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    ICYMI: Shapiro Administration’s New Tool to Evaluate Performance of Local Aging Agencies is Leading to Real Change, Keeping Older Adults Safe Across Pennsylvania

    Sec. Jason Kavulich made several stops across the Commonwealth this week highlighting the Department’s all-new, modernized tool to ensure local aging agencies are adequately serving older adults.

    Under the Shapiro Administration, counties are responding to reports of elder abuse faster and more consistently statewide.

    July 16, 2026

    Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) Secretary Jason Kavulich kicked off a statewide tour this week highlighting how the Shapiro Administration’s new approach to evaluating the performance of older adult protective services is already delivering better results and keeping older adults safe. 

    That new tool, called the Comprehensive Aging Performance Evaluation (CAPE), is:

    • Doubling and even tripling compliance scores for local aging agencies’ timely responses to reports of suspected elder abuse:
      • Delaware County → 40 percent in 2024 to 81 percent in 2026 
      • Westmoreland County → 29 percent in 2024 to 94 percent in 2026
    • Identifying areas of improvement faster than ever, like documentation issues in Centre County that previously delayed the delivery of services; and
    • Providing historic levels of transparency and accountability of the Area Agency on Aging (AAAs) network by posting performance results online.

    At stops in Delaware, Centre and Lehigh counties, Secretary Kavulich explained how CAPE leaves behind a prior ineffective pass/fail system that did not provide adequate oversight of local aging agencies and instead requires each of Pennsylvania’s 52 AAAs to be evaluated for different metrics during a singular monitoring review. This gives the Department a better snapshot of the local organization’s overall functioning, and helps to quickly identify trends and focus training resources where they are most needed.

    In the 2026-27 budget, Governor Josh Shapiro secured a $1 million increase for CAPE so the Department can continue to improve AAA oversight and accountability.

    See what Pennsylvanians are watching and reading about the Department’s overhauled approach to monitoring AAAs and how it’s keeping older adults safe.

    The Sentinel: Shapiro administration highlights new tool to keep older adults safe

    The DelCo Daily Times: This Delaware County department head welcomes state oversight

    Indiana Gazette: Virtual training helps kick off new PA approach to evaluating aging services

    WGAL: Pennsylvania introduces system to improve elder care oversight

    WTAJ: Department of Aging unveils new evaluation system for its offices

    WJAC: Pennsylvania unveils new evaluation tool to improve oversight of county aging services

    Department of Aging Media Contacts

    Karen Gray

    Communications Director Department of Aging
    Department of Aging Media