us with a much more comprehensive framework for evaluation than we’ve previously experienced. We appreciate this opportunity to recognize what we are doing well and identify ways we can continue to improve.” – Krista Geer, Executive Director, Active Aging, Inc., Crawford County

"CAPE has been a benefit to Centre County Office of Aging. The improvement tool has assisted us in identifying areas where improvement is needed in our programs, and the PDA staff's follow-up to review areas needing improvement and ensure we understood the findings was very valuable.” – Quentin Burchfield, Director, Centre County Office on Aging

 

The Shapiro Administration celebrated 30 older Pennsylvanians whose artwork was selected for the second annual Older Artists of PA Showcase during a special reception at the Governor’s Residence. 

Presented by PDA and Pennsylvania Creative Industries, powered by Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), the showcase features artwork from artists aged 60 and older across the Commonwealth. The selected pieces are displayed in the East Wing Rotunda of the Pennsylvania State Capitol throughout August. 

The Governor’s Residence reception brought the selected artists, their families, state officials, and community partners together to recognize the artists and celebrate the role creative expression can play throughout a person’s life. Following the reception, the artists traveled to the State Capitol to view their work in the East Wing Rotunda.  

The exhibition features work in three categories: Professional, Nonprofessional, and Artist Over 60 Living with Dementia. The new category for artists living with dementia was added this year to recognize that a diagnosis does not diminish a person’s creativity, identity, or ability to contribute. Artistic expression can provide opportunities for connection and storytelling while allowing people living with dementia to be recognized for their talents and perspectives. 

This year’s exhibition also supports the work of PDA’s Office of Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Related Disorders (ADRD) to elevate the voices and experiences of people living with dementia and their caregivers. 

A complete gallery of the selected artists, their work and additional information about the exhibition is available at www.pa.gov/OlderArtistsShowcase.

The Shapiro Administration recently announced recipients of the Governor’s Awards for Excellence, including the multi-agency Bristol Health & Rehab Response Team for their swift response to the December 23, 2025, explosion at Bristol Health & Rehab Center, a 174-bed long-term care facility in Bucks County.  

The team’s collective work ensured that by midnight, less than 10 hours after the initial explosion, all displaced residents were relocated to different health care facilities to address their immediate housing and care needs. 

Pennsylvania’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Margaret Barajas, and colleagues from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and Departments of Health (DOH), and Human Services (DHS), along with their respective team members, were recognized for their coordinated efforts to aid nursing home residents affected by the explosion and fire.

During and after the response, the Department of Aging's State Long-Term Care Ombudsman fielded calls from residents and collaborated with DOH, DHS, and the local ombudsman to retrieve residents' personal items and effects from the impacted facility. 

Congratulations and thank you to our State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, regional and local ombudsmen, and all of our sister agencies, who together sprang into action to ensure residents’ needs were met throughout this incident and recovery efforts!

PDA recently announced that its new monitoring tool, CAPE, revealed deficiencies that led to critical decisions in Potter County to ensure that older adults are still protected.

PDA has taken action to ensure that service needs of older adults in Potter County will be met by redesignating neighboring Cameron, Elk, and McKean Area Agency on Aging (Office of Human Services, Inc.) as the AAA serving Potter County on an interim emergency basis.  

After reviewing the serious performance issues CAPE revealed in Potter County’s AAA, and a mandatory leadership meeting with the Department and Potter County Human Services, the Potter County Board of Commissioners concluded that the Potter County AAA could no longer act as the designated AAA for their community, and requested that the Department redesignated the Potter County AAA to another appropriate AAA.

All entities will continue to work together throughout this transition to ensure older adults are served and protected.

The Shapiro Administration and the Department will not hesitate to take any and all steps in its mission to serve and protect older adults.

The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) launched My Money, a new online resource designed to help Pennsylvanians learn about, manage, and protect their finances. Available at pa.gov/MyMoney, the website brings together trusted financial education materials, fraud prevention resources, and consumer assistance information in a single, easy-to-navigate location.

My Money provides guidance for Pennsylvanians at every stage of life — from higher education and career planning to homeownership, military service, retirement, and unexpected financial challenges — while connecting users with trusted state and federal resources.

A Resources for Your Life Chapter page includes a section for “Aging and Retirement” as well as a wealth of useful financial resources on the site for Pennsylvania’s consumers.

The launch of My Money is the latest step in the Shapiro Administration’s broader consumer protection initiative, which includes the statewide consumer protection hotline 1-866-PACOMPLAINT (1-866-722-6675), pa.gov/consumer website, consumer@pa.gov email address, new cryptocurrency safeguards, AI fraud protections, and regulatory actions that have returned millions to consumers.

As we all know, the PA Lottery benefits older adults every day – and features older adults as witnesses for its live drawings each night.

The PA Lottery is seeking help to recruit Senior Drawing Witnesses for those nightly drawings shows.

Specifically, the PA Lottery is looking for Pennsylvania residents age 55 or older who would enjoy volunteering in this unique and meaningful role. Drawings take place at WITF studios in Harrisburg.

If you have friends or family who might be a good fit, please encourage them to call 717‑702‑8067 or email RA-lot-drawing@pa.gov.

Whether it’s volunteers giving of their time and talent, a PEER graduation, or a fun exercise program, PDA wants to see your ‘good feels’ moments. Send photos and some details to agingcomms@pa.gov, and you could see your moment in a future edition of Inside Aging and on PDA’s Facebook page.

Christmas in July was hosted at the Mon Valley Senior Center in McKeesport.  At the event, Allegheny's Ombudsman stuffed bags of personal hygiene products, puzzles, and activity books for the Ombudsman to hand out in their facilities while visiting older adults.  The products collected were gathered by Allegheny Health Network/ Highmark Hospital Staff, who were also present to assist with the bag filling! 

Over 220 older adults in attended a "Casino" picnic in Somerset County.  The event was a huge success thanks to Area Agency on Aging staff and many of their family members who volunteered. Snacks and lunch were provided as well as table games, a DJ and door prizes! 

Such a fun event, complete with a human slot machine!

To better prepare Area Agency on Aging staff for top leadership and senior management positions, the PA Department of Aging, through the PA Association of Area Agencies on Aging, developed the Aging Leadership Institute (ALI). This program was developed with core leadership competencies critical to effective leadership. These competencies are tailored to Pennsylvania's Aging network. 

During FY 2025/26, 28 AAA staff graduated from ALI. Congratulations, everyone and thank you for your dedication to delivering the best possible services to older adults!  

The FY 2026/27 Aging Leadership Institute will begin in August with 15 class members.

The Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security is partnering with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office offering a free webinar on September 9 from 1 - 4  PM. Reserve your spot today!

Time spent outdoors can improve mental wellness and contribute to better overall health. A vairiety of events, including Forest Bathing,  are offered by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) at State Parks across the Commonwealth. 

Forest Bathing is the practice of immersing yourself in nature to engage all your senses and promote mental and physical well-being. It can be a short, slow walk or even time spent sitting and enjoying the view. 

You can find Forest Bathing and other nature and wellness activities on the DCNR Events Calendar.

The PASC Board of Directors & Conference Committee invite you to attend "Solid as Bricks – Senior Centers in '26." The conference will offer an array of speakers and topics relevant to your organization. It will be a great opportunity to network and learn new information for you and your center.

The annual conference will take place from September 14-16 at The Graduate by Hilton, State College. 

Plan. Pause. Protect. is a suicide prevention community safety event being offered free to all who attend.  Safety planning workshops and a resource fair will be included in the day's schedule. Free gun lock boxes, cable locks and refreshments will be available. 

The event will take place at Waynesburg University, Benedum Hall on August 15 from 9 AM - 12 PM.