The Pennsylvania Department of Aging has launched a significant initiative aimed at enhancing protections for older adults facing abuse, neglect, and exploitation. On March 12, 2024, Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich visited the Berks County Area Agency on Aging to announce a collaborative effort between Berks County, Lehigh County, and Lancaster County.
Establishment of a Multidisciplinary Team
This new regional partnership will form a multidisciplinary team (MDT) hub, designed to bring together professionals from various sectors, including social services, law enforcement, healthcare, mental health, and financial institutions. The goal is to improve coordination on complex protective services cases involving elder abuse. The three counties were selected through a competitive process to receive specialized consulting support from Weill Cornell Medicine, a leader in elder justice initiatives.
“Today marks another step forward in our commitment to building a community that protects older adults and responds to their needs with compassion and respect,” said Kavulich during his visit. Five applications statewide were selected for expert guidance, including this collaboration and individual agencies in Bucks, Cumberland, and Indiana Counties, as well as a six-county rural coalition in north-central Pennsylvania.
The MDT model, already implemented in states such as New York and California, aims to eliminate barriers between agencies that typically operate independently. By formalizing their collaboration, officials believe that cases of elder abuse, particularly those involving financial exploitation, can be managed more effectively and consistently.
Addressing the Growing Threat of Financial Exploitation
Jessica Jones, Director of the Berks County Office on Aging, expressed enthusiasm for the new regional collaboration. “Through this multidisciplinary team approach, we seek to enhance our capacity to promote elder justice, address complex situations, improve outcomes for the older adults we serve, and ensure that the least restrictive options are always considered,” she stated.
Concerns about financial scams targeting older residents have risen sharply, according to John T. Adams, District Attorney of Berks County. “We’re really at a crisis point in protecting many of our older residents,” he remarked. On the same day, district attorneys across Pennsylvania sent a letter to the governor and lawmakers urging updates to the Older Adults Protective Services Act.
Kavulich echoed this sentiment, noting that the current law has not kept pace with emerging threats. The existing statute does not explicitly classify financial exploitation as a crime, despite it being one of the fastest-growing forms of elder abuse. Governor Josh Shapiro has proposed essential updates to the act, which include adding financial exploitation and expanding background check requirements for caregivers. His proposed budget for 2026-27 allocates over $6 million in additional funding for aging services across Pennsylvania.
Lisa Rachmuth, program administrator of Weill Cornell Medicine’s Center for Elder Abuse Solutions, praised the regional hub model. She emphasized that it will facilitate quicker and more collaborative responses to protect vulnerable adults while respecting their dignity and right to self-determination.
Christian Leinbach, County Commissioner, highlighted the importance of this regional partnership as part of a broader trend toward cooperation among neighboring counties. “Regionalization is where it’s at,” he said, referring to the initiative as a vital step in protecting one of the most vulnerable populations in our communities.
With 52 area agencies on aging serving all 67 counties in Pennsylvania, Kavulich expressed hope that the MDT model will be refined and expanded, creating a stronger, more coordinated system that allows older Pennsylvanians to live safely in their communities.
