Time remains for a public comment period regarding The Pennsylvania Department of Aging’s preliminary draft of “Aging Our Way, PA: A Plan for Lifelong Independence.”

The 10-year state-based strategic plan, a key initiative of Gov. Josh Shapiro and developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging over the past nine months, is designed to establish priorities, strategies, and tactics to promote health, well-being, and quality of life for all Pennsylvanians over the next decade and beyond.

The detailed master plan emphasizes a comprehensive approach to aging, with a focus on enhancing accessibility to healthcare services, affordable housing, and transportation, as well as increasing opportunities for social engagement and community involvement.

It identifies detailed priorities, strategies, and tactics that aim to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for the aging population of Pennsylvania. These elements of the master plan are designed to address the multifaceted needs of older adults, ensuring they have the resources and support necessary to live vibrant, independent lives.

Aging Our Way, PA also prepares the Commonwealth for a larger, longer-living older adult population and is designed to respond to changing needs, shifting priorities and available resources to ensure that older Pennsylvanians have the resources and support necessary to live independently and with dignity in their communities.

Aging Our Way, PA incorporates eight ‘Domains of Livability’ that stem from the World Health Organization’s age-friendly framework, designed to assist communities in enhancing livability for older adults. This comprehensive approach addresses key facets of community life that significantly influence the well-being, engagement, and safety of seniors.

The eight domains include: outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, and community support and health services. These domains universally serve as a foundation for creating environments that support aging with dignity and independence.

The public comment period is an opportunity for residents, service providers, caregivers, and stakeholders across Pennsylvania to contribute their perspectives, experiences, and suggestions to refine and improve the final plan.

Public comment will run through March 20.

Residents interested in providing public comment can do so by email at agingplan@pa.gov or by mail at: Aging Our Way, PA, 555 Walnut Street, 5th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101

For more information about the Aging Our Way, PA plan and to see a PDF of the document, visit the Department of Aging’s dedicated website at Aging.PA.Gov/MasterPlan.