PDA has joined with philanthropic partners and public media to create a statewide broadcast centered on protecting older Pennsylvanians from the growing crime of financial exploitation and preventing other forms of elder abuse.

Aging Together – Justice for All will air on Monday, June 15 – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – at 7:00 PM on PBS stations covering every region of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvanians can check their local public broadcasting station’s listing for additional air dates and times.

The broadcast was produced during a daylong community event called “Aging Together – A Summit for Action on Elder Justice.”  The event brought together policymakers, advocates and older adults to discuss ways to strengthen the systems and community networks that keep older adults safe. Lead sponsor AARP led a workshop on elder abuse prevention, with a particular focus on financial exploitation and scams. 

AARP PA State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh, Secretary Kavulich and Liz Schneider, Chief Deputy Attorney General, Elder Exploitation gather after the taping of "Aging Together – Justice for All."

The televised program, which will air June 15 on all PBS Pennsylvania stations, features Reverend Keith and Deb Marsh, who lost their life savings to a bank scam in 2024. Governor Shapiro is urging the passage of updates to the Older Adult Protective Services Act to increase protections against these types of crimes.

The Aging Together: Summit for Action on Elder Justice community event opened with a special message from Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Todd.

During the Elder Justice Summit program, Mary Bach, AARP Consumer Task Force Chair, schools audience members on different types of scams, tactics scammers use, and how older adults can empower and protect themselves.

Sponsored by AARP Pennsylvania and the Moses Taylor Foundation and produced by WVIA-TV, the program will lead off with a special message from Governor Josh Shapiro and feature a four-member panel moderated by WVIA anchor Julie Sidoni with a live studio audience. This panel includes Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich and leadership from the AARP, Office of Attorney General and Office of Elder Justice in the Courts. The program will also feature powerful stories from victims. 

PDA announced a $3 million investment in 422 Senior Community Centers (SCCs) across the Commonwealth to help ensure older adults are supported in familiar, local places with services to stay healthy and connected to their communities.

These dollars will help centers modernize their facilities, provide new health and entertainment programs, upgrade technology, and enhance nutrition services.

The $3 million includes $2 million in competitive grants and an additional $1 million in non-competitive grants. Governor Josh Shapiro secured the addition of those non-competitive SCC grants in his first budget. Now, every year, they continue to be evenly distributed to hundreds of centers that did not apply for a competitive grant.

Mick and Emme Daley, silver sneakers participants, regularly attend fitness activities at Penn State Health. They joined us for Older Americans Month to talk about how they champion their health and wellness.

Research and medical experts agree: Regular movement can help reduce the risk of chronic disease and dementia.

In celebration of Older Americans Month, the Pennsylvania Departments of Aging and Health partnered with Penn State Health to host an active health and wellness event to encourage physical fitness and lifelong brain health. 

Aligning with the 2026 national theme, “Champion Your Health,” state leaders joined older adults for a live SilverSneakers fitness demonstration followed by a tour of the on-site fitness and wellness facilities.     

The event highlighted the strong connection between physical activity, healthy aging, and cognitive well-being, emphasizing how regular movement can help reduce the risk of chronic disease and support long-term brain health. Growing research continues to reinforce this connection.

Pennsylvania is unique in the nation in dedicating its lottery fund to support its residents over 60. The Central Regional Council on Aging recently took a tour of the PA Lottery facility as part of their May meeting. 

Regional Council Chair Bob Jensenius (York), Andrea Addison (Dauphin), Larry Reisinger (Perry), Lois Steichen (Franklin), and Ray Forziat (Centre), along with State member Velma Carter-Dryer (Dauphin), met with key staff to learn about the Lottery’s marketing, production, and distribution systems – and, most importantly, about how the PA Lottery supports older adults. 

Central Council is now better equipped to fulfill their important role, shared by all of PCoA — advocating on behalf of older Pennsylvanians to preserve and strengthen the PA Lottery.

PDA's Office of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders attends Dementia Friendly PA event in Indiana County.

Left to right: Natalie Douglas, PDA ADRD; Margo Muchinsky, PDA ADRD, Rep. Jim Struzzi, R-Indiana, Meaghan Abbott, PDA ADRD; Janine Maust, Executive Director, Indiana Aging Services; Melissia McCoy, Indiana Aging Services; Heidi Farmery, Deputy Director, Indiana Aging Services; Bonni Dunlap, Indiana County Commissioner; Deanna Page, Dementia Friendly PA.

For a long time, cognitive decline was often viewed as a normal part of aging. Today, research is changing the conversation. The Lancet Commission estimates that up to 45% of dementia cases worldwide may be linked to modifiable risk factors, highlighting the role that health behaviors, social connection, education, and access to care can play in brain health across the lifespan.

Further research, including the U.S. POINTER Study supported by the Alzheimer’s Association continues to strengthen the evidence that actions such as managing chronic conditions, staying physically active, addressing hearing loss, reducing smoking and excessive alcohol use, and remaining socially engaged may help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging’s Office of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD Office), in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), is helping lead this work through a growing focus on brain health, early detection, and caregiver supports. These priorities will be further advanced through Pennsylvania’s forthcoming ADRD State Plan, which will outline a coordinated statewide approach to addressing dementia across public health, aging services, healthcare, and community systems.

June marks Pride Month, honoring the Stonewall riots in New York City in 1969. Though LGBTQ+ communities are more visible today, many LGBTQ+ older adults grew up in a world where their identity was socially unacceptable.

Having faced a lifetime of interpersonal, institutional and systemic discrimination in housing, employment and health care, LGBTQ+ older adults experience greater health disparities, social isolation and lack of support. They are twice as likely to be single and live alone, and four times as likely to not have children.

PDA remains committed to collaborating with the 52 Area Agencies on Aging to better serve LGBTQ+ older adults. This includes ensuring culturally affirming services by providing LGBTQ+ cultural competency training and education to staff, and by providing written and web-based resources specifically to and for the support of LGBTQ+ older adults.

The House Aging and Older Adult committee convened on June 8th, 2026, to vote on the following bill:

The Senate Aging & Youth committed held a committee meeting on June 9th, 2026, to vote on the following bills and amendments: