May 2004

Pennsylvania Draft State Plan on Aging 2004 - 2008

This State Plan on Aging is unique and innovative. First, it pays close attention to Pennsylvania's emerging older population which includes the "Baby Boomers" and our increasingly diverse cultures. We need to find creative, culturally and linguistically competent ways to reach these communities and to recognize their growing contributions as service providers and as partners. Together, we will succeed if we maximize every opportunity to share our collective talents and experiences for the greater benefit of the Commonwealth. In reading this draft, you will find a number of objectives aimed at this purpose. Second, I believe that for this State Plan on Aging to remain relevant as a guide for future action, it must be a "jointly owned" document. From the start of our internal planning efforts, I invited all Department staff to participate actively in the Plan's development and to forge new and creative partnerships with consumers, caregivers, families, advocates, providers and state and local officials. We utilized our planning process to engage our stakeholders in developing a shared vision and improving our collective work.