The Adams County Office for Aging has added staff and strengthened supervision following a review under Pennsylvania’s new system for evaluating services for older adults.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich visited Gettysburg Sept. 2 to discuss the Comprehensive Aging Performance Evaluation, known as CAPE, with local aging services leaders.
Lynn Deardorff, executive director of the Adams County Office for Aging, said the evaluation helped the agency identify changes needed in its management structure, particularly in protective services and care management.
The agency hired an additional protective services worker and, for the first time, a program supervisor focused on quality assurance and training new employees. According to the Department of Aging, Adams County is now meeting the 20-day deadline for determinations in protective services cases 85% of the time.
Deardorff said CAPE provides clearer expectations for staff, including how to document services and identify areas needing improvement.
Launched in 2025, CAPE replaced a pass-or-fail monitoring system with a broader review of Pennsylvania’s 52 Area Agencies on Aging. The evaluations examine multiple programs during a single review, helping the department identify problems and direct training where it is needed.
Programs reviewed include protective services, OPTIONS assistance that helps older adults remain at home, and caregiver support. Results are posted on the Department of Aging’s website, allowing residents to review their local agency’s performance.
Kavulich said the previous system identified whether agencies met standards but provided insufficient guidance on how to improve.
The department reported that, as of March 2026, 48 of the state’s 52 aging agencies responded to reports of suspected elder abuse within required timeframes at least 85% of the time. Twenty-eight agencies met the 20-day deadline for protective services determinations at least 85% of the time.
At the time of Kavulich’s visit, CAPE evaluation results were available online for 31 agencies serving 42 counties.
