York, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced that Pennsylvania has officially been designated as an Age-Friendly State by AARP, marking a major milestone in his Administration’s work to make the Commonwealth a place where older Pennsylvanians can live and age with dignity, independence, and support.
The Governor made the announcement at the White Rose Senior Center in York, where he was joined by Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) Secretary Jason Kavulich, local officials, community leaders, and partners from AARP and the United Way. York County became an Age-Friendly Community in 2020, leading the way with local solutions to better support older adults. Now, with Pennsylvania’s statewide designation, that recognition expands to all 67 counties — meaning that for the first time ever — all Pennsylvanians now live in an Age-Friendly Community.
“My Administration is fighting for Pennsylvanians every day, and that includes investing in and building a Commonwealth that cares for and supports older adults,” said Governor Shapiro. “Our seniors have earned the right to age with dignity and respect, and under my Administration, we created a 10-year master plan that brings together 29 state agencies to deliver real results for our seniors — from expanding access to home care and transportation to cutting their taxes through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program to increasing transparency and accountability of the local organizations that provide protective services. That work is getting noticed, and I’m proud that AARP has recognized Pennsylvania as one of just 13 Age-Friendly States in the country.”
Pennsylvania’s designation comes at a pivotal moment. By 2030, one in three Pennsylvanians will be over the age of 60, with the Commonwealth’s older adult population expected to reach 3.8 million — outnumbering every other age group.
The Age-Friendly designation, awarded by AARP in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), recognizes states and communities committed to being great places to grow up and grow older. Pennsylvania is now one of just 13 states nationwide — and the only new state this year — to receive this distinction.
There are approximately 700 Age-Friendly communities across the country, including 10 in Pennsylvania. Communities such as Pittsburgh and the Lehigh Valley are already hosting regional events to promote Age-Friendly practices, with additional events planned this year in Lackawanna, York, and Philadelphia.
“Pennsylvania’s aging population provides us with an opportunity – not a challenge – to build better communities for all generations,” said Secretary Kavulich. “The Aging Our Way, PA plan reflects our commitment to making sure older adults have the services, respect, and support they deserve. Thanks to Governor Shapiro’s leadership, we’re working across agencies and with community partners to make every town, city, and neighborhood more age-friendly.”
As part of the Shapiro Administration’s Aging Our Way, PA initiative, the PDA successfully led Pennsylvania’s application to become a designated Age-Friendly State. This milestone builds on the Governor’s launch last year of Aging Our Way, PA — the Commonwealth’s first-ever 10-year strategic plan to serve older adults. Developed with input from thousands of seniors, caregivers, and service providers, the plan brings together 29 state agencies to improve public transportation, strengthen the direct care workforce, reduce the cost of prescription drugs and insurance, and ensure older adults and caregivers can access the services they need.
In the year since the plan’s release, the Shapiro Administration has already taken key steps to deliver for seniors, including:
- Creating Pennsylvania’s first-ever Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Office housed at PDA to provide better support for people living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.
- Improving transparency and accountability for Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) through a new public-facing dashboard that tracks performance in real time.
- Launching a new Caregiver Support Toolkit — PA CareKit — to help Pennsylvania’s 1.5 million unpaid caregivers connect with respite services, training, and resources to evaluate and select care providers.
Governor Shapiro also followed through on a campaign promise during his first year in office by delivering the largest tax cut for older Pennsylvanians in nearly two decades through the expansion of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) Program. Thanks to the Governor’s leadership, eligibility was expanded, income limits were tied to cost-of-living increases, and benefit amounts were increased. Last year, more than 520,000 seniors and people with disabilities received over $318 million in rebates — including nearly 100,000 first-time filers. In York County alone, over 17,000 PTRR claims have been approved, totaling more than $10.7 million in rebates.
Today’s announcement also highlighted local progress at the White Rose Senior Center, which serves more than 1,200 older adults in York County. Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, the center has received multiple Senior Community Center (SCC) grants totaling more than $20,000 to support programming in arts, fitness, nutrition, and benefits counseling — including assistance with PTRR applications and other essential services. Across the Commonwealth, more than 450 Area Agency on Aging (AAA)-affiliated senior centers offer critical resources such as nutritious meals, educational programs, transportation, financial and insurance counseling, and wellness activities.
“By 2030, the population of Pennsylvanians aged 60 and over is projected to surpass 3.8 million, accounting for 1 in 3 Pennsylvanians," said Bill Johnston-Walsh, AARP Pennsylvania State Director. "The cost of being unprepared for this reality is unaffordable and untenable and AARP applauds the Shapiro Administration for creating Aging Our Way, PA and enrolling the Commonwealth in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. With this designation, the Keystone State now joins arms with communities around the world in committing itself to identifying and implementing policy and programmatic solutions that will transform the delivery of services and improve the quality of life for Pennsylvanians of every age and life stage.”
"There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to projects or plans that concern where we live, work, and play," said Cathy Bollinger, Executive Director of Embracing Aging with the York County Community Foundation. "And that is especially true for our seniors as well. By asking ourselves 'does it work for people of all ages?' we ensure that creativity and flexibility guide every decision — especially those related to housing and transportation. When we collaborate and plan this way, we create the potential to transform the quality of life for all residents — no matter their age."
“It is essential that we work collaboratively to ensure that older adults are connected, respected, and engaged and have the tools they need to thrive at every age,” said Carmen Bell, Senior Director of Healthy Aging at the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. “This is the essence of an age-friendly community.”
Governor Shapiro’s 2025-26 proposed budget continues his commitment to supporting Pennsylvania’s growing population of older adults. The Governor is calling for a $20 million increase to the PENNCARE appropriation to help AAAs better meet the needs of seniors across the Commonwealth. To strengthen oversight and promote greater transparency, he has also proposed a $2 million investment to improve PDA’s monitoring and accountability systems for AAAs. Additionally, the Governor’s budget proposes taxing skill games at a rate of 52 percent, with 5 percent of the revenue directed to the Lottery Fund to help close the funding gap created by unregulated games and ensure continued support for older Pennsylvanians.
“The age-friendly movement is rooted in the simple concept that we all deserve the opportunity to thrive in our communities,” said Representative Carol Hill-Evans. “As we age, where we live should match our needs, and include us and value our contributions throughout our lives.”
Delivering for Older Pennsylvanians
Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has made older Pennsylvanians a top priority — securing critical investments, launching new services, and delivering on campaign promises to help older adults age with dignity, independence, and support, including:
- Expanded Support for Senior Centers — Secured $6 million in competitive grants and created a permanent non-competitive track to help senior centers modernize and meet evolving community needs.
- Opened the First Older Adult Advocacy Center — Launched a new center in Lackawanna County to serve older adults facing abuse or neglect, offering emergency housing, support services, and resource navigation.
- Improved Accountability with CAPE — Introduced a new Comprehensive Agency Performance Evaluation (CAPE) tool to boost transparency across the state’s aging services network, with performance data now publicly available for AAAs.
- Increased Investments in Nursing Home Care — Secured $75 million in additional funding to improve staffing and care in skilled nursing facilities, including a 7.04 percent annualized rate increase.
- Reduced Waitlists for In-Home Help — Secured $5 million to expand the Help at Home (OPTIONS) program, helping more seniors remain safely in their homes.
- Celebrated Seniors Through the Arts — Highlighted older Pennsylvanians' creativity at the annual art show in the State Capitol, where First Lady Lori Shapiro joined Secretary Kavulich to honor participants and promote engagement through the arts.
To learn more about Pennsylvania’s Age-Friendly designation and to review the Aging Our Way, PA plan, visit the Department of Aging’s website.
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