11/24/2020
The Pennsylvania Departments of Aging (PDA) and Human Services (DHS) today reminded Pennsylvanians who serve as caregivers for either a family member or a close friend that there are resources available to help them as the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
11/16/2020
The Pennsylvania Council on Aging (PCoA) today released SOLO -- an interactive guide with information and resources to help older adults cultivate a healthy mind, body and spirit amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
11/05/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging today hosted the 2020 Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) Forum, with close to 250 stakeholders participating virtually. This annual forum is convened to assess progress on issues related to ADRD, strengthen partnerships and community support, identify how healthcare systems can work collaboratively within their communities, and discuss opportunities to help advance Pennsylvania's State Plan on ADRD.<br><br>This year's forum focused on racial disparities and inequalities in early detection, diagnosis and treatment. <br>
10/23/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging is highlighting the work of the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman to focus on the dignity, respect, and rights of skilled nursing facility and personal care home residents.
10/05/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging today reminded consumers that the annual open enrollment period for Medicare beneficiaries will begin Thursday, October 15, 2020, and end Monday, December 7, 2020. <br><br>In order to help Medicare beneficiaries sort through their options, the Department of Aging offers free, objective health benefits counseling through the APPRISE Program, which is designed to counsel and encourage Medicare-eligible individuals, their families, and caregivers to make informed health care coverage decisions. <br>
10/01/2020
With cold and flu season approaching and the ongoing threat of COVID-19, the Department of Aging today stressed the importance of older adults getting their immunizations.
09/25/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging today encouraged older adults to be informed about their options for voting in the November 3 General Election if they are concerned about being able to vote safely amid COVID-19.
09/18/2020
The Department of Aging today reminded Pennsylvanians of the preventive measures necessary to avoid falls, particularly among older adults.
09/15/2020
In response to Governor Wolf's Executive Order on protecting vulnerable populations, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging today released its study on the impact of financial exploitation of older adults. The findings of this study reinforce the urgent need for the General Assembly to update the Older Adults Protective Services Act (OAPSA) to strengthen protections against financial exploitation of older adults.
09/10/2020
To support Hunger Action Month, Pennsylvania Department of Aging Secretary Robert Torres and department staff joined volunteers with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to pack food boxes to be distributed through the food bank's two programs that benefit seniors. <br>
08/19/2020
With the September 30 deadline issued by the U.S. Census Bureau to complete work on the 2020 Census quickly approaching, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging is urging all older adults to participate to ensure they are included in the count. <br>
07/15/2020
At the new Allison Hill Farmers Market in Harrisburg today, the Departments of Agriculture, Aging and Health reminded Pennsylvania’s low-income seniors and WIC recipients to use their vouchers from the Pennsylvania Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) to purchase fresh, local fruits, vegetables, and herbs from farmers markets and farm stands across the commonwealth.
06/23/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging today announced it will host a Virtual Community Conversation from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7 to discuss its State Plan on Aging for 2020-2024 and invites feedback from the public and community stakeholders throughout Pennsylvania.
06/23/2020
The Wolf Administration is committed to making the commonwealth a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment for all Pennsylvanians. The Department of Aging is dedicated to ensuring the same experience for every older adult, including people in the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups who have felt excluded for too long.
06/15/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) has issued reopening guidance for aging services providers located in counties that are entering the green phase. In collaboration with representatives of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and adult day centers (ADCs), PDA has developed guidance and procedures for resuming operations of adult day centers, senior community centers (SCCs), and aging and protective services that involve in-person consumer contacts and in-home visits.<br>
06/15/2020
In response to and in recognition of Governor Wolf's Executive Order on Vulnerable Populations, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging has created a free, online Mandatory Abuse Reporting training module to help aging and human services providers recognize and report elder abuse.
06/08/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging today released a survey for the general public and community stakeholders to provide input on the department's strategies and priorities as part of the process of completing a State Plan on Aging for 2020-2024.
06/04/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging's Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman announced it is partnering with AARP Pennsylvania to offer communication devices to long-term care facilities that will help residents increase contact with their family and friends.
06/02/2020
As Pennsylvanians continue to receive federal stimulus payments as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Pennsylvania departments of Aging, Human Services (DHS) and Insurance remind consumers living in long-term care facilities that these checks belong to them, not the facilities where they live.
06/01/2020
At today's daily COVID-19 press conference at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine and Sec. of Aging Robert Torres highlighted efforts to protect seniors and other vulnerable Pennsylvanians.
05/14/2020
Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Department of Aging Secretary Robert Torres today penned a letter to Pennsylvania's congressional delegation urging legislative action to enable Pennsylvania's older adults to access the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program during the mitigation effort.
05/06/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging's Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) Office has been awarded $3 million from the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Community Living to support efforts to mitigate and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
04/30/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging and the Pennsylvania Council on Aging (PCoA) today released the findings of a statewide survey conducted by PCoA to assess the status, needs and interests of older adults during the COVID-19 outbreak.
04/28/2020
As part of the federal government's response to the COVID-19 emergency, Pennsylvania has received $34 million to support services authorized by the Older Americans Act. These services include home-delivered meals; in-home care services; respite care and other support to families and caregivers; and information and referral services.
04/13/2020
As Pennsylvanians follow the Governor's stay-at-home order and social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 emergency, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Office of Elder Justice in the Courts remind older adults and their families that essential court functions and legal assistance remain available.
04/11/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging has launched an online COVID-19 resource guide to help older adults easily find useful information related to their health, safety and well-being.
03/22/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging has released COVID-19 guidance on handling protective services for older adults. This temporary guidance provides operational flexibility to protect older adults and staff during investigative cases while following the ongoing directive from Governor Tom Wolf to stay home and practice social distancing.
03/19/2020
With the ongoing directive from Governor Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Department of Health to stay home and limit social interaction during the COVID-19 mitigation effort, Department of Aging Secretary Robert Torres today announced that as of March 5, the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) Program can help older adult enrollees with refill extensions.
03/18/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging has released additional COVID-19 guidance to the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and Adult Day Center providers to help address operational needs during the closing of Adult Day Centers, and to allow flexibility in meeting requirements of aging services for home and community based services under the OPTIONS, Caregiver Support and Domiciliary Care programs.
03/15/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging has released COVID-19 guidance to the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) related to the operations of over 500 affiliated senior community centers operating statewide.