HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Aging last week strengthened its efforts to protect older adults by hosting a statewide learning session with the Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) Network, aimed at exploring the implementation of Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs) to support elder justice initiatives.
The event convened leaders from across the Commonwealth, including representatives from the Office of Attorney General, the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, and the Office of Elder Justice in the Courts of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, along with delegates from all 27 AAAs.
MDTs bring together professionals from diverse fields such as social services, criminal and civil justice, mental health, medicine, finance, and public health. Under the leadership of Secretary Jason Kavulich, the Department of Aging is working to adopt this collaborative model—already in use in states like New York and California—to improve responses to complex protective services cases.
Secretary Kavulich emphasized the importance of advancing and modernizing practices to keep older adults safe and supported in their communities, describing the initiative as a step toward building nimble, person-centered teams.
Attorney General Dave Sunday underscored the need for collective action to shield seniors from scams and financial exploitation, while Rebecca May-Cole, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging, highlighted the potential for MDTs to focus community resources more effectively.
The initiative reflects Pennsylvania’s ongoing commitment to enhancing elder protection and fostering stronger local partnerships to meet the growing needs of its aging population.
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