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    Resources for Aging Professionals

    Area Agency on Aging Monitoring

    The Department of Aging provides support to the Area Agencies on Aging on how to conduct protective services cases. The page offers guidance on the new face-to-face reporting, background checks, and mandatory reporting.

    Report Suspected Abuse of an Older Adult
    Call the Statewide Elder Abuse Helpline: 1-800-490-8505

    AAA Face-To-Face Visit Performance

    Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) are required by law to have a face-to-face visit with older adults potentially needing protective services after receiving a Report of Need (RON). The timeliness of the visit depends on how the RON is categorized.  When the report is categorized as an emergency or priority, the AAA must meet with the individual within 24 hours of receiving the RON. For all other RON categorizations, AAAs are required to meet with the older adult within the 20-day investigation timeframe. The Pennsylvania Department of Aging monitors and measures each AAA monthly on the percentage of cases where face-to-face compliance was achieved within the required regulatory time frames. 

    Updated monthly results will be published. The Pennsylvania Department of Aging will be adding additional performance metrics and outcomes to the website throughout the remainder of the calendar year.​

    Mandatory Abuse Reporting

    The Older Adults Protective Services Act (OAPSA), which was amended by Act 13 of 1997, mandates reporting requirements on suspected abuse.  Any employee or administrator of a facility who suspects abuse is mandated to report the abuse. All reports of abuse should be reported to the local area agency on aging (AAA) and licensing agencies. If the suspected abuse is sexual abuse, serious physical injury, serious bodily injury, or suspicious death as defined under OAPSA, the law requires additional reporting to the Department of Aging and local law enforcement.

    Protective Services Regulations

    Criminal History Background Checks

    OAPSA, as amended by Act 169 of 1996 and Act 13 of 1997, mandates that specific types of facilities require applicants for employment to submit their applications with a report of criminal history record information.