Regarding the editorial “Pennsylvania must be more diligent in monitoring protective service for seniors” (March 11, TribLive): As the former director of the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging (AAA), I couldn’t agree more that improvements were needed in Pennsylvania’s oversight of protective services at the local level — which is why, since arriving at the Pennsylvania Department of Aging 25 months ago, I initiated sweeping changes including the first major overhaul and upgrade of the department’s monitoring system in decades. The new system, which was implemented in January, will ensure comprehensive and continuous monitoring of services delivered by the AAAs and increase transparency.

As your editorial correctly notes, protective services is not an easy job — which is why we’ve developed enhanced training and technical support that has already led to notable improvements in 20-day determination rates. We’ll be adding that information to our website later this month, in addition to other compliance measures that have already been posted.

Our department’s ability to sanction has historically been limited, but as I testified recently in our budget hearings, we are introducing new, enhanced accountability standards in new cooperative agreements with the AAAs. This will formally include, for the first time, meeting with county leadership and outlining steps toward de-designation, should such a move be necessary.

Gov. Josh Shapiro has made it clear he supports the rapidly growing older adult population in Pennsylvania, and is making certain the commonwealth remains a place where they can thrive in their golden years. That’s why in 2023 he directed the Department of Aging to produce a 10-year strategic roadmap to meet the needs of older adults — and why his 2025-26 budget proposal includes $2 million to increase accountability and oversight of the AAA network and a $20 million investment for those AAAs so they can continue to provide key services to older adults.

On March 18, the Department of Aging will unveil its new monitoring system, the result of 22 months of hard work by dedicated public servants, to the Legislature in a public hearing. In April, we will begin posting performance results of the new system on our website for all to see. We hope members of the press will take the time to cover that important news and see how hard the Shapiro administration is working to protect older adults from harm.

Jason Kavulich is Pennsylvania secretary of Aging.

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