HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Aging announced the launch of the Comprehensive Agency Performance Evaluation (CAPE), an innovative system aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in the oversight of the state’s 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). CAPE represents a significant overhaul of the department’s monitoring approach, promising more consistent and objective performance evaluations of AAAs that provide critical support to older adults across the Commonwealth.
The CAPE system, nearly two years in the making, evaluates AAAs on various key metrics, such as investigative activities related to elder abuse and the effectiveness of home-based support services. These detailed evaluations, which began with a pilot program in 2024, will be made publicly available starting in April when results from the first monitored AAAs will be posted online.
“Since I joined the Department of Aging 25 months ago, one of our top priorities has been modernizing how we measure the performance of AAAs and making that information accessible to the public,” said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. “CAPE marks a monumental leap forward, allowing us to better evaluate and strengthen the services provided to Pennsylvania’s older adults.”
Built on input from AAA leaders and stakeholders, CAPE holds agencies accountable while fostering opportunities for improvement. The system tracks various performance areas, including protective service investigations, documentation accuracy, and program administration. Regular monitoring schedules will replace the prior fragmented approach, ensuring consistent evaluations backed by objective standards.
Stakeholders and officials praised CAPE as a long-overdue advancement. Rebecca May-Cole, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging, highlighted the system’s comprehensive evaluations. “We are proud to have participated in developing CAPE and look forward to using its insights to improve services and strive for excellence,” said May-Cole.
CAPE’s broader implications underscore the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to overhauling critical programs serving the state’s aging population, which continues to grow. “This project illustrates our dedication to ensuring older adults across Pennsylvania receive the care and dignity they deserve,” Kavulich concluded.
The Department of Aging emphasizes that CAPE is more than a monitoring tool; it’s a catalyst for improved communication, technical assistance, and performance enhancements across Pennsylvania’s aging network. The rollout of CAPE solidifies a new chapter in the Commonwealth’s efforts to modernize government services and support its aging residents effectively.
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