It’s the Law!

In Pennsylvania, the Older Adults Protective Services Act was enacted in 1989 to help to protect Older Adults from Elder Abuse. This law dictates that the Area Agency on Aging protect Older Adults who are at risk of harm because of any type of abuse.

COMMON SIGNS AND/OR SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE MAY INCLUDE:

• Isolation
• Weight Loss
• Bruises or Broken Bones
• Increased Confusion
• Unusual Withdrawals From Any Account
• Signing Over One’s Home to Another

The goal of the Protective Services Department is to insure that the basic health and safety of all older adults are met in the least restrictive setting possible, and that no older adult should remain at imminent risk to person or property.

Elder abuse may involve one or more of the following:

• Abuse
• Neglect
• Exploitation
• Abandonment

Abuse may occur when a caregiver fails to meet the needs of the older person or when older people fail to take care of themselves.

The Older Adults Protective Service Act mandates that every Area Agency on Aging in Pennsylvania is responsible for investigating any referral regarding safety concerns for an older person within 72 hours.  This act also encourages the reporting of abuse and protects the anonymity of the person doing the reporting.

The Department of Aging is responsible for oversight and implementation of the Older Adults Protective Services Act (OAPSA) for individuals over the age of 60.

Eligibility for Protective Services

Protective Services are provided under one or more of the following conditions:

• 60 years of age or older;
• Incapacitated person;
• Unable to obtain or perform services necessary to maintain physical or mental health;
• No responsible caretaker
• Imminent risk of their person or property

Reporting Elder Abuse

Abuse reports can be made on behalf of an older adult whether the person lives in their home or in a care facility such as a nursing facility, personal care home, hospital, etc. The reporters may remain anonymous and have legal protection from retaliation, discrimination and civil or criminal prosecution.

Responding to Reports of Elder Abuse

1. Specially trained employees of the Union-Snyder Agency on Aging, Inc. receive calls with concerns about Older Adults who may be victims of abuse.
2. These employees then investigate the concerns.
3. If the Older Adult is being abused, the Agency on Aging offers services to stop the abuse and prevent it from occurring again.

If you suspect mistreatment of an older person, report it to the Union-Snyder Agency on Aging, Inc. at 

(570) 524-2100 or (570) 374-5558

Elder Justice in the Courts

Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts

The Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts’ (Advisory Council) mission is to identify and address elder justice issues including abuse and neglect, guardianships, and access to justice affecting the commonwealth’s older adults. The Advisory Council exists to identify areas of need and challenges faced by older Pennsylvanians and to improve the ability of Pennsylvania courts to meet those needs.

The Advisory Council also focuses on education for judges, court staff, attorneys, guardians, and the public about a variety of elder justice topics.

Office of Elder Justice in the Courts

The Office of Elder Justice in the Courts (OEJC) was created by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to assist the Court in implementing recommendations contained in the 2014 Elder Law Task Force’s Reports and Recommendations. The OEJC identifies areas of need and challenges faced by older Pennsylvanians and improves the ability of Pennsylvania courts to meet those needs.

The OEJC staff work every day to protect Pennsylvania’s rapidly growing population of adults age 60 and over from all forms of abuse. In addition, the OEJC educates judges, court staff, attorneys, guardians, the public, and others about the warning signs of elder abuse and how to respond to suspected elder abuse. The OEJC also promotes best practices for addressing elder abuse and neglect, guardianship, and access to justice in Pennsylvania courts. The OEJC actively fosters collaboration with other elder justice entities and the two other branches of government to enhance older Pennsylvanians’ ability to fully participate in legal proceedings.

For more information & updates, click here to visit the PA Supreme Court website.