Austin A. Davis 35th Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Department Of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging has introduced the PA CareKit, a new resource aimed at supporting the state's 1.5 million unpaid caregivers. This initiative was announced by Secretary Jason Kavulich and is designed to assist caregivers such as spouses, adult children, and grandparents raising grandchildren. The PA CareKit provides training, connections to respite services, and personalized tools tailored to address specific caregiving situations.
The resource includes person-centered support with customized guides and resources for families to evaluate and select professional caregivers. The development of the PA CareKit began in August 2024 and took nine months to complete. It marks the first year of implementing "Aging Our Way, PA," a decade-long plan focused on enhancing aging services infrastructure.
"Caregivers played a crucial role in developing Aging Our Way, PA, and they remain a key priority in transforming the aging experience in the Commonwealth," stated Secretary Kavulich. He added that "caregiving is important work that can be deeply rewarding but also presents various challenges to a caregiver's personal resources and well-being." He emphasized that "the PA CareKit is an innovative tool that will help make the caregiving process easier for both the person providing care and their loved one."
The announcement included speakers such as Chairwoman Maria Collett, Chairwoman Maureen Madden, Jennifer Haeussler-Barnhart from MontCo AAA, Carrie Cleary from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and Nathan Lampenfeld from William & Hannah Penn Fellow. Panelists included Lynn Fields-Harris and Diane Garafalo.
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