Understanding the Growing Older Adult Population in Pennsylvania
As the 2020 Census data reveals, Pennsylvania is home to over 13 million people. However, what stands out is the more than 2.5 million residents aged 65 and older. This older adult population in Pennsylvania is growing at a rate 20 times higher than the state’s overall population growth. As the population continues to age, many will naturally prefer to spend their golden years right here in Pennsylvania—a decision backed by a recent report from U.S. News & World Report.
Best Places to Retire: Pennsylvania Dominates the List
U.S. News & World Report’s recent ranking of the 150 best places to retire in the U.S. featured seven of the top ten spots being held by cities in Pennsylvania. The cities were Harrisburg, Reading, Lancaster, Scranton, Allentown, York, and Pittsburgh. The ranking was based on several factors, such as affordability, happiness, desirability, retiree taxes, job market, and healthcare quality.
Unique Advantage of Pennsylvania’s Older Adult Support System
The unique advantage of Pennsylvania lies in its Lottery—the only state lottery that allocates all its proceeds to programs for older adults. These funds go towards home-delivered meals, in-home services, protective services, and more through the Commonwealth’s 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). Moreover, the Pennsylvania Lottery also supports the PACE program, which has been a national model for providing low-cost prescriptions to over 1.6 million qualifying older Pennsylvanians for 40 years.
Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for Older Adults in Pennsylvania
Another well-regarded Lottery-funded initiative benefitting older adults is the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program (PTRR). Administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, this program offers older adults rebates on property taxes and rent paid in the previous year.
Additional Investments for Seniors in Pennsylvania
The current budget also dedicates an additional $1 million to Senior Community Center grants to establish a non-competitive grant program. This will enable more centers to receive grants to continue providing safe spaces for seniors, promoting physical and emotional health, fostering lifelong learning, and offering meal-sharing experiences. Additionally, an extra $5 million has been allocated to the Help at Home (OPTIONS) program, which supports eligible adults to continue living in their homes. This funding will help to remove more than 1,200 older adults from existing waitlists.
Master Plan for Older Adults in Pennsylvania
As part of his commitment to this growing demographic, Governor Shapiro signed an executive order in May to instruct the Department to develop a Master Plan for Older Adults. This 10-year strategic plan, developed in conjunction with stakeholders, is designed to transform the infrastructure and coordination of services for older Pennsylvanians, ensuring their well-being and satisfaction in the years to come.
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