Pennsylvania is home to nearly 3.5 million seniors aged 60 and above—our parents, grandparents, friends, and neighbors who helped build our communities. And we know that number will continue to grow.   

 

When abuse or neglect of an older adult is suspected, county Area Agencies on Aging investigate the claim to determine whether such abuse or neglect is taking place. However, in an instance where the older adult dies during an ongoing investigation, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (“PDA”) is currently without explicit authority to track the cause of death. This missing link hampers our ability to prevent future tragedies and hold bad actors accountable. 

 

In an effort to further promote transparency and prevent premature deaths from abuse, neglect, and exploitation, I am creating legislation that would require the PDA to assemble a fatality review team within each Area Agency on Aging. Modeled on similar efforts in Florida and Maine, the fatality review team will identify links between the cause of death and any deficiencies in investigations of abuse and neglect. Comprised of a multi-disciplined group of professionals and experts—including but not limited to medical examiners, law enforcement officers, elder law attorneys, and primary care physicians working in the area of elder care—the team can also identify and report to PDA methods of improving the system for protecting older adults from abuse and neglect. Utilizing the analysis of the team, the PDA will compile the findings and submit to the Legislature a report detailing suggested improvements to current law and policy. 

 

Every older Pennsylvanian deserves to live with dignity, free from abuse and neglect. By establishing these review teams, we uphold our obligation to protect our most vulnerable citizens while creating a more transparent and effective system of elder protection. 

 

Please join me in co-sponsoring this crucial legislation to safeguard aging Pennsylvanians’ rights to safety and dignity.