Shapiro Administration Faces Scrutiny Over Oversight of Elder Abuse Investigations

HARRISBURG — The Shapiro administration is under increasing pressure from state lawmakers regarding its oversight of Pennsylvania’s network of agencies responsible for investigating allegations of abuse and neglect involving older adults. Concerns center on accountability for agencies failing to protect vulnerable seniors, a decision to halt the tracking of fatalities during investigations, and the effectiveness of new monitoring systems.

Lawmakers Question Accountability and Data Tracking

During a budget hearing on Tuesday, Department of Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich faced pointed questions from members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives about the department’s ability to hold county agencies accountable when they fail to ensure the safety of older adults. Lawmakers also pressed Kavulich on his decision to discontinue tracking the reasons behind deaths occurring during open abuse and neglect investigations, and whether inadequate investigations by county agencies contributed to these fatalities.

The scrutiny follows an 18-month investigation by Spotlight PA, which revealed failures in some counties to conduct thorough and timely investigations into abuse and neglect allegations, leading to devastating consequences for older adults. Many of these individuals lack the financial resources or family support networks necessary for alternative care, making them particularly reliant on the system for protection.

New Monitoring System Reveals Performance Issues

Despite the identified failures, Spotlight PA reported that those agencies have not faced any penalties from state aging officials, even as the number of older adults dying during open investigations has risen over the past decade. According to data from the Department of Aging’s website, 14 out of 20 counties assessed under the department’s new monitoring system have fallen below the acceptable threshold in the “risk mitigation and safety” category. This category evaluates how counties respond to reports of abuse and neglect and provide necessary services to protect at-risk older adults.

Department Intervention and Potential Penalties

Secretary Kavulich revealed that four county agencies have been flagged for poor performance and are now undergoing “the next level of intervention,” which involves meetings with agency leadership to discuss issues and establish timelines for corrective action. He stated that new contracts with the 52 county agencies include provisions allowing the department to block them from receiving additional grants and specialized funding as a potential disciplinary measure.

Case of Western Pennsylvania Man Raises Concerns

State Representative Ann Flood (R., Northampton) raised concerns about a specific case highlighted in Spotlight PA’s investigation: a 68-year-old man from Western Pennsylvania who died by suicide although his case was under investigation by Erie County’s aging agency. Reports indicated the man was at “imminent risk” of harm when the abuse allegations were first reported. Kavulich declined to comment on the specifics of the case, citing confidentiality regulations.

Call for Fatality Review Process

Kavulich expressed support for the formal creation of a fatality review process at the county level to review complex cases and improve policies. State Senator Maria Collett (D., Montgomery) introduced a bill late last year that would require county aging agencies to establish specialized teams to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths of older adults during active investigations, and to determine if delays or procedural failures played a role in the fatalities.

Leadership at the Department of Aging

Jason Kavulich was unanimously confirmed by the Senate of Pennsylvania in May 2023 as Secretary of Aging. Prior to his appointment by Governor Josh Shapiro, he served as the director of the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging and as president of the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging. He brings 26 years of experience in the human services field to his role, advocating for Pennsylvania’s 3.4 million older adults.