Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich went before the House Appropriations Committee on March 10 to testify on the Department’s Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget requests. Secretary Kavulich answered questions from lawmakers and talked about how older Pennsylvanians are benefiting from Governor Josh Shapiro’s Administration and the General Assembly’s continued investment in aging services. 

These successes include:

• Launching Aging Our Way, PA – a nationally recognized multi-sector plan on aging

• Developing and implementing the Comprehensive Aging Performance Evaluation, or CAPE, a nationally recognized comprehensive system for monitoring the work of the 52 Area Agencies on Aging across the Commonwealth

• Launching the PA CareKit, a nationally recognized resource for PA’s 2.4 million unpaid caregivers

• Building multi-disciplinary teams in communities to tackle complex elder justice issues and forge stronger community partnerships to keep older adults safe

Governor Shapiro's proposed 2026-27 budget invests more than $6 million to continue implementing CAPE; increase oversight and accountability of the AAA network; and transform the coordination of services for older adults through the PA Link.

The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging owns this vacant historic building, once a clothing factory, adjacent to its headquarters.

Secretary Kavulich joined Najja Orr, President and CEO of the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA), staff, leaders and advocates to tour a vacant clothing factory that PCA will convert into 70 affordable apartments for older adults 62 and older.

PCA is working on funding the project, including a partnership with HumanGood, one of the country’s largest nonprofit providers of housing for older adults.

L to R: Glenn Byran, PCA’s board chair and Assistant VP of the University of Pennsylvania; Vidhi Anderson, VP of Development at HumanGood; Najja Orr, President & CEO, PCA; and Secretary Kavulich

Tour of the vacant property adjacent to PCA. This five-story building will be converted into affordable apartments for older adults.

Following a contract dispute between the Lehigh Valley Health Network and UnitedHealthcare, the Department of Aging and the Pennsylvania Insurance Department announced a special enrollment period will run until April 30 for Medicare Advantage members impacted by the dispute.

During this special enrollment period, older adults impacted by the contract dispute can get help through Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI) – the Commonwealth’s Medicare counseling program. It is available through the 52 Area Agencies on Aging to help with Medicare questions. Older Pennsylvanians can receive unbiased, no-cost Medicare assistance from trained PA MEDI counselors.   

PDA Special Assistant Nathan Lampenfeld gives a presentation on the PA CareKit to attendees of the Caregiver Support Symposium at Misericordia University.

Since the Department launched the PA CareKit in May 2025, more than 315,000 people have taken advantage of the tailored services on the Department’s website. Following the launch, nearly 10,000 Pennsylvanians have visited the PA CareKit Caregiver Quiz, a tool that helps them understand their needs and receive tailored support and resources based on their caregiving situation.  

The PA CareKit – an innovative resource to support the Commonwealth’s nearly 2.4 million unpaid caregivers – provides training, connection to respite services, and personalized tools to help caregivers like spouses, adult children, and grandparents raising grandchildren address their unique situations.    

PDA recently hit the road to bring the PA CareKit to people where they are in York and Luzerne counties.

Secretary Kavulich and Nathan Lampenfeld, Special Assistant to the Secretary, also took the PA CareKit to Misericordia University in Luzerne County as part of its Caregiver Support Symposium. The symposium included a presentation on fraud, abuse and neglect in the aging community by Luzerne County District Attorney Samuel Sanguedolce and body stress relief for the caregiver.

L to R: PACE director Tom Snedden, Dauphin County Commissioner Mike Pries, Special Assistant to the Secretary Nathan Lampenfeld, and Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging administrator Benjamin Knox gather at a PA CareKit community presentation at East Shore Area Library in Dauphin County.

Mark Shea, Director, York County Area Agency on Aging, talks about the importance of the PA CareKit to caregivers in his community. Mark spoke during a PA CareKit presentation at the Martin Library in York.

L to R: Wyoming County District Attorney Joe Peters, Secretary Kavulich, and Luzerne County District Attorney Samuel Sanguedolce join a PA CareKit community presentation at Misericordia University in Luzerne County. 

Secretary Kavulich talks with community members in Lawrence County about the PA CareKit and how it was developed to meet the needs of all kinds of caregivers.

L to R: Nathan Lampenfeld, Secretary Kavulich, Rep. Marla Brown and Lawrence Area Agency on Aging director Amy Cervone gather at a PA CareKit community presentation at Lawrence AAA in Lawrence County. 

PDA and the University of Pittsburgh are working to strengthen support for family caregivers by studying how the PA CareKit is used and how well it works in real-life caregiving.

If you or someone you know is a professional who supports caregivers or people with long-term care needs, PDA and Pitt are offering free training for professionals who want to learn how to use the PA CareKit and support caregivers as CareKit Coaches.

If you or someone you know provides unpaid care for a family member or loved one, you can receive free, one-on-one support from a trained CareKit Coach. This coach can help you navigate caregiving challenges, explore available resources, and use the CareKit tools.

Have you already used the PA CareKit for support and to access your own personal caregiver needs? If so, the Department of Aging wants to hear from you. Share your story by emailing agingcomms@pa.gov.

The Department recently hosted its 2026 Health and Wellness Conference, held in Harrisburg. The theme for this year’s two-day event was “For the Health of It.”  

The conference included presentations and discussions on creating equitable pathways for healthy aging and long-term living, the power of a positive mental attitude, leveraging libraries as strategic partners, health and wellness updates, and the PACE program.

Marci Phillips, Director of Public Policy & Advocacy from the National Council on Aging, was the honored guest. She presented on what’s going on in Washington, DC and important legislation for everyone to keep an eye on that could impact older adults here in Pennsylvania.

Katrina Kyle, Statewide Health and Wellness Coordinator at PDA, poses for a picture with Marci Phillips, Director of Public Policy & Advocacy with the National Council on Aging.

David Saunders, Director of Health Equity with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, presents on creating equitable pathways for healthy aging and long-term living.

Meaghan Abbott, Director of the Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Related Disorders Office, which is housed in the Department of Aging, spoke about the Office and the Department’s work to support older Pennsylvanians.

The Pennsylvania Medical Reserve Corps, a group of medical and non-medical volunteers that support health departments during public health emergencies, held a summit in March. Volunteers and volunteer coordinators from across the Commonwealth gathered to learn about topics to support the skills and abilities of the units.

Volunteers learned about communicating with communities; using technology to support access and functional needs during emergencies; and about other units and how to work together.

The group also participated in an information session to become Dementia Friends – an initiative that provides a better understanding of what dementia is, how it affects people and how community members can help their neighbors who are living with dementia.

The group also participated in an information session to become Dementia Friends – an initiative that provides a better understanding of what dementia is, how it affects people and how community members can help their neighbors who are living with dementia.

With the 2026 primary election on May 19, the Department of State wants to ensure voters are aware of key election dates and deadlines to cast their ballot.

Whether you vote by mail-in ballot or in person, here are important dates for everyone to know: 

Visit the Department of State’s website for more information or to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot

The Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women has launched a survey to gather input from all women across the Commonwealth as part of the Shapiro Administration’s forthcoming State of the Woman Report.  

The commission is collecting insight from Pennsylvania women on their experiences and priorities to better inform the Administration’s policies that impact women.  

The survey is open until May 30 and is also available in Spanish and Chinese.  

The commission will also host statewide listening sessions to further engage with all women across the Commonwealth.

Black Moshannon State Park in Centre County is one of 125 state parks where Pennsylvanians can sign up to volunteer.

Spending time outdoors provides many health benefits to older adults – from reducing stress and anxiety, to lowering risk of chronic disease and improving memory, attention and overall well-being. For older adults looking to get outside while also giving back to their community, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has launched a Conservation Volunteer system.

The new online system connects Pennsylvanians of all ages with service opportunities in the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of state forests. It’s simple to sign up, and it automatically tracks volunteer hours and milestones. Volunteers can earn rewards as they reach service benchmarks, like free camping and cabin stays in state parks and forests.  

Check out this guide for assistance on how to sign up in the new system and connect to volunteer opportunities.

The FBI Philadelphia Field Office and FBI field offices across the country are warning the public about schemes in which scammers impersonate law enforcement or government officials in attempts to extort money or steal personally identifiable information. Scammers have impersonated federal, local, and state law enforcement agencies.

Most recently, FBI Philadelphia has seen the initial contact by made via a text message. Similar scams try to connect with individuals via email or phone calls.

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.

Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania has welcomed Dementia Friendly Indiana County and Dementia Friendly Lycoming County as the newest grassroots communities in its network to help increase understanding and inclusion of Pennsylvanians living with dementia. 

The Indiana County Area Agency on Aging (Aging Services, Inc.) will lead the county’s effort to support people living with dementia and their caregivers by raising awareness, increasing knowledge, and reducing the stigma around dementia.  For more information, or to get involved, visit Dementia Friendly Indiana County’s community page.

Staff from Heritage Springs Memory Care is leading the effort in Lycoming County to advance initiatives to support people living with dementia and their caregivers. To learn more, or to join the Dementia Friendly Lycoming County community, check out its community page.

PDA is proud to support the Dementia Friendly Communities and other initiatives across the Commonwealth provided by Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania, a program of the Pittsburgh-based Jewish Healthcare Foundation. 

If you, or someone you know, is caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s, Dementia, or related disorders, join the University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center virtual Caregiver Support Group meetings.  

These meetings offer opportunities to ask questions and get support you may need.  

The meetings are held virtually on the last Tuesday of the month from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM.  

If you would like to participate in the monthly meetings or if you have any questions, email Melita Terry at terrymh@upmc.edu or Doug Schulkind at schulkinddr@upmc.edu

The Wright Center for Community Health, in collaboration with Age Friendly Lackawanna, is offering free one-hour informational sessions about dementia and how to support people who are living with it. Participants can attend a session either in person or virtually. 

For more information, including session dates and how to attend virtually, visit The Wright Center’s website.  

Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania will present a free webinar at noon on Monday, April 13 with featured speakers from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The 2026 Pennsylvania Senior Games will be held in State College July 24 through August 2. The events will range from pickleball and track & field to swimming and basketball.  

The Senior Games are not just a celebration of community and fitness, but an official qualifier for the 2027 National Senior Games in Oklahoma.