One day after Governor Josh Shapiro signed the 2026-27 budget into law, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) kicked off a statewide tour highlighting how the department's new approach to evaluating the performance of older adult protective services is delivering better results in keeping older adults safe, leaving behind a prior ineffective pass/fail system that did not provide adequate oversight of local aging agencies.
That tool, the Comprehensive Aging Performance Evaluation (CAPE), is also providing historic levels of transparency and accountability of the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) network that provides an array of services to support older adults, including protective services. In the 26-27 budget, Governor Shapiro secured a $1 million increase for CAPE so the department can continue to improve AAA oversight and accountability.
"Older adults in Pennsylvania deserve a modernized system that helps them stay safe and supported, healthy and thriving, but our infrastructure had not kept pace with the growing and changing needs of older adults," said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. "Our administration took this challenge head on and is making overdue system improvements. CAPE allows the department to do away with a simple pass/fail scoring system, and instead comprehensively ask, 'what does this local agency specifically need to improve?'"
Carin Tinney, director, Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging
Barbara O'Malley, executive director, Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging
Dr. Monica Taylor, Delaware County Council
Sara McCullough, chief of staff for Pennsylvania Senator Tim Kearney
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