Pennsylvania’s Aging Crisis: A Reality We Can’t Ignore

As the executive director of a nonprofit, I make it a point to stay out of politics. Our focus is service, not sides. However, when the basic needs of older adults are at risk, when lives, independence, and dignity are on the line, silence is not an option. So, I'm speaking up. This isn't about political ideology. This is about protecting people. And not just any people, it's all of us. Everyone! If you plan to grow old with dignity and purpose, pay attention to what's happening in Harrisburg. 

"The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; the twilight of life, the aged; and the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped." --- Hubert Humphrey

Here's the reality. Pennsylvania is aging rapidly. We're now home to 3.4 million older adults, the fifth-largest senior population in the country. By 2030, 1 in every 3 Pennsylvanians will be over 60. And yet, the system meant to support them —the 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) —is being starved of the resources it needs to function.

This isn't charity. It's smart policy.

The AAAs deliver frontline services that allow older Pennsylvanians to live safely, independently, and with dignity. These include meal deliveries, personal care, caregiver support, emergency response systems, legal assistance, and senior centers that stave off isolation, one of the most destructive health risks for aging adults.

When you support funding our AAAs, you're not just supporting services; you're also supporting the people who provide them. You're investing in prevention. You're reducing ER visits, delaying costly institutional care, and keeping people healthier for longer. It's not just the humane thing to do. It's the logical thing to do.

The Funding Gap is a Structural Problem

The cracks in the system aren't new. They've been forming for decades.

• Funding hasn't kept pace with inflation or population growth.

• Temporary relief from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is ending.

• Costs are up, demand is higher, but budgets remain flat.

And the fallout is measurable:

• Ninety-two percent of Pennsylvania's AAAs will face budget shortfalls this year.

• Without additional funding, more than 40 senior centers may close, over 100 programs will be eliminated, and vital staff positions will remain unfilled.

• Rural, low-income, and high-crime areas, where services are hardest to deliver, will be hit the hardest.

Governor Shapiro's $20M Proposal is a Start, Not a Solution

We are thankful for the $20 million increase proposed in the Executive Budget. It's a sign that our leaders recognize the problem. But it won't go far enough. We are joining other advocacy efforts in calling for an additional $105 million, bringing the total PENNCARE investment to $392.8 million. According to our local AAA, this is what's needed to maintain critical services and meet the needs of our fastest-growing demographic.

What Happens If We Don't Act?

• Centers close. Isolation increases. Health declines. Emergency costs rise.

• Programs end. Families lose support. Caregivers burn out. Institutional care skyrockets.

• Staff cuts. Less oversight. Greater risk for elder abuse and neglect.

This is not theoretical. It's already happening in real-time.

What's at Stake in Montgomery County?

Montco SAAC, as all senior centers in the county, are 60% funded by the county's Department of Health and Human Services (our AAA). We will not be able to stay open if we lose AAA funding. We have great community and business support, but getting critical local and state government support is difficult. Without this funding, 1000's of aging adults in Norristown, Ambler, and throughout the county, who rely on Montco SAAC for basic human needs, will be left struggling.

This Isn't Politics. This Is the Principle.

Again, I didn't get into nonprofit work to advocate for budgets. But I will never apologize for standing up for the people we serve. I'm advocating for aging adults across Pennsylvania. And that means all of us if we're fortunate enough to grow old.

Why wouldn't we fund services for the population we're all part of, sooner or later? Let's make a wise decision. Let's fund what works. Let's do right by the people who raised us, built our communities, and still have so much to give.

Let's lead with principle, not politics.