04/15/2021
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging today continued to encourage older adults seeking a COVID-19 vaccine appointment to contact their local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for any assistance they may need in scheduling an appointment. The AAAs have been working with vaccine providers to arrange appointments for older adults eligible in Phase 1A of the commonwealth's vaccine plan after the Department of Health (DOH) issued an amended order in March.
04/01/2021
An amended Department of Health order indicating that certain vaccine providers must work with local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) to schedule vaccination appointments for older adults eligible in Phase 1A of the state's vaccination plan is reaping measurable results, as reported to the Department of Aging.<br><br>On a media briefing call today, the department was joined by several AAAs who described progress made on their vaccination waiting lists, as well as continuing partnership efforts to help every older adult in their local service area who wants a vaccine to get one. <br>
03/31/2021
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging's Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman today announced the dates and topics for the upcoming Virtual Family Council (VFC) meetings in April.
03/26/2021
Continuing its work on the growing issue of social isolation among older adults, the Pennsylvania Council on Aging (PCoA) hosted a Social Isolation Symposium to present information and resources virtually to individuals who work with older adults, including caregivers, health care staff, stakeholders and the public. Titled "Directions for Connections," this first-of-its-kind event in Pennsylvania featured nationally known speakers focusing on the impact of social isolation, and how to get older adults engaged to ensure their continued health and wellbeing.
03/25/2021
York, PA - The Wolf Administration today discussed an amended order signed by Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam, indicating that certain vaccine providers must work with local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and Medical Assistance Managed Care Organizations (MA MCOs) to schedule vaccination appointments for adults eligible in Phase 1A of the state’s vaccination plan.
03/06/2021
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging's Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman today announced the dates and topics for the upcoming Virtual Family Council (VFC) meetings in March. Led by ombudsmen and family members, the biweekly meetings bring families and advocates together for sharing, support and learning.
02/10/2021
With the ongoing rise of financial exploitation and other forms of elder abuse, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) is urging the General Assembly to prioritize and enact critical updates to the Older Adults Protective Services Act (OAPSA) in its new 2021-22 Legislative Session.
02/02/2021
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging's Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman today announced the dates and topics for the upcoming Virtual Family Council (VFC) meetings in February.
01/25/2021
Older and disabled Pennsylvanians can now apply for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2020, the Wolf Administration announced today. This assistance is available through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, which has delivered more than $6.8 billion to eligible Pennsylvanians since the program's inception in 1971.
01/21/2021
As Pennsylvanians receive a second round of federal stimulus payments as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, the Pennsylvania departments of Aging, Human Services and Insurance are again reminding consumers living in long-term care facilities that these checks belong to them, not the facilities where they live.
01/20/2021
Governor Tom Wolf announced today more than $4.8 million has been awarded in Direct Care Worker Training Grants (DCWTG) to improve the quality of care provided by direct care workers while creating opportunities for them to build new careers and earn family-sustaining wages.
01/15/2021
The Wolf Administration today announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Department of Aging and Harrisburg University (Pennsylvania cohort) were selected as a participating team in the 10th National Leadership Academy for the Public's Health (NLAPH) Cohort.
01/12/2021
Taking action to address the findings of its recently released statewide study of financial exploitation of older adults, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) has convened an interdisciplinary task force of state agencies, aging, legal, financial, law enforcement and healthcare stakeholders and subject matter experts to discuss the issue of financial exploitation and focus on a multi-disciplinary approach to its prevention.
01/07/2021
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) announced it has awarded $2 million in grants equally among 405 Area Agency on Aging-affiliated Senior Community Centers (SCCs) for the fiscal year 2020-2021. Due to the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SCCs across the commonwealth and the resulting needs, PDA deviated from a traditional competitive grant process and disbursed the funding to the 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) to allocate among all of its eligible centers. Each AAA will receive nearly $5,000 for each eligible SCC. The funding was appropriated by the General Assembly from the Pennsylvania Lottery.
12/18/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging has joined with Slippery Rock University to launch a pilot program to offer students in recreational therapy and behavioral sciences programs real world experience by completing service-learning projects that included interactions with older adults. <br>
12/10/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging announced that the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman has incorporated two Padbots as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance communication with residents in long-term care facilities. Padbots are mobile robots that utilize a smart phone or tablet attached to a wheeled base. They are designed to safely connect ombudsmen with residents via video who may not be able to adequately correspond or who do not have their own communication devices.
11/23/2020
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.