LeadingAge PA, Providers, and Bipartisan Lawmakers Rally at State Capitol to Address PA's Senior Care Crisis
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (June 2, 2026) — LeadingAge PA, aging services professionals, seniors, and bipartisan state lawmakers gathered today at the Pennsylvania Capitol Main Rotunda in Harrisburg to call for urgent action to address the growing senior care crisis facing communities across the commonwealth.
Speakers highlighted the decrease in nursing home capacity, workforce shortages, and financial pressures threatening access to care and services for older adults across Pennsylvania. They also emphasized the importance of strengthening and stabilizing Medicaid funding for the Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE) program, which helps older adults remain in their homes and communities while receiving comprehensive care and support.
With the state’s population age 85 and older projected to triple by 2050, the demand for services is clearly growing. However, supply is declining and will continue to do so if no action is taken.
“Pennsylvania’s senior care system is in crisis," stated Garry Pezzano, President & CEO of LeadingAge PA. "We’re losing nursing home capacity by the thousands; fewer communities, fewer beds, and most importantly, more older adults are being turned away from the high-quality care they need and deserve close to home. LeadingAge PA calls on our state government to act in this budget cycle to stabilize our senior care system and make care accessible for generations to come.”
Participating lawmakers included State House Majority Whip Michael Schlossberg, Aging and Older Adult Services Committee Chair Maureen Madden, and State Senator David Argall.
Rep. Schlossberg emphasized the need for sustained investment in care systems: “We have an obligation to support care and services that meet the needs of older Pennsylvanians where they are in our community, working to invest meaningful resources and clear the obstacles that hinder access to care. I look forward to continuing to work with the providers who provide the care Pennsylvanians are counting on.”
“As Majority Chair of the House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee, one of my top priorities is to ensure older Pennsylvanians have the ability to stay in their homes and age in place,” said Rep. Madden. “Over the years, the LIFE Program has proven to be a valuable option that helps seniors live independently while receiving the care and support they need.”
Lawmakers also emphasized the personal impact of the senior care workforce shortage on families across Pennsylvania.
“Too many of our families, including mine, have faced the difficult decision of moving a parent or grandparent into a long-term care center,” said Sen. Argall. “The professionals who care for them are facing increasing challenges because of workforce shortages. We need to encourage more people to pursue this career path to provide quality care for our families.”
Now more than ever, strategic investment in Pennsylvania’s senior care system is critical. LeadingAge PA is advocating for targeted Medicaid funding solutions that provide greater stability and predictability, ensuring mission-driven providers have the support they need to meet growing demand.
LeadingAge PA is urging action in the FY 2026–27 state budget, including establishing a 0.84 floor for the Budget Adjustment Factor (BAF) for nursing homes. With the BAF expiring on June 30, it is crucial to address this issue prior to the end of the month, and to include reform of this outdated funding mechanism to ensure stability for Pennsylvania's nursing homes. The association is also advocating for a minimum Medicaid payment rate of 60% of the Amount That Would Otherwise Be Paid (AWOP) for LIFE, which would require approximately $19.3 million in annual state funding.
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