SCRANTON, PA — Pennsylvania is expanding a performance-monitoring system for its 52 Area Agencies on Aging, backed by an additional $1 million in the 2026-27 state budget, as officials seek to improve oversight of local programs responsible for protective services and other assistance for older adults.
Department of Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich discussed the Comprehensive Aging Performance Evaluation, or CAPE, with officials from Lackawanna, Monroe and Pike counties Friday as part of a statewide tour focused on the system.
Launched in 2025, CAPE replaced a pass-or-fail monitoring approach with evaluations designed to identify specific deficiencies and steps agencies need to take to improve. The system evaluates multiple programs during a single review, giving the department a broader assessment of each agency’s operations.
The change also makes individual agency results publicly available. The Department of Aging now posts performance information covering programs including Older Adult Protective Services, OPTIONS services that help people remain at home, and the Caregiver Support Program.
“CAPE completely upends that process and raises the bar of accountability to ensure our local aging agencies not only know their score but are armed with the right insight to improve their services and ultimately keep older adults safe,” Kavulich said.
State data indicate most agencies are meeting one of the department’s benchmarks for responding to suspected elder abuse. As of March, 48 of Pennsylvania’s 52 Area Agencies on Aging responded to such reports in a timely manner at least 85% of the time, often within 24 hours.
Performance is more uneven on another protective-services measure. The department tracks whether agencies reach determinations in cases within 20 days, and 28 of the 52 agencies were meeting that deadline at least 85% of the time as of March.
Lackawanna County participated as a CAPE pilot agency. Sara McDonald, director of the county’s Area Agency on Aging, said the evaluation identified both strong performance and areas requiring improvement and provided data the agency could use in making decisions about protective services, OPTIONS and caregiver-support programs.
Monroe County Area Agency on Aging Executive Director Mary Claire Megargle described the evaluation as a “roadmap” for operational changes, while Pike County Executive Director Robin Soares said CAPE provided greater documentation and procedural clarity for protective-services teams.
The department is also using findings from the reviews to target training. Kavulich last month conducted a virtual training session for 500 aging-network professionals addressing issues identified through CAPE.
Results for 31 Area Agencies on Aging covering 42 counties have been posted by the department, after Butler, Cambria and Crawford counties recently joined the agencies that have completed evaluations.
The state budget provides a $1 million increase for Aging Our Way, PA, Pennsylvania’s 10-year strategy for services supporting older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers. The administration reports that more than $20 million has been invested in programs for older Pennsylvanians since 2023.
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