The Pennsylvania Department of Aging has highlighted significant concerns over the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging’s (PCA) failure to comply with state regulations to protect older adults. In 2021, the department directed its resources to assist PCA due to staffing shortages and delays in investigating cases. Despite efforts to improve, PCA continues to struggle with compliance, with a high number of cases not being investigated within the required 20-day deadline. Deaths during open investigations have risen, particularly in Philadelphia.
Even with state intervention, PCA failed its annual assessment in 2022, showcasing ongoing challenges within the agency. While corrective measures are being implemented, concerns remain over the lack of accountability and transparency within PCA. The agency, which receives significant taxpayer funding, has hired a private contractor to assist with its caseload, but details of the contract remain undisclosed due to PCA not being subject to public records laws.
Former state protective services specialist Peter Hans has raised alarms about the situation, urging for consequences for non-compliance such as reallocating funding to more efficient entities. Despite his efforts to bring attention to the issue and suggestions for improvement, little action has been taken by state officials. Hans emphasizes the urgency of the situation, with lives at stake due to PCA’s inability to effectively address cases of abuse and neglect.
The situation with PCA highlights broader systemic issues within Pennsylvania’s aging services system, prompting calls for greater accountability and consequences for agencies failing to meet safety standards. There is a need for strong leadership and decisive action to ensure the protection of vulnerable older adults across the state.
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