Advocacy, Education & Protection of Older Adults

Older adults deserve to live with dignity and respect. Sometimes, they may face abuse or need someone to speak up for them. Whether they live in a care facility or at home, these resources can advocate for them, provide information, and help protect them and their families.

Protective Services

This division of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging is responsible for oversight and implementation of the Older Adults Protective Services Act (OAPSA) for individuals over the age of 60. The passage of the protective services law reinforced Pennsylvania's commitment to:

• Give Access to Services: Help older adults (age 60+) who can't protect themselves and are at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment by providing the necessary services to protect their health, safety, and well-being.
• Safeguard Rights: Protect the rights of older people and offer the services they need for their safety.
• Address Problems: Find, reduce, fix, or stop abuse, neglect, exploitation, and abandonment.
• Set Up Protective Services: Create a program to provide protective services for older adults who need them.
• Raise Awareness: Educate the public about available services and increase awareness of these issues.

AAA Face-to-Face Visit Performance

Pennsylvania’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program helps people with complaints about long-term care services. It aims to solve these problems and make the long-term care system better for residents and their families. The Ombudsman vision is to "Advocate for those who can’t, support those who can, and ensure all long-term care consumers live with dignity and respect.”

Mission Statement

“Pennsylvania Ombudsmen are federally mandated, legally-based and state certified via standardized training to actively advocate and give voice to older consumers of long-term care services, whether delivered in the community or a facility-based setting. Pennsylvania Ombudsmen champion the right of these consumers to achieve the highest quality of life and care wherever they reside. Pennsylvania Ombudsmen may be staff, volunteers or PEER residents; all are united through an impassioned commitment to listen, educate, investigate, mediate and empower through a visible presence.”

Financial Exploitation

Financial exploitation is the misuse or theft of assets, and it can happen to anyone. It can come in the form of unauthorized bank withdrawals, check fraud, misuse of credit cards, scams and theft of property. It is currently the fastest-growing form of elder abuse and can be reported through the Statewide Elder Abuse Helpline: 1-800-490-8505.

Financial Exploition Educational Resources for Older Adults and Law Enforcement Professionals

Learn more about financial exploitation and how to protect yourself or a loved one by exploring:

• Educational Videos
• Investigators Toolkit
• Investigative Guide for Law Enforcement
• PA's Prevention Effort

Older Pennsylvanians Legal Assistance Program

The program provides access to free legal services for older adults including counsel, advice, and representation in a case.