HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania officials last week unveiled a sweeping series of initiatives aimed at strengthening oversight of aging services, expanding community support for older adults, and accelerating research into neurodegenerative diseases, marking one of the most consequential periods for aging policy in the Commonwealth in decades.
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging announced the latest performance results for two additional Area Agencies on Aging as part of a broader transparency push under its new Comprehensive Aging Performance Evaluation system. The results for the Clarion and Lebanon agencies bring the total number of evaluated agencies posted publicly to 16, covering 26 counties statewide.
The CAPE system replaces a decades-old monitoring model with a single, comprehensive review that examines multiple performance metrics at once, including older adult protective services, caregiver support, and in-home assistance programs. Officials say the approach is designed to ensure older adults remain safe and supported in their communities while holding local agencies accountable.
Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich said the overhaul represents a fundamental shift in how the state evaluates aging services and communicates results to the public, calling it a long-overdue modernization of the department’s oversight role.
The transparency effort coincides with a major infusion of funding for Pennsylvania’s aging network in Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025–26 budget. More than $10 million was allocated to support the state’s 52 Area Agencies on Aging, helping deliver essential services such as meals, transportation, senior centers, and protective services to the Commonwealth’s 3.4 million older adults.
An additional $3 million was directed to Aging Our Way, PA, the state’s 10-year strategic plan to help residents remain independent as they age. The plan was shaped by input from more than 20,000 older adults and community members and places a strong emphasis on culturally responsive services for underserved populations, including Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
State and local leaders highlighted the impact of the funding during a community roundtable in North Wales, where officials noted that agencies will be better positioned to meet rising demand for in-home supports, caregiver assistance, and community-based services.
The administration also pointed to a landmark $5 million investment in dedicated neurodegenerative disease research, the first of its kind in Pennsylvania’s history. The funding, secured in the 2025–26 budget and administered by the Department of Health, will be distributed through competitive grants to institutions studying Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, and related disorders.
Governor Shapiro formally highlighted the investment during a visit to the University of Pittsburgh, where he joined researchers and state leaders to emphasize Pennsylvania’s growing role in medical research and innovation. Applications for the grant program are expected to open in early 2026.
Health officials said the research funding builds on last year’s creation of the Commonwealth’s first Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Related Disorders office within the Department of Aging, while complementing broader investments to strengthen community care. The budget also includes $21 million to boost wages and benefits for direct care workers serving seniors and adults with disabilities.
Neurodegenerative diseases affect families across every region of Pennsylvania. More than 282,000 residents are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and over 1,000 have ALS. Nearly 1.5 million caregivers provide unpaid care to loved ones, often while balancing work and family responsibilities.
State leaders said the combined initiatives signal a coordinated effort to improve accountability, expand services, and invest in research as Pennsylvania confronts the realities of a rapidly aging population.
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