Town Meetings for PA's "Plan on Aging"

The Pennsylvania Deparment of Aging announced that preparation is in progress for its next four-year "State Plan on Aging"; and now requests public input through "town hall meetings" scheduled from January 31st, through March 17th, 2008.

PA DoA's 2008-2012 State Plan on Aging is described on its website:

Every four years the Department of Aging is required by both state and federal law to develop and submit to the Administration on Aging a "State Plan on Aging."

The plan is mandated by both federal and state law and is a requirement in order for the Commonwealth to receive federal funds under the Older Americans Act.

Additionally, the State Plan on Aging helps to structure the Department’s priorities and to set an aging agenda for the Commonwealth. * * *

The Plan will cover the four-year period — October 1, 2008, through September 30, 2012.

To solicit public input for the Plan, PA DoA will hold seven "town hall meetings" from 9 am to noon in locations throughout Pennsylvania:

Interested consumers, caregivers, and providers, are encouraged to attend and participate.

A Discussion Guide is available to provide more information about topics that will be discussed during the meetings. * * *

Presently, neither the referenced "Discussion Guide", nor an anticipated "On-line Survey", have yet been implemented online.

The schedule of meetings, however, is available (PDF format, 1 page). These are the scheduled dates & places for the sessions:

Elizabethtown -- January 31
Masonic Village at Elizabethtown
Freemasons Cultural (Visitor) Center
One Masonic Drive--Elizabethtown
Area Agency on Aging (717) 209-7979

Clarion -- February 7
Clarion Holiday Inn
45 Holiday Inn Road--Clarion
Area Agency on Aging (814) 226-4640

Pittsburgh -- February 8
Community College of Allegheny County
North Campus-Auditorium
8701 Perry Highway--Pittsburgh
Area Agency on Aging (412) 350-5460 or:
SeniorLine@dhs.county.allegheny.pa.us

Nanticoke -- February 21
Luzerne County Community College
Main Campus, Educational Conference Center
Building 10, Auditorium
1333 South Prospect Street--Nanticoke
RSVP: Judy McAnnally (570) 822-1159 Ext. 2317

Bedford -- March 7
Heartland Hall
5564 Business 220--Bedford
RSVP: Penny Clark (814) 623-8148 or:
(800) 892-7903

West Chester -- March 14
West Chester University
Sykes Student Union Building
Theatre-Ground level
110 West Rosedale Avenue--West Chester
RSVP: Lois or Marilynn (610) 344-4546

Williamsport -- March 17
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Main Campus, Klump Academic Center-Auditorium
One College Avenue--Williamsport
Office of Aging (800) 332-8555 or:
(570) 323-3096

There will not be any charge to attend a meeting. Reservations are recommended, and can be made by calling the telephone numbers associated with each location.

Thanks go to Marielle F. Hazen, Esq., of Harrisburg, PA, for posting the schedule of meetings on the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Elder Law Listserv today.

Update: 01/02/08:

On January 2, 2008, the PA Department of Aging issued a Press Release entitled "Department of Aging Plans Town Meetings to Gather Input for New State Plan on Aging" announcing these Town Hall Meetings.

The Press Release quoted comments made by the Secretary of Aging, Nora Dowd Eisenhower:

“Through these public meetings we receive information that will help us develop new services and enhance existing programs,” said Secretary of Aging Nora Dowd Eisenhower.

“We are seeking public input to make sure our priorities accurately reflect the needs of the older Pennsylvanians we serve.” * * *

“Public participation is absolutely essential to the success of our town meetings,” Secretary Dowd Eisenhower said.

“We are encouraging organizations involved in our state’s aging network to spread the word and encourage their members to make their voices heard.”

Update: 01/25/08:

The referenced "Discussion Guide" (PDF, 9 pages) is now available.

On January 24, 2008, the PA Department of Aging issued another Press Release, entitled "Department of Aging to Host Town Meeting in Elizabethtown to Gather Public Input for its State Plan on Aging", encouraging public participation in these "Town Meetings", and highlighting the upcoming meeting to be held in Elizabethtown, PA, on January 31, 2008.

To help shape the future direction of services for older Pennsylvanians, the Department of Aging will host a town meeting on Jan. 31 in Elizabethtown, Lancaster County.

“I invite older adults and their advocates to share ideas that will help us to develop new services and enhance existing programs for older Pennsylvanians,” said Secretary of Aging Nora Dowd Eisenhower. “We are seeking input to make sure our priorities accurately reflect needs.” * * *

The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Masonic Village’s Deike Auditorium, in the Freemason’s Cultural Center. People planning to attend should call the Area Agency on Aging at (717) 299-7979 to make a reservation.

This session is one of seven meetings that will take place across the state. They will focus on issues including public awareness of healthcare and long-term living options; enabling individuals to live in the setting of their choice; empowering individuals to stay active and healthy; ensuring the rights of individuals to prevent abuse, neglect, exploitation and abandonment.

A discussion guide to further help the public understand the purpose of the meetings is available [online].

“Public participation is absolutely essential to the success of our town meetings,” Dowd Eisenhower said. “We are encouraging organizations involved in our statewide aging network to spread the word and encourage their members to make their voices heard.” * * *

See: PA EE&F Law Blog posting "PA Aging Plan "Discussion Guide" Now Available" (01/25/08).